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Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: Dr Ruth Westheimer

16/09/1990

Dr Ruth Westheimer

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Dr Ruth Westheimer

Sue Lawley's castaway is sex therapist Dr Ruth Westheimer

Sue Lawley's castaway is sex therapist Dr Ruth Westheimer.

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is sex therapist Dr Ruth Westheimer.

Born in Germany in the late 1920s, her Jewish family sent her out of the country as the Nazis rose to power. Sent to the safe but lonely confines of a Swiss orphanage, she was never to see her family again. Then, after living in Israel and studying in Paris, she eventually took American citizenship. Then, 10 years ago, she emerged from obscurity to become a national celebrity. As an unemployed college lecturer in her early 50s, her appearances on radio and television, where she handed out explicit but common-sense advice on sex and its problems, brought her fame and fortune. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her early life, her adventures in Paris and Israel and the satisfactions of her present job.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] 

Favourite track: There Was A Time by Joel Westheimer
Book: Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Luxury: Large box of marrons glacés

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke:  New York - a melting pot?

 New York - a melting pot?

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, New York - a melting pot?

How wide are the cultural divisions with New York, and do they pose a threat to the city?

The cultural makeup of New York, ‘The Melting Pot’ and plays of Israel Zangwill, and the separation of Irish, Jewish, black, Italian and Puerto Rican communities in NYC.

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