Join us in summer 2024 as we explore and discuss world affairs with the return of the Great Decisions series and a special Fireside Chat in collaboration with the World Affairs Council of San Antonio.
Great Decisions
The Mammen Family Public Library will once again offer the Great Decisions program, produced by the Foreign Policy Association and featuring eight topics of international interest. This year, we have paired each topic with a suggested reading to encourage participants to dive deeper into the subject matter for those topics that interest them. We will even be visited virtually for live talks with some of the book authors!
If you would like to purchase a copy of the 2024 Great Decisions Briefing Book, you can stop by the library’s walk-up or drive-thru windows. The Briefing Books are $25 each and can be paid for by cash or check. Checks can be made out to “Bulverde Area Rural Library District”.
The dates for each topic are subject to change, based on author/speaker availability, but below is our schedule as currently planned. We will notify all registrants of any changes as the summer progresses!
Tuesday, June 4, 2024: Science Across Borders
The group will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on risky science across borders at 10:00am CST, followed by a brief community discussion. We will then be joined virtually for a live discussion with author Zach Weinersmith at 11:00am CST.
Special author talk! We will be joined virtually by Zach Weinersmith, co-author of the book A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?. If you would like to submit a question to ask the author, please fill out this form by Tuesday, May 21st.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024: U.S.-China Trade Rivalry
The group will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on the U.S.-China trade rivalry at 10:00am CST, followed by a brief community discussion.
While we do not currently have an author talk scheduled for this topic, we hope that attendees interested in learning more about this topic will check out the suggested reading, Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024: NATO’s Future
The group will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on the NATO’s future at 10:00am CST, followed by a brief community discussion.
While we do not currently have an author talk scheduled for this topic, we hope that attendees interested in learning more about this topic will check out the suggested reading, The Russo-Ukrainian War by Serhii Plokhy.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024: Pandemic Preparedness
Our group will be joined virtually for a live discussion with author Dr. Michael Stein at 10:00am CST. Following the author’s talk, we will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on pandemic preparedness and engage in a brief community discussion.
Special author talk! We will be joined virtually by Dr. Michael Stein, co-author of the book The Turning Point: Reflections on a Pandemic. If you would like to submit a question to ask the author, please fill out this form by Tuesday, June 11th.
Tuesday, July 9, 2024: Climate Technology & Competition
The group will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on global trade and green energy at 10:00am CST, followed by a brief community discussion. We will then be joined virtually for a live discussion with author Ernest Scheyder at 11:00am CST.
Special author talk! We will be joined virtually by Ernest Scheyder, author of the book The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives. If you would like to submit a question to ask the author, please fill out this form by Tuesday, June 25th.
Tuesday, July 16, 2024: Mideast Realignment
Our group will be joined virtually for a live discussion with author Kim Ghattas at 10:00am CST. Following the author’s talk, we will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on Mideast realignment and engage in a brief community discussion.
Special author talk! We will be joined virtually by Kim Ghattas, author of the book Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East. If you would like to submit a question to ask the author, please fill out this form by Tuesday, July 2nd.
Tuesday, July 23, 2024: Understanding Indonesia
The group will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on understanding Indonesia at 10:00am CST, followed by a brief community discussion. We will then be joined virtually for a live discussion with author Matt Easton at 11:00am CST.
Special author talk! We will be joined virtually by Matt Easton, author of the book We Have Tired of Violence: A True Story of Murder, Memory, and the Fight for Justice in Indonesia. If you would like to submit a question to ask the author, please fill out this form by Tuesday, July 9th.
Tuesday, July 30, 2024: High Seas Treaty
The group will watch the Foreign Policy Association’s video lecture on the High Seas Treaty at 10:00am CST, followed by a brief community discussion.
While we do not currently have an author talk scheduled for this topic, we hope that attendees interested in learning more about this topic will check out the suggested reading, Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky.
Join us at the library for an event brought to you in collaboration with the World Affairs Council of San Antonio. Maj. Gen. Barry Cornish (Ret.) will be discussing the shifts in the global threat landscape and future trends that he foresees in international security. Following the program, stick around for a reception and s’mores.
Register to join us for this event by visiting the World Affairs Council of San Antonio’s website: Click here to register.
If you have questions for Maj. Gen. Cornish that you would like to submit, please submit them here: Click here for question submission form.
Saturday, July 27th: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Join us for this free workshop in collaboration with Braver Angels Central Texas.
In our current political environment, many people avoid or dread political conversations with friends or family members whose politics differ from their own. They worry, rightly so, that any attempts at political discussions will devolve into arguments and acrimony and result in hurt feelings or anger.
This Braver Angels workshop teaches skills for having respectful conversations that clarify differences, search for common ground, and affirm the importance of the relationship. It also gives participants a safe environment to practice these skills.
Click here to register and learn more.
