Charlotte

Maria Popova is a writer, entrepreneur, and cultural critic known for her work as the founder and editor of the popular website Brain Pickings. Brain Pickings is an eclectic website that features interesting and thought-provoking articles, essays, and books on a wide range of topics, including literature, philosophy, science, and art. Popova began Brain Pickings as a personal project in 2006, and it quickly gained a large following. Today, the site receives millions of visitors each month and has been praised for its unique perspective and curatorial approach.
Popova has also written for a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Wired. In addition, she has been a speaker at various conferences and events, discussing topics such as creativity, productivity, and the intersection of technology and culture. Popova has also been honored with several awards for her work, including the Webby Award for Best Cultural Blog and the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Creative Writing.
In addition to her work on Brain Pickings, Popova is also the author of "Figuring" which is a book that explores the lives and works of some of the most fascinating and accomplished figures of the last four centuries, from Jane Austen and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to Marie Curie and Martin Luther King Jr.
Popova continues to write, curate, and publish her works on her website and in various publications, making her an influencer in literature and culture.

Maria

Kliph Nesteroff is a best-selling author regarded for his vast knowledge of show business. Vice Magazine called him "The Human Encyclopedia of Comedy," and Los Angeles Magazine profiled him as "The King of Comedy Lore." The New York Times has deemed some of his theories "provocative," while Vanity Fair calls his work "essential." Nesteroff was included on LA Weekly's Best of Los Angeles list in 2016 and was dubbed the "premier popular historian of comedy" by the New York Times in 2021.
After eight years as a stand-up comedian, Nesteroff became a frequent contributor to WFMU and a national, on-air contributor for CBC Radio One. For several years he moderated Classic Television Showbiz, a website devoted to classic show business and comedians. The A.V. Club referred to Nesteroff as their "favorite pop culture historian." He is perhaps best known for his several appearances on Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast and his five appearances on WTF with Marc Maron. Maron was the executive producer of Nesteroff's limited-series Earwolf podcast Classic Showbiz.
In the year 2022, Nesteroff appeared in the Judd Apatow documentary George Carlin's American Dream on HBO, W. Kamau Bell's We Need to Talk About Cosby on Showtime, Kevin Hart's Right to Offend on A&amp;E, and The Dark Side of Comedy on Vice TV. He currently serves as a consultant on Rob Reiner's forthcoming documentary about Albert Brooks.
Nesteroff is from South Slocan, British Columbia. He was expelled from high school for giving a speech exposing "salacious dirty laundry" about the teachers, and within a year, he moved to Toronto to take a sitcom writing class. Grove Press released Nesteroff's first book, The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy, on November 3, 2015, to uniformly positive reviews. It was selected as a book of the year by several papers, including LA Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, and the National Post.
Merrill Markoe wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "I thought I knew a lot about the history of American comedy. But this book located gaps in my knowledge I never knew were there and filled them with jaw-dropping anecdotes that made my eyes spin in different directions. For comedy completists and comedians alike, this book is a real treat." The Washington Post said of Nesteroff, "He writes with insider perception but never seems to be either whitewashing or trashing any of this outrageous cast.&nbsp;
Like a biblical epic, The Comedians seems to have a cast of thousands. One act barely somersaults offstage before Nesteroff leads on the next. The anecdotes are memorable and often hilarious ... With his encyclopedic knowledge, talent for vivid anecdotes, and tireless gusto, he drives this busload of rowdy clowns into the 21st century." The Onion's AV Club stated, "Nesteroff is intent on giving the beautiful losers of comedy their due. The Comedians [is] an astonishingly assured and compulsively readable exploration of an impossibly vast topic." The New York Times book review said, "The way he traces ... the evolution of comedy is fascinating ... Through his elegiac attention, these forgotten comedians become almost romantic figures, the stars of a secret history of laughter."

