STACEY’S EVENTS –MAY 2008
581 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
www.staceys.com
415-421-4687

Thursday, May 1st @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY SIERRA CLUB
Bob Schildgen
Hey Mr. Green

Green is a word being used to describe everything from car manufacturers to cleaning products to t-shirts. Bob Schildgen, who writes the “Hey Mr. Green” column for Sierra magazine, offers an indispensable, authoritative and opinionated guide to lightening your environmental footprint and finding your way in a sea of green.

Tuesday, May 6th @ 12:30
William Bernstein
A Splendid Exchange

William Bernstein, the author of The Four Pillars of Investing tells the extraordinary story of global commerce, from its prehistoric origins to the myriad controversies surrounding it today. Lively, authoritative, and astonishing in scope, the riveting narrative views trade and globalization as an evolutionary process as old as war and religion.

Wednesday, May 7th @ 12:30
Roger Lowenstein
While America Aged

Roger Lowenstein, hailed by the New York Times Book Review as “one of the best financial journalists there is,” believes America now faces a crisis of major proportions: the fabric of the nation’s pension system is collapsing at the very moment the population is rapidly aging. Lowenstein reveals how pensions really work in America, illuminates the scope of the problem, and warns that the worst is yet to come.

Thursday, May 8th @ 12:30
Alexandra Fuller
The Legend of Colton H. Bryant

The bestselling author of Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight and Scribbling the Cat turns her eye to telling the story of an interesting character from her adopted state of Wyoming. In The Legend of Colton H. Bryant, Alexandra Fuller is uses one man’s life—and death—to discuss the social and environmental changes wrought by the energy boom in Wyoming.

Monday, May 12th @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY ASIA SOCIETY
Mark Leonard
What Does China Think?

We simultaneously seem to know everything and nothing about China, one of the most important and influential countries in the world. Mark Leonard looks at China from the inside out in what George Soros calls, “a masterful and highly readable report.”

Tuesday, May 13th @ 12:30
Raj Patel
Stuffed and Starved

It is difficult to pick up a newspaper without reading about increasing food crises in much of the world or the epidemic of obesity in America. Raj Patel argues that both are symptoms of the corporate food monopoly. From seed to store to plate, Stuffed and Starved explains the steps to regain control of the global food economy, stop the exploitation of farmers and consumers, and rebalance global sustenance.

Friday, May 16th @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY MARINES’ MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
Jim Sheeler
Final Salute

From the start of the war in Iraq, Marines like Major Steve Beck have found themselves thrown into a mission they never trained for: casualty notification. In Final Salute, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Jim Sheeler weaves together the stories of Major Beck, the fallen, and the broken homes they have left behind.

Monday, May 19th @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE
Sheldon Siegel
Judgment Day

Stacey’s is delighted to welcome local writer Sheldon Siegel for Sheldonpalooza 2008! In his latest novel, Judgment Day, Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez face their most compelling case yet when they’re called in at the last minute to try to stop the execution of a mob lawyer.

Tuesday, May 20th @ 12:30
Leonard Mlodinow
The Drunkard’s Walk

Leonard Mlodinow offers an irreverent look at how randomness influences our lives and how difficult it is to recognize. The Drunkard’s Walk reminds us that much in our lives is as predictable as the steps of a stumbling man, fresh from a night at the bar, and shows us what we should be paying attention to. Join us for what will surely be a provocative discussion.

Wednesday, May 21st @ 12:30
Michael Chabon
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union

Michael Chabon, bestselling author, Pulitzer-prize winner, and local treasure, joins us for the paperback release of The Yiddish Policeman’s Union. Described as the “wildly inventive blackest of black comedies,” The Yiddish Policeman’s Union wraps an alternative history of Jews within a virtuoso recreation of 1940s detective fiction.

Thursday, May 22nd @ 12:30
Susan Urquhart-Brown
The Accidental Entrepreneur

In The Accidental Entrepreneur: The 50 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me about Starting Business Susan Urquhart-Brown speaks powerfully to the interpersonal aspects of self-employment as well as the practical nuts and bolts. Urquhart-Brown provides an easy-to-read no-nonsense guidebook on what it takes to start, build and sustain a successful small business.

Thursday, May 29th @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE
Steve Martini
Shadow of Power

Steve Martini follows bestselling novel Double Tap with his ninth legal thriller featuring defense attorney Paul Madriani and his longtime partner Harry Hinds. In Shadow of Power, hey take on a case that reaches deep into the halls of the Supreme Court when they agree to represent a racist facing execution.

Affiliate Events

Thursday, May 1st @ 12:30
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Willie Brown
Basic Brown: My Life and Times

Former Speaker of the California State Assembly and two-term San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown shares anecdotes from his life and career, behind the scenes insights, and rapid-fire advice for candidates running in our Presidential election. Known as "Da Mayor," he is one of the most influential politicians in America on both sides of the political divide, an articulate spokesman and adviser, and one of the most dapper gentlemen around town. Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. Reservations are required. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Friday, May 2nd @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Philip Bobbitt
Terror and Consent

Philip Bobbitt brings together historical, legal, and strategic analyses to understand the idea of a "war on terror."  Does it make sense?  What are its historical antecedents?  How would such a war be "won"?  Come hear what the Columbia University Director of the Center for International Security thinks we should do to prepare for what may be a decades-long conflict in which the war against al Qaeda is only the first instance. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members, $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Friday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 4th
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL/ASILOMAR CONFERENCE
From London to Moscow: New Faces, Old Alliances

For the last fifty years, the US has built institutions and alliances with nations on the other side of the Atlantic that have been central to our shared security and prosperity. Today, Europe is changing, with new leadership in several key nations. These transitions, in addition to the expansion of the European Union and the upcoming 2008 US presidential election, demand a reevaluation of the dynamics of the transatlantic relationships and their international implications. From London to Moscow: New Faces, Old Alliances brings together a group of distinguished experts and World Affairs Council members to explore the effects of changing leadership, EU expansion, and the future of the transatlantic relationship. Discussions will critically analyze the internal and external effects of shifts in Europe, Russia and the United States, and their impact on foreign policy options and the global agenda. Please note: This multi-day conference will take place at Asilomar, on Monterey Bay. For registration and more information, please call 415.293.4648.

