PBS Books

Author Talk: John U. Bacon of Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lesson In Leadership From America's Worst High School Hockey Team
2021-12-28 20:00 - 21:00 (America/Detroit)
Join PBS Books in conversation with John U. Bacon, author of Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons In Leadership From America’s Worst High School Hockey Team.
About the Author
Award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author, John U. Bacon, has written a new book about his experience coaching one of the worst high school hockey teams in the U.S. to historic success. When many coaches, school officials, and fans had given up on the teens, Bacon’s book Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America’s Worst High School Hockey Team details the strategies that led to the team’s turnaround — and the lessons learned then that still apply to today’s coaching and parenting.

The End-of-Year Financial Checklist
2021-12-17 13:00 - 14:00
Between the holiday parties and resolution setting – it’s important to take some time at the end of the year to check in on your finances. Review your investing strategies, rebalance your portfolios, and revamp your budget to set yourself up for the new year. Join us for the End-of-Year Financial Checklist.
Panelists:
CHRIS BROWNING, Founder and Host of the ‘Popcorn Finance’ podcast
MARGUERITA CHENG, a Certified Financial Planner
LAURA ADAMS, a personal finance expert and award-winning author
PAM KRUEGER, creator of the MoneyTrack series seen on Public Television stations, and a co-host of the Friends Talk Money Podcast

MASTERPIECE Adaptation: Around the World in Eighty Days With Screenwriter Ashley Pharoah
2021-12-14 20:00 - 21:00
The Magic of Masterpiece
PBS Books presents this VIRTUAL TALK with world-renowned Ashley Pharoah, screenwriter of the new MASTERPIECE adaptation Around the World in Eighty Days.
Around the World in Eighty Days is the classic adventure novel by Jules Verne. A new, 8-part adaptation of the novel airs on MASTERPIECE beginning January 2, 2022. Our guest is its creator, writer, and executive producer—Ashley Pharoah. In Jules Verne’s story, wealthy Victorian eccentric Phileas Fogg wagers he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. David Tennant stars as literature’s greatest explorer; he’s joined by Ibrahim Koma and Leonie Benesch, who costar as his intrepid traveling companions. Don’t miss getting an inside-look at what writer Ashley Pharoah was thinking. Watch Around the World In 80 Days, Sundays, Jan. 2-Feb. 20, 2022, 8/7c only on MASTERPIECE on PBS.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Ashley Pharoh was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School, Bristol, and the University Of Sussex, where he read English. He studied screenwriting at The National Film And Television School, where his graduation film Water’s Edge was nominated for a BAFTA. After cutting his teeth on Eastenders, Ashley created Where The Heart Is for ITV, a series that ran for over ten years. Other series that Ashley created and wrote during this time include Paradise Heights, Down To Earth, Life Support, Bonekickers and Anchor Me. Classic adaptations include Tom Brown’s Schooldays (starring Stephen Fry and Alex Pettyfer), Under the Greenwood Tree (starring Keeley Hawes), and Moonfleet (starring Ray Winstone). Contemporary adaptations include Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories starring Jason Isaacs. Ashley co-created Life on Mars and its sequel, Ashes To Ashes, winning two International Emmys. There was a series about misbehaving angels for ITV – Eternal Law – and the long-running saga of a family trying to make a go of it on a South African game farm, Wild At Heart. Wrote and produced The Living And The Dead, set in rural Somerset in 1894, about a man of science who starts to see ghosts. It starred Colin Morgan and Charlotte Spencer.
His reimagining of Around The World In Eighty Days, starring David Tennant, was filmed in Bucharest and Cape Town during very challenging COVID conditions and will be screened Christmas 2021. In 2011 Ashley was made an Honorary Fellow of The National Film And Television School “in recognition of outstanding contribution to the British film and television industry”. In a ceremony at Bath Abbey in 2016, Ashley was made a Doctor of Letters by Bath Spa University for his contribution to screenwriting and television production.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Amanda Mountain is the first female CEO in RMPBS history and is one of the youngest public media CEOs in the country. She has nearly 20 years of experience in media and has worked in leadership roles at Freedom Communications and Viacom in addition to her six year tenure at RMPBS before taking over at the helm.