Kliph

Walter Isaacson is an American author and journalist best known for his biographies of Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, and other iconic personalities. He is the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C.
Isaacson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1952 and educated at Harvard University and the University of Oxford. He began his career in journalism at The Sunday Times of London and then as a political writer for TIME magazine, where he served as managing editor from 1995 to 2001 and editor from 2001 to 2002.
In 2003, Isaacson published his first book, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, which was both critically and commercially successful and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography. His second book, Einstein: His Life and Universe, was published in 2007 and was a New York Times Best Seller.
In 2011, Isaacson published his biography of Apple’s co-founder, Steve Jobs, which was a critical and commercial success. The book, which was excerpted in TIME, was optioned for a movie by Sony Pictures. In 2013, he released The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, which was a New York Times Best Seller.
In addition to his books, Isaacson has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker. He has appeared on television programs such as The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and Real Time with Bill Maher.
Isaacson is a prolific speaker, delivering keynotes at organizations such as Google, Microsoft, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Constitution Center, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and many others. He is a member of the American Philosophical Society and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Isaacson is also a board member of several non-profit organizations, such as Teach for America, the National Constitution Center, the Aspen Institute, and the Brookings Institution. He is a former chair of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Voice of America and other international broadcasting outlets.
In 2015, Isaacson was appointed to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology by President Barack Obama. He is also a member of the G7 Task Force on the Digital Economy.
Isaacson is a frequent contributor to various media outlets, including NPR’s Morning Edition, and he has been featured on the cover of Newsweek and TIME. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism, the Henry Luce Award, the Digital Book World Award for Non-Fiction, and the World Technology Award for Media.

Walter

Stephen King is an American author known for his horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy novels. He was born in Portland, Maine, in 1947 and began writing at a young age. He published his first novel, "Carrie," in 1974, which was a success and later adapted into a film. He has since published over 60 novels and 200 short stories, many of which have been adapted into movies, television shows, and comic books. Some of his most famous works include "The Shining," "It," "Salem's Lot," "The Stand," and "Misery."&nbsp;
Stephen King began his career as a writer in the early 1970s while working as a teacher. His first short story, "The Glass Floor," was published in 1967. However, his first novel, "Carrie," was not published until 1974. Nevertheless, it was a success and was adapted into a film in 1976. This success encouraged him to continue writing and publishing novels. In the 1970s and 1980s, he published a string of successful horror and supernatural stories, including "Salem's Lot," "The Shining," "The Stand," "Firestarter," "Pet Sematary," "It," and "Misery."
His novels have been adapted into films, television shows, and comic books. Some of the most famous adaptations of his work include the movie "Carrie," "The Shining," "Stand by Me," "Misery," "The Shawshank Redemption," and "It." He also wrote several non-fiction books and short story collections.
In recent years, he has continued to publish novels, including "Doctor Sleep," "Under the Dome," "Joyland" and "Revival." He is considered one of his generation's most successful and famous authors and has sold over 350 million copies of his books worldwide.

Stephen

Alicia Keys is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and actress. She was born on January 25, 1981, in Manhattan, New York City, and began playing the piano at the age of seven.
Keys began her music career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, releasing her debut album, "Songs in A Minor," in 2001. The album was a commercial success, selling over 12 million copies worldwide and winning five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Fallin'."
In addition to her successful music career, Keys is also known for her activism and philanthropy. She is the co-founder of Keep a Child Alive, an organization that provides medication and healthcare to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. She is also a member of the board of directors for the Harlem Children's Zone. This non-profit organization provides education and support services to children and families in Harlem, New York.
Keys has also acted in several films, including "The Nanny Diaries" (2007) and "Smokin' Aces" (2006). She also made guest appearances in several TV shows.
Alicia Keys has won numerous awards throughout her career. In addition to the five Grammy Awards she won for her debut album "Songs in A Minor," she has won a total of 15 Grammys, including Best R&amp;B Album for "The Diary of Alicia Keys" (2004) and "As I Am" (2008), and Best R&amp;B Song for "No One" (2008).
She has also won numerous other awards, including multiple BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and American Music Awards. Keys has also been honored with several humanitarian awards for her work with Keep a Child Alive and other charitable organizations.
In addition to her music awards, Keys has received numerous accolades for her activism and philanthropy. She was honored with the "Keep A Child Alive Black Ball Award" in 2007 and was named one of Glamour magazine's "Women of the Year" in 2008.
In 2013, Keys was honored with the "Billboard Women in Music's Powerhouse Award." In 2019 she received an award from the "She Is the Music" organization which works to empower female songwriters, composers, and producers.
It's worth mentioning that her recognition goes beyond the music industry. She has also been honored by various organizations for her philanthropy and activism, such as the "Keep A Child Alive Black Ball Award" in 2007 and the "Harlem School of Arts Visionary Leadership Award" in 2010.
Keys continues to be one of the most successful and respected musicians of her generation and has sold over 65 million records worldwide. She is also known for her powerful and soulful voice, as well as her skillful piano playing. She continues to release albums, tour, and do philanthropic work and activism.

