You probably know some amateurs, people driven by a singular passion for whatever, birdwatching, maybe, or home brewing or space elevators. The writer Jack Hitt certainly knows the type. He’s written a book about semi-professional people in the grip of passion, and he argues that they've powered America’s success and innovation. From Benjamin Franklin to a young Bay Area woman trying to splice a fish’s glow-in-the-dark gene into yogurt, Hitt has documented American amateurs, and he joins Doug to talk about it. (Rebroadcast)
Hear the rebroadcast Tuesday, December 18 at 11:00 a.m. and Wednesday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m. Tune in to our live radio drama "Sherlock Holmes and the Blue Carbuncle" on Tuesday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m.