Celebrate the Holidays: The Nutcracker with Jan Brett
2021-12-02 17:00 - 18:00
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PBS Books presents this Author Talk with best-selling and award-winning author and illustrator Jan Brett as she discusses her latest holiday book The Nutcracker. PBS will air The Nutcracker during December—check your local listing.
About the Author
Jan Brett is the New York Times #1 bestselling artist/author of over 35 picture books which have sold over 42 million copies combined. Her books have been chosen as “Best Children’s Books of the Year” by The New Yorker, Parents, Redbook, and others. Brett lives in Norwell, MA

Sponsored by:

Health Insurance Marketplace: Managing Your Medical Resources
2021-11-19 13:00 - 14:00
Randall Rutta, Chief Executive Officer at National Health Council
Myles Ma, a health care expert and senior managing editor of Easy Money, the personal finance newsletter from Policygenius
Kim Lankford, a financial journalist who’s written about Medicare and personal finance for AARP, U.S. News & World Report, the Washington Post, Next Avenue, and other publications
Laura Adams, a personal finance expert and award-winning author

Author Talk for Parents: Claire Lerner, Why Is My Child In Charge?
2021-11-16 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Claire Lerner, helping parents get ready for the holidays with their children.
Through stories from her practice, Lerner will provide tips to empower parents on how to make critical mindshifts and enable us to see their children’s behaviors through a new lens. Lerner will share highlights from her book and provide insights into how to establish a new path. roadmap for how to tune into the root causes of children’s behavior and how to create and implement strategies that are tailored to the unique needs of each child and family.
About the Author
Claire Lerner is a child development specialist and practicing clinician with more than 30 years of experience working with children and families in a range of capacities. Trained as a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, she began her career as a child and family therapist. For nearly 20 years, Lerner served as the director of parenting resources at ZERO TO THREE.
Lerner is the author of hundreds of parenting resources, including blogs, podcasts, videos, and her new book, Why Is My Child in Charge? She writes a column for PBS Kids, frequently contributes to parenting publications, and has served as a content expert for numerous national daily newspapers.
Her work and her writing are informed by her background in mental health, her clinical experience with hundreds of children and families, and what she describes as her most important “training”: raising two wonderfully complex and very spirited now adult children. She is also a mother to two adult stepchildren. Claire Lerner lives in Washington, DC with her husband and a dog.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Trailblazer Author: Toni Jensen
2021-11-09 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books, in collaboration with WTTW, presents a conversation with Toni Jensen, author of Carry and From the Hilltop. The conversation will be moderated by author and veteran David Tromblay.
Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land is a powerful, poetic memoir-in-essays about gun violence, land, and Indigenous women’s lives. From the Hilltop draws on American Indian oral traditions and Jensen’s own Métis upbringing to tell stories that mix many lives and voices – her characters offer fleeting perspectives on a world that reconfigures the tragedy and disconnection often found in narratives of American Indian life.
About the Author
Toni Jensen teaches in the MFA programs at the University of Arkansas and the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is a 2020 recipient of a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and her work has been published in Orion, Catapult, and Ecotone. She is Métis.

Celebrate the Holidays: Diwali with Mitali Banerjee Ruths
2021-11-02 17:00 - 18:00
PBS Books presents this Author Talk with children’s author Mitali Banerjee Ruths about her new book Archie Celebrates Diwali.
Join us the week of Diwali to learn about this important holiday through Archie’s family’s celebration. Part of the Hindu tradition and celebrated throughout India, Diwali is the festival of lights. Enjoy learning about Archie’s struggle to fit in and share part of her own culture. Learn about Ruths’s inspiration, creative process, and have an opportunity to ask questions. Plus, enjoy a festive hands-on activity!
About the Author
Mitali Banerjee Ruths grew up celebrating Hindu festivals with her family. She is an American living in Canada who sometimes still dreams about being an astronaut. Archie Celebrates Diwali is her first book.

