Zachary Karabell talked about his book, The Leading Indicators: A Short History of the Numbers that Rule Our World, in which he argues that gross national product, balance of trade, unemployment, inflation, and consumer confidence should no longer be the primary basis for business plans or monetary policy. He argued that the information revolution has made considerably more data available. He spoke with Wall Street Journal reporter Kimberly Strassel.
Read moreSuperfusion
Zachary Karabell argues that the U.S. and Chinese economies have become so intertwined that disrupting either one would have tragic consequences. He spoke at the Carnegie Council in New York City.
Read moreContentious Ground: The Middle East
A panel of authros talked about their books and the Middle East. They responded to questions from members of the audience. Zachary Karabell moderated.
Read moreGlobal Crisis Points
The panelists talked about historical crises and the decision making processes of leaders in response to them.
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Housing Market and the Economy
The panelists discussed issues currently unfolding in the U.S. economy. Topics included the housing market and its credit bubbles, global economics, productivity rates, stocks and bonds, and bank crises. After their presentations the panelists responded to audience members' questions.
Read moreReligion and Culture Panel
The panelists, moderated by Thane Rosenbaum, debated the topic, “Religion and Culture: Do They Mix?” They also talked about their books on opposing sides of the religion and culture question. After their presentations the panelists responded to audience members' questions.
Read morePeace Be Upon You
Zachary Karabell talked about his book Peace Be upon You: The Story of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Coexistence, published by Knopf. Mr. Karabell traces the historical instances of peaceful coexistence between Muslim, Christian, and Jewish people. The author contended that throughout the past fourteen centuries the different faiths have found common ground; from peaceful debate amongst scholars in the courts of the caliphs in Baghdad to medieval Spain where Jewish sages, Muslim philosophers, and Christian monks translated the meaning of God together. The author argued that the current state of religious tensions are solvable if one studies the past. Mr. Karabell responded to questions from the audience.
Read moreThe Modern Middle East
Moderated by Mr. Karabell, the panelists discussed the topic, “The Changing Shape of the Middle East” and their books on the topic. They responded to questions from members of the audience.
Read moreLesser-Known U.S. Presidents
Historian Arthur Schlesinger, editor of Times Books' “American Presidents Series,” moderated a panel discussion of the lives of some of America’s lesser-known presidents. The panelists were the authors of some of the biographies in the series. Ted Widmer was the author of Martin Van Buren, Jean Baker was the author of James Buchanan, Josiah Bunting was the author of Ulysses S. Grant, and Zachary Karabell was the author of Chester Alan Arthur. All of the panelists answered questions from members of the audience following their presentations.
Read moreMorality and History
The panelists discussed the moral lessons of history and the duties of historians.
Read moreMaking Sense of Today's World
A panel discussion on “Making Sense of Today’s World” was held in celebration of the opening of this new Borders store, which replaces the World Trade Center Borders that was destroyed during the September 11 terrorist attack.
Read moreIn the Beginning: Revisiting the Bible
Authors who have written about the Bible in a variety of ways talked about their books.
Read moreThe Imperial Presidency
Authors of books on modern U.S. Presidents discussed Chief Executives from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush in a forum titled “The Imperial Presidency.”
Read moreNews Review
A Visionary Nation
Mr. Karabell talked about his book, A Visionary Nation: Four Centuries of American Dreams and What Lies Ahead, published by HarperCollins. The book is about the cyclical nature of visions and promises made during America’s history in the attempt to make a perfect society.
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The Last Campaign: How Harry Truman Won the 1948 Election
Zachery Karabell discussed his book The Last Campaign: How Harry Truman Won the 1948 Election, published by Alfred Knopf. The book details the last election before television changed the process forever.
Read moreSearch For Historical Truth
Authors and historians discussed differing perceptions of historical truth, and some of the problems and challenges associated with the identification of truth in the study of history. They also talked about their own philosophies of writing history in light of the difficulties and responded to audience questions.
Read moreWhat's College For?
Mr. Karabell talked about his 1998 book, What’s College For?: The Struggle to Define American Education, published by Harpercollins. The book describes his view that higher education has become radically democratized mass education. After his prepared remarks he took questions from the audience.
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