Monday, May 5th @ 6:30
COMMONWEALTH CLUB/INFORUM
Let’s Talk about Sex Panel
Nina Hartley, Brian Alexander, Violet Blue, and Karen Queen
Nina Hartley’s Guide to Total Sex and America Unzipped

It's not uncommon to overhear intimate conversations on public transit in San Francisco, and being gay, bisexual, transgendered or lesbian is less taboo here than wearing white after Labor Day. How do urbanites handle sex in the city these days? Which sexual issues are still considered racy and taboo in the 21st century? Are we as free to do what we want in our private lives as we think we are? Join our panelists as they hold a frank talk about sex in these times. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 6:00 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, May 6th @ 12:30
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Clotilde Dusoulier
Clotilde’s Edible Adventures in Paris

If you adore Parisian cuisine-- whether in undiscovered bistros, four star restaurants, outdoor markets or department store food halls – this book is a an indispensable travel companion for visiting the City of Light. Even the best picnic spots are described, as well as the etiquette of eating street food (never eat while walking) and the best way to order coffee. Bon Appetit! Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Tuesday, May 6th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Eleanor Coppola
Notes on a Life

Eleanor Coppola offers a fascinating glimpse of her life, from the intimate heart of her family to the swirling center of the film world. Even as she visits faraway movie sets and pursues her own artistic interests, Coppola focuses on keeping her family safe and sound. She shares her perspective on the vision that drives her husband, Francis Ford Coppola; examines her daughter Sofia’s rise to fame with the film Lost in Translation; and explores her deepest feelings as a woman and a mother in her struggle to cope with the loss of her son, Gio. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, May 7th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Larry Diamond
The Spirit of Democracy

In 1974, nearly three-quarters of all countries were dictatorships; today, more than half are democracies. Larry Diamond contends that recent efforts to promote democracy around the world have stumbled, and that many democratic governments are faltering. In a bold vision for the future, Diamond explains that the desire for democracy runs deep, even in very poor countries, and proposes that even entrenched regimes like Iran and China could become democracies within a generation. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, May 7th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Willie Brown
Basic Brown

Two-term mayor of San Francisco and former speaker of the California State Assembly, Willie Brown is widely regarded as one of the most influential African-American politicians of the late 20th century. From civil rights to education reform, tax policy, economic development, health care, international trade, domestic partnerships and affirmative action, he has left his mark on every aspect of politics and public policy in the Golden State. Come listen to this acknowledged master of the political game share his knowledge and skills with a new generation of California leaders. MEMBERS ONLY + 1 GUEST. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for guests. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, May 8th @ 5:30 pm
ANCHOR BREWERY SPECIAL EVENT
Charles Bamforth
Grape vs. Grain

Charles Bamforth, Professor of Brewing and Malting at UC Davis and author of Grape vs. Grain will talk about a question that has been bothering him for years: Where do people get the idea that wine is “high-brow” and suited to fancy occasions whereas beer is an informal, “simple” drink? His response romps through the history, culture, and production of both beer and wine. It turns out that for many of wine’s “special” qualities, beer beats wine hands-down. Few people understand either drink with as much depth as Bamforth and his ideas could surprise you… or validate those suspicions you’ve always had. Please note: This event will take place at Anchor Brewery, 1705 Mariposa Street. For reservations and more information, please contact: Jonathan Gaugler, jgaugler@cambridge.org.

Monday, May 12th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Sue Halpern
Can’t Remember What I Forgot

Memory problems may be as common as gray hair after a certain age. Many ageing Americans worry that lapse of memory portends their own falling victim to dementia. Just how close is science to a cure? Sue Halpren's work gives us an overview of many areas of brain health research, chemistry, the link of depression and forgetfulness, and software programs to improve memory.  Will there be a memory chip for the human brain or a link to chocolate and the growth of new neurons in the brain? Her work gives us insight into what research may bring us, what myths have been debunked, and what we should be doing to keep our memory intact. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, May 12th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart
Fixing Failed States

Today between forty and sixty nations, totaling two billion people, have either collapsed or are on the brink of failure. The international community has devoted billions of dollars to attack the world's worst problems, yet these efforts have not succeeded. In their new book, Fixing Failed States, Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart consider why past efforts have not worked and argue that only an integrated state-building approach, assigning responsibility equally among the international community, national leaders, and citizens, can heal these failing countries. Ghani and Lockhart have taken an active part in the effort to save failed states for many years, serving as World Bank officials, as advisers to the U.N., and as high-level participants in the new government of Afghanistan. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Monday, May 12th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Fred Kaplan
Daydream Believers

How did America reach its current state of affairs? Come explore Fred Kaplan's understanding of the evolution of what he sees as the misguided ideologies that currently dominate the political sphere. Kaplan shares his views of how George W. Bush and his aides got so far off track, and why so much of the nation followed. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, May 12th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Ben Katchor and Josh Kornbluth
Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer and Red Diaper Baby

