What we're reading...

Ryan mentioned the latest book from 14 year old Shane Christie from Newbridge, Co.Kildare.
It's called 'The Talisman of Mount Fuji'.
Ryan interviewed Shane and his Mum back in August 2005. Together they published Shane's first book 'The Legend of the Dragon Emperor' with the help of their local credit union. The self-publishing endeavour isn't the only thing that makes this book special, but also the fact that the young man behind the book - Shane also happens to have Asberger's.  Both books are on sale in Farrell's on Newbridge Main Street.

Tuesday 3rd Oct 2006
Christine Falls by  Bemjamin Black (John Banville)
Published by Picador

Monday 2nd Oct 2006
A Time to Dance
Photographs by Ann Hendrick
Words by Maeve Binchy
Published by New island

Wednesday 27th Sept 2006
Zoltan's book - Final Witness: My Journey from the Holocaust to Ireland by Zoltan Zinn-Collis and Alicia McAuley published by Maverick House and available from bookshops (€13.99) or online at www.maverickhouse.com

Thursday 14th Sept 2006
The Book on today's programme was called "Imperium " by Robert Harris

Thursday 7th Sept 2006
The Book on today's programme was called " the Dangerous Book for Boys" - by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden -
published by Harper Collins.

Wed 6th Sept 2006
The Book on today's programme was "Restless" by William Boyd. Published by Bloomsbury.

Friday 1st September 2006
The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan

Thursday 31st August 2006
The Trial-A History from Socrates to O.J. Simpson by Sadakat Kadri

Wednesday 30th August 2006
Kidnapped-True stories of twelve Irish hostages of the last thirty years by A.J Davidson

Monday 28th August 2006
Fiasco- The American Military Adventure in Iraq by Thomas E. Ricks

The Emperors Children by Claire Messud

Friday 25th August 2006
The Suicide Factory- Abu Hamza and the Finsbury Park Mosque by Sean O'Neill and Daniel McGrory

Wednesday 23rd August 2006
Good as You- Mothers' Reactions to Gay Sons by Cathy Falconer,

Thursday 17th August 2006
How to read a Novel by John Sutherland

Tuesday 15th August 2006
Behind Palace Doors- My service as the Queen mothers equerry
by Major Colin Burgess. Published by John Blake Publishing Ltd.

Friday 11th August 2006
Nobody told us we were defeated - stories from the new Iraq
by Rory McCarthy

Wednesday 9th August 2006
The Parents Guide to Kids Movies by Jo Berry
How would you feel if your 9 or 10 year old came home from a sleepover and said that they had watched a great array of films.Kill Bill..The Omen..would you not even blink an eye or would you be disgusted? Children are more mature than they ever were, but does this mean that they can handle more gore and destruction in the movies? English author Jo Berry has compiled 500 well known kids films in an easy-to-read manual, to let parents know just what is suitable and what might be a little bit too scary for little minds. Ryan was joined in studio by John Kelleher, the Irish Film Censor www.ifco.ie, author and parent Denise Deegan www.denisedeegan.com and Collette Simpson, also a parent to review the book.

We had plenty of Book recommendations during the show today for a good summer read including the following:
The Man Called Cash: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend by Steve Turner
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Girl from the Chartreuse by Pierre Peju
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
The Master by Colm Toibin
Symphony by Jude Morgan
City of Oranges, Arabs and Jews in Jaffa by Adam LeBor

Tuesday 8th August 2006
Manliness by Harvey C. Mansfield
Ah for the days when men were manly men protecting their womenfolk with nothing but a snarl and a club, well not really.  But a new book by Harvard Professor Harvey C. Mansfield entitled 'Manliness' says that it is time for men to reclaim their innate 'manly' qualities - throw back their shoulders, claim their territory, protect their loved ones and do what needs to be done.
We asked two fine gentlemen to take a look at the book and give us their verdict, John Waters, columnist with the Irish Times and the artist Kevin Sharkey were our designated 'manly' men and discussed the book and the manaissance with Ryan in studio.

Friday 30th June 2006
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant

Thursday 29th June 2006
Acting Irish in Hollywood- From Fitzgerald to Farrell by Ruth Barton.

Tuesday 27th June 2006
Munster Rugby- The Phenomenon by Eoin Murphy. Published by Maverick Press.

Captain Francis Crozier- Last man standing? by Michael Smith. Published by Collins Press.

Monday 19th June 2006
Sara's Face by Melvin Burgess

Friday 16th June 2006
Statues and Stories- Dublin Monuments Unveiled by Muriel Bolger

Angels and Rabies by Manchan Magan

Wednesday 14th June 2006
The War of the World by Niall Ferguson.
Niall has also written Empire and Colossus

Pink for a girl by Isla McGuckin

Tuesday 13th June 2006
The Healing Code by Dermot O'Connor. Dermot also has a website www.acupunctureireland.com  
Dermot also mentioned a Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book by Roy Swank.

