The White Hart Speaker Series: Simon Winchester, KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW

Presented by Oblong Books in partnership with the White Hart Inn and Scoville Memorial Library.

In conversation with Joe Donahue.

FREE. Registration required.

REGISTER HERE

From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes—award winning writer Simon Winchester takes a brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds. 

With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things—no need for math, no need for map-reading, no need for memorization—are we risking our ability to think? As we empty our minds, will we one day be incapable of thoughtfulness?

Simon Winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including The Professor and the Madman, The Men Who United the States, The Map That Changed the World, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, and Krakatoa, all of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006, Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He resides in western Massachusetts.

Joe Donahue talks to people on the radio for a living. Joe grew up in Philadelphia, has been on the area airwaves for more than 25 years. He is the host of The Round Table for WAMC Radio and a host of NPR's The Book Show. Joe currently lives in Washington County, NY with his wife, Kelly, and their dog, Brady. And yes, he reads every single book.

Copies of KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW will be available for purchase at this event together with a selection of other titles by the author and a book-signing will follow the program.

The White Hart Inn is a fully wheelchair accessible space with on-site van accessible parking. Microphones and speakers will be used at this event. If you have specific questions about the space or how an event can be made more accessible to you, please do not hesitate to contact us: info@oblongbooks.com.