The gently surreal culture in many of Ben Katchor’s strips includes hucksters, butter-and-egg men, latter-day Kabbalists, and merchants living in a wonderland of tin ceilings, illuminated storefronts, and unusual enterprises such as the Senseless Elaboration Parlor and the Mortal Coil Mattress Store. The first cartoonist to win a MacArthur "genius grant," Katchor is the author of The Jew of New York, Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer and The Cardboard Valise. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Tuesday, May 13th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Eleanor Clift
Two Weeks of Life

Eleanor Clift's husband died of cancer one day apart from Terry Schaivo, the brain-damaged women whose family was thrust onto the public and political stage as they battled over whether or not to end her life. Clift believes this incident gave many Americans a glimpse into the fanaticism and political power of a small minority of the religious right. She shares what she has learned and outlines where she feels we may be headed. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, May 14th @ 6:00 pm
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Susan Griffin
Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy

Political activist and award-winning writer and poet, Susan Griffin charts the triumphant moments of American history and the origins of our democratic ideals from the Declaration of Independence to the civil rights and environmental movements. Culling from personal experiences, the turbulence of our post 9/11 era, and our government's policy-making and breaking—she describes what each citizen MUST do to sustain and protect our inalienable rights. Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Wednesday. May 14th @ 6:00 pm
SPECIAL EVENT/CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
Keith McFarland
The Breakthrough Company

Learn what practices successful companies share from nationally-recognized Keith McFarland. Influenced by Peter Drucker and Jim Collins, McFarland conducted an exhaustive 5-year study of more than 7,000 companies. Keith will present what he discovered to help you break through to the next level. Please note: This event will take place at The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street @ Market. Cost is $39 or $59 with the book. For reservations, please contact alumni.cmu.edu/sfbay.html. For more information, please contact Andrew Lee at 415-956-5900.

Thursday, May 15th @ 1:30 pm
OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
Easing In & Out of Retirement Workshop
George Schofield
After 50 It’s Up to Us

George H. Schofield, Ph.D., speaker, workshop leader and author, addresses the remarkable employment and other opportunities available to us as we live and age in After 50 It’s Up to Us: Developing the Skills and Agility We’ll Need. Dr. Schofield is the keynote speaker at the employment conference Easing In & Out of Retirement: Working, Volunteering & Entrepreneurship.  Please note: This event will take place at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State, 835 Market Street, 6th floor. Admission is $25 for the conference. For more information check www.cel.sfsu.edu/olli/ or call 415-817-4243.

Friday, May 16th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Mildred Armstrong Kalish
Little Heathens

At the age of 85, Mildred Armstrong Kalish transformed treasured tales of her farm life during the Great Depression into a New York Times bestseller and one of the New York Times‚ "10 Best Books of 2007." She has received rave reviews from Elizabeth Gilbert, Jim Harrison, The Wall Street Journal and The Christian Science Monitor and has been featured on National Public Radio. How did she do it? Join us for this inspiring discussion, which proves it's never too late to pursue your dreams. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, May 19th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Arianna Huffington
Right is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution and Made Us All Less Safe

For Arianna Huffington, the problem with the Republican Party is not that it is at odds with the views of progressives, but that its "lunatic fringe" has taken over the party and is at odds with the views of the American people. By significant majorities, Americans believe in the science of evolution, don't want Roe v Wade overturned, don't want to ignore global warming, want good health care for their kids and want to bring our troops home from Iraq. "Flashing back to the Reagan era is one thing," says Huffington, "but flashing back to the Dark Ages is quite another." Please note: This event will take place at the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street. Admission is $15 for members, $30 for non-members. Premium seating is $45 for members, $65 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, May 19th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Mary Tillman
Boots on the Ground by Dusk

Pat Tillman, poised for a promising NFL career after graduating summa cum laude from Arizona State, decided to enlist in the U.S. Army after the 9/11 attacks. Sadly, Pat was killed in Afghanistan in 2004. Mary Tillman chronicles her family's harrowing journey through the maze of bureaucracy, red tape and cover-ups to learn the true circumstances of Pat's death. She also recounts memories of Pat as a loving son, brother, husband, friend and teammate. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, May 20th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Laura Donohue
The Cost of Counterterrorism

How has counterterrorist law in both the United Kingdom and the United States had an impact on the balance of power between the branches of government? In the aftermath of a terrorist attack political stakes are high: legislators fear being seen as lenient or indifferent and there is a heightened potential to grant the executive broader authorities without thorough debate. The judiciary's role, too, is restricted. To shed light on the impact of combating terrorism in liberal, democratic states, Laura Donohue joins the Council to discuss the cost of counterterrorist law in Britain and the U.S., arguing that the damage caused is significantly greater than first appears. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, May 20th @ 6:30 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Lincoln Hall
Dead Lucky

Dead Lucky is the amazing story of Australian mountain climber Lincoln Hall’s rescue near the summit of Mount Everest, where he had been left for dead by the other members of his expedition. Hall likes to say that on the evening of May 25, 2006, he died on Everest. And Hall, in fact, was pronounced dead, after collapsing from altitude sickness. Early the next morning, however, an American guide, climbing with two clients and a Sherpa, was startled to find Hall, sitting cross-legged on the summit ridge just staring at them. As featured in the Emmy-nominated Dateline NBC documentary “Miracle on Mount Everest,” Dead Lucky is Lincoln Hall’s account of this miraculous night atop Everest and the days and nights that led up to and followed this fascinating expedition. Hall’s story is inspiring on many levels. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $20 for non-members. Check-in is at 6:00 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, May 21st @ Noon
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Lawrence Freedman
A Choice of Enemies

