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Twenty-five years ago, most of the middle class wasn't involved in Wall Street affairs, and investments were for the rich. Now that's changed, in what financial journalist JOSEPH NOCERA calls "a money revolution." NOCERA has written "A Piece of the Action: How the Middle Class Joined the Money Class" (Simon & Schuster) The book explores how the middle class became involved in the stock market, largely, he says, through the rise of credit cards, mutual funds, and discount brokerage houses.

2: Author DORIS GRUMBACH has written a second memoir, which picks up where her first, "Coming into the End Zone," left off. "Extra Innings: A Memoir" (W.W. Norton) begins with her feelings about the release of the first memoir, and chronicles her life in Maine, her travels, and coming to terms with mortality. GRUMBACH is a book reviewer for National Public Radio, and was literary editor for "The New Republic."

Rock critic KEN TUCKER has a review of "Whip-Smart" (Matador Records), the new album by Liz Phair.

Classical music critic LLOYD SCHWARTZ reviews a new CD. It''s a reissue from The Hollywood String Quartet, a chamber group made up of studio musicians who wanted to perform the classics. (on the Testament label).

Director DAVID LYNCH, who Mel brooks called "Jimmy Stewart from Mars." LYNCH is the director of "Eraserhead," "The Elephant Man," "Dune" and "Blue Velvet," all of which have received critical acclaim and attained cult status. He is also the creator of the popular but short-lived TV series, "Twin Peaks." LYNCH has published a book of photographs of his movies and his art, called "Images" (Hyperion).

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "Bucket Nut" (Doubleday), a new crime novel by Liza Cody.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews trumpeter Eddie Allen''s (aka E.J. Allen) new album, "Another''s Point of View."

2: Walter Winchell was the man who legitimized gossip columns, tabloid news, and celebrity watching. He rose from a poor New York family to become one of the most read columnists, and eventually consulted with F.D.R. and Joe McCarthy. Writer NEAL GABLER has written a biography about Winchell. "Winchell: Gossip, Power, and the Culture of Celebrity" (Alfred A. Knopf Inc.) helps explain the man who was the source of our current celebrity-obsessed culture.

Musicians ANN RABSON, GAYE ADEGBALOLA and ANDREA FAYE McINTOSH, who make up the blues group Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women. The "Chicago Tribune" says "these women have in abundance," in their songs about "domestic violence, self-respect and being a woman." Their fourth album is "Old, New, Borrowed & Blue" (Alligator Records). The group says the album was named because "We embrace the old. . . we celebrate the new. . . We've begged, stolen, and borrowed a variety of songs, rhythms, licks and tricks."

CHRISTOPHER JOYCE. He has just written a book, "Earthly Goods" (Little, Brown and Company)" about searching for medicinal plants in rainforests. CHRISTOPHER JOYCE will talk about the history of seeking drugs in the rainforests, and the recent attempt of pharmaceutical companies, medical researchers, and anthropoligists, to preserve the rainforests and comb them for AIDS, alzheimers and diabetes cures. JOYCE is also the founder and editor of the U.S. bureau of "New Scientist" magazine, and is currently a reporter and editor for National Public Radio