[laughter] guest i think we have so little perspective on this moment that it is quite impossible to say. I think the perception that many people in the United States and, of course, also around the world have that this is an extraordinary uni shall time is something that we are in a time out of time will be a curiosity in the future. People will look back and wonder about that very sense i think it is kind of an interesting phenomenon. I think that will be studied. Host when you think about today, do you compare it to any other period in history . Guest no, you know, as a historian, im interested in analogies. I think we have a cognitive tendency to enjoy analogies to find one thing to be like another, all the time, just in the same way, you know, im the kind of person that sees likenesses in family members. I look at a new baby and say oh that looks just like great grandma so and so. But at the same time, even as i say that, i recognize that a lot of that is my need for familiarity.
I think the perceptionce that many people in the United States and also around the worldhi that this is an extraordinary unusual time in a sense where we are out of time will be a curiosity in the future. People will look back and wonder about that wonderment. And he gets kind of an interesting phenomenon. When you think about today do you compare it to any other time in history . As a historian. Im interested in that. We have a cognitive tendency. In the same way im the kind of person that seems like this and family members. Our need for familiarity. For most of my career as a historian. What time is this like. It is an easy story to write. I think theres a whole crop of president ial biographers who go out on talk shows. I generally find them to be not i in this era. Its actually a way to kind of contain the chaos. It is a way to avoid what is truly strange about this. What do we mean when we talk about American History. How are we to reckon with the fact that our present day is so p
To talk about this topic. Explored in a new book by 104 speakers today. James steyer. Hes the ceo of Common Sense Media. Advocacy organization for families and schools. This program is being held in association with Common Sense Media. Jim is the editor of the new book, which side of history, how technology is reshaping technology in our lives. It offers a collection of essays and how technology is affecting democracy and the society and our future. This available for books are sold. His jointed today but one of the contributors to the book, frank. Hes a writer of the atlantic and author of two books himself. Contributions will focus on the new era. We will discuss that and much more here today. Before we come to the conversation, one final note before we start. You have a question for either jim or frank, please post in the youtube chat box or the facebook Comment Section target and they will be to me during this program. So lets go ahead and get started. First of all, congrats to bot
So little perspective on this moment, its quite impossible to say. I think the perception that many people in the United States and of course also around the world have that this is an extraordinary unusual time something we are the time out of time, will be curiosity in the future people will look back and wonder about that very wonderment i think its an interesting phenomenon. When you think about today do you compare it to any period in history . Jill lepore as a historian im interested in analogies we have a cognitive tendency to enjoy analogies to find d one thing to be like another all the time. Just in the same way and the kind of person that sees likenesses and family members, and look at a new baby and say, that looks just like great grandma someone so. Have the same time, even as they say i recognize a lot of that is minded perception, my need for familiarity. I think there has been for most of my career as a historian the question to ask historians is what time is this like.
Author which is out this week. There be a link at the bottom of your screen and i know most if youve already to preorder the book, thank you so much. But if you want to purchase your copy, its right on the screen. He isnt off at columnist for the new york times. Hes currently a commentator on news hour and all Things Considered with the meet the press, hes the author of several books. Most recently the Second Mountain a quest for moral lif life. Both of which were near times bestsellers for going to hand it over to them in just a Second Period after a couple minutes were going to open this up to q a. So if you have a question you can go ahead and write in your question in the ask the question box which is of the bottom of your screen. So without further ado, rabbi jonathan and david brooks but thank you so much. Host david really didnt . I will do some questions in a backandforth conversation. I was like to start out with the most broad first question. And that is, you have written 30