In recent decades the Middle East has proved to be one of the most troubling, as well as important, parts of the world. The war in Iraq, the standoff with Iran, the regular failures of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and the continuing danger posed by al Qaeda all testify to the complexity of the region's problems. In his new book, A Choice of
Enemies: America Confronts the Middle East, Lawrence Freedman argues that three pivotal events in 1979 helped establish the foundations for U.S. involvement in the Middle East that would last for thirty years, without any straightforward or bloodless exit options. Sir Lawrence joins the Council to make the case that these three strategic choices and subsequent crises led the United States into the predicament in which it finds itself today. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 11:30 am. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, May 27th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Wilford Welch, Priya Haji, and David Hopkins
Tactics of Hope

A hundred years from now, people will look back at this time and realize that it marked the beginning of a dramatic shift in human consciousness regarding our social and environmental actions on earth. In Tactics of Hope, Wilford Welch and David Hopkins highlight the initiatives of twenty-seven social entrepreneurs who have identified solutions to alleviate the plight of the extreme poor and to restore the environment. Welch and Hopkins will be joined by one of the entrepreneurs featured in the book, Priya Haji, CEO & Co-Founder of World of Good, Inc., a company which buys and sells fair trade crafts. The program will be an interactive evening for participants to discuss strategies and tactics that can transform personal concerns into concrete actions. This event is limited to students and young professionals with no more than 5 years of working experience. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, May 27th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Fareed Zakaria
The Post American World and the Future of Freedom

The rise of other nations need not mean a decline of the U.S., says Fareed Zakaria. He foresees a future where the U.S. no longer dominates the global economy, geopolitics and culture, and that this needn't be seen as a negative development. Zakaria believes that our nation needs to learn to understand other nations and find a way to thrive in this rapidly shifting dynamic. Join us as Newsweek International's editor shares his insights on how our nation can thrive in the coming millennium. Please note: This event will take place at the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street. Admission is $15 for members, $30 for non-members. Premium seating (includes a copy of the book) is $55 for members, $75 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, May 28th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Benjamin Powell
Making Poor Nations Rich

Why do some nations seem stuck in poverty while others have transformed themselves and grown? Powell will discuss major success stories and failures from around the world. He argues that key ingredients for a nation to escape poverty include respect for private property rights, the rule of law, and of economic freedom that allows entrepreneurs to drive the process of economic development. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, May 29th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Harry Reid
The Good Fight

Harry Reid is at the helm of his party during a time when Democratic and Republican ideologies are often at odds. In this climate, he often finds himself at the forefront of political battles over legislation and opinion. Where did he get the resolve and ideals that power his political career? Come hear Reid discuss his journey from a childhood of deep poverty in the tiny mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, to his current place in Washington, D.C. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Premium Seating (first two rows) is $45 for members, $65 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

STACEY’S EVENTS –APRIL 2008
581 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
www.staceys.com
415-421-4687

Tuesday, April 1st @ 12:30
MODERN SPIRITUALITY
Dr. Allan Hamilton
The Scalpel and the Soul

Dr. Allan Hamilton, a Harvard-educated neurosurgeon, reveals his experiences—in and out of the operating room—with apparitions, angels, exorcism, and after-death survival. The Scalpel and the Soul explores how premonition, superstition, hope, and faith not only become factors in how patients feel, but can change outcomes; and also addresses the mysterious, attractive powers the “soul” exerts during life-threatening events.

Thursday, April 3rd @ 12:30
Jonathan Rosen
The Life of the Skies

In his illuminating and charming book, Jonathan Rosen, author of The Talmud and the Internet, shows us the poetry, philosophy, and history—natural and human—of the strange modern pastime of bird-watching. “Rosen's wide-ranging intellect flits gracefully from nature to history to poetry, and gentle meditations can be spiked with barbs. This beautifully written book is an elegy to the human condition at a time when wilderness is becoming a thing of the past,” Publisher’s Weekly.

Monday, April 7th @ 12:30
June Casagrande
Mortal Syntax

June Casagrande follows her acclaimed Grammar Snobs are Great, Big Meanies with a witty look at the most frequently attacked language choices. Mortal Syntax: 101 Language Choices That Will Get You Clobbered by the Grammar Snobs—Even If You’re Right brings readers linguistic confidence and offers ammunition against the grammar snobs.

Tuesday, April 8th @ 12:30
David Shields
The Thing About Life is that One Day You’ll Be Dead

Mesmerized—at times unnerved—by his ninety-seven-year-old father's nearly superhuman vitality and optimism, award-winning author David Shields undertakes an investigation of the human physical condition. The result is both a personal meditation on mortality and an exploration of flesh-and-blood existence from crib to oblivion. Shields juxtaposes biological details with bits of philosophical speculation, cultural history, and quotations from a wide range of writers and thinkers.

Wednesday, April 9th @ 12:30
Thomas McNamee
Alice Waters and Chez Panisse

If all Alice Waters had done was to found Chez Panisse, the people of the Bay Area would be richer for it. However, Waters and her motley coterie of dreamers have changed the way Americans eat, and inspired a new culinary standard incorporating ethics, politics, and the conviction that the best-grown food is also the tastiest. Based on unprecedented access to Waters and her inner circle, Thomas McNamee’s book is a truly delicious rags-to-riches saga.

Monday, April 21st @ 12:30
Steve Lopez
The Soloist

In 2005, journalist Steve Lopez noticed a bedraggled looking man playing Beethoven on a street corner. Thinking that it would be fodder for a great article, Lopez looked into it further and thereby embarked on a consuming mission to tell the story of a man whose musical genius was buried under years of untreated mental illness. Please join us for this fascinating and uplifting tale.

Tuesday, April 22nd @ 12:30
Gary Marcus
Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind

Gary Marcus, director of NYU's Infant Language Learning Center, uses evolutionary biology to explain why we are subject to irrational beliefs and inaccurate memories. Because evolution tends to favor genes that have immediate advantages rather than long-term value, our brain is a kluge—a term engineers use to refer to a clumsily designed solution to a problem. Marcus offers ways to overcome the limitations of our imperfect biology.

