[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> margaret washington, linda beito and david beitoring at the 2009 chicago tribune printers row lit fest. book tv continues live coverage from the university center in chicago after this short break. ♪ >> this summer book tv is asking, what are you reading? >> well, i have several books that i am reading and intend to read over the next several weeks. right now i'm just about completed "with wings of eagles" by michael korda which is a battle of britain of both sides of the english channel. the raf on one hand and the german lutsa on the other. it's a well researched book. i have in front of me the american lion which is a book about the life of andrew jackson, particularly during the time of his white house days by john mecham. tom ricks, i guess, i have to say he's my favorite author who wrote "fiasco" has a new book titled "the gamble" which is general petraeus's efforts in iraq between 2006 and 2008. and several others here, "fox in the der" which is the story of the german african corps. three victories and the defeat that is the

and the first of those two authors professor linda beito. [applause] >> one benefit of the book is that it allows for those hard-working lovers of freedom to be known. dr. howard is an example of success in a time where few african-americans can make such a claim. he was by the 1950s a millionaire banker, on the board of tristate bank in memphis, a successful surgeon, a plantation owner, owning over 1,000 acres and a freedom fighter. he controlled and started successful boycotts. when he walked into a room everybody knew it. the wife of slain civil rights leader medgar evers one look told you that he was a leader. kind, affluent and intelligent. that rare negro in mississippi who had somehow beaten the system. dr. howard gave medgar evers his first job out of college selling insurance for dr. howard's business, the magnolia mutual life insurance company. while selling insurance, medgar wood encouraged people to register to vote. while dr. howard started out as a poor sign of tobacco twisters in murray, kentucky, howard leaves behind a legacy