Sandy Frum has once again added an incredible speaker to our upcoming calendar. In January author Tom Rosenstiel (her BIL) will speak – but you can get a heads up with the following:
From Tom: Hi All -- This is the moment and email in which I enlist and encourage all of you to simultaneously enjoy yourselves and to help Tom Rosenstiel’s new book get off to great start. Many of you are familiar with Tom’s novels of political insight and intrigue. The newest book – The Days to Come – hits bookstores and e-reading sites this coming Tuesday. I'll tell you a little about the book in a second but let me cut to the chase with my two requests.
#1 -- The Days to Come will be available on Tuesday (Nov 23), and I encourage you to buy it early and often, for yourself, your family and friends! Early is important to build momentum. Let's get some holiday buzz going on this book! If you do read it, please post a review.
#2 -- Tom is doing a (Zoom) book event with John Podesta at tomorrow at 7 p.m. (Nov 22). Given the subjects in the book, John is the perfect person to discuss the issues in the book with Tom – John’s been a leader on the environment for decades, he’s been chief of staff and a close advisor to Presidents and congressional leaders, and he’s even been a victim of politically inspired hacking and trolling.
And this is where Zoom helps – this is Politics & Prose book event but you can see Tom and John no matter where you are. The event will be fun, and it would be terrific to have a big turnout. (The free tickets are gone, meaning that need to contribute $1 to P&P be able to attend, but I am guessing / hoping that you won't make that a barrier to entry. You won't be disappointed by Tom & John, I will guarantee that. If you hate it I'll send you a dollar!). You can register and RSVP for the online event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pp-live-tom-rosenstiel-the-days-to-come-with-john-podesta-tickets-196695761317
OK, here's a little bit about The Days to Come. David Traynor is a brash Silicon Valley billionaire who has just been elected president. He is determined to make the government work again, using the management lessons and approaches gleaned from his days as a wildly successful entrepreneur. And Traynor is absolutely convinced that climate change is the surpassing and defining issue of our time. So that is where he applies his new approach to management, the presidency and politics. Convinced that Congress is a dysfunctional lost cause, Traynor is ready to use classified budgets, to unleash the private sector, and re-arrange the rules of politics. Not only does he face political skepticism and resistance, he runs headlong into the deeply worrisome culture of Silicon Valley and the challenges of technology espionage from international adversaries. Our familiar heroes – Peter Rena and Randi Brooks – are enlisted to sort out the situation, even as Peter himself is the subject of harsh personal attacks that move quickly through the underworld of the political internet.
If you think issues like climate change, disinformation and trolling through social media, international cyber security, and how to manage a modern and effective presidency are pretty topical, well then The Days to Come is for you. The book is a super smart and sophisticated dive into all these subjects, packed into a fast-moving story with excellent characters.
I'm obviously not being an objective reviewer here. But I will say this – I have read each of Tom's books many times, and I am totally confident that The Days to Come is the best yet. Tom has honed his skills, developed his characters, dug deep on a crucial set of issues, and he is really good at his game now. I think you will enjoy this book for its subjects, its characters, its intelligence, its pace. You are apt to learn stuff, and have a really enjoyable experience at the same time.
So please join Tom & John tomorrow evening, and please buy the book, and tell all your friends and family to do the same.
Thanks, I hope to "see" you on tomorrow evening, [Monday Nov. 22]