Wednesday, April 23rd @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE SERIES
Alexander McCall Smith
The Miracle at Speedy Motors

Alexander McCall Smith, the man behind the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and the Sunday Philosophy Club series, is every bit as delightful as one would expect. Please join us for a chance to hear him talk about The Miracle at Speedy Motors, the ninth book featuring Precious Ramotswe.

Friday, April 25th @ 12:30
Susan Jacoby
The Age of American Unreason

Combining historical analysis with contemporary observation, Susan Jacoby’s The Age of American Unreason, dissects a new cultural phenomenon, American anti-intellectualism, that is at odds with our heritage of enlightenment reason and with modern, secular, knowledge and science. Ms. Jacoby’s book has already garnered tremendous press. In giving the book a starred review, Booklist said, “Many writers have parsed the dumbing down of American culture, but none bring quite the deep historical perspective, razor-sharp analysis, well-calibrated moral compass, and stinging wit to the subject that Jacoby does.”

Monday, April 28th @ 12:30
MODERN SPIRITUALITY
Za Rinpoche and Ashley Nebelsieck
The Backdoor to Enlightenment

We all dream of a better life. Now revered teacher and Tibetan monk Za Rinpoche shows how six qualities—generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom—can lead to lasting peace. Blending centuries-old texts with contemporary wisdom, readers of any faith can bypass the traps and limitations of modern life and achieve lasting peace every day. While there might not be a shortcut to your dreams, there just may be a backdoor

Tuesday, April 29th @ 12:30
Martha Beck
Steering by Starlight

In the tradition of her bestseller, Finding Your Own North Star, Oprah Magazine columnist Martha Beck reconnects readers with their best destinies. Beck describes the step-by-step process she uses with her private clients and identifies three stages along the path to recapturing a satisfying life and navigating the terrain ahead.

Wednesday, April 30th @ 12:30
LADIES OF MYSTERY PANEL
Cara Black, Libby Hellmann, and Rhys Bowen
Murder in the Rue de Paradis, Easy Innocence, and Tell Me, Pretty Maiden

It’s a triple treat as Cara Black, Libby Hellmann, and Rhys Bowen talk about their new mysteries featuring female sleuths. Cara Black’s Aimée Leduc is back running in heels from the bad guys, this time on Paris’s Rue de Paradis. Libby Hellmann’s Georgia Davis, former cop and newly-minted PI, investigates a murder on Chicago’s tony North Shore. Rhys Bowen’s Molly Murphy tracks down some of Broadway's brightest stars and Fifth Avenue's richest families in early twentieth century New York.

Affiliate Events

Wednesday, April 2nd @ Noon
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
James Gustave Speth
The Bridge at the Edge of the World

James Gustave Speth has been a leader in the environmental movement for more than thirty years. He will discuss the failures within the political system that have inhibited the solving of global environmental problems. Speth argues that no matter how hard environmentalists work, the current against which they are swimming is too swift. In order to preserve a livable planet for future generations, Speth suggests that the current itself must be altered, that is—American-style consumer capitalism. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 11:30 am. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Wednesday, April 2nd @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Peggy Klaus
The Hard Truth About Soft Skills

Recession jitters are the signal it's time to sharpen your soft-skills repertoire. While the hard skills (your technical expertise) certainly matter, they aren't enough if you can't get along with people, sell your ideas, solve problems, or motivate others. In this high-energy presentation, Peggy Klaus outlines useful insights and strategies for making you a success in the workplace. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, April 3rd @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Chris Hedges
I Don’t Believe in Atheists

In his new book, I Don’t Believe in Atheists, Chris Hedges explores the extreme edges of the religious spectrum. Hedges believes that religion, at its best, struggles with the transcendent forces in life and seeks to promote an ethic of compassion and justice. Yet, he argues, religion has been distorted, especially by fundamentalists, to promote intolerance, exclusion and violence. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, April 3rd @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB/INFORUM
Wendy Merrill, Rachel Sarah, Jerusha Stewart, Sasha Cagen, and Jane Ganahl
Falling into Manholes, Single Mom Seeking, The Last Single Girl in the World, Quirky Alone and Naked on the Page

There's not much that can top a group of talented female authors sharing their works and chatting about writing, men, parenthood, singlehood, the dating scene, work . . . and the balancing of it all. Join us to hear these amazing, funny and talented women as they let you in on the quirky, crazy, and sometimes poignant moments of their lives. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, April 8th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Roger Mudd
The Place to Be

Roger Mudd joined CBS in 1961, and as congressional correspondent he became a widely recognized journalist, covering the historic Senate debate over the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Since then, he has established a reputation as one of America's leading political reporters. Join us as Mudd shares his experiences as CBS reporter: the rivalries, the egos, the pride, the competition, the ambitions—the volatile mix from which the news thundered. He'll also critique broadcast news today, especially political coverage. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, April 8th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Marjane Satrapi
Persepolis

When published in France, Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, the story of growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution and war with Iraq, garnered comparisons to Art Spiegelman’s Maus, and won several prestigious comic book awards. Ms. Satrapi has since turned the book into a movie. This event is presented in partnership with the California College of the Arts, the Cartoon Art Museum, and the San Francisco Art Institute. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Thursday, April 10th @ 6:00 pm
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Christine Pelosi
Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders

Attorney, author, and activist Christine Pelosi presents leadership lessons from the campaign trail for anyone who wants to run for office, advocate for a cause, or win a public policy issue. Pelosi provides practical advice on how to integrate these skills into public service on political campaigns, ballot initiatives, or non-profit ventures. Distilling best practices from across the political spectrum, Pelosi shows how aspiring leaders can master the fundamentals of campaigning—management, message, money, and mobilization. She also offers suggestions gleaned from our best -known politicians and pundits. Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Monday, April 14th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
David Cay Johnston
Free Lunch

Since 1995 when David Cay Johnston turned his investigative reporting skills to explore the murky waters of tax law, Some tax policy officials now consider him, as one tax law professor put it, "the de facto chief tax enforcement officer of the United States."  Johnston will detail how a strong and growing economy lends itself to job uncertainty, debt, bankruptcy, and economic fear for a vast number of Americans. As tax season draws to a close, come find out who is getting a free lunch and who is picking up the bill. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, April 14th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Charles Ferguson
No End in Sight

Charles Ferguson discusses his Oscar-nominated documentary film and new book No End in Sight: Iraq’s Descent into Chaos. Culled from over two hundred hours of footage collected for the film—as well as additional interviews in response to it—his book provides an investigative record of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, April 15th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Steve Coll
The Bin Ladens

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the national bestseller Ghost Wars, Steve Coll presents the story of the Bin Laden family's rise to power and privilege. Cole shows how the family navigated around and through the economic and cultural hurdles, and he presents an authentic humanizing story of Saudi Arabia, America and those caught in the crossfire. Revealing new information, Coll shows how American influence changed a family's fortune and how one family member's rebellion changed the world. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, April 15th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Michael Klare
Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet

While oil, natural gas, uranium, and coal are being depleted at an ever-accelerating rate, what are governments doing to ensure access to the resources vital for the functioning of modern industrial societies? How is the pursuit for these resources shaping the international balance of power? Michael Klare offers insight into the energy-driven dynamic that is reconfiguring the international landscape. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, April 15th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Dr. Lee Jampolsky
Smile for No Good Reason

When you can be happy for no reason at all you have the key to overcoming virtually any obstacle. Dr. Jampolsky presents clear and concise ways that you can utilize right now to begin living a happier and more meaningful life. You will learn to be less affected by stress, and be more productive by replacing the automatic ways you react to fear with new perceptions of yourself and the world. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, April 16th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Daoud Hari
The Translator

After being driven from his home in the Darfur region of Sudan, Daoud Hari used his high school English and offered himself as a guide and translator, assisting journalists and aid groups. Hari tells the story of his journeys, risking his life to ensure that the story of his people is told. He has served as a translator for the New York Times, NBC, and the BBC, as well as the United Nations. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, April 17th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Robyn Scott
Twenty Chickens for a Saddle

Robyn Scott's story of moving to Botswana at the age of seven with her adventure-seeking parents is described by Alexander McCall Smith as "beautifully written" and "acutely observed." It is that and more. Twenty Chickens for a Saddle is an exquisitely rendered portrait of Africa, and of childhood, written by an astonishing new talent. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, April 17th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
David Rothkopf’
Superclass

Members of today’s “superclass” have achieved unprecedented levels of wealth and power. According to David Rothkopf, members of the superclass run our governments, our largest corporations, the powerhouses of international finance, the media, world religions, and, from the shadows, the world’s most dangerous criminal and terrorist organizations. Arguing that they control globalization more than anyone else, Rothkopf questions whether their influence feeds the growing economic and social inequity that divides the world. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, April 17th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Alexandra Harney
The China Price

Acclaimed Financial Times correspondent Alexandra Harney will discuss her landmark exposé of how China's factory economy competes for Western business by selling out its workers, its future, and the environment, creating a "gold rush" atmosphere, in which everyone is clamoring to get rich, and rampant corruption and underfunded regulatory mechanisms offer little accountability. She will tell the personal stories of its workers, including a look at how China's economy has sparked the largest mass migration in human history as rural citizens flock from the interior of the country to its coastline where the factories are located, and the resulting infrastructure failures and dangerous rise in pollution. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, April 21st @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Gene Healy
The Cult of the Presidency

In the upcoming presidential race, Gene Healy asserts it will be easy to miss conservatives and liberals agreeing on a boundless presidency. He argues that our nation's framers envisioned a constitutionally constrained chief magistrate charged with faithful execution of the laws. But now, Healy says, unconfined presidential responsibility and power create many of our political woes and some of the gravest threats to our liberties. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members, $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, April 21st @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Ishmael Reed, Belle Yang, Bill Hayes, and Peter Coyote
Mixing it Up, Hannah is My Name, The Anatomist, and New Buffalo

Maya Angelou, a member of the writer's portal Redroom.com, says, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Thankfully for her and other writers, they can now share their stories, new works, trials and tribulations, and find a creative social network at Redroom.com. This new site bills itself as the official home of the world's greatest writers, and it allows people to connect with the authors they love. A few of the esteemed writers will take part in a special panel discussion about the need for a writers' network, as well as the importance of sharing the products of one’s creativity. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members, $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.
 
