The Speakers Series is open to the public by subscribing to the Series. The lectures are held on seven different evenings, from October through May.
Become a subscriber to the Philadelphia Speakers Series to guarantee your seats to all 7 performances. You will have the chance to interact with each speaker, as each event will conclude with a question and answer session. Please note that the Philadelphia Speakers Series is only sold by subscription to the entire series - single tickets to individual lectures will not be sold.
The speakers for the 2010-2011 season, which begins this Fall, 2010 are:
THOMAS FRIEDMAN
Three-time Pulitzer Prize Winning Commentator, New York Times Columnist and Author of The World Is Flat
October 11, 2010 - Monday, 8pm
His background as a reporter for The New York Times and his expertise in the Middle East led this three-time Pulitzer Prize winner to pen The Lexus and the Olive Tree, The World Is Flat and, most recently, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America.
ELIZABETH GILBERT
New York Times Bestselling Author of Committed and Eat, Pray, Love
November 1, 2010 - Monday, 8pm
Dubbed a "Rock Star Author" by Oprah Winfrey, her novel Eat, Pray, Love spent over 155 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List and has been published in more than 30 languages, selling over six million copies worldwide. Her latest book, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage, is also a New York Times Best Seller.
BEN CARSON
Celebrated Pediatric Neurosurgeon
November 29, 2010 - Monday, 8pm
With his mother’s support, and his determination to overcome poverty, he became the world renowned director of pediatric neurosurgery for Johns Hopkins Hospital at the young age of 33. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bush in 2008, his life story is portrayed in the film, Gifted Hands, starring Cuba Gooding Jr.
PEGGY NOONAN
Columnist, Bestselling Author & Former Presidential Speechwriter
January 24, 2011 - Monday, 8pm
Time described her first book as “a love letter to the American political process.” A regular columnist for the Wall Street Journal and author of 7 books on American politics, history and culture, her essays appear in the New York Times and Washington Post. She served in the Reagan White House and as chief speechwriter during George H.W. Bush’s campaign for the presidency.
F.W. de KLERK
Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
February 21, 2011 - Monday, 8pm
As the last apartheid-era president of South Africa, he ended apartheid, leading his country’s peaceful transition to black majority rule. In 1993, he and Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in the democratization of South Africa. In 1999, he established the F.W. de Klerk Foundation, dedicated to the promotion of peace in multi-communal societies.
MARK SHIELDS
Syndicated Columnist and Political Commentator on The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer
March 14, 2011 - Monday, 8pm
Having worked in Washington through 9 administrations, he is a nationally syndicated columnist, political analyst, and a weekly contributor to The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer. Shields has been described by the Washington Post as “a walking almanac of American politics” and by the Wall Street Journal as “the wittiest political journalist around.”
KARL ROVE
Former Bush Advisor & Deputy Chief of Staff
HOWARD DEAN
Former Vermont Governor & DNC Chairman
May 2, 2011 - Monday, 8pm
Two powerhouses of the American political system faceoff in an evening featuring individual commentary followed by a response to each other’s talk and audience Q&A. Rove is former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President G.W. Bush. Former Governor of Vermont and DNC Chairman, Dean ran for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination.
