Tag: politics & society

Jay Van Bavel is a professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University. He speaks frequently about political polarization and ‘the partisan brain,’ exploring why so many people are willing to put party over policy, and oftentimes, even over truth. In his latest for The Washington Post, Van Bavel explains why polarization becomes more dangerous during a pandemic.  

“There are many reasons people might not be heeding experts’ advice [about the coronavirus], from the overconfidence of youth to psychological denial to exposure to misinformation,” writes Jay Van Bavel. “But several polls released over the past few weeks suggest that a partisan divide might be partly to blame.”

Democrats appear to be preparing for the worst, with 68% reporting they’re worried about someone in their family catching the virus, compared to just 40% of Republicans. And while Google searches on the pandemic are on the rise—regardless of political affiliation—the rampant misinformation from outlets such as FOX news, has impacted public response. According to studies, there has been “stark partisan differences on hand washing, social distancing, travel, and other pandemic-related behavior.”

Fortunately, it appears that the deadly reality of COVID-19 will soon puncture the partisan divide. Van Bavel writes, “As the pandemic bears down on America and people start to see their friends and family hospitalized with life-threatening illness, you can expect to see the partisan-colored lenses start to clear up. You’ll likely see Republicans heed the advice of experts and hunker down to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Read his full article here.

To book speaker Jay Van Bavel for your next virtual keynote session, contact The Lavin Agency today, his exclusive speakers bureau.

We tend to reduce our political opponents to caricatures and stereotypes, a practice that is further reinforced by social media. And though it may feel satisfying to call one another out publicly, the effects could be dangerous. Psychology professors Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer investigate for the BBC. 

On the latest Democracy Now, Molly Crabapple sat down with Amy Goodman and Juan González to discuss her time on the campaign trail with Bernie Sanders, the Electoral College system and the Democratic primaries—and how she is using her art and activism to fight for change. 

The Forbes Under 30 Voter Survey, powered by Zogby, polled 1,014 young American voters on the upcoming election—revealing somewhat unexpected results. Chief Content Officer Randall Lane weighs in on the younger generation’s attitude towards the presidential race. 

Hypocrisy in politics is not, by any means, a new concept. But it does seem to be escalating—especially in an Internet age, where every tweet and video clip can be captured and circulated indefinitely. As the 2020 election approaches, NYU’s Associate Professor of Psychology Jay Van Bavel explores how we got here.

In the not-so-distant past, citizens have rallied around their president in moments of terror and distress. The crisis in Iran feels different. Taking place in the shadow of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, the current political moment is inspiring more fear than faith. Globe and Mail alum John Ibbitson considers what might happen next.  

“I think for some people who leave Westboro, losing that sense of specialness feels like you’ve lost something really valuable and important. I had the opposite experience,” former Westboro Baptist Church member and author of Unfollow Megan Phelps-Roper tells The Cut. “I was so grateful to know that I wasn’t uniquely evil. I was just a human being who had had this set of experiences that were outside of my control.”

To book speaker Megan Phelps-Roper contact her exclusive speakers bureau, The Lavin Agency. 

Is there anything Reza Aslan can’t do? The Harvard-educated religious scholar has published numerous books and screenplays, is adapting his New York Times bestseller Zealot into a feature film, and executive produces the new Chuck Lorre comedy on CBS. Combine that with his hilarious podcast with Rainn Wilson, and you have a bona-fide “multi-hyphenate.”

Age no longer merely divides Republicans and Democrats. In today’s political tapestry, there exists a third party—the young leftists—who veer sharply away from both platforms. In his latest for The Atlantic, Derek Thompson dives deep into the progressive movement happening throughout the current election. 

Ever since the 2016 election, American politics have seemed more like a circus than a system of government. Lavin’s top ten political speakers are some of the brightest, sharpest minds fighting anti-democractic forces and standing up for the values of free society.  

Garrett M. Graff: Garret Graff has unique insight into America’s ever-shifting political landscape. An award-winning journalist, he’s spent over a decade covering the happenings in Washington D.C., including Robert Mueller’s two-year investigation into Donald Trump. Graff—a distinguished historian and political speaker—has also authored several critically acclaimed books, his most recent being a chilling account of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.  