Wednesday 7th June 2006
Lies in a Mirror: An Essay on Evil and Deceit by Peter Charleton

Monday 5th June  2006
Warm summer days are here and wanderlust is well and truly in the air. Maybe you're heading for some exotic destination, maybe you're not, but whether you travel thousands of miles for your holidays or just potter around the back garden, another kind of journey is out there for you to begin. Stick it into your rucksack, stuff it in your suitcase, pop it in your picnic basket! There's nothing like a journey into the pages of a good book transporting you to places you've never been before. To start our two hour show for the summer Ryan was joined in studio by three bookworms, Anita Notaro, Ferdia McAnna and Paraic Breathnach. Here's their book list for the summer:

Anita's list:
The WWW Club by Anita Notaro (of course!)
The Cosmic Ordering Service by Barble Mohr
Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Kate Kerrigan
Everyman, The Human Stain, The Plot against America all by Philip Roth
The Kitchen Diaries by Nigel Slater
The Game of Life and how to play it by Florence Scovel-Shinn
The Last of the Great Romantics by Claudia Carroll

Ferdia's list:
The Last Full Measure by Geoff Shaara
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Dress your family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

Paraic's list:
Barrows Boys by Fergus Fleming
The Speckled People by Hugo Hamilton
Notes from a Coma by Mike McCormack
Graceland by Chris Abani
Angels and Rabies by Manchan Magan
Augustus by Alan Massie

Thursday 25th May 2006
The Thinking Fans Guide to The World Cup Edited by Sean Wisely and Matt Weiland. Featuring original writing by Geoff Dyer, Dave Eggers, Nick Hornby, Henning Mankell, Eric Schlosser and many more. Published by Abacus.

Wednesday 10th May 2006
Loot! The informed guide to your SSIA and other investments by Eddie Hobbs. Published by Penguin.

Friday 5th April 2006
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton
We're increasingly obsessed with our houses, our homes, its design and its furniture.  Distressed tables, modernist coffee tables, wooden sleigh beds all compete for attention in our semi-d which is itself a mix of the modern and country cottage.  It's all very well and good and a seemingly legitimate 21st Century hobby - but does it really matter all that much?  Do our homes really add tangible value to our lives or, if it all went up in a puff of smoke tomorrow or was even repossessed - should we really care? Well, in his new book Alain de Botton argues that buildings have immense power.  They have the ability to improve our lives and maybe even make us better people.  He has written a book on The Architecture of Happiness and presented a TV series on this subject called The Perfect Home.

Tuesday 25th April 2006
Never have your dog stuffed by Alan Alda
Alan Alda has recently made a habit of playing mildly sinister Republicans -  viewers will know him as Senator Arnold Vinck, or perhaps you saw him recently, when he was oscar nominated as Senator Ralph Owen Brewster in Scorcese's The Aviator - But he's also well known for his roles in Woody Allen Movies - Manhattan Murder Mystery and Everyone says I love you, or in ER - but its in his army fatigues in the eleven year running, ratings busting M*A*S*H - playing Hawkeye Pierce, the wise-cracking womanising army surgeon in the Korean war that Alan Alda will always be remembered for. Alan joined Ryan on the show to talk about his career and taxidermy!

Thursday 20th April 2006
The Rocky Years: The Story of a "almost" legend by Ferdia McAnna. Published by Hodder Headline.

Tuesday 18th April 2006
Dancing in the No Fly Zone- A Woman's Journey through Iraq by Hadani Ditmars. Published by Arris Books. www.arrrisbooks.com
Her ability to dance like a local succeeded in landing her scoops but her singing got her accused of being a spy - oh it's not always easy working as a journalist in Iraq.   In her capacity as a Canadian journalist, our guest has been a frequent visitor to  Iraq and has seen the effects of sanctions and Saddam - she has also seen how liberation or invasion - depending on your point of view - has changed Iraqis.  Her book is called Dancing in the No-Fly Zone:  A Woman's Journey in Iraq - Hadani Ditmars was in studio this morning to tell us more about it.

Thursday 6th April 2006
First Time Gardener by Kim Wilde
Wilde by name - wild by nature [in an organic sense that is], our guest today has had her very green fingers in many creative pies. Her musical parents named her after Kim Novak who she equals in the beauty stakes. She's had a hugely successful career as the Queen of Eighties Brit pop. After a ten year stint, she opted for a career change and immersed herself in her current love -  gardening, winning many accolades along the way including a Gold Medal at Chelsea last year. She's just written her second gardening book called 'First time Gardener'. Ryan spoke to the Kim Wilde about gardening and the kids in America.

Tuesday 21st March 2006
Kavanagh MP: An Inspirational Story by David Cohen and published by Psychology News Press.
Arthur Kavanagh MP was an Irish reformist landlord from the 19th century who accomplished many things despite being a mere 24 inches tall without arms and legs. Ryan spoke to the author.

Wednesday 15th March 2006
Blink : The Power of Thinking Without Thinking By Malcolm Gladwell
Author of The Tipping Point.
This book is all about those moments when we know something wihtout knowing why. Here Malcolm Gladwell explores the phenomenon of 'Blink' showing how a snap judgement can be far more effective than a cautious decision. By trusting your instincts you'll never think about thinking about thinking in the same way again.  Ryan spoke to Malcolm about his latest theory.

