“Is that Kafka? 99 Finds:” An Evening with Reiner Stach and Kurt Beals

Friday, November 11 at 6:30 pm

Deutsches Haus at NYU
42 Washington Mews
New York, NY 10003

Deutsches Haus at NYU presents a reading by Reiner Stach from his recent nonfiction book Is that Kafka? 99 Finds, followed by a conversation between the author and the acclaimed translator of the book, Kurt Beals.

In the course of compiling his highly acclaimed three-volume biography of Kafka, while foraying to libraries and archives from Prague to Israel, Reiner Stach made one astounding discovery after another: unexpected photographs, inconsistencies in handwritten texts, excerpts from letters, and testimonies from Kafka’s contemporaries that shed surprising light on his personality and his writing. Is that Kafka? presents the crystal granules of the real Kafka: he couldn’t lie, but he tried to cheat on his high-school exams; bitten by the fitness fad, he avidly followed the regime of a Danish exercise guru; he drew beautifully; he loved beer; he read biographies voraciously; he made the most beautiful presents, especially for children; odd things made him cry or made him furious; he adored slapstick. Every discovery by Stach turns on its head the stereotypical version of the tortured neurotic—and as each one chips away at the monolithic dark Kafka, the keynote, of all things, becomes laughter.

For Is that Kafka? Stach has assembled 99 of his most exciting discoveries, culling the choicest, most entertaining bits, and adding his knowledgeable commentaries. Illustrated with dozens of previously unknown images, this volume is a singular literary pleasure.

Admission is free.

Books & Booze with Diane McMartin and Book Riot Live

Friday, November 11, at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

The Strand
828 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Have you ever wondered what wine would pair perfectly with your favorite book? Diane McMartin can help with that. The Certified Sommelier and author of This Calls for a Drink! will be pairing wine with select other Book Riot Live speakers’ books and hosting a discussion and reading with them on Friday, November 11, 7 p.m. at the Strand’s Rare Book Room.

Tickets to this event are $40, include admission, refreshments, and a $15 Strand Gift Card.

After the Election, Now What: America’s Future and Lessons of Leadership, Bob Woodward in Conversation with Bernie Swain

Sunday, November 13, at 8:00 pm

 

92nd Street Y
1395 Lexington Ave.

From Presidents to American and world leaders to the personal lessons learned along the way.

Investigative journalist Bob Woodward and founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau Bernie Swain share the leadership lessons learned and observed over the years. Using his vast background, Woodward explores the successes and failures of Presidents from Nixon to Obama. Presenting case studies in presidential leadership and decision-making, he helps the audience understand where administrations have gone right and wrong in dealing with domestic and international issues and offers his expert analysis, only days after this year’s historic presidential election, of what has just transpired and what he sees for America’s future. Swain, representing the greatest collection of American and world leaders since America’s first agency represented such notables as Mark Twain, Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass after the Civil War, explores the turning points in the life of Bob Woodward and some of the 34 leaders of his new book What Made Me Who I Am. What were their most powerful influences? Defining moments? Decisions that contributed the most to their character and accomplishments?

Admission is $38. Purchase Tickets here.

Drunk TED Talks: All Happy Families

Tuesday, November 15 at 8:00 pm

Littlefield
622 Degraw St.

Welcome to Drunk TED Talks, the world’s premiere source of highly intelligent people talking about weird stuff they care deeply about while extremely drunk (with PowerPoints).

Admission is $5. Event is 21 and over. Purchase tickets here.