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Robert talks with Peter Bernstein about his book, Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk. Bernstein's book looks at the role of risk in society and the history of evolving views of risk. Bernstein says in life, risk is a given and he's interested in how people calculate risk in decision making.

Alan Cheuse reviews the first novel by Mary Doria Russell, titled "The Sparrow." Set in the Twenty-First Century, it's the story of an American Jesuit and his encounter with extra-terrestrial life.

Until this summer, commentator Reynolds Price had never returned to the town of Asheboro, North Carolina...where he lived between the ages of six and 11. He loved that place deeply, but was always afraid to return, because he feared he wouldn't be able to leave. Then, this summer he went back for an Asheboro celebration and saw friends he hadn't seen in fifty-odd years. The warmth of the experience is still fresh in his mind.

, who is making his first major international trip to meet with NATO ministers in Brussels.

Robert and Linda look at how the gubernatorial races turned out -- when it was all over, the ratio of Republican to Democratic governors remained unchanged, 32-17. On the other hand, Democrats have control of both chambers of the state legislatures in 19 states -- a gain of 2 -- compared to the 15 controlled by Republicans. Legislatures are split between the two parties in 13 states.

in Goma and a Zairean Tutsi rebel about how the recent Hutu-Tutsi conflict has affected them.

In Detroit this morning the United Auto Workers Union was expected to announce its strike target for the 1996 auto talks. The U-A-W is in the midst of negotiations for new three-year contracts at General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Traditionally, the union chooses one company as the target of the talks. NPR's Don Gonyea reports that the union surprised observers by not identifying its target company yet.

about last night's debate between President Clinton and Republican Presidential candidate, Bob Dole.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on the latest international efforts to organize an emergency relief operation for one million Rwandan refugees stranded by the fighting in eastern Zaire. The Clinton administration is studying a French proposal for a multinational force that would protect the refugees and help them return safely to Rwanda. But there are many obstacles to overcome, not the least of which is the Hutu refugees' fear of returning to Tutsi-controlled Rwanda.

Robert reads from the 1975 book "The Seven Sisters," which discusses an even larger scandal involving Texaco: the oil giant's deal to provide oil to Nazi Germany, before the U.S. entered the war against Hitler.