Monday, April 21st @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Michael Scheuer
Marching Toward Hell

Michael Scheuer argues that the Iraq War has been a huge setback to the United States’ War on Terror, making the enemy stronger and altering the geopolitical landscape in ways that are profoundly harmful to U.S. interests and security concerns. In his new book, Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq, Scheuer takes on the questions of “What went wrong?” and “How can we fix this?” and proposes a plan to salvage damage that has been done and get American strategy back on track. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Wednesday, April 23rd @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Fred Krupp
Earth

The Environmental Defense Fund helped reduce acid rain in the 1990s by using market forces, and last year it played a role in the buyout of Texas utility TXU that reduced the number of planned coal-fired power plants. The advocacy group's president, Fred Krupp, believes business-friendly approaches such as carbon cap-and-trade systems are the best way to fight global warning. His new book, Earth: The Sequel, highlights the entrepreneurs, scientists, and even a former bus driver on the Trans-Alaska pipeline, who are betting on the free market to create new wealth and build a post-carbon economy. Join us for this Climate One program. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members, $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, April 23rd @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Misha Glenny
McMafia

From human trafficking in Bulgaria to elaborate Internet frauds in Nigeria, how has globalization and new technology influenced organized crime? While the political upheaval following the demise of communism in Eastern Europe and easy flow of money and people to the West certainly provided the perfect opportunity for the underworld’s shadow economy to flourish, what are some of the less familiar aspects of global crime? To trace the recent growth of global criminal underworld, awardwinning author Misha Glenny joins the Council to discuss his book McMafia. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Wednesday, April 23rd @ 6:30 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB/INFORUM
Peter Scoblic
US vs. Them

Peter Scoblic believes that the past half-century has been marked by a conservatism that has undermined America's security. Scoblic's most recent book, US vs. Them, assesses the impact of the Bush administration's ideology on American foreign policy, which he believes poses a catastrophic threat to our future. He asks, how can we defend ourselves while restoring America's place in the world? How should our next president remedy the harm done? And which presidential candidate would do it best? Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members, $20 for non-members. Check-in is at 6:00 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, April 24th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Kevin Phillips
Bad Money

Over the past several months, the U.S. dollar has continued its fall. In Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism, Kevin Phillips argues that the American economy, despite its global dominance, is built upon a house of cards. Phillips investigates the decline of the dollar over the last six years, proposing that this is the result of Washington’s financial irresponsibility, as well as its failure in Iraq. He also explores the political and commercial implications of its plummeting value and weighs in on what the new administration must do to reverse the tide of wayward mega-finance. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, April 24th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Jane Smiley
Ten Days in the Hills

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres is back with a new novel about relationships and the many joys and complications they can bring. Jane Smiley has written for the world's top magazines, including Vogue, The New Yorker, Harper's, The Nation and The New York Times Magazine. Hear what she has to say about the presidential campaign and other topics. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members, $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, April 24th  @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Jared Bernstein
Crunch

Jared Bernstein, an economist versed in plain speak, highlights serious economic challenges facing America today, including the middle-class squeeze, globalization, inequality, unemployment, and environmental degradation. He reviews the roles played by politics and power, describes the impact of the various challenges, traces their sources, and offers pragmatic solutions, many of which are being actively debated in D.C. and on the campaign trails. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members, $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, April 28th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Howard Fineman
The Thirteen American Arguments

Howard Fineman looks back into U.S. political history to discover debates that defined and inspired our forefathers to create and maintain this democracy. The Thirteen American Arguments addresses questions such as: What is a person? What is the role of faith? What are citizens allowed to know and say? Who has jurisdiction? Fineman says the day the U.S. ceases to argue about these questions is the day we cease to be. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members, $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, April 28th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Lieve Joris
The Rebels’ Hour

At a time when U.N. Peacekeepers are trying hard to maintain peace in the Congo, Lieve Joris will discuss her work in the region and share the history of the conflict as seen by a Tutsi rebel leader who eventually became a high-ranking general in the Congolese army. Lieve Joris is one of Europe’s leading travel writers with reporting that has spanned the globe—from Hungary to Africa. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, April 29th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Chris Ware and Art Spielgelman
The Acme Novelty Library and Maus

Join us for a feature event in our Graphic Novelists series: a conversation between a new sensation and a master of comic art. "Art Spiegelman... to the comics world is a Michelangelo and a Medici both, an influential artist who is also an impresario and an enabler of others," The New York Times Magazine.
The event is presented in partnership with the California College of the Arts, the Cartoon Art Museum, and the San Francisco Art Institute. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Tuesday, April 29th @ 6:30 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Cathryn Jakobson Ramin
Carved in Sand

Anyone older than forty knows that forgetfulness can be unnerving, frustrating, and sometimes terrifying. Journalist Cathryn Jakobson Ramin returns to further explore these feelings with compassion and humor. She consults experts in the fields of sleep, stress, traumatic brain injury, hormones, genetics, and dementia, as well as specialists in nutrition, cognitive psychology, and the burgeoning field of drug-based cognitive enhancement. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members, $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 6:15 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Friday, May 2nd @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Philip Bobbitt
Terror and Consent

Philip Bobbitt brings together historical, legal, and strategic analyses to understand the idea of a "war on terror."  Does it make sense?  What are its historical antecedents?  How would such a war be "won"?  Come hear what the Columbia University Director of the Center for International Security thinks we should do to prepare for what may be a decades-long conflict in which the war against al Qaeda is only the first instance. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members, $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Friday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 4th
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL/ASILOMAR CONFERENCE
From London to Moscow: New Faces, Old Alliances

For the last fifty years, the US has built institutions and alliances with nations on the other side of the Atlantic that have been central to our shared security and prosperity. Today, Europe is changing, with new leadership in several key nations. These transitions, in addition to the expansion of the European Union and the upcoming 2008 US presidential election, demand a reevaluation of the dynamics of the transatlantic relationships and their international implications. From London to Moscow: New Faces, Old Alliances brings together a group of distinguished experts and World Affairs Council members to explore the effects of changing leadership, EU expansion and the future of the transatlantic relationship. Discussions will critically analyze the internal and external effects of shifts in Europe, Russia and the United States and their impact on foreign policy options and the global agenda. Please note: This multi-day conference will take place at Asilomar, on Monterey Bay. For registration and more information, please call 415.293.4648.
STACEY’S EVENTS –MARCH 2008
581 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
www.staceys.com
415-421-4687

Wednesday, March 5th @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE SERIES
Cara Black
Murder in the Rue de Paradis

In Cara Black’s eighth Aimée Leduc mystery, Aimée reconnects with a former boyfriend and then is shocked to be called in to identify his body at the morgue. Believing he was working undercover, Aimée ignores the sanitized police report and enlists her partner and best friend, René Friant, to help solve the murder. We’ll celebrate Spring in Paris with some wine and cheese.