Friday 10th March 2006
The 2nd Book of Feckin' Irish Slang that'll make a holy show of the first one! By Donal O'Dea and Colin Murphy. Published by O'Brien Press.
Obviously everyone knows that we Irish are renowned for our glorious and inventive use of the English language.  But let's face it, we are perhaps at our very greatest at using the English language and turning it to suit our own purposes. To celebrate this, two Irish men have got together to compile a dictionary of Irish slang which has now been published by O'Brien press.  Con Murphy was joined by the two authors, Donal O'Dea and Colin Murphy to hear more about their mighty tome.

A Taste of the Country By Jimmy Doherty. Published by Michael Joseph.
Have you ever been tempted to take to the good life? Grow your own vegetables, raise a few pigs perhaps, bring home the bacon literally?  Jimmy Doherty is a bit of a poster boy for the Organic Lifestyle - a friend of Jamie Oliver, he's opened his own organic pig farm, rears rare breed pigs and naturally -  has his own television series and book. He joined Con in studio to talk about the book and the tv show  'Jimmy's Farm' which is currently on BBC2.

Thursday 9th March 2006
P.U.S.H for Success by Saira Khan. Published by Vermillion.
Our guest this morning has been described as the UK's 'Mouth of the South'. She's loud and proud. The first to admit she's not everyone's cup of tea because of her tendency to rub people up the wrong way in her pursuit of what she wants. She came second in last year's gruelling reality TV show The Apprentice  just back on our screens but shone out more than any of the other 13 contestants hoping to win a top job with Amstrad chief and former Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Sir Alan 'You're Fired' Sugar. She's gone on to even bigger things, and has her first book 'PUSH for Success' is out now and a TV series or two on the go among other things. Saira Khan joined Con on the line from Nottingham.

Monday 6th March 2006
Strange Superstitions and Curious Customs of the Ancient World
By Alicia and Matheos Chrysostomou
An unusual lady with an exotic name has compiled a book containing some of the oddest, most eccentric and bizarre snapshots of the traditions of some of the world's historical tribes and peoples called Strange Superstitions and Curious Customs of the Ancient World. Not the kind of thing you'd expect from an engineer specialising in Polynomers.  Con Murphy spoke to Alicia Chrysostomou about the book.

Wednesday 1st March 2006
UNSpeak by Steven Poole
We all often use vague phrases to soften the blow of what we're trying to say. Be it "I just don't think you're right for this job," or "it's not you it's me." However, our guest  this morning thinks that this habit has entered the world of war and politics and taken a much darker turn. He says that 'we are bombarded with simple words that conceal darker meanings.' Steven Poole is a journalist for the Guardian and has written a book called Unspeak. He joined Ryan in studio to discuss his new book.

Thursday 9th February 2006

The Hughes and Hughes Book Awards 2006
Ryan was joined by Colm Ennis who has one of the best jobs in the world, he's a book buyer for Hughes and Hughes Books and Susan Reilly who gets to enjoy the books as a book reviewer.
There are three categories in this years awards:
1. Novel of the Year
2. Children's Book of the Year
3. Non-Fiction book of the Year

1. The Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year
The Sea by John Banville
Utterly Monkey by Nick Laird
Notes from a Coma by Mike Mc Cormack
This is the Country by William Wall
The Winner of Sorrow by Brian Lynch
Nothing Simple by Lia Mills

2. The Dublin Airport Authority Irish Children's Book of the Year
Second Fiddle by Siobhan Parkinson
The New Policeman by Kate Thompson
Dancing Tiger by Malachy Doyle
Bill and Fred by John Quinn
Snakes Elbows by Deirdre Mahon
Up the Wooden Hill by Sam McBratney

3. The Argosy Non-Fiction Book of the Year
Memoir by John McGahern
White Savage by Fintan O'Toole
In the Dark Room by Brian Dillon
The Pope's Children by David Mc Williams
James Connolly by Donal Nevin
All of these People by Fergal Keane

Susan, Colm and Ryan also suggested a few more books that are not on the nomination list but you can still find them on the book shelves:
The Naming of Eliza Quinn by Carol Birch
Sex, Lies and Fairytales by Kate Thompson
Pretending by Carol Williams
The First Casualty by Ben Elton
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Black Angel by John Connolly
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Schopenhauer's Telescope by Gerard Donovan
Doctor Salt by Gerard Donovan
The Murrow Boys-Pioneers on the Front Lines of Broadcast Journalism by Stanley Cloud and Lynne Olson Houghton Mifflin

Tuesday 7th February 2006
Grieving: A Beginners Guide by Jerusha Hull-McCormack
Published by Darton, Longman and Todd.

Wednesday 1st February 2006
A Good Life by Leo Hickman. Eden Publishers

Monday 30th January 2006
The Mind Gym-Give me Time. Published by Time Warner.
The problem of not having enough time is as old as time itself and so are most of the proposed cures.  The trouble is they don't seem to work. The Mind Gym: Give me time proposes a radically different approach to time and how we use it.  Ryan spoke to Octavius Black and Sam Scott, two members of The Mind Gym Team about time techniques.

Wednesday 25th January 2006
The Explorers Daughter by Kari Herbert. Published by Penguin.
At 10 months of age, Kari Herbert was whisked off with her father - an explorer and her very adventurous mother to spend her early years in the Arctic. Her first words were Inuit, the language of the Eskimos. Aged 4, the family returned to the UK, but she always felt a longing to return.she did some 30 years later. She joined Ryan on the show from London to talk about some of her experiences as captured in her book 'The Explorer's Daughter'.

