on art beat, you can see more of jeff's conversation with poet philip levine. and a slideshow of photographs from the exhibit capturing the lost world of detroit. all that and more is on our web site, newshour.pbs.org. >> brown: and that's the newshour for tonight. i'm jeffrey brown. >> lehrer: and i'm jim lehrer. we'll see you on-line, and again here tomorrow evening. thank you, and good night. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what the world needs now is energy. the energy to get the economy humming again. the energy to tackle challenges like climate change. what is that energy came from an energy company? everyday, chevron invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world to move us all ahead. this is the power of human energy. chevron. toyota. grant thornton. and by the alfred p. sloan foundation. supporting science, technology, and improved economic performance and financial literacy in the 21st century. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this p

>>rown: over the decades, philip levine has writn about many subjects and plas, engad with politics and events around him,e writes as he titled his mosrecent book, the news of the world. >> we starteout talking about your life in t faories. many years ler, you've made a lifes a poet. does that surpriseou? >> oh, god, yes. i mean, i'm stund. one of the things thatade it happen was pure luck. my 26th birthday, i met my present wife. homany women could stay with a guy whhas no prospects and wants to write poetry d stay with him now 55 year sometimes she woed so that i could get home and scribe. she hono what i'm doing. i think that is the st crucial thin to be honored. as a poet. even... not by a nation because a nation is going ve distractions but just to be honored by this person at person or especially by your wife or your brother or your mother , father. i mean it's ju fantastic. i keeps you going in a w that notng else could keep you going. >> brownphilip levine, nice to talk to you. >> tnk you. >> lehre and finally tonight, the confession of a homeun king, and the eroid era in spts.

former national book award winners robert kairo, john casey, annette gordon-reed, philip levine, goreourse, charles johnson, maryanne hoberman, and would also like to acknowledge the presence tonight of the 2008 winner of the pulitzer prize for vision-- fiction, juneau diaz. [applause] please. [applause] also would like to thank your financial supporters without whom we could not bring you the national book awards. again i'm going to ask you to hold your applause. but, well i mention them all. a premier sponsor barnes & noble, leader max monster theodore bar foundation, lyndon meyer book publishing papers a division of central national-men coral graphics, the ford foundation, penguin group usa, random house and sponsors blumberg, borders, google. the national endowment for the arts, and bass and mr. and mrs. donald merriman. thank you. [applause] i would also like to think of the director the national book foundation, harold augenbraum who has been tireless, for its outstanding leadership, harold. [applause] the terrific staff of the foundation and my fellow board members, especially