Maverick Voices: Conversations with Political and Cultural Rebels

Jacobsen's mavericks are ""daring and determined artists, writers, filmmakers, psychotherapists and activists,"" from Daniel Ellsberg and Woody Allen to lesser-knowns like documentary filmmaker Neil Davies and sculptor/author Desmond McNamara. In in-depth interviews, Jacobsen, a research associate at the University of Chicago, prompts these creative people to discuss the roots of their activism and art and to comment on current events. Bianca Jagger, who has used her celebrity to advocate for human rights and the environment, criticizes UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for his reluctance to investigate the massacre at Srebrenica during the Bosnian war. The irrepressible author and radio personality Studs Terkel says the Democratic Leadership Council ""has to be kicked out on its ass"" for moving the party to the right. Documentary filmmaker Davies describes his zigzagging journey from living in a poor Welsh mining village to joining the British paratroopers to filming the inner life of London's black community. And Woody Allen, asked about his film dramas, says wistfully, ""I wish I had been born with the talent to be serious."" These interviews are far from comprehensive portraits, but readers looking to understand the motivations of mavericks will find some insight and inspiration here.