Author, New York Times columnist and political and cultural commentator David Brooks will appear at Fresno State on May 10 for a free, public lecture.
Brooks will speak at 6:30 p.m. in the Satellite Student Union and will sign books following the speech.
Called “a keen observer of the American way of life and a savvy analyst of present-day politics and foreign affairs,” Brooks is known for bringing audiences face to face with the spirit of the times with humor, insight and quiet passion.
After reading Brooks’ newest book, “The Road to Character,” Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro extended an invitation to him to speak.
“I was deeply impressed by the book’s theme of why selflessness leads to greater success,” Castro said. “His stories that illustrate how character is developed helped remind me how we should all strive to build rich inner lives, marked by humility and moral depth.”
The appearance is co-sponsored by the Ethics Center at Fresno State, The Fresno Bee and ValleyPBS.
In preparation for the visit, Dr. Andrew Fiala, chair of the Department of Philosophy and director of the Ethics Center at Fresno State, has inaugurated a student-faculty reading group of Brooks’ op-eds and latest book.
In addition to Brooks’ bi-weekly column for The New York Times, he is a regular analyst on the PBS “NewsHour” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” He also teaches a course at Yale University.
His previous book, “The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement,” uses the story of a fictional American couple to explain the importance of neuroscience and sociology in understanding America’s politics, culture and future. His other books, “Bobos in Paradise” and “On Paradise Drive” are in a style he calls “comic sociology.” “Bobos in Paradise” was a New York Times bestseller.
Brooks holds honorary degrees from Williams College, New York University, Brandeis University and Occidental College, among others. In 2010, he became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He has worked at The Weekly Standard, joining the magazine at its inception and serving as senior editor. He has been a contributing editor at Newsweek and the Atlantic Monthly. He worked at The Wall Street Journal for nine years in a range of positions, including op-ed editor.
