[inaudible conversations] welcome to the 27th an yiewg chicago tribune printers row lit fest. please turn off your cell phone and all other electronic devices. photography is not permitted. today s program will be broadcast live on c-span2 s booktv. if there s time at the end for a q and a session, we ask you to use the microphone at the center of the room so that the home viewing audience can hear your questions. if you would like to watch this program again, our coverage will be reaired tonight beginning at 11 a.m. central time. please welcome our moderator, kimberly your rack coa and carrie pitzulo. thanks very much. it s such a pleasure to be here. [applause] thank you. and this is a fantastic book, a fascinating top you can and a really entertaining read, so i will be sure to leave time for questions at the end. but my first question is just what led you to focus your dissertation on playboy? it is a fascinating topic, but it s not sort of obvious how you would choos