Events

discussing his memoir,
Never Say Die

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Bezdek Center for the Performing Arts
at Crossroads School
1736 22^nd Street, 
Santa Monica, CA 90404
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PURCHASE IN-PERSON EVENT TICKETS
Tuesday, September 22, 8pm
$50 General Admission ticket + signed book
$60 Reserved Section Ticket + signed book
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PURCHASE VIRTUAL EVENT TICKETS (US Orders Only)
Tuesday, September 29, 6pm PT/9pm ET
$48 Virtual Admission + signed book (includes shipping to US addresses only). Includes access to watch the event on September 29 at 6pm PT/9pm ET and on video-on-demand for five days.
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The Oscar-winning star of Everything Everywhere All at Once, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and The Goonies tells the story of his journey from Vietnamese refugee to 80s child star to the most inspiring comeback in Hollywood history. 

Ke Huy Quan is an Oscar-winning actor who immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Los Angeles. Discovered at an open casting call with no acting experience, he was cast at age 12 as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, followed by his role as Data in the beloved adventure classic, Goonies. As opportunities became limited, he stepped away from acting to study at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1999, and later worked behind the scenes as an action choreographer and assistant director. After more than two decades away from acting, he returned to the screen in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s Academy Award–winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, earning widespread acclaim along with the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has since appeared in Season 2 of the Disney+ series Loki, starred in Universal’s Love Hurts, and voiced Gary De’ Snake in Disney’s animated film Zootopia 2. 

Since winning the Academy Award for her role as Minny in The Help, actress Octavia Spencer has been nominated for an Oscar twice more. The film Green Book, on which she served as executive producer, was awarded both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for best picture. The second season of her Lost Women franchise recently premiered on Investigation Discovery and HBO Max. Among her many other credits, she has is co-author of an interactive mystery series for children called Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective.

discussing her book,
Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best

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Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre
at New Roads School
3131 Olympic Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90404
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PURCHASE IN-PERSON EVENT TICKETS
Thursday, September 10, 8pm
$50 General Admission ticket + signed book
$95 Reserved Section Seat + 2 signed books (Situated and Rainn Wilsons’ Soul Boom)
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PURCHASE VIRTUAL EVENT TICKETS (US Orders Only)
Thursday, September 17, 6pm PT/9pm ET
$48 Virtual Admission + signed book (includes shipping to US addresses only). Includes access to watch the event on September 17 at 6pm PT/9pm ET and on video-on-demand for five days.
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From the #1 bestselling author of Grit, a new book that reveals the hidden power of situations and how you can shape them to bring out your best.
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Angela Duckworth, PhD, is a psychologist, a MacArthur Fellow, and the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth’s TED talk is among the most viewed of all time. Her first book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance was a #1 New York Times bestseller and has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. Her second book is called Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best.
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Rainn Wilson is an Emmy Award nominated actor, best known for the role of Dwight Schrute in NBC’s The Office. He is the host of the Peacock docu-series Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss in which he travels the world in search of happiness. He is author of the New York Times bestselling Soulpancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions as well as his comedic memoir, The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith and Idiocy. His most recent book is Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.  His diverse career includes television, movies, Broadway, unscripted series, animation, and podcasts.
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“SITUATED HIT ME AS HARD AS DUCKWORTH’S FIRST BOOK GRIT. In this follow-up, she drives home a key point: we are not the same person in every situation. Being human means bringing different versions of ourselves to the arena, and the best may depend on circumstances. Brilliantly insightful, Situated made me think about the seemingly random nature of success. Maybe being gritty isn’t enough? Maybe being in the right situation is just as important, or more? Whatever you conclude, you’ll agree after reading this book that it’s a slam dunk. I loved it.”
—Steve Kerr, four-time NBA Champion as Coach of the Golden State Warriors

In her first book, Duckworth showed that a common denominator of successful strivers is a blend of passion and perseverance she dubbed “grit.” This second book springs from her deepening realization that grit, while necessary, is sometimes not sufficient. How you situate yourself to meet a challenge can be crucial.

Her in-depth research reveals the enormous influence wielded by the objects within arm’s reach, your peers and mentors, and even your zip code. Though you’re often told to make the best of your situation, it is far, far better to make your situation better first.