Marc Busch: Trade wards have dominated the headlines since Donald Trump took office, and the 2020 election will only continue to stoke the fire. To understand the “epic battle of free trade” happening today, look no further than trade expert and McKinsey consultant, Marc Busch. A sought-after political speaker, Busch helps businesses and industries understand how international trade will affect them—and how they can protect themselves.

Emily Bazelon: In her latest book Charged, New York Times staff writer Emily Bazelon examines how the American criminal justice system continually fails its citizens. A groundbreaking piece of investigative journalism, Charged confronts the problem of mass incarceration head-on, offering bold solutions for institutional reform. Bazelon—a lecturer at Yale Law School—is a riveting speaker and one of the leading authorities on justice in America.

Yascha Mounk: The rise of far-right groups and authoritarian leaders are threatening democracy around the world. In his book The People vs Democracy, Atlantic contributor Yascha Mounk explains how we got to this critical juncture in American history, and what we can do to fix it. His rousing political talks offer practical solutions for everyday citizens looking to do their part in protecting our rights and freedoms.  

Masha Gessen: National Book Award-winning author Masha Gessan examines the Trumpian turn America has taken, and the effect its had on the country’s political system, institutions, and its media. Expanding on the landmark article “Autocracy: Rules for Survival,” Gessen reveals how together we can defend the ideals on which our country is based.
 

George Packer: In his New York Times bestseller The Unwinding, award-winning author George Packer offers a comprehensive look at the institutional collapse, political upheaval, and troubling populism characterizing America today, while his latest book Our Man is a stunning depiction of one of the country’s most complicated political figures: Richard Holbrooke. In gripping talks drawn from his reporting, Packer unravels the shifting, diverse tapestry of the country like no other.  

Matt Taibbi: Rolling Stone columnist Matt Taibbi has written four New York Times bestselling books over the course of his career. A compelling writer, his work focuses on the most pressing issues of our time—including the demise of democracy as we know it. In the book Insane Clown President, as well as in his eye-opening political talks, Taibbi shows how we’ve arrived at a moment where spectacle triumphs over substance.  

David Rohde: “I still believe that the heart of journalism must be original, fact-based reporting. And in the Trump era, journalists must operate at our fastest and most accurate and ethical rate ever,” says David Rohde. A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the head of online news coverage at The New Yorker, Rohde speaks to the polarization and social extremism bankrupting politics today.  

Schachi Kurl: As the Executive Director of the Angus Reid Institute, Shachi Kurl has a remarkable grasp on what we’re collectively thinking about society’s most pressing issues. Whether it’s opinions on affordable housing, or the public perception of our most complex political figures, Kurl looks at non-partisan polling data to paint an astute picture of the current political moment.  

When did we come to the conclusion that maximizing shareholder value was the primary goal of all business? Is this belief inherent in capitalism, or did it enter our collective consciousness much later? And what can we do now that it’s clear this assumption is limiting our potential? Yancey Strickler answers these questions and more on Vanity Fair’s Inside the Hive podcast.  

In a new op-ed, Martin Ford—acclaimed author of two books on the impact of AI on the labour market—explains why AI-driven automation should be a top-of-mind issue in the upcoming election, and why Andrew Yang is the only candidate willing to speak out about it. 

What if discrimination on the basis of age were just as unacceptable as other kinds of prejudice? Why is society’s view of aging so grim when the lived reality is so different? Author and anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite connected with Katie Couric on her podcast, Next Question, to discuss.

Wanuri Kahiu’s award-winning feature film, RAFIKI, will be screened in Kenyan High Court—one of the first films ever to do so—as part of a landmark case for the nation. 

Journalist and author Andrew Marantz spent four years with the internet’s most “dodgy characters”—trolls, conspiracy theorists, alt-right bloggers and the like—and his new book Antisocial exposes the underbelly of social media. In an interview with Fast Company, Marantz explores the dangers of both disinformation and deplatforming, and the relationship between the gatekeepers and gatecrashers of social media. 

