First book we are discussing here is devoted to education and competing visions of how children learn. Amandas book, the smartest kids in the world and how they got that way takes us to north and poland. Rland, she does this through the eyes of three American Kids learning in those school systems. Analysis r a unique of this. L the Washington Post says is is the most iluminating book ive seen, and the New York Times says this managed to make our culture look strangely new. Trust me, the conclusions have insights for kids of all ages as important parents. Amanda is an investigative journal with the times. Hes also the author of the unthinkable who survives when disaster strikes and why. Please join me in welcoming Amanda Ripley. Thank you. Is great to be here on many levels. One reason is this is the city in which i live. The other reason is i grow most of my articles in the library of congress. It was the only place where i could find some focus and peace. I had a new baby at the time
Youre watching booktv on cspan2 with top nonfiction books and authors every weekend. BookTv Television for serious readers. From my father i inherited my confidence my resilience, my passion, and my audacity, looking back although it was never explained to me in this way, he taught me the spirit of which is greek idea of honor and doing the right thing, even when ones own interests or even ones own life is in peril. Growing up while i never fought anything but australian there were two stories about the Second World War and greece that i always kept close to my heart. The first was in 1940 when Benito Mussolini italys Prime Minister asked the greek Prime Minister for free passage through greece and on the spot at 3 00 in the morning without hesitation, without consultation he said oy he said no. It was spirited defiance and quite incredible when considering just how vastly outnumbered the greeks were by the italians. It prompted sir winston churchhill, the greatest figure of the 20th c
Centuries earlier. His crime was revealing the earth is not the center of the universe. Susans was revealing men are not. [laughter] [applause] both of these things are the sort of revolutionary thoughts that have guided most of my professional life, whether as a reporter in print or on television or in writing books. And yes, i have witnessed a lot of revolutions in my career, consider for example, the new yorker cartoon, about 20 years ago, fellow walks into a bookstore walks up to the bespectacled clerk she says to him, nodding wisely, yes, she says books by men are in the basement. Nothing personal gentlemen. The truth of course is that womens books and everything women do and womens place is everywhere right now but whether it is books or on television, or in real life, i actually learned about my place on the planet from a series of experiences that i had while i was working in Television News. One of them was, when i was back at abc news, where i enjoyed a long and wonderful car
That time, she is sold in the book tends, she wont be here to speak and she will not be here to sign her book. That is why i announce that we are going to have lynn share here. I think she is actually here. Im going to stand up. Youre watching booktv on cspan2 with top nonfiction books and authors every weekend. Booktv television for serious readers. From my father i inherited my confidence my resilience, my my passion and my audacity. Looking back although was never explained to me he taught me the spirit which is the greek idea of honor and doing the right thing even when ones interest for ones own life is in peril. Growing up what i never felt anything but a study in there were two stories about the Second World War and grief that i kept close to my heart. The first, was when Benito Mussolini battalions Prime Minister asked the Greek Foreign minister for free passage through greece and on the spot at 3 00 in the morning without hesitation he said nine. It was a spirited defiance and
More than happy to talk about h them and that book another time. You, sometimes today hug someone or something you love. As that only happens to be a book thats okay, too. We love books. I also want to point out tomorrow february 15th is the birthday of one of my heroes, susan b. Anthony, who of course led the Great Campaign in the 19th century to get us women not only the right to vote but every other single right as well. [applause] yes, thank you very much. So happy birthday to susan b. Anthony in advance. Susan b. Anthony shares that birthday with the as stronger in astronomer galileo who came along on february 15th centuries earlier. His crime was revealing the earth is not the center of the universe. Susans was revealing men are not. [laughter] [applause] both of these things are the sort of revolutionary thoughts that have guided most of my professional life, whether as a reporter in print or on television or in writing books. And yes, i have witnessed a lot of revolutions in my