Financial & Investment Education Live Event
2021-10-22 13:00 - 14:00
Oct. 22 “FINANCIAL FRAUD: DISGUISES TO WATCH OUT FOR”
Losing your retirement savings and investments to scams and fraud can be devastating. Some disguises are easy to spot – while others trip up even the most seasoned traders. Learn how to recognize, report and protect yourself from all types of financial fraud. Stream this virtual conversation on the PBS Books Facebook page, Friday, October 22, at 1 p.m. ET.
Panelists include:
Joseph Brady, The North American Securities Administrators Association
Tiffany Couch, Founder and CEO of forensics firm, ‘Acuity Forensics’
Mari Adam, Certified Financial Planner

Virtual Storytime with Pinkalicious Author Victoria Kann
2021-10-19 18:00 - 19:00
Virtual Storytime with Pinkalicious Author Victoria Kann: Tuesday, October 19 at 6:00pm ET:
PBS Books is proud to partner with GPB and the Georgia Public Library Service for a pinkaperfect evening with award-winning illustrator and author, Victoria Kann.
Join us for a special reading of Victoria’s newest book, Rubylicious. This gem of a book about generosity and kindness looks at how being selfless can be its own reward. Following the story, Victoria will share thoughts and insights about Pinkalicious, Peterrific, and all of their friends in Pinkville. She’ll also be answering questions from the PBS Books FB chat! Or tweet your questions using the hashtag #GPBLovesPink and follow along to learn more about these pinkatastic friends!
Victoria Kann
Victoria Kann is the award-winning illustrator and author of the picture book series featuring the whimsical and effervescent Pinkalicious, and the Co-Executive Producer of the hit PBS Kids series, Pinkalicious & Peterrific. She wrote and illustrated The New York Times number-one bestsellers Goldilicious, Silverlicious and Emeraldalicious; she also co authored and illustrated the first two books in the series, Pinkalicious and Purplicious, as well as “Pinkalicious: the Musical,” which premiered in New York to sold-out audiences and continues to be performed across the country. Before that, Victoria was commissioned to illustrate for magazines and newspapers including Time, Business Week, Harper’s Magazine, The Washington Post and The New York Times. She is a graduate of The Rhode Island School of Design and has taught at RISD, Parson’s and The School of Visual Arts.
Julie Walker
Julie Walker is Georgia’s State Librarian and Associate Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. She has also served as Deputy State Librarian, Assistant State Librarian for Support Services and Strategic Initiatives, and as the first Program Director for PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services), Georgia’s statewide library card program. She served as Associate Director at the Athens Regional Library System in Athens, GA, and has held professional positions in library systems in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Asheboro, North Carolina. She is a past president of the Georgia Library Association, and Associate Editor of the Georgia Library Quarterly.

Author Talk: James Patterson and Matt Eversmann on E.R. Nurses
2021-10-12 20:00 - 21:00
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Tuesday, October 12 at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with world’s best-selling author James Patterson and author Matt Eversmann about their latest collaborative book E.R. Nurses.
In celebration of ER Nurse Week, PBSs Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with authors James Patterson and Matt Eversmann on October 12th as part of our ongoing program to bring quality programming to libraries and PBS stations. The event will enable audiences to hear about the book and get a sneak peak into their process as they documented real-life stories of ER nurses who save lives everyday. This conversation will feature an intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Authors
James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. His enduring fictional characters and series include Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Middle School, and Ali Cross, along with such acclaimed works of narrative nonfiction as Walk in My Combat Boots, E.R. Nurses, and his autobiography, James Patterson by James Patterson. Bill Clinton (The President Is Missing) and Dolly Parton (Run, Rose, Run) are among his notable literary collaborators. For his prodigious imagination and championship of literacy in America, Patterson was awarded the 2019 National Humanities Medal. The National Book Foundation presented him with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, and he is also the recipient of an Edgar Award and nine Emmy Awards. He lives in Florida with his family.
Matt Eversmann retired from the Army after twenty years of service. His last assignment was as an Infantry Company First Sergeant in the 10th Mountain Division during the surge in Iraq. He spent almost half of his career in the 75th Ranger Regiment and was a member of Task Force Ranger, the unit immortalized in the film Black Hawk Down. Matt and his family live in West Palm Beach where he runs his own consulting company, Eversmann Advisory.