In Situated, you’ll discover: Why your personality changes, sometimes dramatically, from one situation to another—and how you can harness that shift; The secret to conquering temptation without willpower; Why taking the less effortful path can feel like cheating but often solves a stubborn problem; How the company you keep shapes the person you become; The most effective ways to help others succeed

Highlighting four essential elements of successful situations, Duckworth shows how high performers like Taylor Swift, Michael Phelps, and Jerry Seinfeld create situations that make it easier to excel. And, with disarming honesty, she shares her own struggles with burnout and marriage—and how learning to change her situation, not herself, made all the difference. Whatever it is you want to achieve, there’s a situation that can make your journey easier.

It takes effort to make your situation your ally—but a little effort goes a long way…when you get situated.

discussing her novel,
Big Little Truths

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Writers Guild Theatre
135 S Doheny Dr,
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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PURCHASE IN-PERSON EVENT TICKETS
Wednesday, September 9, 8pm
$50 General Admission ticket + signed book
$75 Two General Admission tickets + one signed book
$80 Reserved Section Ticket + 2 signed books (Big Little Truths & Here One Moment)

PURCHASE VIRTUAL EVENT TICKETS (US Orders Only)
Wednesday, September 16, 6pm PT/9pm ET
$48 Virtual Admission + signed book (includes shipping to US addresses only). Includes access to watch the event on September 16 at 6pm PT/9pm ET and on video-on-demand for five days.
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Reese Witherspoon has chosen BIG LITTLE TRUTHS as her September Book Club selection
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In this highly anticipated sequel, Liane Moriarty examines the complexities of modern women’s lives, shining light on family dynamics and long-hidden truths with wit and compassion. Whether you’ve read Big Little Lies or not, this is the perfect novel for longtime fans and new readers alike.
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Liane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, Apples Never Fall, The Husband’s Secret, Truly Madly Guilty, and Here One Moment; the New York Times bestsellers Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist’s Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.
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Rufi Thorpe is the author of four novels, most recently Margo’s Got Money Troubles which was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and the Mark Twain Prize, and was adapted as an Emmy-nominated series on Apple TV. The Knockout Queen was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner award and a Book of the Month pick, and her first novel The Girls from Corona del Mar was long-listed for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the First Novel Prize. Her work has been translated into 18 languages. She received her MFA from the University of Virginia and now teaches at The Book Incubator, an online MFA alternative program.
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“Equal parts juicy, gripping, and impossible to put down . . . I loved diving back into the lives of these unforgettable characters.”­—Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid
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The last time we saw the women of Big Little Lies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—their children were five years old. If someone wasn’t invited to a birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed and the kids are in high school, navigating all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).

When the high school principal receives a threatening package in the mail, word quickly spreads throughout the community and parents are in an uproar. But Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie have other things to worry about. Celeste’s mother-in-law, Mary Louise, is behaving oddly—is it old-age forgetfulness and bluntness or something more sinister? Madeline is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, Jane is at a dangerous fork in her marriage, Bonnie has realized there’s only so much solace in yoga. And Renata? Renata is living her best life—revenge is sweet.

When a stranger begins lurking around the school asking supposedly innocent questions, this tightly connected group of women must finally face the full repercussions of the big little truths they have and haven’t shared with their kids. Because the stakes are now much higher than not being invited to an ice-skating party—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them.

discussing his book,
Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter?

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Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre
at New Roads School
3131 Olympic Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90404
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PURCHASE IN-PERSON EVENT TICKETS
Tuesday, September 8, 8pm
$25 General Admission ticket
$50 General Admission ticket + signed book
$85 Reserved Section Ticket + two signed books*
*Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter?
& Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis
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PURCHASE VIRTUAL EVENT TICKETS (US Orders Only)
Tuesday, September 15, 6pm PT/9pm ET
$48 Virtual Admission + signed book (includes shipping to US addresses only). Includes access to watch the event on September 16 at 6pm PT/9pm ET and on video-on-demand for five days.
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From the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning, multimillion-copy bestselling classic Guns, Germs and Steel,  a landmark study of leadership across politics, religion, business, and sports—seeking to decode how and why leaders matter..

Jared Diamond is the author of the international bestselling books Guns, Germs, and Steel (which has sold over seven million copies), Collapse, The Third Chimpanzee, The World Until Yesterday, and Upheaval. The many prizes that these books have won include the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-fiction, Britain’s Science Book Prize (twice), Japan’s Cosmos Prize,  and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. He is is a professor of geography at the University of California, Los Angeles. Among his many awards are the US National Medal of Science, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, a MacArthur Foundation fellowship, and election to the US National Academy of Sciences. He has published over 200 articles in Discover, Natural History, Nature, and Geo magazines, plus 400 articles in technical scientific journals. 