In his latest paper, Professor of Psychology Jay Van Bavel explores why moral, emotional content tends to capture our attention more than other kinds of content. He expands on this study for the latest episode of NPR’s Hidden Brain.  

Andrew Marantz’ first book Antisocial has been described as a “searching study of the right-wing gate-crashers who have overwhelmed social media in the Trump Era” (Kirkus Reviews). In a new interview with Longform podcast, Marantz reveals what inspired him to write the book, and why he doesn’t shy away from the tough questions. 

Economist James Robinson published the acclaimed Why Nations Fail—an investigation of power, prosperity, and poverty—in collaboration with Daron Acemoglu. Now, the two come together once again for The Narrow Corridor, a book examining the “state, society and the fate of liberty.” 

Four hundred years ago, in August of 1619, a ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived in the American state of Virginia, then a British colony. That fateful trip altered the country, it’s identity, and its history in unimaginable ways. Nikole Hannah-Jones explores the shadow cast by that crucial moment in her new audio series ‘1619.’

Titled “The Fight for a True Democracy,”  the first episode of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ 1619 podcast examines the collective trauma and repercussions of slavery, both on the African American population, and the nation as a whole. The series is part of the much larger 1619 project for The New York Times Magazine.

“Without the idealistic, strenuous, and patriotic efforts of black Americans, our democracy today would most likely look very different—it might not be a democracy at all,” says Hannah-Jones.

You can listen to the full episode here.

To book speaker Nikole Hannah-Jones for your next speaking engagement, contact an experienced sales agent at The Lavin Agency, her exclusive speakers bureau.

Bestselling author and Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi is the host of ‘Useful Idiots,’ a compelling weekly series focusing on news and politics.  

Common wisdom would suggest that Donald Trump’s campaign is targeted towards his most ardent supporters: fellow Republicans. Yet, a new study co-authored by Stanford Sociology Professor Robb Willer and his colleague suggests the opposite is true. Liberals, not conservatives, may be most swayed by the President’s re-election strategy. 

In his latest book, award-winning journalist George Packer tells the story of controversial American diplomat Richard Holbrooke. Our Man paints a dazzling portrait of a policy giant who was brilliant, self-absorbed, and willing to do anything to fulfill his political ambition. Recently, Packer joined Mother Jones editor Clara Jeffery for an enlightening conversation about the longstanding diplomat. 

A few short years ago, the radical left was poised for a European take-over; today, the once-shining leftist leaders have barely made a mark on the government. Yascha Mounk considers why the resurgent movement never took off for The Atlantic. 

The European Left has been traditionally controlled by moderate social democrats. Though the far left has always had a minor presence in European parliament, it had no real power until the Great Recession withered the public’s faith in the old system. “The first sign of the new era came in January 2015 when Syriza, a party forged from a potpourri of leftist splinter groups, won national elections at the height of Greece’s devastating currency crisis. The party’s young leader, Alexis Tsipras, became the first far-left politician in decades to head a western European government,” writes Yascha Mounk in his Atlantic article “The Rapid Fall of The Left.”

Tsipras’ win was one of many small radical leftist victories in Europe, including Jermy Corbyn in Britain and Jean-Luc Melenchon in France. Many predicted that a democratic wave would take over the continent, but, as Mounk writes, most observers failed to recognize that these victories constituted a “reordering of power within the left, rather than a triumph over the right.”

Sunday’s election in Greece—where Tsipras was ousted from office after less than four years in power—suggests that the left is in deep crisis. Mounk offers a potential explanation for the turnaround: its appeal was always more negative than positive. In Tsipras’ case, his opposition to the current system was what fuelled his platform and garnered him support. “So long as Tsipras remained in opposition, his incoherence mattered less than the apparent authenticity of his anger. But once he came to power, his inability to deliver alienated Greeks on all ends of the political spectrum.”

The economic crisis offered a rare opportunity for the far left to gain political ground with angry voters who were turning their backs on the establishment. Unfortunately, they were unable to nurture the momentum into full-fledged and long-lasting support. As the U.S. 2020 election draws near, Mounk urges American leftists to take note of the European Left’s fall from grace if they don’t wish to suffer the same fate.

