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&A’s and more that are happening this week.

Monday, October 5 

• Sigrid Nunez discusses WHAT ARE YOU GOING THROUGH with Harvard Book Store (7:00PM EST)

Tuesday, October 6

• Oliver Jeffers celebrates the book launch of WHAT WE’LL BUILD at Books of Wonder (5:00PM EST)
• Yaa Gyasi will be on Barnes and Noble’s Instagram Live (7:00PM EST)
• Cristina Henriquez speaks with Henderson State University (8:00PM EST)

Wednesday, October 7

• Phil Klay celebrates his book launch with Books Are Magic (7:00PM EST)
• Yaa Gyasi is in conversation with Megha Majumdar at Community Bookstore (7:30PM EST)
• Tommy Orange will be at Fall for the Book’s Virtual Book Festival (7:30PM EST)

Thursday, October 8

• Oliver Jeffers speaks at Books & Books (5:00PM EST)
• Casey Cep is in conversation with Michael Lewis about FURIOUS HOURS at BookPeople (8:00PM EST)
• Nic Stone discusses DEAR JUSTYCE with Cellar Door Bookstore(9:00PM EST)
• Cristina Henriquez speaks with California State University, Fullerton (9:30PM EST)

Friday, October 9

• Kiley Reid speaks with Peace Adzo Medie at Books & Books(6:00PM EST)
• Phil Klay joins Politics & Prose to discuss MISSIONARIES (6:00PM EST)

Saturday, October 10

• Oliver Jeffers talks with Third Place Book about his latest book (2:00PM EST)
• Ocean Vuong speaks with Ben Lerner at Politics & Prose (6:00PM EST)

Check out #BooksConnectUsLive for more live virtual events.

News and Media from PRHSB Speakers

Black Lives Matter Movement
Below are some recent dialogues from our speakers on systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter movement.

• Oprah Discusses Powerful Old House Analogy About Race and Caste in America on Oprah’s Book Club | People: The episode features an in-depth conversation with Isabel Wilkerson.
• Rockefeller Foundation Awards $1.5 Million Grant to BU Center for Antiracist Research | BU Today: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi calls it a “game changing gift” to make a policy impact on racial inequities.
• Midnight knocks our system of crime and punishment | Houston Chronicle:  Brittany K. Barnett converted her outrage at the enormity of injustice surrounding mass incarceration in America into action, putting her money where her mouth is time and again.
• Yaa Gyasi discusses Transcendent Kingdom and 5 books to read next | The Today Show: Yaa Gyasi discusses her moving novel.
• Hey, Why Don’t You Buy Your Next Read from One of These Black-Owned Bookstores | Cosmopolitan: Rachel Cargle‘s Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Center offers selections exclusively from marginalized authors.
• Kwame Onwuachi Is Returning To Top Chef, This Time As A Judge | dcist: Kwame Onwuachi announces he will be joining the show’s upcoming 18th season.

Books Connect Us
With their imaginative, impactful pieces of literature, our speakers provide incredibly valuable perspectives to be read by all.

• The Best Books of Fall 2020—So Far | Oprah Magazine: Bryan Washington, Danielle Evans, and Yaa Gyasi are on this list.
• 5 New Book Releases To Add To Your Reading List Immediately | Buzzfeed: Karen Russell’s SLEEP DONATION and Nic Stone’sDEAR JUSTYCE are must-read books.
• HBO Shares Trailer for Adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’sBetween the World and Me | Rolling Stone: Special based on the celebrated book by Ta-Nehisi Coates will star Mahershala Ali, Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, and more.
• Phil Klay’s New Novel Is a Sobering Look at America’s Wars | The New York Times: Phil Klay’s MISSIONARIES is set largely in the world of narco gangs and of the government and military agencies who pursue them.
• Karen Russell Wishes Her Dystopian Novella Didn’t Feel So Close To Reality | Buzzfeed: Karen Russell’s SLEEP DONATION is an unnervingly prescient story about a widespread, deadly insomnia pandemic.

COVID-19 
These articles from our speakers highlight practical advice and news about the current pandemic.

• What We Know About the C.D.C.’s Covid-19 Vaccine Plans | The New York Times: Carl Zimmer explains how vaccine trials work, when one might be ready, and who may get them first.
• When his mom died of COVID, virus skeptics chimed in on social media. Will Trump’s illness convince them? | Los Angeles Times: Steve Lopez interviews people affected by the pandemic on their thoughts of the president’s diagnosis.
• Puberty in a pandemic? It’s not all bad news, experts say | CNN: Dr. Cara Natterson’s books are recommended for parenting during the pandemic.
• Lusk outlines 7 potential trends in agrifood industry | WATT Poultry: Jayson Lusk talks about the industry changes brought about by COVID-19.
• Pfizer, Moderna lead coronavirus vaccine race: Infectious disease doctor | Fox Business News: Dr. Matt McCarthy speaks on coronavirus treatments, the reopening process, and which companies have the technology to lead the vaccine race.

Politics
Our speakers provide clarity and shrewd analysis of today’s issues to help make sense of our current and future political landscape.

• The Untraveled High Road of Humility, and a President Laid Low | The New York Times: Mark Leibovich explains why politicians are advised to be humble, or act humble, if they can possibly stand it.
• What President Trump’s Taxes Reveal | WBUR: Adam Davidson comments on what the New York Times report reveals about President Trump’s tax records, his businesses, and tax code itself.
• This Woman Is About To Become America’s Most Powerful Trans Lawmaker | Forbes: Sarah McBride is widely expected to win the general election.
• What you need to know about the GOP takeover of the Supreme Court | Salon: Robert B. Reich warns the GOP’s attempt to hold onto power at all costs is jeopardizing the foundations of our democracy.
• Will You Leave the Country if Trump Is Re-elected? | The New York Times: Jennifer Finney Boylan is part of a generation of Americans that is thinking about leaving if Trump wins.