Glenn O'Brien is the author of How To Be A Man, and the Style Guy columnist for GQ. He also created and hosted TV Party, the seminal new wave television show, and edited Interview magazine in its early days.

The book is a collection of essays on the subject of masculinity: from dandyism (he's in support) to how to handle your old age.

JESSE THORN: It's The Sound of Young America, I'm Jesse Thorn. There's been a recent rash of advice on the subject of how to be a man. It's come from all corners; maybe it's fueled by economic insecurities, maybe it's fueled by social change. Rare among those doing the advising though has been, frankly, much qualification in that area. My guest Glenn O'Brien, however, is flush with such qualifications; he's been the style guide columnist in GQ magazine for a number of years now. He's also had a distinguished career elsewhere in the magazine industry, serving recently as Editorial Director of Brandt Publications which publishes Interview, Art in America, and Antiques, among his many other jobs in magazines. In the early 1980s, in fact, he served as one of the first editors and Art Directors of Interview; a job which came to him through his involvement in Andy Warhol's Factory. He was also the magazine's first music critic.

He wrote the film Downtown 81 with Jean-Michel Basquiat in the early 1980s, but not released until just a few years ago, and he hosted the iconic new wave television program TV Party. His new book is called How to be a Man, but it isn't really a book of advice, it's a collection of meditations ranging from clothes to the utility of celebrity to the best ways to handle ones dotage.

Glenn O'Brien, welcome to The Sound of Young America.

GLENN O'BRIEN: Hi, thanks for having me on.

Click here for a full transcript of this interview, or here to jump to the podcast audio.

William Gibson is a science fiction writer whose works increasingly take place in a realistic present. His latest book, Zero History, is about fashion, authenticity and identity. It's a freestanding third work in an informal trilogy, which also includes Pattern Recognition and Spook Country.

Scott Schuman is the creator of the street fashion photography blog The Sartorialist. His new book collects some of his favorite photos from the blog. His subjects range from Hasidim on the streets of New York to garment industry insiders in Milan.

"It's ceremonious, it's celebratory, it's important."

Legendary non-fiction writer and reporter Gay Talese on being suited & booted. My only disapointment: no discussion of his signature lapel shape.

Not only has the legendary modern goods store Muji opened an electronic storefront in the US, but they've included their most legendary product: the aluminum card case. At $5.50, it's the finest card case you can buy for less than $100.

They've even included a double card case! Now that's some serious stuff.