Alicia

Kevin Kelly is a writer, editor, and speaker who has had a diverse career exploring the intersection of technology, culture, and business.
In the early days of the internet, Kelly co-founded Wired magazine in 1993 and served as its Executive Editor until 1999. He helped to shape the magazine's coverage of technology and digital culture, and his writing and editing helped to establish Wired as a leading voice in the field.
After leaving Wired, Kelly continued to write and speak about technology and its impact on society. He has written several books, including "Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, &amp; the Economic World" and "What Technology Wants," which explore how technology shapes our world and our future.
In recent years, Kelly has been a sought-after speaker and advisor on technology and its impact on society. He has spoken at conferences and events worldwide and advised companies and organizations on navigating the rapidly changing technological landscape. Kelly is also a co-founder of the All Species Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to cataloging and identifying every living species on earth. The Long Now Foundation focuses on long-term thinking and responsibility.
Overall, Kelly's career has been dedicated to understanding how technology shapes our world and helping others understand and navigate those changes.

Kevin

Stewart Brand is an American writer best known as the editor of the Whole Earth Catalog. He founded several organizations, including The WELL, the Global Business Network, and the Long Now Foundation. He is the author of several books, most recently Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto.
Brand was born in Rockford, Illinois, and attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He studied biology at Stanford University, graduating in 1960. As a soldier in the U.S. Army, he was a parachutist and taught infantry skills; he later expressed that his military experience had fostered his competence in organizing. A civilian again in 1962, he studied design at San Francisco Art Institute, photography at San Francisco State College, and participated in a legitimate scientific study of then-legal LSD in Menlo Park, California. In 1966, he married mathematician Lois Jennings, an Ottawa Native American.
Brand has lived in California since the 1960s. He and his second wife live on Mirene, a 64-foot (20 m)-long working tugboat. Built-in 1912, the boat is moored in a former shipyard in Sausalito, California. In addition, he works in Mary Heartline, a grounded fishing boat about 100 yards (90 meters) away. One of his favorite items is a table on which Otis Redding is said to have written "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." (Brand acquired it from an antique dealer in Sausalito.)
By the mid-1960s, Brand became associated with New York multimedia group USCO and Bay Area author Ken Kesey and his "Merry Pranksters." Brand co-produced the Trips Festival, an early effort involving rock music and light shows, in San Francisco with Kesey and Ramón Sender Barayón. This was one of the first venues at which the Grateful Dead performed in San Francisco. About 10,000 hippies attended, and Haight-Ashbury soon emerged as a community. Tom Wolfe describes Brand in his 1968 book, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
The Whole Earth Catalog implied an ideal of human progress that depended on decentralized, personal, and liberating technological development—so‑called "soft technology." However, in 2005 he criticized aspects of the international environmental ideology he had helped to develop. He wrote an article called "Environmental Heresies" in the May 2005 issue of the MIT Technology Review, in which he describes what he considers necessary changes to environmentalism. He suggested, among other things, that environmentalists embrace nuclear power and genetically modified organisms as technologies with more promise than risk.
Brand later developed these ideas into a book and published the Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto in 2009. The book examines how urbanization, nuclear power, genetic engineering, geoengineering, and wildlife restoration can be powerful tools in humanity's ongoing fight against global warming. In a 2019 interview, Brand described his perspective as "post-libertarian," indicating that when the Whole Earth Catalog was being written, he did not fully understand the significance of the government's role in developing technology and engineering. In his environmental position, he self-describes as an "Eco-pragmatist."

