New book, american, the life of stanford. We are pleased to have them both here for the first time. Before we begin, i would like to find out how many of you have been to the mechanics before . Wonderful. How many are new . Wonderful. Please come back wednesday at noon, we have a tour of our library, the librarian will show you around. At the International Test club down the hallway. 1850, we have a long history of San Francisco. We have Ongoing Events such as this one. We have the International Chess club down the hallway that presents their ongoing lectures and tournaments. Also, we have book clubs and a Writers Group and friday nights, we help we you welcome and join us for our cultural events. I would like to introduce our guest. Hes an Investigative Reporter in print, broadcast and online journalism. Is also a historian at the university adjunct an offer. During his almost four decades in journalism, is specialized in investigative projects as well as new features, earning him mos
It is so nice to be here with you talking about your new book the witches are coming. I want to start by asking you because your writing in this book is always is very funny. Would you call yourself a humor writer . I think so thank you. [laughter] people love to call me a comedian which i dont think it is accurate because i dont do standup comedy. I did a long time ago its very hard and i do not like it. I am a comedy writer with the comedy tv show and i am a humor writer thats my main mission. As a writer Political Writer and cultural critic how is humor a useful entry point . And thats like to write but it feels like a great way to sell challenging concepts or con people into consuming challenging ideas. Because even back when i was a film critic i always try to make everything funny or everything piece of entertainment in itself. Because if you can make something funny you can get people to swallow stuff like big feminist ideas are radical political concepts are things that are cha