2023 Book Festival Event Schedule

The Paradox of Democracy

A Fridays at Newcomb Event

Tripp Friedler (The Tunnel) discusses the importance of mental health awareness and strategies for fostering well-being. The conversation delves into mental health challenges, stigma and how to create supportive environments for healing.

Join Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum for a compelling discussion on Autocracy, Inc., her latest book exposing the global network of modern dictators. From Russia to China, she reveals how autocrats collaborate to undermine democracy—and what we can do to fight back. Don’t miss this urgent and eye-opening conversation on the future of freedom.

Actor Michael Cerveris talks with Artistic Director Oskar Eustis about The Public Theater's groundbreaking work over the past two decades and examines how theater can serve as both a reflection of society and a platform for change.

Astronaut Cady Coleman shares her extraordinary experiences from space in this captivating conversation with Sarah Gelman, Head of Books Editorial at Amazon. From the wonder of space exploration to the lessons in leadership and teamwork learned while orbiting Earth, this conversation offers insights into how space missions drive innovation and inspire change on a global scale.

Archie Manning discusses his football legacy and what leadership means on and off the field, offering insights into the game of football, family and the values that have guided his career.

General David H. Petraeus reflects on his career in military leadership, offering insights into the complex relationship between strategy, diplomacy and warfare, and sharing his perspective on global security challenges.

As America faces one of the most polarized political landscapes in modern history, what will it take to bridge the divide? In this timely and thought-provoking conversation, Karl Rove, former senior adviser to President George W. Bush, and David Axelrod, former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, will come together for a candid, bipartisan discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the nation. Moderated by The Atlantic’s Elaina Plott Calabro, Rove and Axelrod will share insights from their years at the highest levels of government and politics on both sides of the aisle and offer unique insights into how the country can move forward in an era of deep division. 

Hear from the author, Chelsea Follett, in conversation with Allan Carey, about a diverse group of cities, ranging from ancient Athens to Song-era Hangzhou. The book and conversation will explore some common themes from these extraordinary cities: most cities reach their creative peak during periods of peace; most centers of progress also thrive during times of social, intellectual and economic freedom, as well as openness to intercultural exchange and trade. Learn more about these extraordinary cities, the impact they have had on advancing human progress and the key conditions that allowed for their success.

This conversation with Scott Cowen, President Emeritus and Distinguished University Chair of Tulane University, offers practical lessons on leadership, resilience and the value of purpose-driven decision-making.

Experience Pride and Prejudice like never before with Barbara Heller, whose special edition of the acclaimed novel features handwritten letters from the story. Heller will share insights into her research, the art of historical letter writing and how she brought Austen’s characters to life through their correspondence. Moderated by Merry Toups, this conversation is a must for Austen fans and lovers of literary history.

Author Bernice McFadden sits down with Jacinta Saffold of the Essence Book Project to discuss her evolution as a writer, from her groundbreaking novel Sugar to her latest work, Firstborn Girls. This conversation explores McFadden's storytelling, themes of Black womanhood, and the impact of her work in both fiction and memoir.

In this candid conversation, media veterans Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill explore the evolving landscape of women in the workplace and creative industries. Drawing on their experiences navigating challenges, reinvention, and leadership, they share insights on resilience, ambition, and what it really takes to succeed in environments that are often stacked against women. Moderated by Michelle Miller, this session goes beyond the headlines to discuss mentorship, career pivots, and the power of finding your own voice.

When time runs out, what do we really have? Salman Rushdie reflects on belonging, regret, and the cost of our choices in The Eleventh Hour: A Quintet of Stories, moderated by George Packer.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee joins Lady Rosemary Leith Berners-Lee to discuss the life experiences, collaborations, and values that informed the invention of the World Wide Web, as told in his latest book. Moderated by Nicholas Mattei, the conversation looks at the social architecture of the internet—trust, openness, access, and governance—and asks how those ideals can be sustained amid rapid technological and political change.