Stewart

Andrew Sarris (October 31, 1928 – June 20, 2012) was an American film critic. He was a leading proponent of the auteur theory of film criticism. Sarris was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Greek immigrant parents, Themis (née Katavolos) and George Andrew Sarris, and grew up in Ozone Park, Queens.&nbsp;
After attending John Adams High School in South Ozone Park (where he overlapped with Jimmy Breslin), he graduated from Columbia University in 1951. Then he served for three years in the Army Signal Corps before moving to Paris for a year, where he became a friend of Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. Upon returning to New York's Lower East Side, Sarris briefly pursued graduate studies at his alma mater and Teachers College, Columbia University, before turning to film criticism as a vocation.
After initially writing for Film Culture, he moved to The Village Voice, where his first piece—a laudatory review of Psycho—was published in 1960. Later he remembered, "The Voice had all these readers—little old ladies who lived on the West Side, guys who had fought in the Spanish Civil War—and this seemed so regressive to them, to say that Hitchcock was a great artist." Around this time, he returned to Paris, where he was present at the premiere of French New Wave films such as Truffaut's Shoot the Piano Player (1960) and Godard's A Woman Is a Woman (1961).&nbsp;
The experience expanded his view of film criticism: "To show you the dividing line in my thinking, when I made a Top Ten list for the Voice in 1958, I had a Stanley Kramer film on the list, and I left off both Vertigo and Touch of Evil". He wrote film criticism regularly until 2009 for The New York Observer. He was a film professor at Columbia University (where he earned an M.A. in English in 1998), teaching courses in international film history, American cinema, and Alfred Hitchcock until his retirement in 2011.&nbsp;
Sarris was a co-founder of the National Society of Film Critics. Sarris is generally credited with popularizing the auteur theory in the United States and coining the term in his 1962 essay, "Notes on the Auteur Theory," which critics writing in Cahiers du Cinéma had inspired. Sarris wrote the highly influential book The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 (1968), an opinionated assessment of films of the sound era organized by the director.&nbsp;
The book would influence many other critics and help raise awareness of the role of the film director and, in particular, of the auteur theory. In The American Cinema, Sarris lists what he termed the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States: the Americans Robert Flaherty, John Ford, D. W. Griffith, Howard Hawks, Buster Keaton, and Orson Welles; the Germans/Austrians Fritz Lang, Ernst Lubitsch, F. W. Murnau, Max Ophüls, and Josef von Sternberg; the British Charles Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock; and the French Jean Renoir.&nbsp;
He also identified second—and third—tier directors, downplaying the work of Billy Wilder, David Lean, and Stanley Kubrick, among others. In his 1998 book You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet: The American Talking Film, History and Memory 1927–1949, Sarris upgraded the status of Billy Wilder to the pantheon level and apologized for his earlier harsh assessment in The American Cinema.
He wrote for both NY Film Bulletin and The Village Voice for many years. During this part of his career, he was often seen as a rival to The New Yorker's Pauline Kael, who had originally attacked the auteur theory in her essay "Circles and Squares." Speaking of his long-time critical feuds with Kael, Sarris says, oddly, "We made each other. We established a dialectic."