Celebrating Muhammad Ali: Performance and Talk with Kwame Alexander, Author of Becoming Muhammad Ali
2021-09-21 17:30
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On Tuesday, September 21 at 5:30pm ET | 4:30pm CT, Join WTTW and PBS Books via Facebook Live for a Performance and Talk with Kwame Alexander, author of Becoming Muhammad Ali. Brandis Friedman, co-anchor and correspondent for WTTW’s flagship nightly newsmagazine Chicago Tonight and host of Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, will moderate the conversation.
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times bestselling author of 35 books, notably Swing; Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson; Booked, longlisted for the National Book Award; Rebound, shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal (UK); The Undefeated, a picture book illustrated by Kadir Nelson that won the Caldecott and Newbery Medals; and his Newbery Medal-winning novel The Crossover.
Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. Kwame Alexander and James Patterson join forces to vividly depict his life up to age seventeen in both prose and verse. We meet his family, neighbors, and childhood friends, and follow his struggles in school, the racism he faced, and his discovery of boxing.
You will learn about Cassius’ childhood in Louisville, Kentucky, and how, after a thief stole his bike, Cassius began training as an amateur boxer at age twelve. Just three years later, he won his first Golden Gloves bout and began his transformation into the unrivaled Muhammad Ali.

How to Make Your Earnings Work For You – Through Retirement
2021-09-17 13:00 - 14:00
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Join PBS Books for the upcoming episode in our virtual series about financial and investor protection all about making earnings WORK FOR YOU. Whether you are grinding away as a newbie in your career, or slowing down as you gear up for retirement – making sure the money you earn today will cover your expenses later in life, is an important conversation to have.
Listen as financial experts discuss when to make adjustments to retirement accounts, how to cash in on credit card rewards, and the best way to explore a passive income stream – then engage with the panelists yourself by asking questions live – via Facebook Live.
Tune in on September 17th at 1pm ET on the PBS Books Facebook page.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival: Author Talk: Maria Hinojosa
2021-09-16 20:00 - 21:00
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Thursday, September 16th at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Maria Hinojosa about her book Once I Was You.
In collaboration with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Maria Hinojosa on September 16th as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.”
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Maria Hinojosa’s nearly thirty-year career as a journalist includes reporting for PBS, CBS, WGBH, WNBC, CNN, NPR, and anchoring and executive producing the Peabody Award–winning show Latino USA, distributed by Futuro Media and PRX. She is a frequent guest on MSNBC, and has won several awards, including four Emmys, the Studs Terkel Community Media Award, two Robert F. Kennedy Awards, and the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club. In 2010, she founded Futuro Media, an independent nonprofit organization with the mission of producing multimedia content from a POC perspective. Through the breadth of her work and as the founding co-anchor of the political podcast In The Thick, Hinojosa has informed millions about the changing cultural and political landscape in America and abroad. She lives with her family in Harlem in New York City. Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Hinojosa and Facebook at Maria.Hinojosa.718.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Tana French
2021-09-15 18:00 - 19:00
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Wednesday, September 15th at 6:00 PM ET | 3:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Tana French about her book The Searcher.
In collaboration with GBH, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Tana French on September 15th as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.” The moderator for the conversation will be GBH Celtic Sojourn Host Brian O’Donovan.
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Tana French is the author of seven previous books, including In the Woods, The Likeness, and The Witch Elm. Her novels have sold over three million copies and won numerous awards, including the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity and Barry Awards, the Los Angeles Times Award for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Dublin with her family.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival: Author Talk: Annette Gordon-Reed
2021-09-13 20:00 - 21:00
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Monday, September 13th at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Annette Gordon-Reed about her book On Juneteenth.
In collaboration with WETA, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Annette Gordon-Reed on September 13th as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.”
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Annette Gordon-Reed is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard. Gordon-Reed won sixteen book prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2009 and the National Book Award in 2008, for The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family (W.W. Norton, 2008). In addition to articles and reviews, her other works include Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy(UVA Press, 1997), Vernon Can Read! A Memoir, a collaboration with Vernon Jordan (PublicAffairs, 2001), Race on Trial: Law and Justice in American History (Oxford University Press, 2002), a volume of essays that she edited, Andrew Johnson (Times Books/Henry Holt, 2010) and, with Peter S. Onuf, “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs”: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination (Liveright Publishing, 2016). Her most recent book is On Juneteenth (Liveright Publishing, 2021). Gordon-Reed was the Vyvyan Harmsworth Visiting Professor of American History at the University of Oxford (Queens College) 2014-2015. Between 2010 and 2015, she was the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. She was the 2018-2019 President of the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic. She is the current President of the Ames Foundation. A selected list of her honors includes a fellowship from the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library, a Guggenheim Fellowship in the humanities, a MacArthur Fellowship, the National Humanities Medal, the National Book Award, the Frederick Douglass Book Prize, the George Washington Book Prize, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. Gordon-Reed served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College from 2010 to 2018. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011 and was a member of the Academy’s Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences. In 2019, she was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Christopher Paolini
2021-09-08 20:00 - 21:00
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Wednesday, September 8th at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Christopher Paolini about his book To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.
In collaboration with Kansas City PBS and Kansas City Public Library, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Christopher Paolini on September 8 as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.”
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Christopher Paolini was born in Southern California and has lived most his life in Paradise Valley, Montana. He published his first novel, Eragon, in 2003 at age nineteen, and quickly became a publishing phenomenon. His Inheritance Cycle—Eragon and its three sequels—have sold nearly 40 million copies worldwide. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is his first adult novel.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Viet Thanh Nguyen
2021-09-02 20:00 - 21:00
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Thursday, September 2nd at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Viet Thanh Nguyen about his book The Sympathizer.
In collaboration with SoCal PBS and KCTS, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Viet Thanh Nguyen on September 2 as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.”
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Viet Thanh Nguyen was born in Vietnam and raised in America. He is the author of The Sympathizer , which was awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction alongside six other prizes. He is also the author of the short story collection The Refugees, the nonfiction book Nothing Ever Dies, a finalist for the National Book Award, and is the editor of an anthology of refugee writing, The Displaced. He is the Aerol Arnold

