A Conversation with New York Times Columnist and Author, Thomas Friedman

Thomas Friedman, Pulitzer-prize winning author and New York Times columnist, will discuss his new book, That Used to Be Us: How American Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back, on Friday, September 9, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. at the University of Minnesota’s Ted Mann Concert Hall located at 2128 4^th Street S. Minneapolis. Professor Larry Jacobs will give the introduction.

Thomas Friedman analyzes the challenges facing America today-globalization, the revolution in information technology, the nation’s chronic deficits, and its pattern of energy consumption—and spells out what we need to do now. That Used to Be Us explains how the paralysis of our political system and the erosion of key American values have made it impossible for us to carry out the policies our country needs. Friedman shows how our history, when properly understood, provides the solutions for renewal if we can get back to the formula that made us successful as a country in every previous historical turn.

Friedman will sign copies of his book following the discussion. This event is free and open to the public. Reserved seating and priority signing placement is available for the first 250 customers who purchase That Used to Be Us from the University of Minnesota Bookstore in store or online. For more information, or to order a signed copy visit www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html.

Thomas Friedman

Thomas L. Friedman won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, his third Pulitzer for the New York Times. He became the paper's foreign-affairs Op-Ed columnistin 1995. Previously, he served as chief economic correspondent in the Washington bureau and before that he was the chief White House correspondent. In 2005, Mr. Friedman was elected as a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Mr. Friedman joined the Times in 1981 and was appointed Beirut bureau chief in 1982. In 1984 Mr. Friedman was transferred from Beirut to Jerusalem, where he served as Israel bureau chief until 1988. Mr. Friedman was awarded the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Lebanon) and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Israel).

Mr. Friedman's book, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century, was released in April 2005 and won the inaugural Goldman Sachs/Financial Times Business Book of the Year award. In 2004, he was awarded the Overseas Press Club Award for lifetime achievement and the honorary title, Order of the British Empire (OBE), by Queen Elizabeth II.

His book, From Beirut to Jerusalem (1989), won the National Book Award for non-fiction in 1989 and The Lexus and the Olive Tree (2000) won the 2000 Overseas Press Club award for best nonfiction book on foreign policy and has been published in 27 languages. Mr. Friedman also wrote Longitudes and Attitudes: The World in the Age of Terrorism (2002) and the text accompanying Micha Bar-Am's book, "Israel: A Photobiography."

Born in Minneapolis on July 20, 1953, Mr. Friedman received a B.A. degree in Mediterranean studies from Brandeis University in 1975. In 1978 he received a Master of Philosophy degree in Modern Middle East studies from Oxford. Mr. Friedman is married and has two daughters.

When

Friday, September 9, 2011
5:00 p.m.

Where

Ted Mann Concert Hall
2128 4th Street South
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Parking + Directions

Registration

This presentation is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Reserved seating and priority signing placement is available for the first 250 customers who purchase That Used to Be Us from the University of Minnesota Bookstore in store or online. For more information, or to order a signed copy visit University of Minnesota Bookstores.

More Information

For more information and disability accommodations, please call (612) 625-5340 or
e-mail cspg@umn.edu.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Co-sponsorsed with the University of Minnesota Bookstores.

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