Friday 20th January 2006
The Treehouse by Naomi Wolf. Published by Virago Press.
Mention the name Naomi Wolf and you will hear opinions.
Strong ones; of admiration, but also of derision. For fifteen years she has been at the forefront of the feminist debate. Her first book, written in her twenties, The Beauty Myth was acclaimed by Germaine Greer as 'the most important feminist publication since The female Eunuch'. But now in what many think is a post-feminist age, it seems a mellower Naomi Wolf has returned to her roots and found comfort in the advice of her father. Her new book The Treehouse, examines this relationship with her and his wisdom, which she believes we can all learn from.
She joined Ryan in studio talk about her new book amongst otherthings.  The Treehouse by Naomi Wolff is Published by Virago Press.

Tell me your secret by Deirdre Purcell
It's the time of the week when we let our guest get a few things off their chests, Sin Bin Win Bin, time to get rid of those annoying niggles in modern society and plead to bring back the better things from simpler times,   winning and binning it today is Deirdre Purcell, she's been an actress, a journalist, a newsreader,  but for the last fifteen years probably best known as a bestselling author of amongst many others 'Falling for a dancer', 'A Place of Stones', 'Marble Garden', 'Love Like Hate Adore', and her new novel 'Tell me your secret'.

Wednesday 18th January 2006
Sea of Love, Sea of Loss-Letters to Olive by John Quinn
Published by TownHouse.

Hazel: A Life of Lady Lavery 1880-1935 by Sinead McCoole
Published by The Lilliput Press.

Monday 9th January 2006
The Health Squad-Guide to Health and Fitness
The Health Squad Guide to Health & Fitness brings together the talents of three experienced and qualified health experts to give wide range of advice from what to eat to how to increase energy levels, look and feel better. Their advice on RTE's Health Squad has proved invaluable to many who had given up on ever feeling well again and has resonated throughout Ireland for those with recurring minor problems to serious health issues.

Dietician Paula Mee, Holistic Therapist Karen Ward and fitness instructor Padraig Murphy have a unique approach to health. Theirs is not a hairshirt and penitential attitude, but one of practical, sound advice which, with only a modicum of determination, will help improve quality of life. The book doesn't preach, but gives the facts, plenty of do's and don'ts and is so easily presented, it is accessible to those who don't have a lot of time to read.

Thursday 8th December 2005
On the show this morning two book worms shared some of their ideas on the perfect Christmas book gift for a loved one or for yourself perhaps. Jane Alger - divisional librarian with Dublin City Librarires, and Paula Shields freelance arts journalist compiled the following list as a guide to the best Christmas books.  Don't forget to check the list twice!

Memoir by John McGahern

The Sea by John Banville

Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

Oates Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol

The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankells

The Family on Paradise Pier by Dermot Bolger

A Long, Long Way by Sebastian Barry

Saturday by Ian McEwan

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch

A short history of tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

Map of Glass by Jane Urquhart

Gentlemen & Players by Joanne Harris

Sailing for Home by Theo Dorgan

The Open Door book of Poetry edited by Niall Mc Monagale

The Silver Spoon Published by Phaidon Press

Darina Allen's Easy Entertaining

Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries

Great War For Civilisation: the Conquest of the Middle East by Robert Fisk

The Pope's Children by David McWilliams

The Illustrated Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater

Through Siberia by Accident by Dervla Murphy

Wrong About Japan by Peter Carey

Two Lives by Vikram Seth

Margrave of the Marshes-Autobiography of John Peel

Untold Stories by Alan Bennett

Eoin O'Duffy: A Self-Made Hero by Fearghal McGarry

The Ongoing Moment by Geoff Dyer

Wednesday 30th November 2005
Great Lies we tell small kids By Andy Reilly.

The Buildings of Dublin-Spectacle or side show?
By Dr.Christine Casey.

Tuesday 29th November 2005
Whicker's War By Alan Whicker. Published by Harper Collins.
Alan Whicker was a globe trotter when no-one else stepped outide their door.  His laconic style was brought to us from palm fringed beaches, millionaire's boudoirs, and dictator's door steps.  He's now brought us his story of World War II in his new book - Whicker's War.  His book is the story of his time in the Army film unit during the war.

Friday 25th November 2005
He Loves me not he Loves me and The Last of the Great Romantics By Claudia Carroll. Published by Transworld.

Friday 18th November 2005
The Good Granny Guide-Or how to be a modern granny
By Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall. Published by Short Books.
We are children, we grow up, we become parents, we have children, our children grow up, they become parents and we become.grandparents..Grandads....a twinkle in the eye, sturdy fat braces and a stock of boiled sweets in the bag pocket. Grannies, little old ladies with grey haired buns, little round spectacles and a delightful twinset. Which of course would be delightful and true IF it was the 1950s. Today's grandparents are modern men and women more likely to hop to Spain for a few days sun worshipping than head down the town hall for a quiet sweat on the last four at Bingo of a Wednesday.  Jane Fearnely Whittingstall has written a book called 'The Good Granny Guide' and she spoke to Ryan and told us exactly what is to be expected from the Modern Granny.  You can visit www.goodgranny.com for more details.

