Happy Holidays 2009

For the final week of 2009, the On Point staff will be taking a break. And for our loyal listeners, we're again featuring some of the best shows from our archives.

Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison talks about censorship and the importance of the free word.  Feminist icon Germaine Greer shares her thoughts on Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway — and on women in the world now.  Author William Least Heat-Moon takes us on a journey along America's backroads and into his book, "Roads to Quoz: An American Mosey."

Documentarian Astra Taylor spoke with big-name philosophers and shares their insights with us.  Oceanographer Sylvia Earle dives in to talk about her Google Oceans project.  NBA legend Bill Russell talks life, friendship, and basketball.  Hong Kong director Wayne Wang gives us his take on the Chinese and Chinese-American experience.

We listen in to one documentary's take on the new frontiers of jazz.  A neuroscientist tells us why we're superstitious.  (Don't think you are?  Would you wear Jeffrey Dahmer's raincoat?)  And we dig into the real life story of L. Frank Baum, the author of "The Wizard of Oz."

Finally, a couple of anniversaries in 2009 that couldn't have been more different:  The great essayist, poet, and thinker Samuel Johnson at 300.  And Barbie — the iconic plastic doll — turns 50.

Best wishes this holiday season from all of us here at On Point.  We'll be back with a full slate of new shows in 2010.