To book Yascha Mounk for your next speaking event, contact The Lavin Agency, his exclusive speakers bureau.

As the democratic debates kick off, Contributing Editor at Rolling Stone Matt Taibbi joins broadcast journalist Warren Olney on KCRW to discuss how the rise of social media has dramatically altered America’s political landscape.  

Though they are based on very little information, these media pronouncements of the “winners” and “losers” paint a picture of who are the most viable, qualified, or presidential candidates, and effects voter judgement moving forward. In fact, Taibbi notes, the press feels like it has a responsibility to paint this picture and educate voters. However, as we saw in 2016, times are changing: voters are pushing back against these manipulative tendencies, often picking non-traditional candidates just to spite the media, who they have come to view as a faction of the ruling elite.

The American public also no longer has to rely on traditional sources for information. “Commercial press hasn’t clued into the fact that in the social media age, they just don’t have the clout that they used to,” Taibbi says. “We’re in a new frontier, and the press hasn’t caught up to that.”

You can listen to the Taibbi’s full conversation with Olney here.  

Interested in Matt Taibbi or another speaker like him? Visit our dedicated Politics & Society speakers page for more information.

Public intellectual and international best-selling author Sam Harris is well-versed on issues ranging from moral philosophy and religion, to neuroscience and human reasoning. In the latest episode of his wildly popular Making Sense podcast he interviews inimitable historian Jared Diamond on his new book Upheaval, and the rise and fall of civilizations.

In Upheaval—the third book of his monumental trilogy that started with Guns, Germs and Steel—Jared Diamond explores how nations recover from crisis by looking at a collection of case studies. From the Soviet Union’s attack on Findland to the transformation of Germany in WWII, Diamond reveals the strategies that have been most successful in the face of collective trauma. Amidst the grave dangers the world currently faces, Upheaval encourages us to learn from past nations.

Diamond joined modern-day philosopher Sam Harris’ on his Making Sense podcast for an insightful conversation touching on political polarization, immigration policy, the biological differences between populations, and the fragility of American democracy as a whole. The full podcast is available here.

To book Jared Diamond for your next speaking event, contact The Lavin Agency today.

1984—George Orwell’s seminal work—has enjoyed a cultural resurgence in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency. Now, award-winning journalist and author George Packer unpacks the novel’s newfound relevance for The Atlantic.

“Orwell never intended his novel to be a prediction, only a warning,” George Packer writes in Doublethink is Stronger than Orwell Imagined, his latest article for The Atlantic. The book, originally published in 1949, envisions a dystopian future in which the world has fallen prey to ruthless totalitarianism, fueled by terror, surveillance, and political propaganda. Though there are startling similarities between the world today—the haunting phrase “fake news” comes to mind—and Orwell’s nightmarish dystopia, we don’t live under a totalitarian regime. “We are living with a new kind of regime that didn’t exist in Orwell’s time,” Packer writes. “Today the problem is too much information from too many sources, with a resulting plague of fragmentation and division—not excessive authority but its disappearance, which leaves ordinary people to work out the facts for themselves, at the mercy of their own prejudices and delusions.”

Packer offers us a new reading of 1984; today, the heart of the issue is not the state, but the individual. It’s not that Trump might abolish democracy, Packer argues, “but that Americans had put him in a position to try.” Regardless of the political ideologies of the day, 1984 will remain fundamental reading because it wrestles with the enduring concept of truth. Does it exist? Who gets to decide what is and isn’t true? According to Packer, the real political war is the one we wage internally.

George Packer is a staff writer for The Atlantic. His recent book, Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century, was released in May 2019.

To book George Packer or another Politics & Society speaker, contact The Lavin Agency for more information.

Netflix’s new series When They See Us tells the story of the Central Park 5: the five teenagers who were wrongfully imprisoned for the violent rape of a female jogger in 1989. Following its release, The New York Times has chosen Emily Bazelon’s Charged as one of six must-read books to help viewers better contextualize the crime, investigation, and it’s aftermath.