Friday 11th November 2005
Change the World for a Fiver. By Sandra Deeble
A book of 50 simple actions to change the world and make you feel good.  Author and all round do-gooder Sandra Deeble spoke to Ryan about her delightful new book and the We are what we do movement.  Go to www.wearewhatwedo.org for more details.

Wednesday 9th November 2005
Peace Kills: America's Fun New Imperialism. By P.J. O'Rourke

Tuesday 8th November 2005
Ten Eternal Questions: Wisdom, Insight and Reflection for Life's Journey By Zoe Sallis. Published by Duncan Baird.
Do you believe in an afterlife? What has life taught you so far?
Who do you most admire in the world? Just three of the 10 'questions-of-life' Zoe Sallis posed to some of the cultural, political and spiritual figures of our time -  from Bob Geldof and Bono, to Shimon Peres and Nelson Mandela, all giving individual responses to life's conundrums. The book features 'wise bites' from over 40 contributors in her book. Ryan spoke to her about compiling the book.

Thursday 3rd November 2005
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress
By Ross O'Carroll Kelly [as told to Paul Howard]. Published by Penguin.
Roysh! Depending on your view he is either the champion of the upper class and a legendary ladies man, or a hateful and snobbish, Heineken guzzling, Dublin four rugby jock.
Either way, there is little doubt that infamous Sunday Tribune columnist Ross O'Carroll-Kelly has become a cultural phenomenon in Ireland, and his somewhat-distorted views on life are now even being translated into Russian.
Ross' alter-ego, journalist Paul Howard, who distances himself from Ross by claiming to be "as working class as curry sauce and processed cheese slices" joined us in studio to talk about the new book.

Wednesday 2nd November 2005
What Lies Beneath-Women and their Underwear By Helen Murray.
Published by Mercier Press.
Here's a question for our female listeners- just how political is your underwear? According to Helen Murray, author of a new book What Lies Beneath, the history of women's emancipation has been mirrored in their underwear - from the constrictions of the corset to the sexuality and empowerment of the wonderbra.
The author, Helen Murray spoke to Con Murphy about the book.

Monday 24th October 2005
The WWW.Club By Anita Notaro. Published by Bantam Press and available in all good bookshops.
Described Stateside as Sex in the City meets Desperate Housewives, Anita Notaro's new book is the story of a group of friends full of food for thought, who are hungry for love and well, just plain hungry.  It's a case of choc-lit meets chick-lit and the author, an experienced dieter and foodie, Anita Notaro joined Ryan in studio to talk about her new book, the Women Watching Weight Club.

Friday 21st October 2005
With Their Backs To The World-Portraits from Serbia
By Asne Seierstad. Published by Virago Press Ltd.
Author of the bestselling The Bookseller of Kabul Norwegian journalist and writer Asne Seierstad made three visits to Serbia between 1999 and 2004. The latter visit was when she decided that she would write a book about the people she met and the places she saw. The book is a series of snapshot of Serbian people, mirroring their views and situations. She joined Ryan in studio on The Tubridy Show to talk about the book.

Thursday 13th October 2005
Alleluia America! By Carole Coleman. Published by The Liffey Press. Priced €14.95.
Former RTE Washington Correspondent Carole Coleman doesn't hide her fire under a Bush. She made international news after her controversial crossing of swords with George W. That interview and her subsequent road trip is the subject of her new book called 'Alleluia America! An Irish Journalist in Bush country. It's an entertaining and insightful read into the mindset of many of the people who voted for Bush. She joined Ryan in studio to talk about the new book and to recount the infamous White Hosue interview

Tuesday 11th October 2005
Jamie's Italy By Jamie Oliver
He's more of a force of nature than a celebrity chef at this stage.  One mention of an ingredient and supermarkets sell out over night.  He's taken on the British institution of school dinners and in doing so has become an institution himself.  Not so long ago he was just the naked chef, whose friends seemed to be constantly enjoying his lavish banquets, but now he's putting his own stamp on another institution - Italian cooking - with his new book Jamie's Italy.  Ryan spoke to Jamie about his new book and his new TV series and Irish Dinner Lady, Nora Sands, the star of Jamie's School Dinners programme even phoned in to let us know what she now serves up every day in the school canteen.

The Media Diet for Kids- A parents guide to TV and computer games By Teresa Orange and Louise O'Flynn. Published by Hay House.
Are you familiar with the phrase ' Ah, Ma just five more minutes!'or Ít's nearly over I have to see the end' or ' I've just got to finish this level and then I'll stop, I can't save the game' - heard those before?  Well if you have you might need 'The Media Diet for Kids' a manual to help you with your children's addictive personalities when it comes to television, the internet and computer games.  Ryan was joined in studio by Eleanor Petrie of the National Parents Council and Gwen Brennan, a parent, to review the book and talk about what their kids are watching. You can go to www.mediadietforkids.com

Thursday 6th October 2005
Dublin Cinemas-A pictorial selection By Jim Keenan
You all know we love the movies here on the Tubridy show, and there's also a certain nostalgic glamour to some of the buildings they're shown in.  We were delighted to find a new book by Jim Keenan that focuses on some of Dublin's faded picture palaces, and neglected silver screens.  Ryan spoke to the author.

