The PRH Speakers Bureau is proud to represent speakers who keep us connected and make powerful progress toward change. As we continue to have conversations about challenging the status quo, actively fighting for justice in BIPOC communities, and grappling with COVID-19, we’ve compiled these recent articles, media, and essays from our speakers about the changing personal, political, and cultural landscapes.
We are also happy to include a roundup for you here of virtual events that are open to the public from our speakers for the upcoming week.
Virtual Events with Our Speakers
Tune in to these virtual Penguin Random House speakers’ book events, author Q&As and more that are happening this week.
Tuesday, November 17
- Tommy Orange will at South Dakota State University virtually (8:00PM EST)
- Charles Yu is discussing the INTERIOR CHINATOWN at Wisconsin Book Festival with Madison Public Library (8:00PM EST)
Wednesday, November 18
- Robert B. Reich discusses FIXING A RIGGED SYSTEM at The National Festival (1:00PM EST)
- Megha Majumdar speaks at Literary Arts (4:30PM EST)
Thursday November 19
- Charles Yu will be in-conversation with Karen Russell at Free Library of Philadelphia (7:30PM EST)
Check out #BooksConnectUsLive for more live virtual events.
News and Media from PRHSB Speakers
Politics
Our speakers provide clarity and shrewd analysis of today’s issues to help make sense of our current and future political landscape.
- My Fellow Veterans Reminded Me What This Election Was About | The New York Times: Elliot Ackerman talks about the importance of a leader in guiding us in the work of healing and forgiveness.
- How Biden could still succeed with a Republican Senate majority | MSNBC: Anand Giridharadas discusses what the President-elect can get done with a Republican majority senate.
- Cindy McCain says her husband would have wanted Biden recognized as President-elect | CNN: Alisyn Camerota speaks with Cindy McCain on what John McCain would say to election deniers.
- Column: ‘I hope you die a miserable death’ and other words of encouragement from my readers | Los Angeles Times: Steve Lopez speaks about his experience with President Trump supporters.
- Trump’s last attempt to steal the election won’t work | Salon: Robert B. Reich analyzes President Trump’s tactics.
COVID-19
These articles from our speakers highlight practical advice and news about the current pandemic.
- A Vaccine Breakthrough | The Daily: Carl Zimmer talks about how this major advance in coronavirus vaccine has raised hopes that mass immunization could bring an end to the pandemic.
- Now for the work | America Dissected: Coronavirus: Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal speaks on America’s rural healthcare crisis and COVID19.
- How This Might End: Lessons From the Spanish Flu | WebMD: Howard Markel, M.D. provides some insights on how this pandemic may end.
- Staying Close, Even When Distant with Sam Sanders and more | The Splendid Table: Priya Parker guides us on how to build a sense of connection while we are apart during the holidays.
Black Lives Matter Movement
Below are some recent dialogues from our speakers on systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter movement.
- A Battle Between the Two Souls of America | The Atlantic: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi writes about the divide in America between the souls of injustice and justice.
- Ta-Nehisi Coates on Joe Biden’s 2020 Victory | Late Night with Seth Meyers: Ta-Nehisi Coates lays out why he didn’t celebrate Joe Biden’s win, talks about the difficulties of having THE WATER DANCER adapted into a film, and shares a story about interviewing Chadwick Boseman while covering a protest for their college newspaper.
- Book Review: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson | The Austin Chronicle: In her second book, Isabel Wilkerson examines and breaks down the unacknowledged social structure baked into our country.
- Danielle Evans On the Necessity—And the Consequences—Of Telling the Truth About History | Esquire: Danielle Evans talks about history as performance, the dangers of civility culture, and the thorny relationship between pleasure and hope.
- A Book List for Teaching Little Ones Tolerance and Understanding | PBS: Jacqueline Woodson highlights the beauty of different cultures and races.
- The latest from Jodi Picoult and Fannie Flagg, and a good debut novel | The Providence Journal: Bryan Washington explores the relationship between an interracial gay couple Ben — a Black daycare worker, and Mike, a Japanese-American chef at a Mexican restaurant.
Books Connect Us
With their imaginative, impactful pieces of literature, our speakers provide incredibly valuable perspectives to be read by all.
- Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, MGM Team for Adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s The Water Dancer | The Hollywood Reporter: Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt are teaming up to adapt THE WATER DANCER, the best-selling novel by Ta-Nehisi Coates, for MGM.
- Brit Bennett, Yaa Gyasi Among Contenders For Aspen Words Literary Prize | NPR: Brit Bennett, Yaa Gyasi, Danielle Evans, and Bryan Washington are all contenders for this award.
- 2020 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year finalists | USA Today: Brit Bennett and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi are both finalists for Book of the Year.
- Women sweep top Dayton Literary Peace Prize awards | Journal-News: The nonfiction runner-up of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize is BIASED by Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt.
- 13 books you need to add to your reading list before they come to the screen | The Stylist: Taylor Jenkins Reid’s DAISY JONES & THE SIX and Delia Owens’s WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING are coming to the screen.