Thirty years ago, five black and latino boys in New York City were falsely convicted of the rape and attempted murder of Trisha Meili, a 28-year-old white woman. Years after DNA evidence exonerated the boys (now men) collectively known as the Central Park 5, director Ava DuVernay revisits the case with her heart-wrenching miniseries When They See Us: a powerful indictment of an unchecked criminal justice system influenced by racial bias. Veteran legal journalist and Lavin speaker Emily Bazelon crafted a similar indictment earlier this year in her bestselling book Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration. Now, The New York Times is recommending Charged as a companion read to the series, offering viewers a key to understanding the many grey areas of the legal system—and how something like the Central Park 5 case could have happened.

In Charged, Bazelon shows readers how having the right prosecutor can change everything. Through the stories of two young defendants navigating the system, interspersed with years of meticulous research, Bazelon makes a compelling argument for excessive prosecutorial powers being responsible for over-incarceration in the United States.

Though she paints a bleak picture of the system in its current state, Bazelon remains hopeful that American prosecution can heal itself through the inclusion of young and diverse prosecutors with their eye on reform. “Prosecutors also hold the key to change,” Bazelon writes. “They can protect against convicting the innocent. They can guard against racial bias. They can curtail mass incarceration.”

Curious to learn more? Visit our dedicted Politics & Society speakers page or contact The Lavin Agency today. 

The 2020 Presidential Race is densely packed with contenders. Journalist and Lavin Speaker Emily Bazelon explores the legitimacy of one of the Democratic Party’s most visible candidates—Elizabeth Warren—in her cover story for the New York Times Magazine.

Who can beat Donald Trump in 2020? That is the question on many people’s lips as the election draws nearer. With such a tightly packed race to the democratic primary, it’s anyone’s game. But one candidate’s star is steadily rising: Elizabeth Warren. In her New York Times Magazine cover story “Elizabeth Warren is Completely Serious,” Emily Bazelon chronicles the senator’s political journey—and transformation—into serious presidential contender.

“For her entire career, Warren’s singular focus has been the growing fragility of America’s middle class,” Bazelon writes. “She made the unusual choice as a law professor to concentrate relentlessly on data, and the data that alarms her shows corporate profits creeping up over the last 40 years while employees’ share of the pie shrinks.” In her intruiging and thorough profile, Bazelon expertly illustrates Warren’s platform today: centered on income inequality, corporate power, and corrupt politics.

Emily Bazelon is a staff writer for The New York Times and the author of the recently released Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration.

To book Emily Bazelon for your next speaking event, contact The Lavin Agency today.

In today’s political climate, nationalism tends to carry negative connotations. But in the latest video from Big Think, historian, geographer, and bestselling author JARED DIAMOND explores how—much like self-confidence for the individual—nationalism is something that countries should have, in healthy doses.

Nationalism isn’t inherently bad—it just depends how much you have of it. Jared Diamond sat down with Big Think to discuss what separates a healthy sense of national identity from unhealthy patriotic obsession. He cites Finland as an example of a country with a “healthy nationalism” based on reality—specifically, their unique language. “Nobody else in the world speaks the Finnish language. It's a beautiful, but very difficult language,” Diamond explains. “It's the root of Finnish national identity.” On the other end of the spectrum lies Germany during WW2, a situation in which grandiose pride compelled them to try and conquer the world. Today, Germany has restored what Diamond deems a much healthier national identity focused on the importance of community. 

Diamond is a Pulitzer Prize Winner and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His latest book Upheaval—the conclusion to the epic trilogy that began with Guns, Germs, And Steel—focuses on how nations can recover from crises.

To learn more about the latest in Politics & Society, browse our dedicated speakers page. 

Bill Gates is a software mogul, a billionaire philanthropist, and an avid reader—reporting he reads at least one book per week (or 50 titles per year). As a result, he’s emerged as a trusted authority on book recommendations. This year, he’s chosen Lavin Speaker Jared Diamond’s new book Upheaval as a summer must-read.

“I’m a big fan of everything Jared has written, and his latest is no exception,” Gates writes. “The book explores how societies react during moments of crisis. He uses a series of fascinating case studies to show how nations managed existential challenges like civil war, foreign threats, and general malaise. It sounds a bit depressing, but I finished the book even more optimistic about our ability to solve problems than I started.”

