I had a chance to interview Boorstin a few years back when his book The Seekers was published. He invited me to his home in D.C.–it was a treat to see so many books in one place that wasn’t a library. They lined his office from floor to ceiling. The thing I remember most is that he kept reference guides within easy reach of his desk–specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries of biography and science, and so on. It’s a practice I’ve tried to duplicate in my own home. Also, his widow Ruth is a tremendously warm and gracious woman, plus an elegant poet. She has often contributed humorous items to the Wall Street Journal’s “Salt and Pepper” column. Try her book Love is Not Because.