Steven Johnson kicks off Words & Wine in ’09!

Posted on: Thursday, January 8th, 2009
Comments: 0

Helllllllooooooooo, Warren Reporters!

Let me share my recipe for a very happy New Year: Drink before you think. Life’s much more fun with a cocktail in one hand and a book in the other… although, admittedly, this makes it tougher to turn the pages.

One of my proudest achievements of 2008, was being named host of Words & Wine, the bright and boozy series concocted by the fabulous Kim Ricketts. Next Tuesday — January 13th — the 2009 season kicks off at its new home, the Pan Pacific Hotel. Normally, I’d beg you to buy tickets now — and you should, you should — but Ms. Ricketts has provided such a solid argument for attendance, I decided simply to share her advice with you…

When I founded Words & Wine it was with the hope that I could get a bunch of interesting folks together in a room to listen to some brilliant authors kick around ideas and opinions and stories–but not in a stuffy lecture format, more of a conversation–with good food and drink, too. One of the people I had in mind for this series all along was Steven Johnson, as I think he is one of the most interesting people writing today.

First, a few words from “the experts” regarding Steven Johnson:

“Johnson demonstrates his range as a cultural historian, most thoughtful, literate…provocative” – Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

“Wonderfully entertaining” – Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker

“Johnson adds a new and welcome element–old fashioned storytelling flair–to his fractal, multifaceted method of unraveling the scientific mysteries of everyday life.” – Los Angeles Times Book Review

“Formidable, fascinating” -The New York Times Book Review

“Iconoclastic, captivating” -The Boston Globe

“Steven Johnson gives us history at its best: colorful, connected, and compelling.” -The Seattle Times

“Johnson has taken on a subject that is complex and multifaceted. The Invention of Air succeeds like a shot of the purest oxygen.” – Simon Winchester

And now, the many reasons I think you should spend a *Words & Wine evening with Steven Johnson on January 13th*:

Steven is the bestselling author of six books on the intersection of science, technology and personal experience, and his writings have influenced everything from the way political campaigns use the Internet to cutting edge ideas in urban planning, to the battle on terrorism.

His interests range as widely as his subjects—
If you are interested in popular science:

*Mind Wide Open* describes how the current science on “how the brain works” is creating a new understanding of personality and everyday life—and Johnson used himself as the guinea pig for a variety of cutting edge brain-science experiments!

If you are interested in technology:

*Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software* is the story of “bottom up” intelligence-from slime mold to Slashdot-and how its “emergent behavior” has implications for business, government and society

In *Interface Culture* he described how our digital age is transforming society, and predicted the rise of the blogosphere.

In *Everything Bad is Good for You*, he argues that television, films and video games are actually beneficial to the brain in that they make our minds work in more complex ways .

If you are interested in history:

*The Ghost Map* is the story of the worst outbreak of cholera in Victorian London, and the how one doctor’s solution revolutionized the way we think about disease, cities and science.

And now, in *The Invention of Air* Johnson tells us the dramatic story of 18th century British scientist Jason Priestley, who did everything from discover oxygen to found the Unitarian Church in America to befriend and influence Franklin, Jefferson and Adams–yet his full impact hasn’t been examined, until now.

Along with all of this, Johnson founded one of the first online journals, FEED; writes a monthly column for Discover magazine, is a contributing editor for Wired, is Distinguished Writer in Residence at the NYU Department of Journalism, and recently founded a hyperlocal website http://outside.in/; which he describes as “an attempt to collectively build the geographic web, neighborhood by neighborhood.” (And he is just 40 years old! What have I been doing with my life?)

I hope you will join us for the kickoff of the 2009 Words & Wine Series–now at the stunning Pan Pacific Hotel in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Pan Pacific will be providing the appetizers, Chateau Ste. Michelle providing lovely wines, Warren Etheredge leading the conversation–and parking is easy! Just enter the garage under Whole Foods at Westlake and 9th. Make a full night of it, and book a room at the Pan Pacific for just $129 on event nights – this is a special rate for Words & Wine folks.

As always, RSVP to info@kimricketts.com or call (206) 632-2419. Words & Wine events begin at 6:30pm and cost is $45/person, which includes wine, food, and a copy of the book.

The rest of the winter/spring season will include humorist Calvin Trillin, adventurer Steven Rinella, screenwriter/novelist David Benioff, editor/foodie Ruth Reichl, journalist Michael Lewis, and novelist Andre Dubus III (more info and dates at http://www.kimricketts.com/upcoming.html)—and all of us at Book Events hope to see you soon!

I couldn’t agree more. I’ll be there. Will you?

Well-read and thoroughly soused,
Warren


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