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Sarah Pearse
2021-08-31 20:00 - 21:00
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Wednesday, August 31 at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Sarah Pearse about her book The Sanatorium.
In collaboration with Maryland Public Television, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Sarah Pearse on August 31st as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.”
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Sarah Pearse grew up in Devon, UK, and studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Warwick before completing a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism. She lived in Switzerland for several years before returning to the UK. The Sanatorium, her debut novel, was an instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, and was selected as a Reese’s Book Club Pick. Her second novel, The Retreat, will be published by Pamela Dorman Books/Viking in April 2022

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Brit Bennett
2021-08-30 20:00 - 21:00
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On Monday, August 30 at 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Brit Bennett about her book The Vanishing Half.
In collaboration with DPTV, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Brit Bennett on August/September as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.”
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Born and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan. Her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller, and her second novel The Vanishing Half was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree and in 2021, she was chosen as one of Time’s Next 100 Influential People. Her essays have been featured in The New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, and Jezebel.

Investing: A Beginner’s Guide for Getting Started
2021-08-27 13:00 - 14:00
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Investing young is one of the best ways to lay a stable financial foundation – long term. Learn how allocating money wisely now can build the wealth and freedom you’ve always wanted.
Tune in as PBS Books breaks down the basics of investing, dissects different investment strategies to help you gain a competitive advantage, and explores the most common investing mistakes novice investors make when they first start out.
Engage with financial experts by asking questions live – via Facebook – and begin charting the path that makes sense for you.
Panelists include:
YANELY ESPINAL, the Director of Educational Outreach at Next Gen Personal Finance
SAUNDRA DAVIS, a financial coach and educator
WHITNEY HANSEN, a financial and business coach, and host of the Money Nerds podcast
MATT ROLING, an adjunct finance professor at Wayne State University
Watch the livestream August 27 at 1pm ET.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Kelli Jo Ford
2021-08-26 19:00 - 20:00
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Thursday, August 26th at 7:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM CT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Kelli Jo Ford about her book Crooked Hallelujah.
In collaboration with WTTW, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Kelli Jo Ford on August 26th as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.” The conversation will be moderated by Melodi Serna, Executive Director of the American Indian Center in Chicago. In addition, Allison Waukau, an American Indian Library Association Executive Board member, will join to ask a few questions, as well.
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Kelli Jo Ford is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. She is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including the Paris Review’s Plimpton Prize, the Everett Southwest Literary Award, the Katherine Bakeless Nason Award at Bread Loaf, a National Artist Fellowship by the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, and a Dobie Paisano Fellowship. Her fiction has appeared in the Paris Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, Missouri Review, and the anthology Forty Stories: New Writing from Harper Perennial, among other outlet.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Martha Wells
2021-08-25 20:00 - 21:00
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Wednesday, August 25th at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Martha Wells about her book Fugitive Telemetry.
In collaboration with South Florida PBS, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Martha Wells on August 25th as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.” This conversation with be moderated by South Florida PBS Between the Covers Ann Bocock.
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Martha Wells has written many fantasy novels, including The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, the Books of the Raksura series (beginning with The Cloud Roads and ending with The Harbors of the Sun), and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer, as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, and nonfiction. Her New York Times and USA Today-bestselling Murderbot Diaries series has won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards.

