Episode Details

As 2012 draws to a close, we re-assess the Arab Spring and discuss U.S. intervention in Syria and relations with Iran. Joining us are: Leslie Gelb, former New York Times columnist and assistant secretary of state in the Carter administration, and now, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations; Ervand Abrahamian, distinguished professor of Iranian and Middle Eastern history and politics at Baruch College; and Syrian human rights activist, Ammar Abdulhamid, a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and founder of the Tharwa Foundation.

Next, we look at the underwhelming lack of diversity in children’s reading with a focus on books with Latino characters. Here to explain the importance of books that both reflect and expand your child’s world is Mariana Souto-Manning, an associate professor at Columbia University’s Teacher’s C
ollege and, get book recommendations for your holiday shopping list from Aurora Anaya-Cerda, owner of a brand new bookstore in East Harlem, La Casa Azul.

And finally, are you an Apple or an Android? What tech-toys are you buying this season—and what mistakes are you making? We find out from a favorite guest, Peter Rojas. He’s been behind some of the most well-known tech review sites like Engadget, Gizmodo and now, as co-founder of the social networking site, GDGT.com.