First televised Dec. 13, 1999. In this interview, acclaimed author of The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood discusses her life, literary fame, and offers insights into her novels. The Power of Ideas features deep, candid interviews with luminaries from across all disciplines of science, the humanities, and government. Originally airing from 1997 to 2002, the show was underwritten by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma Humanities Council and distributed by American Public Television. The Power of Ideas was filmed on the campus of the University of Oklahoma and hosted by Dr. Robert Con Davis-Undiano, Executive Director of World Literature Today and Neustadt Professor of Comparative Literature. Despite their historical significance, these interviews have been unavailable to the general public for over a decade, and many of the master tapes are beginning to disintegrate. OU Outreach Film & Media Services has embarked on a project to digitize and preserve this outstanding program. We hope it will serve as a valuable resource for future scholars and researchers. Special thanks to the University of Oklahoma Western History Collection and Dr. Davis-Undiano for their assistance. Transcription and captioning by Outreach Video & Media Services.