In Sapiens, he explored our past. In Homo Deus, he looked to our future. Now, one of the most innovative thinkers on the planet turns to the present to make sense of today’s most pressing issues. How do computers and robots change the meaning of being human? How do we deal with the epidemic of fake news? Are nations and religions still relevant? What should we teach our children? Yuval Noah Harari’s “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” is a probing and visionary investigation into today’s most urgent issues as we move into the uncharted territory of the future. As Continue reading…

You’ve likely seen Jake Tapper behind the desk at CNN, as the network’s award-winning Chief Washington Correspondent and anchor of two flagship news programs. In 2012, Jake wrote the New York Times bestseller The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, a nonfiction account of untold heroism in Afghanistan. The year 2018 marks another milestone in Jake’s esteemed career, with the publication of his first political thriller, THE HELLFIRE CLUB, set in 1950s Washington, DC. Arriving at a time when capital intrigue is at unprecedented levels, THE HELLFIRE CLUB is a compulsively readable novel by one of DC’s most insightful Continue reading…

Marc Maron says of Patricia Williams: “Mind-blowing. She was able to elevate her personal stories of horror, sadness, violence, insanity into something that people can understand and relate to and see into a world that many of us don’t know.”  Patricia Williams, the fifth child of an alcoholic single mother, came of age in Atlanta at the height of the crack epidemic. At 12, she had her first boyfriend; by 15 she was a mother of two. Williams wanted to give her children the kind of life she’d always dreamed of, but with no education or job skills her options were Continue reading…

Marking the 90th Anniversary ​of the building, Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon  is the first comprehensive history of Los Angeles City Hall. Los Angeles City Hall is among the most iconic buildings in America; some say, the world. A bold symbol of the ambition of America and its people, City Hall graces California as one of its most enduring landmarks. Stephen Gee’s Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon is the definitive book chronicling its history.  

In celebration of The Simpsons thirtieth anniversary, the show’s longest-serving writer and producer Mike Reiss, offers a humorous look at the writing and making of the legendary Fox series that has become one of the most revered artistic achievements in television history. Joining him will be Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson), Yeardley Smith (voice of Lisa Simpson), Mike Scully(writer/producer) & David Silverman (animator/director).  

Mark Seliger’s extraordinary portfolio is 30 years in the making. Hebegan shooting small assignments for Rolling Stone in 1987; in 1992 he became their chief photographer, a position he kept for 15 years. During the course of his time at the magazine, he photographed more than 125 covers. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, ELLE, GQ, Vogue Italia, New Yorker, Purple, and in museums and galleries worldwide. He has captured some of the most iconic images of the most famous and influential faces of our time, including Kurt Cobain, Nelson Mandela, Leonardo DiCaprio, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Emma Stone, Angelina Jolie, Bruce Springsteen, David Continue reading…

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ​is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a six-time NBA champion and the league’s only six-time MVP. He is has a national platform as a regular contributing columnist for newspapers and magazines around the world, such as The Guardian and The Hollywood Reporter. A New York Times best-selling author, he has written 14 books, including two recent memoirs: Becoming Kareem for young readers, and Coach Wooden and Me about his lifelong friendship with famed UCLA coach John Wooden.  

Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel discusses his memoir, My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for Peace. Ehud Barak served as Israel’s Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001. He was the leader of the Labor Party from 2007 until 2011, and Minister of Defense, first in Olmert’s and then in Netanyahu’s government from 2007 to 2013. Before entering politics, he was a key member of the Israeli military, occupying the position of Chief-of-Staff. His memoir tells the unvarnished story of his―and his country’s―first seven decades; of its major successes, but also its setbacks and misjudgments. He offers candid assessments of his Continue reading…

Marcia Gay Harden, one of America’s most revered actresses discusses her memoir at Live Talks Los Angeles. In 1993, she originated for Broadway the now-iconic role of Harper Pitt in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, a performance that earned her a Tony Award nomination. In 2001, she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of the painter Lee Krasner in Pollock and in 2009, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Veronica in Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage. Her films include Miller’s Crossing, The First Wives Club, Mystic River (for which she received a Continue reading…

Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary street artist, graphic designer activist and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene.  He is best known for his Barack Obama “Hope” poster, which he created in support of the 2008 presidential campaign. His work has been included in the collections of several museums, including the Smithsonian, LACMA the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Henry Rollins, former fronter of legendary punk band Black Flag, is a multi-talented musician, writer, journalist, activist, and actor.