Andrew

Winston Churchill was a British statesman and politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century, leading Britain through its darkest hour during World War II.
Churchill was born in 1874 and was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. He began his career in the British Army and later transitioned into politics, serving as a Member of Parliament for over 60 years. He held several government positions throughout his career, including as the First Lord of the Admiralty, Minister of Munitions, and Secretary of State for War.
During World War II, Churchill served as Prime Minister and played a key role in leading Britain through the war. He made powerful speeches that rallied the nation and inspired the British people to keep fighting, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. His speeches are widely considered to be some of the greatest in history, with phrases such as "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never" and "We shall fight on the beaches" becoming famous.
One of Churchill's greatest achievements as Prime Minister was his strong alliance with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Together, they led the Allied powers to victory over Nazi Germany.
After World War II, Churchill served as Prime Minister again from 1951 to 1955 but was defeated in the general election. He remained an active Member of Parliament until 1964 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his six-volume memoir of the war. He died in 1965 at the age of 90.
Churchill's legacy continues to this day, with many seeing him as a symbol of leadership, courage, and determination in the face of adversity. He is often ranked as one of the greatest British Prime Ministers, and his speeches are still studied and admired by people all over the world.
Winston Churchill was a prolific writer throughout his life, publishing books on a wide range of subjects. One of his most notable literary achievements is his six-volume memoir, The Second World War, which he wrote during and after the war. The work, which was published between 1948 and 1954, provides a detailed and personal account of the war from Churchill's perspective, including his thoughts and decisions as Prime Minister. The memoirs were international bestsellers and were praised for their historical accuracy and Churchill's literary skill.
In addition to his memoirs, Churchill also wrote several other books throughout his life. Some of his most notable works include:
<ul>
<li>"The World Crisis" (1923-1931): A five-volume work that covers the period of Churchill's life from 1911 to 1928 and includes his thoughts on World War I and its aftermath.</li>
<li>"My Early Life" (1930): An autobiographical work that covers Churchill's childhood and early career.</li>
<li>"A History of the English-Speaking Peoples" (1956-1958): A four-volume work that covers the history of the English-speaking peoples from the Anglo-Saxon period to the end of the 19th century.</li>
<li>"Painting as a Pastime" (1948): A book in which Churchill reflects on his hobby of painting and its therapeutic effects.</li>
</ul>
Churchill's books have been widely read and praised for their historical accuracy and literary merit. They provide valuable insights into the mind of one of the most important figures of the 20th century and continue to be studied and admired today.

Winston

Jessica Hische is a graphic designer, illustrator, and author based in San Francisco. She is best known for her hand lettering, typography, and illustration work in the design and advertising industry.
Hische began her career as a freelance designer in 2005, working with various clients on various design projects. She quickly gained recognition for her unique and elegant hand lettering style, and her work began to be featured in publications such as Communication Arts, Print, and HOW magazine.
In addition to her design work, Hische is also an accomplished author. She has written several books on design and typography, including "In Progress: See Inside a Lettering Artist's Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector" and "Tomorrow I'll Be Brave." Both books offer a glimpse into Hische's creative process and provide valuable insights and tips for designers and illustrators.
Hische has also been a guest speaker at several design conferences and events, sharing her knowledge and experience with other designers and creative professionals. She is also known for her "Daily Drop Cap" project, a series of illustrated letters she created and shared daily on her website.
Overall, Jessica Hische is a highly respected and accomplished designer, illustrator, and author, known for her beautiful hand lettering and typography work. Her unique style, attention to detail, and dedication to her craft have earned her a reputation as one of the industry's most talented and influential designers.

