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The Speakers Series is open to the public by subscribing to the Series. The lectures are held on seven different evenings, from October through April.

Become a subscriber to the Baltimore Speakers Series to guarantee your seats to all 7 performances. You will have the chance to interact with each speaker, as each event will conclude with a question and answer session. Please note that the Baltimore Speakers Series is only sold by subscription to the entire series - single tickets to individual lectures will not be sold.



Brochure
Download Brochure (pdf file)

The speakers for the 2010-2011 season, which begins this Fall, 2010 are:

THOMAS FRIEDMAN

THOMAS FRIEDMAN
Three-time Pulitzer Prize Winning Commentator, New York Times Columnist and Author of The World Is Flat

October 12, 2010 - Tuesday, 8pm


His background as a reporter for The New York Times and his expertise in the Middle East led this three-time Pulitzer Prize winner to pen The Lexus and the Olive Tree, The World Is Flat and, most recently, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America.

ELIZABETH GILBERT

ELIZABETH GILBERT
New York Times Bestselling Author of Committed and Eat, Pray, Love

November 2, 2010 - Tuesday, 8pm


Dubbed a “Rock Star Author” by Oprah Winfrey, her novel Eat, Pray, Love spent over 155 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List and has been published in more than 30 languages, selling over six million copies worldwide. Her latest book, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage, is also a New York Times Best Seller.

FRANK ABAGNALE

FRANK ABAGNALE
The Spielberg film, Catch Me If You Can, is his amazing life story

November 30, 2010 - Tuesday, 8pm


After hearing his lecture,Tom Hanks said, “Abagnale’s lecture may be the best one man show you will ever see.” Thirty years ago he was known as one of the world’s most famous confidence men. He is now the subject of the major motion picture Catch Me If You Can, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.

PEGGY NOONAN

PEGGY NOONAN
Columnist, Bestselling Author & Former Presidential Speechwriter

January 25, 2011 - Tuesday, 8pm


Time
described her first book as “a love letter to the American political process.” A regular columnist for the Wall Street Journal and author of 7 books on American politics, history and culture, her essays appear in the New York Times and Washington Post. She served in the Reagan White House and as chief speechwriter during George H.W. Bush’s campaign for the presidency.

F.W. DE KLERK

F.W. de KLERK
Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

February 24, 2011 - Thursday, 8pm


As the last apartheid-era president of South Africa, he ended apartheid, leading his country’s peaceful transition to black majority rule. In 1993, he and Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in the democratization of South Africa. In 1999, he established the F.W. de Klerk Foundation, dedicated to the promotion of peace in multi-communal societies.

MARK SHIELDS

MARK SHIELDS
Syndicated Columnist and Political Commentator on The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer

March 15, 2011 - Tuesday, 8pm


Having worked in Washington through 9 administrations, he is a nationally syndicated columnist, political analyst, and a weekly contributor to The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer. Shields has been described by the Washington Post as “a walking almanac of American politics” and by the Wall Street Journal as “the wittiest political journalist around.”

Rove vs Dean

KARL ROVE
Former Bush Advisor & Deputy Chief of Staff
HOWARD DEAN
Former Vermont Governor & DNC Chairman

April 26, 2011 - Tuesday, 8pm


Two powerhouses of the American political system faceoff in an evening featuring individual commentary followed by a response to each other’s talk and audience Q&A. Rove is former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President G.W. Bush. Former Governor of Vermont and DNC Chairman, Dean ran for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination.

Here is what our subscribers have to say...


“This Series is incredible!  It’s like an elite continuing education course where the ‘guest lecturers,’ season after season, are some of the best and brightest minds of our time.”
Laura Kulhanjian

“The Baltimore Speakers Series has been a wonderful way for us to experience interesting people who share their fascinating stories with the audience.  It is high-quality educational entertainment, which is unfortunately, quite rare these days.”
Marcie and Michael Jeffers

“At first we were reluctant to purchase the entire series.  However, it turned out that the speakers we were least interested in initially, were the ones we enjoyed the most.”
Dean McClellan

“This is the first time I have ever gone to a lecture (never mind a whole series).  With all the speakers, I learn something new, not only about them, but about the world.  What has been most surprising is how engaging, fascinating and entertaining they have been.  I can’t wait to see who is on the schedule for next year!”
Carolyn B. Metzler

“We enjoy the diversity of the speakers and topics. Thought provoking and entertaining!  Each program has exceeded expectations.”
Rick Corcoran

“I NEED the Speakers Series.  It continues to provide a worldly view in an unobstructed way, without media influence.  Each speaker broadens my perspective and challenges my thought process.”
Charles B.

“Each year I am excited to hear who the next speakers will be.  The amazing stories and personas always provide us with interesting topics for conversation.”
Bob Jacobson

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