Gates also sat down with the celebrated author and historian to have a longer conversation about how societies have creatively solved their biggest problems. Diamond admits he became “cautiously optimistic” while researching some of the world’s most successful negotiations, and thinking about how to apply those insights to our current problems. “Jared doesn’t go as far as to predict that we’ll successfully address our most serious challenges,” Gates’ notes, “but he shows that there’s a path through crisis and that we can choose to take it.”

For more information or to book speaker Jared Diamond for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency.

Ageism is the last acceptable “ism” says Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks—the powerful anti-ageism manifesto that Publishers Weekly called “a valuable resource, an agent for social change, and an enjoyable read.”   

Booklist calls it “a fierce and funny yet practical and thoughtful manifesto on how such negativity can be combated on individual and societal levels. Offering much food for thought and abundant realistic steps to engender positive change, Applewhite's guide is an essential tool for enjoying healthy and happy aging.”

Applewhite’s TED talk below garnered a standing ovation and has been viewed almost two million times.

To book Ashton Applewhite for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency.

Do you want to try to earn enough money to insulate yourself from the world? Or do you want to make the world a place you don’t have to insulate yourself from? World-renowned media theorist Douglas Rushkoff has written his most important book yet: a crucial rallying cry to resist the technologies, markets and institutions that aim to isolate and repress us, and instead, remake society as a team: Team Human. 

To book Douglas Rushkoff for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency. 

Jared Diamond is a Pulitzer Prize winner, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, and one of Foreign Policy’s Top 10 Public Intellectuals. His forthcoming book, Upheaval, is the final installment a trilogy that the Times calls “one of the most significant projects embarked upon by any intellectual of our generation.” In Upheaval he brilliantly answers another of the world’s most pressing questions: what makes some nations resilient in the face of tremendous change—and others not? 

Yuval Noah Harari, bestselling author of Sapiens, calls it “a riveting an illuminating tour of how nations deal with crises—which might hopefully help humanity as a whole deal with our present global crisis.” Diamond’s books, like his keynotes, take audiences on a journey through some of the most profound evolutionary questions of our time, with an urgent, persuasive focus on how we can learn from the past to improve the world today. 

Watch Diamond’s TED talk, viewed over two million times, in which he asks, and answers the question: why do societies collapse?  

To book Jared Diamond for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency, his exclusive speakers bureau.

In a follow-up interview with bestselling author and Harvard professor Steven Pinker, he explains (among other things) what gave him the idea for Enlightenment Now—a book about why and how the world is getting better. “It was an epiphany from seeing graphs of human improvement that changed my view of the overall course of history: that progress is a demonstrable fact. It’s not a matter of seeing the glass half full. It’s not a matter of being an optimist. It’s a fact—that very few people know about.”

To book Steven Pinker for your next speaking event, contact The Lavin Agency, his exclusive speakers bureau.

Leading into the 2018 midterms, we’re in the most polarized political climate since the Civil War says Robb Willer, Stanford social psychologist and new Lavin speaker. In timely keynotes and brilliant workshops, Willer explains and teaches a technique called “moral reframing”—a rigorously tested method of persuading people to see and empathize with the other side.

To book Robb Willer for your next speaking engagement, contact The Lavin Agency.

The question of who you think you are is inextricably linked to what you think you are. That is, what gender, religion, race, nationality, class, culture. In Kwame Anthony Appiah’s latest book, The Lies That Bind, the celebrated philosopher and bestselling author explores, disarms, and repositions the collective, contradictory identities that are responsible not only for our sense of self, but also for some of history’s worst atrocities.

“We need more thinkers as wise as Appiah … digging their fingers into the soil of our predicament,” says the New York Times. The notion of identity today is more fraught than ever. As a writer and speaker, Appiah is able to soften the social constructs that plague us, and open minds to new ways of thinking.