Terrence McNally has hosted several talks on our stage. His podcast, Free Forum: A World That Just Might Work, can be found on all major podcast sites after running on radio for over 20 years at KPFK-fm. He was also host and producer of DISRUPTIVE, a Webby-award winning podcast series on cutting-edge science at Harvard University.
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“Democracy is in crisis. At this critical point, we need leadership, not just from charismatic hucksters looking after their own interests, but from those with a vision for the future and moral clarity. But where do leaders come from how and when do they matter? We know surprisingly little on this question, but Jared Diamond’s erudite, engaging and thought-provoking book takes us a huge step forward toward understanding how circumstances and individual talents, determination and strategy make leaders that have the potential to change our world (hopefully for the better).”- Daron Acemoglu, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics and New York Times bestselling co-author of Why Nations Fail.
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Can one person change the world?
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In his acclaimed and influential books, Jared Diamond transformed our understanding of what makes civilizations rise and fall. Now, in Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings, he studies leaders throughout time to answer the question: do the actions of individuals truly influence history? Or is humanity subject to larger historical, technological, cultural, geographical forces, far beyond the influence of individuals, no matter how powerful they may seem?
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Drawing on his deep study of the life and career of a diverse cast of leaders famous and obscure– from Botswana president Seretse Khama, to environmentalist Rachel Carson, to legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden–Diamond reveals how leadership effectiveness is determined by a range of complex interrelated factors. Understanding these successes and failures and the opportunities leaders did (or did not) seize illuminates the influence of today’s leaders and helps us to reflect on the value of our votes, our faith, our passions, and the people who happen to steer our ship.
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With the same remarkable scope of Diamond’s classic bestsellers, Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings takes readers on a rich journey through the lives of humanity’s most well-known characters to reveal how time, place, and person can come together to change the course of history.

discussing collection of stories,
Thrilling Tales of Modern Men: Stories

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This event was taped with an audience on June 25.

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PURCHASE VIRTUAL EVENT TICKETS (US Orders Only) — TICKETS AVAILABLE
Thursday, July 2, 6pm PT/9pm ET
$48 Virtual Admission + signed book (includes shipping to US addresses only). Includes access to watch the event on July 2 at 6pm PT/9pm ET and on video-on-demand for five days.
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An addictive, unpredictable, darkly hilarious collection of stories from Danny McBride—the beloved creator and star of The Righteous Gemstones and Eastbound & Down.
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Danny McBride is the writer, producer, and star of the HBO comedy series Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and The Righteous Gemstones. He wrote and executive-produced the Halloween trilogy with David Gordon Green. He’s starred in a variety of motion pictures including, Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, Alien: Covenant, and Mitchells vs. The Machines. McBride co-founded the production company Rough House Pictures. Thrilling Tales of Modern Men is his first short-story collection. He lives in South Carolina with his family.

Walton Goggins is a three time Emmy nominee, who has starred in Fallout, The White Lotus, Righteous Gemstones, Vice-Principals, The Hateful Eight, Justified and more.
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“Danny McBride possesses a singular and insightful gift for capturing the essence of the imperfect, flawed, vulnerable modern man and the struggle and strife that comes with his internal longing for a better self. You probably wouldn’t want to personally know many of these characters in real life, but from afar, they certainly keep it far more interesting and entertaining. These stories are yet another beautiful example of the assorted collection of tools in the storytelling arsenal of a creative titan.”—Sturgill Simpson
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There are many sides to Danny McBride: He’s starred as the iconic character Kenny Powers in the cult classic HBO show Eastbound & Down, a series he also wrote and created—just as he did with Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones. He’s produced horror films (Halloween) and starred in sci-fi (Alien: Covenant). And ever since he was young, he’s been writing short fiction.

An amateur magician gets in way over his head with a deadly stunt in a local mall. A washed-up sitcom actor takes revenge on the coyote who killed his dog. Two young runaways decide to part ways, but not before embarking on one last big adventure.

Hilarious, razor-sharp, unexpectedly emotional, and full of wild twists and turns, the stories in Thrilling Tales of Modern Men are like nothing else. And yet they have one thing in common—each probes the fragile masculinity that has become an inescapable part of modern American culture. In this audacious and unforgettable debut collection, McBride redefines the tale of the modern man.
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