Books That Shook The World (NWL)

Throughout the millennia of human history, we have, as a civilized species, been periodically reminded that "the pen is mightier than the sword." Case in point: The book. As a physical object, it is small—at least as compared to a tank or battleship or sword. And yet, its contents have, in many cases, radically altered the course of history without inflicting massive human casualties. Alan Bisbort's presentation will examine 48 such books--scientific studies, polemics, chronicles, memoirs, treatises, exposes, scriptures and travelogues, as well as works of poetry and fiction. These tomes date back as far as the second and first millennia (The Code of Hammurabi and The Upanishads, respectively) and as recent as the 20th century (George Orwell's 1984, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring). Bisbort and the audience will examine the how and the why these books have made us who we are today.

Alan Bisbort is a writer, editor and teacher who has published several books, none of which have shook the world. At least not yet. A longtime contributor to the Hartford Advocate, he now edits the websites PleaseKillMe.com and iMediaEthics.org.

Alan's most recent book is "Beatniks: A Guide to an American Subculture" (ABC-CLIO) and he teaches at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, at the University of Connecticut, Waterbury, with a fall course there called "Wake Up, Sheeple! Conspiracy Theory and Propaganda in American History".

PARKING: There is ample library event parking in the nearby Isham Garage. Please bypass the garage kiosks and come directly to the Noah Webster Library Meeting Room, 20 South Main Street, where you may validate your parking with your license plate number.