Rubenstein Explores America’s Complexity

David Rubenstein, host of the Bloomberg Television interview program “The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations,” has written “The American Experience: Dialogues on A Dream.” It’s the third in his series of books featuring interviews with prominent historians and cultural leaders, in which he explores what he calls the complex make-up of America’s DNA and how that has shaped the nation.

The book draws on Rubenstein’s unique blend of wealth, cultural and philanthropic influence and media access. In addition to his TV hosting duties, he’s the billionaire co-founder of The Carlyle Group, a financial services corporation. Rubenstein also chairs the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Smithsonian Institution, and is featured on “History with David Rubenstein,” which can be seen on many public broadcasting stations.

The book consists of a dozen conversations taken from his televised interviews with such diverse figures as Henry Louis Gates, the Harvard professor who discusses the impact that the post-Civil War Reconstruction period had on American democracy, and Billie Jean King, the former tennis pro and outspoken advocate for women’s rights who talks about how sports contributes to contemporary American democracy.

Among the Jewish Americans who are interviewed is the best-selling author Walter Isaacson, who outlines how technological innovation has shaped American life. Elaine Weiss describes the impact that the women’s suffrage movement has had, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who immigrated to the United States in 1948 from Czechoslovakia, sketches the role that immigrants have played in America.

Rubenstein appeared in a live-streamed event at the MJCCA Book Festival on Oct. 3. He returns on Oct. 20 in a virtual event sponsored by A Capella Books at the Carter Center in Atlanta. He’ll interview David Wessel, who has written a new book, “Only the Rich Can Play: How Washington Works in the New Gilded Age.”

David Rubenstein will appear in a livestreamed conversation with Holly Firfer on Oct. 3, 8:00 p.m. EST.