As you write in your book, you've been hosting "Fresh Air" since 1975, nearly your entire adult life. At age 53, evaluating your life and career, are you happy with where you are? Any regrets?

I don't have any big regrets that I can think of. I actually feel lucky to have a show that's lasted this long on public radio, I feel lucky to be in radio, I feel lucky to work with the people I do. Like Danny Miller, the executive producer of the show, we've worked together for over 25 years, he started when he was an intern. Our relationship together has outlasted your average marriage. I have such confidence in his judgment, and just in him as a person. And the rest of the staff too.

Reading the introduction to your book, it becomes clear how much work the show is. Preparing for each day's show, reading the books and bios, doing the interviews, editing them -- it's kind of relentless. You comment on how hard it is to keep your friendships going, since you're working all the time. Do you have any regrets about that? And then there's family. You don't talk about this in the book, but I don't imagine you have children.

I'm actually happy to talk about that, and I have no regrets about that.

"All I Did Was Ask: Interviews From 'Fresh Air With Terry Gross'"

By Terry Gross

Hyperion Books

384 pages

Nonfiction

Buy this book

About not having kids?

Yeah. I mean I understand what I'm missing out on, because I have two wonderful nieces and Danny has a fantastic daughter. And so watching them all grow I have an idea of how fulfilling it must be for a parent to have a child. But at the same time, I think of myself as being a member of the first generation of women who genuinely had a choice about whether to have children or not. And genuinely had a choice for two reasons -- one, the reproductive technology, the Pill or the diaphragm or something, and two, a social climate in which you could make that choice and not be a pariah, someone we should all feel real sorry for, who could never be a part of the mainstream. Growing up, I don't think I ever felt called to be a parent. Some people know they really want to be a parent. But once I got out of the playing dolls stage, that's not what I wanted for myself.

And I know that I could never have done something like "Fresh Air" if I'd been a mother. So I don't feel any regrets. And I'm married to someone [music critic Francis Davis] who feels the same way.

How long have you been married?

We've been married since '96, but we've been together since 1978.

Looks like it has legs.

(Laughs) Yeah, I think it might last. So anyway there's no conflict in our relationship over that, where one person wanted kids and the other didn't. We've always been of the same mind about that.

Speaking of your childhood, what did you want to be when you were growing up?

Well, in high school I wanted to be a lyricist.

What kind of song lyrics did you write -- moon, June, spoon? Or was it more '60s-influenced and spacey?

Oh, it's just too embarrassing to even talk about. But I enjoyed it a lot.

Nothing you'd like to sing for me now?

Absolutely not, but I really loved it. And then you get older and realize how hard it is to write really good lyrics.

What would you do for a living if your gig at "Fresh Air" ended tomorrow?

I have no idea. I'd probably want to continue doing interviews, probably want to stay in journalism. I mean, I do consider myself a journalist. A lot of people ask me, "Do you consider yourself a journalist?" And yeah, I do. I mean, I'm not a reporter. But even on a talk show, there are certain journalistic standards you've got to hold yourself to.

But you don't see yourself hanging it up any time soon?

I do not. I mean, my goal in life for as long as I can remember has been to work a little bit less. My success rate has been abysmal.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Terry Gross will be appearing at the following places in the coming months:

Oct. 15, 8 p.m.: WHYY event at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Penn. Talk, Q&A, and book signing.

Oct. 29, 12:30 p.m.: Book signing only at Borders Books & Music, 10-24 School Street, Boston, Mass.

Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.: WBUR fundraiser, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass. A conversation with Tom Ashbrook, Q&A, and signing.

Nov. 12, 8 p.m.: Playhouse Square/Ohio Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio. Talk, Q&A, and signing.

Nov. 14, 8 p.m.: 92nd Street Y event, New York, N.Y. A conversation with Frank Rich, Q&A, and signing.

Dec. 16, 7 p.m.: Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Penn. Talk, Q&A, and signing.

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