Jessica

Michael David Keighley Baxandall, FBA (18 August 1933 – 12 August 2008) was a British art historian and a professor emeritus of Art History at the University of California, Berkeley. He taught at the Warburg Institute, University of London, and worked as a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. His book Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy was profoundly influential in the social history of art and is (2018) widely used as a textbook in college courses.
Baxandall was born in Cardiff, the only son of David Baxandall, a curator who was the one-time director of the National Gallery of Scotland. He went to Manchester Grammar School and studied English at Downing College, Cambridge, where he was taught by F. R. Leavis. In 1955 he departed for the Continent. He spent a year at Pavia University (1955–56), then taught at an international school in St. Gallen in Switzerland (1956–57), and finally went to Munich to hear the art historian Hans Sedlmayr and where he worked with Ludwig Heinrich Heydenreich on the court of Urbino at the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte.&nbsp;
On his return to London in 1958, he began a long association with the Warburg Institute, initially working in the photographic collection, where he met Kay Simon, whom he married in 1963. From 1959 to 1961, he was a junior fellow, working on his never-completed Ph.D., Restraint in Renaissance behavior, under Ernst Gombrich. From 1961, he was Assistant Keeper in the Department of Architecture and Sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum, returning to the Warburg Institute in 1965 as a lecturer in Renaissance Studies.&nbsp;
He was appointed to a chair by the University of London in 1981 but increasingly spent his time in the United States. He was A. D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University and became a half-time Professor of the History of Art at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1987. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991. He was Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford from 1974–75.
His book Giotto and the Orators was published in 1971. This was followed in 1972 by Painting and Experience in Fifteenth Century Italy, now considered a classic of art history, in which he developed the influential concept of the period eye. These were followed by The Limewood Sculptors of Renaissance Germany (1980), Patterns of Intention (1985), Tiepolo and the Pictorial Intelligence (1994, with Svetlana Alpers), Shadows and Enlightenment (1994), and Words for Pictures (2003).&nbsp;
In all his work, Baxandall was concerned with illuminating artworks by a thorough exploration of the conditions of their production – intellectual, social, and physical. In Limewood Sculptors, this took the form of using "carvings as lenses bearing on their own circumstances." Despite his impact on "social" art history, Baxandall often retreated from Marxist or overly "contextual" approaches. At one point, he declared that he was just "trying to do Roger Fry...in a different way," and he often cited the impact of Heinrich Wölfflin's book Classic Art.
Baxandall died in London from pneumonia associated with Parkinson's Disease. His concept of the period eye has continued to gain importance since his death.

Michael

Scott Beekman is visiting assistant professor of history at Ohio University. He lives in Athens, Ohio, with his wife, historian Kimberly K. Little, and son, Miller.

Scott

Toby Lester is a writer and editor. He is the author of two best-selling books of popular history, Da Vinci's Ghost (2012) and The Fourth Part of the World (2009). He has written extensively for national publications, among them The Atlantic, Smithsonian, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The American Scholar, The Wilson Quarterly, BBC Magazine, and the London Times. His writing has also been included in several anthologies, including the New Literary History of America (2009).&nbsp;
Lester today works primarily as an editor. He serves part-time as a senior editor for Harvard Business Review but also regularly edits books and articles as a freelancer. Recent books he has worked on include T, by Carole Hooven (2021); Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds, by Paul Farmer (2020); The Shadow Drawing, by Francesca Fiorani (2020); The Age of Living Machines, by Susan Hockfield (2019); In Hoffa's Shadow, by Jack Goldsmith (2019); The Happiness Curve, by Jonathan Rauch (2018); The Founder's Mentality, by Chris Zuk and James Allen (2016); and Our Kids, by Robert Putnam (2016). Lester also periodically teaches editing at Boston College and has served as a thesis advisor for MIT's graduate science journalism program.
Between 1995 and 2006, Lester worked for The Atlantic in a variety of editorial capacities: as a staff editor, as the executive editor of the website, as a senior editor, and as the managing editor. He has also served as the editorial director of Boston (2012-2013), the editor of Country Journal (2000-2001), and the executive editor of DoubleTake (1999-2000).&nbsp;
Prior to 1995, Lester worked in international relief and development. From 1992 to 1994, he monitored intifada-related activity in the West Bank as a UN refugee-affairs officer; from 1990 to 1992, he helped establish Peace Corps programs in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union; and from 1988 to 1990, he taught English in Yemen as a Peace Corps volunteer. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1987 with degrees in English and French and now lives in the Boston area with his wife and three daughters.
Lester comes from a family of writers. His father, James Lester, was a member of the first successful American Everest expedition and is the author of Too Marvelous for Words (1994), the only biography of the jazz pianist Art Tatum. His mother, Valerie Lester, is the author of, among other works, Giambattista Bodoni: His Life and His World (2015); Phiz: The Man Who Drew Dickens (2004), a biography of her great-great-grandfather, Hablot Knight Browne, who was Charles Dickens’s principal illustrator; and Fasten Your Seat Belts: History and Heroism in the Pan Am Cabin (1995). His one sibling, Alison Jean Lester, is the author of the novels Yuki Means Happiness (2017) and Lillian on Life (2015) and the short-story collection Locked Out: Stories Far from Home (2006).&nbsp;