Friday 30th September 2005
Mr.Confidential By Chris Hutchins
He babysat Sharon Osbourne, slept in Princess Margaret's bed, helped Lisa Marie Presley with her spellings, lost more than a few weekends with Tom Jones, popped pills with John Lennon and got prime ministers very, very drunk. Sounds gossipy doesn't it? And it is. Chris Hutchins makes no apologies for his love of gossip.  His long-running column 'Confidential' pulled no punches in exposing the foibles and behind-closed-doors antics of the stars.  And of course, to do that - you have to spend your life with them.  Journalist and PR impresario Chris Hutchins has just that. He is the very man for an unashamedly gossipy, plug-in-the-kettle, you'll-never-guess-what-I heard chat and he told Ryan all about it.

Thursday 29th September 2005
The Museum of Hoaxes: A history of Outrageous Pranks and Deceptions By Alex Boese.
Have you heard about the schoolchildren who stole the penguin from Dublin Zoo, the Trees in Italy that Spagetti are harvested from? Crop Circles, The UFO's that Landed in London, The Woman who gave birth to Rabbits, Well They're all true stories - not.  New York Times Irish Correspondent Brian Lavery, a man with sceptical mind, well able to spot a chancer has been reading The Museum of Hoaxes: A history of Outrageous Pranks and Deceptions. 

Tuesday 27th September 2005
The Rooms by Declan Lynch
The AA are working in a community near you, in a non-descript room somewhere close by, people are gathering and talking about how long they've been sober.  Declan Lynch's new novel 'The Rooms' is about one mans struggle staying sober, even though he really loves the booze.  Ryan spoke to the author, journalist Declan Lynch.

Tuesday 20th September 2005
Business Miscellany Published by The Economist
FTSE 100, stocks, bonds, shares and currencies - this is a pocket guide to all things quirky in business - the villains, the blunders, the brands and the bubbles that burst.  Journalist Margaret E. Ward was in studio to review the book.

Thursday 15th September 2005
Brand New Friend By Mike Gayle
Mike Gayle's novels are based on the trials of men  and their love lives; he has written about being scared of commitment, the other woman, the fear of babies; you get it, the whole thing.
He has been described as a male Helen Fielding and rates books by Nick Hornby and Tony Parsons in his all time top ten. His latest book 'Brand New friend' brings up the questions of how of you make new friends in your thirties, and of course can men and women ever really be friends?'

Wednesday 14th September 2005
The Story of Irish Film By Arthur Flynn

Tuesday 13th September 2005
Kitty O'Shea-An Irish Affair By Jane Jordan
If you mention the name Kitty O'Shea, an image of the wanton woman comes to mind; the lover that ruined the career of Charles Stewart Parnell. History has been unkind to the great love of Parnell's life, particularly from an Irish perspective.
Historian Jane Jordan has revisited the real love story of the pair and the reputation of Katherine O'Shea. She spoke to Ryan Tubridy about her new book.

Wednesday 24th August 2005
We need to talk about Kevin By Lionel Shriver
A book, We need to talk about Kevin by American author Lionel Shriver has taken the states by storm, its also won the Orange Prize for fiction in the UK last month.  It's a book that tackles a taboo subject - what is it like for a mother who doesn't love her child?  Ryan spoke to Eleanor Petrie, president of the National Parents Council, and Helen Shouldice, a parenting councillor about the book.

Tuesday 23rd August 2005
Diary of a Teddy Boy- A memoir of the long Sixties By Mim Scala
Mim Scala feels sorry for us guys - that's anyone who missed out on the swinging sixties and most of the hippy seventies. His book, Diary of a Teddy Boy, eulogises his youth as an actors agent, hanging out on London's Kings Road with a never ending stream of movie stars and the cognoscenti of  British pop. Ryan spoke to Mim Scala about the swinging sixties.

Monday 22nd August 2005
Bees in America-How the Honey Bee shaped a Nation
By Tammy Horn
This book is a cultural history of bees and beekeeping in the United States. Tammy Horn, herself a beekeeper, offers a varied social and technological history from the colonial period, when the British first introduced bees to the New World, to the present, when bees are being used by the American military to detect bombs. Tammy Horn teaches at Berea College. She learned beekeeping from her grandfather, who grew up hunting bee trees in eastern Kentucky.  Tammy took a break from the World Beekeeping Congress which is taking place in the RDS to talk to Ryan.

Friday 19th August 2005
IRAQ-Searching for Hope By Andrew White.
Published by Continuum
Ryan spoke to Cannon Andrew White about his book. 
He is now the International Director of Iraqi Institute of Peace and Anglican Vicar of Iraq.

Thursday 18th August 2005
Stasiland by Anna Funder
In 1949, a year after George Orwell published his dystopian novel 1984, the world of Big Brother became a stark reality for 17 million Germans who found themselves living in the German Democratic Republic also known as East Germany. A communist state that attempted to rise above Nazism, the G.D.R soon substituted that systems cruelties with abuses of its own.  Its notorious secret service, the Stasi, which at its height had as many as one informer for every 6.5 people was uniquely positioned to spy on citizens.  This week marks the 44th year since the Stasi began construction of the Berlin Wall.  Anna Funder, author of Stasiland spoke to Ryan.