Award-winning novelist and essayist Zadie Smith says “The Lies That Bind is a small volume of mighty power … Appiah elegantly dismantles the humbug, dogma, pseudo-science and propaganda that have long dogged our attempts to discuss ‘identity,’ and offers in their place a practical and philosophical took-kit … from the illusions of 19th century ideas of biological destiny, to the late-capitalist logic of our contemporary ‘cultural appropriation’ debates, this book will help a lot of people think with far more clarity about some of the thorniest issues of our times. An inspiring and essential read.”  

Read Appiah’s Guardian essay “Can We Choose Our Own Identity,” his New York Times piece, “Go Ahead, Speak for Yourself,” and his recent interview with The Financial Times.  

Book Kwame Anthony Appiah for your next speaking event.   

America is fractured and Eric Klinenberg, professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University, has written a real, actionable fix. Palaces for the People (out Sept. 11, 2018) is a brilliant, fascinating, and uplifting argument for the importance of shared spaces—libraries, childcare centers, bookstores, parks, churches, synagogues—to the future of American democracy.  

In its starred review, Booklist calls Palaces for the People “an engrossing, hopeful read, nothing less than a new lens through which to view the world and its current conflicts.” Jon Stewart calls it “a comprehensive, entertaining, and compelling argument for how rebuilding social infrastructure can help heal divisions in our society and move us forward.” Read an excerpt in The New Yorker.

And check out Klinenberg’s inpiring talk below about the sociology of connection.

To book Eric Klinenberg for your next speaking event, contact The Lavin Agency.  > > >

Molly Crabapple is one of the most determined and gifted political voices of our time. Her illustrations and writing on the Occupy Wall Street movement, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and the Syrian War make human and visceral what can often seem distant and abstract. She spoke to Huck Magazine about what we can all do to enact real change.  

1. “Be yourself, with as much rigor, pragmatism and passion as you can,” says Crabapple. In other words, having the confidence and conviction to create your own path is the first step to dismantling the system.

2. Principals are always more important than money. “I tend not to work for people I truly loathe,” she says. 

3. Don’t beat yourself up: “The world is filled with injustice, and no one can be aware of everything all the time. Pick an area that personally affects or appalls you … focusing is one of the better ways to avoid burnout.”

4. Resistance is everything: “Authoritarians everywhere are on the ascent. This is not some sort of dress rehearsal; we are fighting for our lives, whether or not we admit it.”   

Crabapple’s latest book, Brothers of the Gun, is a bracing and powerful collaboration with a Syrian journalist about growing up in a warzone. 

To book Molly Crabapple, or another artist or political speaker, contact The Lavin Agency today.  

“We began this project with one purpose in mind: we wanted to take a fresh look at the country, its disappointments and its possibilities.” In James and Deborah Fallows’ bestselling new book Our Towns, two seasoned journalists go on a remarkable exploration of America’s “flyover country,” creating a surprising, necessary, portrait of the civic and economic reinvention taking place across America.  

The results, which they share in their colorful and illuminating talks, provide a much-needed view of America’s neglected towns (and townspeople), accomplishing exactly what the authors  intended—and then some. “Our Towns will become a classic, joining the ranks of American odysseys from De Tocqueville to Dos Passos. The landscape unfurls beneath us; the language of different regions echoes in our ears. Most important, this book is a tonic for what ails us as a nation, a captivating story of energy and renewal across the land” says Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO of New America, and former Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department.

Are you interested in having an Olympic-level speaking duo present at your next event? Deborah and James Fallows offer a truly captivating account of their journey across America. To find out more about booking the Fallows, contact The Lavin Agency today, their exclusive speakers bureau.  

James Fallows has been a national correspondent for The Atlantic for over three decades. Deborah Fallows is a linguist and author. Together, they spent five years travelling the US, compiling a surprising portrait of the civic and economic reinvention taking place across the country. The result is their new book Our Towns, released today. 

Documenting the grassroots changes, generally out of view of the media, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America has already been praised by Publisher’s Weekly as “an eye-opening, keenly optimistic reminder of the strength of American’s vital center.” Check out James and Deborah Fallows on CBS Sunday Morning, discussing the inception of the book, the process of writing it, and how craft breweries factor into America’s renewal.    

To book James Fallows or Deborah Fallows, contact The Lavin Agency. href=”http:> >