Toby

Art Spiegelman is an American cartoonist, editor, and comics advocate best known for his graphic novel Maus. His work as co-editor of the comics magazines Arcade and Raw has been influential, and from 1992 he spent a decade as contributing artist for The New Yorker. He is married to designer and editor Françoise Mouly and is the father of writer Nadja Spiegelman.&nbsp;
In September 2022, the National Book Foundation announced that he would receive the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Spiegelman began his career with Topps (a bubblegum and trading card company) in the mid-1960s, which was his main financial support for two decades; there, he co-created parodic series such as Wacky Packages in the 1960s and Garbage Pail Kids in the 1980s.&nbsp;
He gained prominence in the underground comix scene in the 1970s with short, experimental, and often autobiographical work. A selection of these strips appeared in the collection Breakdowns in 1977. Spiegelman turned the focus to the book-length Maus, about his relationship with his father, a Holocaust survivor. The postmodern book depicts Germans as cats, Jews as mice, and ethnic Poles as pigs, and it took 13 years to create until its completion in 1991.&nbsp;
It won a special Pulitzer Prize in 1992 and has gained a reputation as a pivotal work. Spiegelman and Mouly edited eleven issues of Raw from 1980 to 1991. The oversized comics and graphics magazine helped introduce talents who became prominent in alternative comics, such as Charles Burns, Chris Ware, and Ben Katchor. It introduced several foreign cartoonists to the English-speaking comics world.&nbsp;
Beginning in the 1990s, the couple worked for The New Yorker, which Spiegelman left to work on In the Shadow of No Towers (2004), about his reaction to the September 11 attacks in New York in 2001—Spiegelman advocates for greater comic literacy. As an editor, a teacher, and a lecturer, Spiegelman has promoted a better understanding of comics and has mentored younger cartoonists.
Spiegelman's parents were Polish Jews Władysław (1906–1982) and Andzia (1912–1968) Spiegelman. His father was born Zeev Spiegelman, with the Hebrew name Zeev ben Avraham. Władysław was his Polish name, and Władek (or Vladek in anglicized form) was a diminutive of this name. He was also known as Wilhelm under the German occupation and Anglicized his name to William upon immigration to the United States.&nbsp;
His mother was born Andzia Zylberberg, with the Hebrew name Hannah. She changed her name to Anna upon immigrating to the United States. In Spiegelman's Maus, from which the couple is best known, Spiegelman used the spellings "Vladek" and "Anja," which he believed would be easier for Americans to pronounce. The surname Spiegelman is German for "mirror man."

Ray Dalio is a renowned American investor, businessman, and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman, and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, a global investment management firm. He is considered one of the most successful investors of all time, with a net worth estimated at over $18 billion in 2020.
Dalio began his career as a Wall Street trader and quickly rose to prominence in the financial world. He started Bridgewater Associates in 1975 with just $5,000 in the capital. Since then, the firm has become one of the world's largest and most successful hedge funds, managing over $150 billion in assets.
Dalio is one of the most influential figures in the world of finance, having been featured on the cover of Time magazine, Fortune magazine, and numerous other publications. He is a sought-after speaker at conferences and events and has been featured in documentaries and films.
Dalio's investment philosophy is based on the concept of "radical transparency," which emphasizes the importance of open and honest communication. He is also a strong proponent of "principled decision-making," which focuses on understanding the underlying principles that drive decisions.
Dalio is a strong advocate for philanthropy and has donated over $1 billion to charities and non-profits. In addition, he has founded and funded several organizations, including the Dalio Foundation, which supports education, health, and economic opportunity initiatives.
Dalio's influence extends beyond the world of finance. He has written several books about his life and career, including Principles: Life and Work, which has become a bestseller. He has also created an online course called Principles for Success, which offers guidance on how to achieve success in life and work.
Dalio has earned numerous awards and honors for his work in business and philanthropy, including being named to the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest individuals in the world and being inducted into the American Academy of Achievement. In 2017, he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to promoting economic and social progress. He also serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Robin Hood Foundation and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Jonathan