Monday 15th August 2005
Life of Evel-Evel Knievel By Stuart Barker
He has broken every bone in his body. In his iconic white leathers he jumped a record 19 cars on his Harley Davidson and on another attempt he cleared 14 trucks. Say the name Evel Knievel to anyone and they will most probably remember the little toy bike they or their brother had as a child. That little toy bike earned the daredevil $60 million, but his excesses were as outrageous as his successes.  Like Elvis, most people today assume he's dead. But, unlike Elvis, he isn't.  Stuart Barker has met the man and written the only warts and all biography on him and he joined Ryan from a studio on the Isle of Man to discuss the life of Evel Knievel

Monday 8th August 2005
To see every bird on Earth By Dan Koeppel
Published by Hudson Street Press
A book about extraordinary bird-watching and extraordinary compulsion. The primary focus of the outdoor writer Dan Koeppel's book is his father, Richard Koeppel, who lives in Springs and is in the top 10 of the "big listers," those bird-watchers and bird listeners who have devoted their lives to observing as many as they can of the world's 10,000 or so individual bird species, in the wild. It is an unusual pursuit bordering on mania, kind of like the search for the Holy Grail absent the holiness. Nonetheless, it is a sport rapidly gaining in popularity around the world, and one that takes the enthusiast into the outbacks of every continent, and then some. Ryan spoke to the author.

Friday 5th August 2005
Shockwave-Countdown to Hiroshima by Stephen Walker
Tomorrow morning marks the 60th anniversary of one of the most momentous moments in history;  The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The deadliest weapon in history, "Little Boy" shocked the Japanese into surrender and hastening the end of the war. 140,000 people lost their lives and only a handful of the city's residents survived. In a new book titled, "Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima," author and filmmaker Stephen Walker describes the desperate race to complete the bomb that changed the world, and the story of that momentous day. We caught up with Stephen in Washington DC for a fascinating interview.

Wednesday 3rd August 2005
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner.
Can the name of your child determine their destiny?  Is sumo wrestling corrupt?  And if drug dealing is so profitable, why do so many dealers live at home with their mammys? Well one book attempts to answer these questions.    It is called 'Freakonomics' and is by the US economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner.   It is topping the best-seller lists and making a mockery of that old chestnut..lies, damn lies and statistics.  Brian Lavery, New York Times Irish correspondent, reviewd the book.

Tuesday 2nd August 2005
Breakfast with Tiffany-An Uncles Memoir by Edwin John Wintle
Sometimes you just don't expect what life is going to throw at you. So when you are a single gay man in New York enjoying your life, the last thing you can expect is to become a daddy overnight to a thirteen year old.  But that's exactly what happened Edwin John Wintle when his niece Tiffany came to stay. And they became a very modern family.  Ryan spoke to Eddie, the author of the and his heroine, Tiffany.

Surviving Armageddon-Solutions for a threatened planet
by Bill McGuire. Published by Oxford University Press.
As Planet Earth comes increasingly under pressure, will the End-of-the-World scenarios of Hollywood blockbusters seem as ridiculous now to future generations?  Bill McGuire describes himself as an 'optimistic pessimist' believing we can survive what nature throws at us as long as we take the risks seriously. He's a man of many 'hard' hats -disaster expert, geophysicist, member of the Natural Hazard Working Group, and he spoke to Ryan about the threats our planet faces.

Monday 1st August
A Dictionary of Hiberno-English by Terence Patrick Dolan
Published by Gill & MacMillan. Available in most good bookstores priced €29.99.  Hiberno-English is English as spoken by the people of Ireland and has nothing to do with accent and when you see all these words in one place in Terry's fantastic book, it provides an explanation of sorts for Ireland's rich literary tradition, once so rooted in the spoken word.
Associate Professor of English at University College Dublin Terry Dolan is an expert on Hiberno English and has published a book, "A Dictionary of Hiberno-English".  Terry shared some of these linguistic delights with Ryan.

Friday 29th July 2005
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Occasionally, a book comes along which grabs the public's imagination. The Thorn Birds, Rich Man Poor Man and of course, in more recent times, The Da Vinci code. Well today we brought you right up to date with what is THIS year's water cooler novel.
The Historian is a modern day take on the legends of Dracula, a global swirling story that brings the reader on a journey from the United States across Europe and through time in a creepy, intriguing tale. Its' author Elizabeth Kustova joined Ryan in studio

Thursday 21st July 2005
Moon Dust by Andrew Smith
Thirty six years ago today, Neil Armstrong alighted from a piece of fragile metal onto the moon. He made a speech and planted a flag and 600 million people were enthralled. There are now only nine remaining men who walked on the surface of the moon.
Author and journalist Andrew Smith decided to track them down and figure out just what it means to have walked on the moon.
He joined us from a BBC Norwich studio to talk about it thirty six years to the day since man took on perhaps its greatest adventure.. .that is if you believe it.