Celebrating the Library of Congress National Book Festival Author Talk: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
2021-08-24 20:00 - 21:00
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Tuesday, August 24th at 8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Silvia Moreno-Garcia about her book Velvet Was the Night.
In collaboration with KERA, PBS Books is honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Silvia Moreno-Garcia on August 24th as part of our dynamic, sequel partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival “Open a Book, Open the World.”
After a successful partnership with The Library of Congress last year, this second series of virtual author talks with legendary authors of our time will center on this year’s theme: “Open a Book, Open the World.” The 2021 LOC Festival will be a 10-day event, held from September 17-26, 2021. Programming includes a 60-minute PBS Books special, exploring the many worlds authors create, investigate, and share. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the special will premiere on Sunday, September 12, from 6-7pm ET (Check your local listing). Additional PBS feed dates are Saturday, September 18 at 7pm ET, and Sunday, September 19 at 1:30pm ET (more details to follow). Expect diverse discussions from incredible guests like Angie Thomas, Tana French, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Michael J. Fox.
Throughout the months of August and September, PBS Books is hosting ten events to celebrate several authors who are part of this thrilling special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be moments to learn about the care and curiosity that generates great writing. The events will provide insights into the upcoming festival and will be targeted to particular national regions. As always, this PBS Books content will be accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed speculative novels Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, Signal to Noise, Certain Dark Things, and The Beautiful Ones; the crime novel Untamed Shore, and the forthcoming noir Velvet Was the Night. She has edited several anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (aka Cthulhu’s Daughters). She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Author Talk for Kids: Trailblazer Meg Medina
2021-07-29 17:00 - 18:00
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Thursday, July 29th at 5:00 PM ET | 2:00 PM PT: PBS Books presents this Author Talk for Kids with Meg Medina about her book Merci Suárez Can’t Dance, the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning and captivating Merci Suárez Changes Gears, for which she was the 2019 Newbery Medalist. This event will be a time for viewers of all ages to learn more about Medina, discover new details in Merci’s ongoing story, and connect on themes of identity and coming-of-age. With an impressive collection of inspiring work, Medina is a trailblazing author who showcases Latino characters and uplifts all readers. PBS Books is honored to share this special event for both returning and new viewers nationwide. In conjunction with hosting Meg Medina and our focus on her outstanding new book, we will discuss PBS’ programming in The Latino Experience: a three-hour presentation of nonfiction and fiction short films that explore Latino/a/x identity in the context of the United States and Puerto Rico. Follow the conversation at #LatinoExperiencePBS.
About the Book
Medina’s 2021 book Merci Suárez Can’t Dance is all about growing up and self- discovery. From the start, it is clear that seventh grade is going to be a real trial for Merci Suárez. For science she’s got no-nonsense Mr. Ellis, who expects her to be as smart as her brother, Roli. She’s been assigned to co-manage the tiny school store with Wilson Bellevue, a boy she barely knows, but whom she might actually like. And she’s tangling again with classmate Edna Santos, who is bossier and more obnoxious than ever now that she is in charge of the annual Heart Ball. One thing is for sure, though: Merci Suárez can’t dance—not at the Heart Ball or anywhere else. Dancing makes her almost as queasy as love does, especially now that Tía Inés, her merengue-teaching aunt, has a new man in her life. Unfortunately, Merci can’t seem to avoid love or dance for very long. She used to talk about everything with her grandfather, Lolo, but with his Alzheimer’s getting worse each day, whom can she trust to help her make sense of all the new things happening in her life? The Suárez family is back in a touching, funny story about growing up and discovering love’s many forms, including how we learn to love and believe in ourselves.

