tonight he is in conversation with david samuel. david is the author of the runner and only love to break your heart. he has articles about conmen, nuclear weapon, spies, rock stars, pot dealers, presidents and other subjects who have appeared in harper's, the new yorker and new york times magazine. without further ado, please give them a warm welcome. [applause] >> i just want to start off by saying this, i rarely leave my house and i never endorse the work of fellow riders because why give them a leg up, there your competition, but i made an exception to both of those professional tonight because this book is an extraordinary piece of reporting. it's an incredibly gripping story and it's a story that, on so many levels, is about where america is at an right now, in 2016, we are a country that has lost the ability to look in the mirror and see ourselves clearly because the viewers have, for nearly a century, the familiar track with newspapers and magazines has been shattered over the past ten years. it has been a flood of images and

tonight is in conversation with david samuel. david is the author of the runner. his articles about con men and dog truck, nuclear weapons, spies, pilots, rock stars, pot use, president and other subjects have appeared in harper's, "the new yorker" as well as online. without further ado please give them a warm welcome. [applause] >> i just want to start off by saying that i rarely leave my house, and i never endorse the work of fellow writers because, you know, why give them a leg up? it's your competition. but i made an exception to both those, you know, professional -- because of this book is an extraordinary piece of reporting. it's an incredibly gripping story, and it's a story that on so many levels it's about where america is at right now in 2016. we are a country that has lost the ability to look in the mirror and see ourselves clearly, because the mirror that we have for known as century was where the familiar cross of newspapers, magazines, the rest has been shattered over the last 10 years, collapsed. it's been replaced by a flood of images and impressio

and tonight he's in conversation with david samuel. avid is the author of "the runner" and only loss can break your heart. his articles about dog tracks, nuclear weapons, spies, blimp pilots, rock stars, presidents and other subjects have appeared in harper's, the new yorker and in "the new york times" magazine. without further ado, please give them a warm welcome. [applause] >> i just want to start off by saying that i rarely leave my house. [laughter] and i never endorse the work of fellow writers because, you know, why give them a leg up? it's the competition. [laughter] but i made an exception to both those, you know, professional practices tonight because this book is an extraordinary piece of reporting. it's an incredibly gripping story, and it's a story that on so many levels is about where america is at right now in 2016. we are a country that has lost the ability to look in the mirror and see ourselves clearly in part because the mirror that we had for is a century finish for a century which was -- for a century which was the f

mckinley belcher iii: everyday samuel's revealing more of his medical ability and he gets a sense that this may not just be a dream anymore. it may be able to become a reality. davidd deeply in this cataclysmic moment in american history and in the middle of a war. people are dying or surviving based on the choices that doctors and nurses are making. so there's a lot to lose and a lot to be gained. your favorite pbs shows ready to watch, when you are anytime, any place find more ways to explore than ever before at pbs.org slash anywhere tonight... man: edison thought he was the best inventive brain around. man: he was self-taught, very competitive, maniacally focused. woman: but he was a colorful character. man: down to earth, he had a sense of humor... man: edison single-handedly created the image of an inventor. "edison," tonight on american experience. nasa announcer: lift-off, the clock is running. pilot: we have mass casualties up here.

mckinley belcher iii: everyday samuel's revealing more of his medical ability and he gets a sense that this may not just be a dream anymore. it may be able to become a reality. davidthey're all engaged deeply in this cataclysmic moment in american history and in the middle of a war. people are dying or surviving based on the choices that doctors and nurses are making. so there's a lot to lose and a lot to be gained. the faces you know the news you rely on, anytime you want anywhere you are. man: i really value pbs's news coverage because i think it's very rigorous journalism woman: clear and concise reporting man: both thoughtful and thought provoking woman: mind blowingly honest and open woman: information that will help me make a good decision with so much at stake, this election year one place has the news you need to decide pbs your favorite pbs shows ready to watch, when you are anytime, any place find more ways to explore than ever before at pbs.org slash anywhere narrator: in 1891, a serbian scientist demonstrated his latest inventions before an awestruck audience at columbia university. "tubes held in the hand of mr. tesla," a reporter wrote, "appeared lik