The Wire, a television show which aired from 2002 to 2008, has become increasingly popular since its last episode aired. The show addresses important issues, including the failings of the drug war and criminal justice system, systematic prejudice in law enforcement, and other social institutions.&nbsp;
Idris Elba, Dominic West, and Michael B. Jordan have gone on to become significant stars as a result of their roles in the show. David Simon and Richard Price are two of the show's creators and writers. The show is often used as a teaching tool at universities to teach cinema theory, criminal justice, sociology, and other subjects

Nick Crocker is a successful entrepreneur and investor in the technology industry. He currently serves as a General Partner at Blackbird Ventures. He actively works to identify and invest in Australian founders with global ambition, supporting companies like Culture Amp, Eucalyptus, Dovetail, XY Sense, Applied, Morse Micro, Alts, Sunroom, and Kinde. His expertise in the field and passion for helping founders succeed has been key driver of these companies' success.
Crocker resides in Melbourne, Australia, where he lives with his wife Julia and their two boys. He has a wealth of experience in the industry, having previously held senior roles at well-known companies such as Under Armour and MyFitnessPal. While at Under Armour, he was responsible for Product Strategy &amp; Operations and was a Product Manager at MyFitnessPal, the world's most popular health, and fitness application.
In 2012, Crocker co-founded Sessions, a health coaching company, which MyFitnessPal acquired in 2013. This company was backed by reputable investors such as Blackbird Ventures, Collaborative Fund, SV Angel, and Joshua Kushner. Sessions is also a Rock Health company. He also co-founded We Are Hunted, which was acquired by Twitter in 2012. This demonstrated his ability to create and scale successful companies.
In 2010, he was a Product Manager at Boxee, where he helped launch the Boxee Box, a streaming media player. Crocker holds Law and Political Science degrees from the University of Queensland. While studying, he worked as a journalist. His work has been published in prestigious publications such as Wired, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review, showcasing his skills and knowledge in the industry.
Crocker's entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, and industry expertise make him an invaluable asset to the companies he works with, and his track record of success is a testament to his abilities. His dedication to helping founders succeed and his wealth of experience and knowledge make him a valuable partner for any entrepreneur looking to build a successful global business.

Nick

David Simon

Michael K. Williams

George Pelecanos

Ed Burns

Dennis Lehane

Jonathan Abrams' book, All the Pieces Matter, shows us the power of storytelling. He explores the intricate details of the popular TV show, The Wire, and how its narrative has impacted audiences worldwide. It's a great reminder of how compelling stories can influence and inspire us.

The Power of Storytelling

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite TV show? Abrams gives us a peek into the making of The Wire, sharing fascinating insights from the cast and crew. It's a must-read if you're curious about the inner workings of television production.

Behind the Scenes Insights

One key takeaway from All the Pieces Matter is the importance of authenticity in storytelling. Abrams highlights how The Wire's realistic portrayal of Baltimore's social issues resonated with viewers, proving that honesty and truth in storytelling can make a significant impact.

The Importance of Authenticity

Abrams' book also explores how social issues can influence art. He discusses how The Wire used real-life problems like drug addiction and systemic corruption as central themes, encouraging us to look at these issues in a new light.

The Impact of Social Issues on Art

Finally, All the Pieces Matter emphasizes the role of collaboration in the success of a TV show. Abrams shares how the cast and crew of The Wire worked together to create a groundbreaking series, reminding us that teamwork can lead to incredible results.

The Role of Collaboration in Success

All the Pieces Matter

Jonathan Abrams is an award-winning journalist who writes for Bleacher Report. He is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers All The Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire and Boys Among Men: How the Prep-To-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution. A graduate of the University of Southern California, he was previously a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN’s Grantland, and Bleacher Report magazine.

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