Keep learning more about Merci Suárez Can’t Dance: Meg Medina has created a discussion and activity guide for all of her books, linked here.

Financial Freedom – Declare the Life You Want
2021-07-23 13:00 - 14:00
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What does FINANCIAL FREEDOM mean to you, and how do you ACHIEVE it? Whether you want to reduce debt, save more, create a passive income for your family, automate investments, or simply feel like you have enough money on hand to retire and live out the life you’ve always imagined – Financial Freedom begins with setting a plan.
Learn different debt reduction strategies… begin taking steps to make your money work for you… and determine how to invest more for the future.
PBS Books will speak with financial experts about the different strategies to help lead to prosperous, secure and empowering futures.

Author Talk: Art: Creating With Judy Chicago
2021-07-20 20:00 - 21:00
Tuesday, July 20th at 8pm ET: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with Judy Chicago about her book The Flowering: The Autobiography of Judy Chicago. This event will be a time for our viewers to get to know America’s most dynamic living artist. Known for her extraordinary and genre-defying art, such as The Dinner Party, Birth Project, Holocaust Project, and more, Chicago is a trailblazing feminist and a champion of using art to express visions and challenge boundaries. PBS Books is honored to learn more about Chicago alongside viewers nationwide, as she explores her own personal journey to becoming a multi-talented American icon. This special event will showcase the stories behind her works and celebrate her lifelong aim: a more just and equitable world for all beings. This conversation will be led by Jessica Porter, Lila Harnett Executive Director of ArtTable, Inc. : the foremost professional organization dedicated to advancing the leadership of women in the visual arts.
About the Book
Chicago’s 2021 book The Flowering is an answer to and reflection upon her previous autobiographical writings, as well as a crucial update to her story of resilience. Written on the eve of her first-ever career retrospective at the age of eighty-two, the book unearths stories behind some of her most groundbreaking artworks. After decades on the margins of the art world, which devalued her work for its feminist content, Chicago continues to pave the way for a new generation of rising trailblazers. In addition, her perspective as a woman artist guides this narrative. Chicago shares, both from decades of experience and extensive research, stories of how misogyny, racism, and other prejudices often intersect to erase the legacies of artists. In further exploring her own life, Chicago reinforces her message of resilience for artists, activists, and all audiences.
“The Flowering,” Chicago writes in the book’s Introduction, “chronicles my journey as a white, cis, middle-class Jewish woman who learned about the potential power of art through the widespread positive response to her work despite art critical scorn; who had to build a community of support when there was none; who never swerved from her vision, no matter how difficult her life became; and who ultimately triumphed by not giving up. My struggle has sometimes been overwhelming and dispiriting but in the end it was worth it. I hope my readers will find my tale as inspiring as I did when I first discovered the long struggle of my foremothers, who paved the way for so many of the freedoms we enjoy today.”
About the Author
Judy Chicago is an artist, author, feminist, and educator whose career spans nearly six decades. Her work is in the collections of The Art Institute of Chicago, The Brooklyn Museum, The British Museum, the de Young Museum, The Getty Trust, The Hammer Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, SF MOMA, Tate Modern, and more than 25 university art museums.

