Arts

Book Festival Packed With Politics

Star power isn't a problem at the 26th edition of the Marcus JCC's literary bonanza.

By Atlanta Jewish Times 22 August 2017, 5:19 pm
Former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell will appear in support of his biography, "Play It Again, Sam," on Nov. 9, just two days after Atlanta elects its next mayor. (Photo by Ben Rollins, Georgia State University Magazine)

The 2017 Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center will begin with a U.S. Supreme Court justice and end with a U.S. senator.

In between, the 26th edition of the festival will feature one of the most famous TV newsmen ever, two former first daughters, a woman once portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence on film, Atlanta’s only Jewish mayor, one of Jewish Atlanta’s best-known machers and the most interesting man in the world.

“Book topics range from scientific breakthroughs to medical to fascinating biographies, from untold stories about the Holocaust to World War II epics, and from brilliant Jewish humor to unwritten rules for sports fans,” festival co-chair Bea Grossman said. “We truly have something for everyone, book lover or not.”

Her co-chair, Dee Kline, said the author lineup is one of the Marcus JCC’s best. It features the writers of 40 books at 33 events, all but one of them at Zaban Park in Dunwoody.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. (Photo by Steve Petteway)

The festival runs from Saturday, Nov. 4, to Monday, Nov. 20, starting with one of the three Jewish justices on the Supreme Court, Bill Clinton appointee Stephen Breyer, talking about his 2015 book, “The Court and the World.” He also has “Against Segregation in America’s Schools,” an enhanced version of a dissent he wrote in a landmark case a decade ago, coming out in October.

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), a former “Saturday Night Live” writer, shares the jokes and stories from his new memoir, “Giant of the Senate,” on closing night.

Providing a politically different, non-Jewish perspective Nov. 18 are former President George W. Bush’s twin daughters, Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush, who have written a memoir, “Sisters First.”

“Giant of the Senate” by Al Franken

Among other highlights:

  • Former “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather, who shares his thoughts on patriotism in “What Unites Us,” on Nov. 19.
  • Inventor and home-shopping pitchwoman Joy Mangano (“Inventing Joy”), portrayed by Oscar winner Lawrence in “Joy,” on Nov. 13.
  • Jonathan Goldsmith (“Stay Interesting”), Dos Equis’ former “most interesting man in the world,” and bridesmaid-for-hire Jen Glantz (“Always a Bridesmaid (For Hire)”) sharing their stories at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Theater on Nov. 14.
  • Two Jewish Atlantans with life lessons worth recounting, former Zep President Harry Maziar (“Story Selling”) on Nov. 7 and former Mayor Sam Massell (“Play It Again, Sam”) on Nov. 9.

Click here for the full lineup. Tickets go on sale Sept. 1 at atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.

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