those are what parents ought to have kids ready for. >> talking with american university professor john gould about "how to succeed in college," while really trying. professor gould, thank you for being on booktv. >> my pleasure, thanks. [applause] >> there's a couple busy days from last evening, cnn, piers morgan, and delighted to have our wonderful and old friends here from c-span filming this event that many people across the united states can benefit from a lot of what michelle has to say, so just to kick start it this evening, michelle, how did you come up with a fast nate -- fascinating, interesting book, "radical," and where does this interesting name come from? >> i think the genesis of the name is an interesting one in that when i first got to dc, it was the lowest performing and most dysfunctional school district in the entire nation. that was a widely known truth, and so i started doing things that i thought were obvious for a school district in that kind of state. i, you know, started closing low performing schools, moving out ineffective employees, cutting the central office of b

elliott gould turns 75 and arizona senator john mccain is 77. >>> here's what's coming up later on the "today" show. matt lauer tuks former heavyweight boxing champ mike tyson about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction. >> when i start drinking and relapse, i think of dying. normally i'm in a real dark mood, i think of dying. i don't want to be around it no more. sometimes i don't want to live when i'm in that state. >> keep it right here for more news, weather and sports. i'm richard lu i along with dylan dreyer. thanks for watching "early today." have a great thursday. >>> this bridge is closed, and in just a few days the newbridge will be open. >> a live look at the bay bridge toll plaza. it's packed but not with the kind of traffic you'd expect to see. construction crews working around the clock to get the new eastern span ready. good morning to you. 4:30. i'm laura garcia-cannon. >> good morning. i'm marla tellez in for jon kelley. let's give you another look at the bay bridge toll plaza. crews are creating a new roadway between the toll plaza and the eastern span of the bay