Books: Group Therapy, Lively Advice From Dead Philosophers, Small Illinois Towns With Big Names

The 21st revisits some of its favorite segments from 2020. Today's theme: books. 

First, the show was joined by Chicago-based writer Christie Tate to talk about her debut memoir, "Group, How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life." The memoir traces her journey through the highs and lows of mental health. Tate’s writing has been published in the The Washington Post, in New York Times’ Modern Love column, and in The Rumpus. Her memoir came out in October, and that’s when we spoke with her on The 21st.

Then, an interview with Eric Weiner, a former NPR foreign correspondent and author of "The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers." To write this book, Weiner went on a pilgrimage to places like Athens, Delhi, and even Coney Island — traveling by train and by foot — literally following in the footsteps of some of our greatest philosophers.

Finally, we’ll explore the far-flung place names you can find right here in Illinois. What’s the story behind Paris, Versailles, and Cairo, Illinois? To commemorate two centuries and two years of Illinois Statehood, The 21st was joined by Laurent Pernot. He’s a former reporter and public affairs consultant, and now works as a college administrator in Chicago. His forthcoming book is “There and Here: Small Illinois Towns With Big Names.”

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi. 

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