In On Character: Choices That Define a Life, Gen. Stanley McChrystal reflects on the pivotal decisions, values, and moments of leadership that have shaped his military career and personal journey. Drawing on decades of experience commanding troops in complex, high-stakes environments, McChrystal examines how character, discipline, and judgment intersect to define both leaders and the organizations they guide. Moderated by John Bel Edwards, former Governor of Louisiana, their conversation explores the moral and practical dimensions of decision-making under pressure, the lessons of accountability and integrity, and the enduring impact of choices on personal and public life. Together, they consider how cultivating character shapes not only individual success, but the trust, resilience, and purpose of communities and institutions.

Publishing insiders Amanda "Binky" Urban, partner at ICM Partners, Priscilla Painton, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Simon & Schuster, and Lauren Spiegel, Vice President and Executive Editor at Gallery Books, give a behind-the-scenes look at how a great idea becomes a great book.

Historian Rick Atkinson joins filmmaker Ken Burns to examine the opposing figures at the center of the American Revolution: King George III and George Washington. Blending narrative history and documentary storytelling, they explore how imperial authority, colonial resistance, and contrasting leadership shaped the conflict’s course—and how the Revolution’s ideals and contradictions continue to echo today.

College athletics is evolving at a historic pace. From NIL rights and conference realignment to athlete wellbeing and the future of amateurism, leaders are making decisions that will define the next era of sports. Kiki Baker Barnes and Kevin M. White, PhD draw on decades of experience in athletic administration to examine how universities balance competition, education, and business pressures. In conversation with Gabe Feldman, they discuss the challenges facing today’s programs and what responsible leadership looks like when the rules keep changing.

From the banks of the Mississippi to the rhythms of Congo Square, Louisiana has shaped the American story in ways both profound and often overlooked. In this America250 conversation, journalist and cultural historian Jason Berry moderates a dynamic discussion with Rich Campanella, Freddi Williams Evans, and Ben Sandmel on the centuries-long contributions of New Orleans and Louisiana to the country’s identity. Together, they explore the region’s influence on American architecture, music, culture, migration, environmental history, and the spirit of resilience that continues to define the nation.

This session is presented in partnership with Louisiana 250. 

How does fiction capture the surreal, often hysterical nature of American culture? This conversation brings together three razor-sharp observers of contemporary life – Nancy Lemann, Patricia Lockwood and Danzy Senna – to explore the thin line between the tragic and the comic. With works that span from the Hollywood Hills to the eccentric corners of Southern life and the digital ether, these authors examine how the cultural comedy of our time highlights deeper truths about identity, authenticity, and survival in a world that often defies logic.

Sports are never just about the scoreboard. In this timely conversation, veteran journalist Christine Brennan, author of On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports, joins Jana Woodson, a leader in college athletics and student-athlete advocacy, to explore how women are reshaping the sports world—from the court to the front office and beyond. Moderated by Betsy Fischer Martin, the discussion examines media attention, leadership, equity, and the cultural forces that shape how women athletes are celebrated, scrutinized, and remembered. Together, they consider what the current moment in women’s sports reveals about power, opportunity, and what comes next.

Taking up space doesn’t come naturally to everyone, especially in a culture that rewards compliance. Meg Josephson, author of Are You Mad at Me?, sits down with Molly Jong-Fast to talk about anxiety, self-expression, and the quiet ways we shrink ourselves to stay safe or liked. Together, they reflect on confidence, boundaries, and what it means to show up fully, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Joined by writer and humorist Mike Sacks, Simon Rich, author of Glory Days, reflects on the art (and occasional chaos) of comedy writing, the business of being funny, and why humor remains one of the most powerful ways to understand the world.

For more than five decades, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has helped define the sound, spirit and soul of the city. In this conversation with former Mayor Mitch Landrieu, producer and co-founder Quint Davis reflects on building Jazz Fest from a local celebration into a world-renowned cultural institution while keeping its heart rooted firmly in New Orleans. Together, they explore the festival’s origins, its evolution through triumph and tragedy, and its lasting impact on music, culture and community. From unforgettable performances to the behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped its legacy, this conversation offers an inside look at how Jazz Fest became more than a festival—it became a living expression of New Orleans itself.