Author Talk: History: Celebrating Ida B. Wells’ Birthday with Author Michelle Duster
2021-07-14 20:00 - 21:00
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Wednesday, July 14th at 8pm ET: PBS Books, in partnership with The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), presents this Author Talk with Michelle Duster about her book Ida B. The Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells. This night will be a birthday celebration for Ida B. Wells, and a time to learn more about her fantastic feats, which earned her a posthumous Pulitzer Prize just recently in 2020. As the great-granddaughter of one of the most iconic American trailblazers, Duster will explore her own family history alongside our viewers. This special event will further illuminate an incredible legacy and chart how we can continue Wells’ work in search of equality and justice for all.
About the Book
Duster’s 2021 book Ida B. The Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells discusses her remarkable great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells (1862-1931). At once a research-fueled, deep dive into Wells’ life, and a personal narrative about Duster’s own self-discovery and activism, the book is a combination of lessons of the past and visions for the future. As America sees its first Black woman Vice President in office, the story of this American civil rights pioneer is more resonant than ever. Wells’ staunch defense of Black lives, advocacy for universal suffrage, and organizing work (co-founding of the NAACP) are just a few of numerous examples when she used her individual strength and voice to advocate for others. Now, generations later, Duster takes up the family’s mission through thoughtful analysis and writing. Connecting their bond of womanhood across centuries, Duster illustrates Wells’ journey from ferocious teen to pioneering journalist to anti-lynching crusader.
About the Author
Michelle Duster is a writer, speaker, professor, and champion of racial and gender equity. In the last dozen years, she has written, edited, or contributed to over a dozen books. She co-wrote the popular children’s history book, Tate and His Historic Dream; coedited Impact: Personal Portraits of Activism and Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls; and edited two books that include the writings of her great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells. She has written articles for Essence, Refinery29, HuffPo, Teen Vogue, Glamour, People and The North Star.

Filmmaker Talk: A discussion about the national fight over confederate monuments
2021-07-12 20:00 - 21:00
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PBS Books, in partnership with GPB and POV, is thrilled to host Filmmaker Talk: A discussion about the national fight over confederate monuments with Neutral Ground Filmmaker CJ Hunt, Author Karen Cox, Reporter Tyler Estep, and Chairman of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association Rev. Abraham Mosley on Monday, July 12 at 8pm ET. The conversation will be moderated Josie Duffy Rice, former President of The Appeal. This event can be streamed on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pbsbooks1/live), in addition to this site pbsbooks.org/neutralground.
About the Film
An official selection of the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, The Neutral Ground documents New Orleans’ fight over monuments and America’s troubled romance with the Lost Cause. In 2015, director CJ Hunt was filming the New Orleans City Council’s vote to remove four Confederate monuments. But when that removal is halted by death threats, CJ sets out to understand why a losing army from 1865 still holds so much power in America. As the national monument controversy expands, Hunt’s journey includes visits with historians, activists and his own father. At times darkly hilarious and at others soberingly serious, The Neutral Ground is a poignant exploration of the legacy of slavery which much of America has yet to face.
Watch The Neutral Ground on PBS on July 5 at 9:30pm ET (check local listings) or online at pov.org. Join us for excerpts from the film and live conversation discussing the fight over monuments nationally and the ongoing debate about Georgia’s Stone Mountain, America’s largest Confederate memorial.
About the Panel
Karen Cox, author of  No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice
Tyler Estep, AJC Reporter
CJ Hunt, director of  The Neutral Ground
Rev. Abraham Mosley, Chairman of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association
Moderated by Josie Duffy Rice, former President of The Appeal
About the Book
When it comes to Confederate monuments, there is no common ground. Polarizing debates over their meaning have intensified into legislative maneuvering to preserve the statues, legal battles to remove them, and rowdy crowds taking matters into their own hands. These conflicts have raged for well over a century – but they’ve never been as intense as they are today.
In this eye-opening narrative of the efforts to raise, preserve, protest, and remove Confederate monuments, Karen L. Cox depicts what these statues meant to those who erected them and how a movement arose to force a reckoning. Timely, accessible, and essential, No Common Ground is the story of the seemingly invincible stone sentinels that are just beginning to fall from their pedestals.

Harnessing your Inner Hummingbird: How to Build Your Nest Egg
2021-06-25 13:00 - 14:00
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Saving for retirement is about more than just stashing away cash in a jar. How much will you need? What’s the easiest way to continue contributing after you retire? We’ll take you through simple steps to grow a comfortable nest egg that will last through your golden years.
