Meeting of Minds

By Steve Allen

Book Overview

The man who invented the television talk show surpassed even himself when he created Meeting of Minds, the award-winning series that captured America's imagination. These four volumes offer the original scripts from the series, including material edited from the broadcast versions that ran from 1977 to 1981 on PBS stations nationwide.Many believe that Meeting of Minds is the most brilliant series ever to be written for television. The show provides a groundbreaking opportunity to be exposed to ideas by way of a medium not normally known for its intellectual vigor.Indeed, Meeting of Minds grew out of Allen's frustration with the mediocrity of the average network program. He envisioned the show as a stimulating round-table discussion conducted like any other talk show - except that the participants would be actors portraying some of the greatest minds and most prominent figures of history. Accordingly, such characters as Aristotle, Catherine the Great, Oliver Cromwell, Emily Dickinson, Margaret Sanger, Gandhi, Thomas Paine, Cleopatra, Theodore Roosevelt, and St. Thomas Aquinas appear in startlingly effective juxtaposition, their characters revealed through brilliantly conceived dialogue.This first volume features appearances by President Theodore Roosevelt, Queen Cleopatra, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Paine, President Ulysses S. Grant, Queen Marie Antoinette, Sir Thomas More, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Emily Dickinson, Galileo Galilei, and Attila the Hun.The scripts for Meeting of Minds make for excellent reading, distilling an enormous amount of research into a lively format that has the undeniable veracity of historical fact. The result is unfailingly witty, thought-provoking, and geniunely entertaining.Steve Allen's lucidity and fertile intelligence are evident on every page. Meeting of Minds remains one of the freshest, most delightful ways of gaining historical perspective ever devised, an incomparable tour de force with the power to make history come alive.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879755679
• ISBN13: 9780879755676
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Excellent transcript of an excellent program.

Too bad that at the time of this review, there are no videos available. The broadcast ran from 1977 to 1981. The only thing that you do not get a clear picture of is the expressions on Steve Allen’s face. The advantage of the “book” form is that you have time to think while reading and not lose your train of thought. You can even look things up. It is a fun talk show with many of the greatest minds, such as President Theodore Roosevelt, Queen Cleopatra, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Paine, President Ulysses S. Grant, Queen Marie Antoinette, Sir Thomas More, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Emily Dickinson, Galileo Galilei, and Attila the Hun. If you miss your favorites in the first series, there are more in the second.

Meeting of Minds - Series II

In addition to examining timely social issues and philosophical questions, these scripts, Series I & II, take an irresitible form. Almost everyone has fantasized about whom they would invite for an evening of conversation if they could invite anyone who ever lived. Many of us have thought about it. Steve Allen did it. Picture Emily Dickinson chatting with Attila the Hun. Who wouldn't want to hear what they would say to each other?

Required listening

This is a must hear for all Americans. Thought provoking, globally analytical, it is a positive tribute to the brilliance of Mr. Allen.

meeting of minds

this book alone with its companion cassettes tapes should be required study in every school and drama class in the u.s. the scope and depth of its humor and ideals are simply extrodinary. if there is anyone who 'thinks' history must be dull or doubts mr. allen's intellectual brilliance then this book is for you. you will not regret the experience. find the vhs tapes of these programs if you can.

mind food

this book [alone with its companion cassette tapes or VHS-TAPES] should be required study in every school in america; and maybe drama classes as well. steve allen's take on history and great historical personalities and ideals is truly stunning in its humor, brilliance, scope and insight. you will not soon forget its impact. [get the cassette tapes if you can] if you are fortunate the vidio tapes even more so.