Spies, Lies and Whistleblowers by Annie Machon
When you think of the British secret service you might think of the glamour of James Bond. But in her new book "Spies Lies and Whistleblowers" former MI5 Agent, Annie Machon reveals the shabby lime green walls and operational blunders that, she says, characterise MI5. She joined us from Ryan from the BBC Brighton studios.

Wednesday 20th July 2005
Positive NOT Pushy-How to make the most of your child's potential By Cassandra Jardine Published by Vermilion.  Retailing at €12.95
Ryan spoke to Cassandra Jardine, mother of five and journalist with the Daily Telegraph about her easy to use guide which gives sensible advice on the practicalities and psychology of encouraging a talent, while keeping your child happy and well-balanced.

Tuesday 19th July 2005
Lizzie Siddal-The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel
By Lucinda Hawksley
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a society set up by seven idealistic young men - poets and artists.  They believed that art had 'gone wrong' with the advent of Raphael (1483 - 1520) and that his style had dictated the rigid codes now adhered by the British establishment.  The group was sworn to secrecy and marked their allegiance to their cause by painting 'PRB' on their canvases.  Ryan spoke to the great great great grandaughter of Charles Dickens, Lucinda Hawksley about her new biography of Lizzie Siddal, a Pre-Raphaelite model about her unorthodox beauty - being a red head, her relationship with Dante, her laudenum addiction and her eventual suicide.

Monday 18th July 2005
Nemesis-Aristotle Onassis, Jackie O, and the love triangle that brought down the Kennedys By Peter Evans

Thursday 14th July 2005
The Accidental American-Tony Blair and the Presidency
By James Naughtie
Tony Blair has three telephones on his desk. One is marked 'Washington'.  There is no clearer sign of the strength of Blair's relationship with the White House. James Naughtie, Presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today programme spoke to Ryan about his new book.

Family Finance 2005 By Colum Rapple

Wednesday 13th July 2005
Wizard!Harry Potters Brand Magic By Stephen Brown
Published by Cyan Books
The Harry Potter books are a marketing phenomenon with an empire worth $4 billion but just what are the secrets to their success?  Stephen Brown, Professor of Marketing Research at the University of Ulster and author of Wizard! Harry Potter's Brand Magic joined us from our Belfast studio to talk about the brand, the book and the "author-preneur" behind it all J.K Rowling.

Monday 11th July 2005
Making Bread By Brody Sweeney
Brody Sweeney is the founder of O'Brien's sandwich bars one of Ireland's most visible and successful brands, both at home and abroad. Since the opening of the first store in 1988, Brody has successfully opened over 270 outlets in Ireland, UK, the US, Denmark, Australia and Asia. Making Bread is the story of one man's dream, which nearly ended as soon as it begun, to build a successful international franchise.

Thursday 7th July 2005
Piggy Monk Square By Grace Jollffe
They say everyone has a book in them but the problem is getting the time to write it. Well, Grace Jolliffe has put all us all to shame by writing her first novel on the Number 84 bus from Greystones. And it sounds like it's wonderfully dark, a kind of Juvenile Misery.  The story centres around two nine year old Scouse girls who find a policeman completely at their mercy.  The author, Grace Jolliffe joined Ryan in studio to talk about writing a book on a bus.

Tuesday 5th July 2005
Short hands, Long Pockets-
The informed guide to debt and spending By Eddie Hobbs
Available in bookshops priced €9.99/£6.99 or online at www.currach.ie

The Closers By Michael Connelly
The 11th Harry Bosch novel which marks the detective's return to the LAPD where he joins a unit of "closers" who specialize in using new technology and improved police techniques to find the answers to unsolved cases. Ryan discussed the book and the method of using DNA matching to "close" unsolved cases with Paul Williams, Crime Editor with the Sunday World and Brendan McArdle a recently retired Detective Inspector and head of the Garda Ballistics Unit.

Monday 4th July 2005
Manners from Heaven-
The easier way to better behaviour for all the family
By Sean Daveron with Sue Carr. Publication: August 2005
 
When some unruly children started throwing food around London's exclusive Lanesborough Hotel, Head Butler Sean Davoren took them to one side, explained to them how to behave properly, and soon they were calm and quiet. News of his ability spread quickly and soon he was giving regular monthly lessons in manners. Ryan spoke to him on today's programme about his method of teaching etiquette and the importance of manners. For more information go to www.orionbooks.co.uk

Thursday 30th June 2005

I hate myself and want to die-
The 52 most depressing songs you've ever heard by Tom Reynolds
What is it about depressing songs? Why do we reach for songs like Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks or The Rose by Bette Midler when we're feeling down?  Such songs are the subject of Tony Reynolds hilarious book with the tongue-in-cheek title-
'I Hate Myself and Want to Die: the 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard' there's one for every week of the year cleverly categorised into quirky genres. Musician and writer Rory O Keeffe joined Ryan in studio to review the book. 

If I was by Midge Ure
Twenty years after the original Live Aid concerts Midge Ure, formerly of the band Ultravox has organised the 2005 Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof with the aim of pressuring G8 leaders into following his recipe for ending world poverty. The five Live 8 concerts are timed to coincide with the July 6-8 G8 economic summit in Scotland and how musicians hope to convince the eight world leaders to focus on fighting poverty in the third world.  He spoke to Ryan about his musical and humanitarian career.