If the 20th century was shaped by industrialists and elected officials, the 21st century is being shaped by founders, platform architects, investors, and media ecosystems. In conversation, Kara Swisher and Walter Isaacson explore how power has shifted in America, who now influences public life, and how innovation can be guided by democratic values.

From New Orleans to the Mississippi Delta to Harlem, place shapes who we become—and how power operates. This panel explores how geography, migration, and regional identity influence American life, politics, and culture. Smith, Perry, and Blow reflect on how landscapes carry histories of inequality and resistance, and how writing about place can illuminate both personal identity and collective struggle.

Food is more than sustenance—it is history, identity, and cultural memory. In this conversation, Edgar “Dook” Chase and John Stubbs, moderated by Ti Martin, reflect on what it means to inherit, steward, and protect culinary traditions in a rapidly changing world. From Creole cuisine rooted in family, community, and civil rights history to the broader Southern foodways shaped by migration, adaptation, and reinvention, the panel explores why culinary heritage matters—and what’s at stake when it’s lost, diluted, or commodified. Together, they examine the responsibilities of chefs, restaurants, and cultural institutions in honoring the past while feeding the future.

In We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade, Elyce Arons offers an intimate portrait of creative partnership and enduring friendship behind one of fashion’s most beloved brands. Karen Essex’s Run, Darling reimagines the lives of the Gabor sisters, exploring how glamour, ambition, and myth-making shape both public image and private identity. Together, these writers examine how stories—both lived and imagined—construct female icons, the tension between perception and reality, and the emotional labor of maintaining visibility in the public eye. This conversation considers how memoir and historical fiction each offer powerful ways to reclaim nuance, agency and humanity behind the image.

 

Please note, Elizabeth Beller was previously included in this session and is no longer able to attend the festival. 

The State of the Nation Project recently launched the first, and widely publicized, bipartisan progress report for the nation. This panel will describe the main findings and explore the reasons behind our successes and failures, from the perspective of authors who have explored related themes in their books.

In Waterbearers: A Memoir of Mothers and Daughters, writer and cultural critic Sasha Bonét explores the intimate, complicated bonds between women across generations—how love, grief, inheritance, and resilience flow from mother to daughter and back again. In conversation with moderator Stevona Elem-Rogers, Bonét reflects on the making of the memoir, the personal histories that shaped it, and the emotional labor of telling family stories with honesty and care. Together, they’ll consider how memory, storytelling, and self-discovery help us understand where we come from—and how those stories shape who we become.

In this intimate conversation, David M. Rubenstein reflects on the passions that have guided his life—history, reading, leadership, and the preservation of America’s cultural and civic institutions. Drawing on decades of interviews with presidents, judges, and historians, the interview explores why stories matter, how curiosity becomes purpose, and why preserving the nation’s historical record is a responsibility to future generations. The discussion offers a thoughtful look at how personal interests can evolve into public impact, and why history remains essential to shaping the future.

Daniel Black, in his book Isaac's Song; Sadeqa Johnson, in her book Keeper of Lost Children; and Heather Clark, in her book the Scrapbook, remind us of the lasting impact of past struggles, triumph, and trauma on family, character, and identity. Black, Clark, and Johnson join author Maurice Carlos Ruffin to discuss the relationship between the indelible mark of history and the power of love.

 

Join the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking for an interactive experience where we will explore the future of our local food systems using the principles of design thinking with local and international authors, scholars, and policy advocates. Participants will receive a tote featuring four free books and bookmarks while supplies last.

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, a central question looms: who actually gets ahead in America — and why? Marc J. Dunkelman (Why Nothing Works) and Gary Hoover (Ladder or Lottery: Economic Promises and the Reality of Who Gets Ahead) join Nicholas Lemann to examine whether the American system still delivers on its promise of opportunity. From institutional gridlock to economic mobility, they explore whether public institutions can function as ladders of advancement or whether trust in government has given way to skepticism. Drawing on history, political analysis, and economic insight, this discussion considers what effective governance looks like in a divided era and who it truly serves.