Last week, the Meet the Author Book Club traveled to the LIU Performing Arts Center, where students had the opportunity to hear from world-renowned author Malcolm Gladwell.
This visit marked the Book Club’s third Meet the Author trip of the year. Earlier in the year, students traveled to the 92nd Street Y to meet Scott Galloway, author of Notes on Being a Man and host of the Pivot podcast. The club also hosted a Zoom interview with Chuck Thompson, film producer and author of The Status Revolution.
Gladwell spoke about what he described as one of the most overlooked emotions: anger. He explained that anger itself does not define a person; rather, what truly defines someone is how he or she behaves when in a clear, balanced headspace.
He explored this idea through the lenses of criminology and history, noting that the majority of violent crime stems from anger rather than premeditated intent. Gladwell also discussed historical figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass and their difficult journeys toward freedom. In addition, he spoke about Jackie Robinson and the challenges he faced with integration and anger.
In addition to hearing Gladwell’s talk, attendees enjoyed a brief conversation between Gladwell and former Congressman Steve Israel. Questions ranged from artificial intelligence to football, including which team Gladwell is supporting in the Super Bowl.
Following the event, students were fortunate to meet Malcolm Gladwell in person, take photos, ask questions, and even receive autographs. Students also had the opportunity to purchase pre-signed copies of his books.
In past years, the Meet the Author Book Club has met with an impressive lineup of influential figures, including Dr. Jordan Peterson, Bill Gates, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Elie Wiesel, and Veronica Roth, reflecting the club’s longstanding commitment to exposing students to diverse thinkers and ideas.
Thank you to LIU for hosting this incredible event, to Dr. Goldman and Naomi Rosenblum for organizing the trip, and to all the students who attended and made a true kiddush Hashem.