Tuesday, March 11th @ 12:30
EVOLUTION OF A WRITER
Ceridwen Dovey
Blood Kin

Ceridwen Dovey’s debut novel, Blood Kin, is a fable set in the aftermath of a regime change. After a violent coup, imprisoned characters reflect on their complicity in an evil regime. Blood Kin parallels our own tumultuous times and offers a look at the corruptive force of power. Please join us as Ms. Dovey discusses her powerful novel and the writing process.

Tuesday, March 18th @ 12:30
Diane MacEachern
Big Green Purse

Diane MacEachern argues that the best way to fight the industries that pollute the planet is to mobilize the most powerful consumer force in the world—women. If women intentionally shift their spending money to commodities that have the greatest environmental benefit, they can create a cleaner, greener world.

Thursday, March 20th @ 12:30
David Hajdu
The Ten-Cent Plague

In the years before the emergence of television as a mass medium, much of American popular culture was created in the pulpy, boldly illustrated pages of comic books. David Hajdu's remarkable new book vividly opens up the lost world of comics and its creativity, irreverence, and distrust of authority.

Tuesday, March 25th @ 12:30
Susan Vreeland
Luncheon of the Boating Party

A Stacey’s favorite, Susan Vreeland, returns for the paperback release of Luncheon of the Boating Party. Imagining the banks of the Seine in the thick of "la vie moderne," Vreeland offers a vivid exploration of Renoir’s beloved painting.
 
Wednesday, March 26th @ 12:30
Eric Alterman
Why We’re Liberals

Eric Alterman, author of the bestselling What Liberal Media? and When Presidents Lie, offers a feisty, accessible primer on how to restore liberalism to its rightful honored place in American political life. Why We're Liberals brings clarity and perspective to what has often been a one-sided debate for the heart and soul of America.

Thursday, March 27th @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE, SF STATE
Irvin Yalom
Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death

Written in Irvin Yalom's inimitable story-telling style, Staring at the Sun is a profoundly encouraging approach to the universal issue of mortality. Capping a lifetime of work and personal experience, Dr. Yalom urges us to confront our own mortality so that we may rearrange our priorities, communicate more deeply with those we love, appreciate more keenly the beauty of life, and increase our willingness to take the risks necessary for personal fulfillment.

Tuesday, April 1st @ 12:30
MODERN SPIRITUALITY
Dr. Allan Hamilton
The Scalpel and the Soul

Dr. Allan Hamilton, a Harvard-educated neurosurgeon, reveals his experiences—in and out of the operating room—with apparitions, angels, exorcism, and after-death survival. The Scalpel and the Soul explores how premonition, superstition, hope, and faith not only become factors in how patients feel, but can change outcomes; and addresses the mysterious, attractive powers the soul exerts during life-threatening events.

Thursday, April 3rd @ 12:30
Jonathan Rosen
The Life of the Skies

In his illuminating and charming book, Jonathan Rosen, author of The Talmud and the Internet, shows us the poetry, philosophy, and history—natural and human—of the strange modern pastime of bird-watching. “Rosen's wide-ranging intellect flits gracefully from nature to history to poetry, and gentle meditations can be spiked with barbs. This beautifully written book is an elegy to the human condition at a time when wilderness is becoming a thing of the past,” Publisher’s Weekly.

Affiliate Events

Monday, March 3rd @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Jan Egeland
A Billion Lives

As one of the closet advisors to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Jan Egeland was at the center of coordinating the UN’s massive international relief efforts during one of the more challenging periods in its recent history. He has traveled extensively to the frontlines of conflict zones and regions ravaged by natural disasters, consistently acting as an assertive international spokesman for victims of catastrophes and civilians caught in the crossfire of strife. Jan Egeland joins the Council to discuss his new book, A Billion Lives, where he offers an up-front account of his travels to the most desperate and violent places in the world to negotiate relief efforts and cease fires, as well as to deal with the perpetrators and their victims. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, March 4th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes
The Three Trillion Dollar War

Two of the nation’s strongest economic minds, Nobel winner Joseph Stiglitz and leading budget expert Linda Blimes, discuss the impact of economic globalization on our world and its communities. They say globalization continues to outpace both the political structures and the moral sensitivity required to ensure a just and sustainable world, and they outline the real work all nations must undertake to realize that goal. Please note: This event will take place at the JW Marriott at 500 Post Street. Admission is $15 for members,  $30 for non-members. Premium seating is $45 for members, $65 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:15 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, March 4th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Richard Powers
The Echo Maker

The New York Times calls Richard Powers "one of our most lavishly gifted writers." Author of Galatea 2.2 and The Time of Our Singing, Powers, who won this year’s National Book Award for his latest novel The Echo Maker, explores the effects of modern science and technology in his work. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Wednesday, March 5th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Thomas Moore
Discover What You Were Born to Do

Give your soul a makeover and realize your potential. Thomas Moore is the author of numerous books, including Care of the Soul which spent 46 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. He is a leading lecturer and writer in North America and Europe in the areas of archetypal psychology, mythology and the imagination. He has also lived as a Catholic monk for 12 years. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, March 5th @ 12:30 pm
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Palace of Illusions

The beloved and bestselling author of Queen of Dreams and Mistress of Spices, offers a vivid retelling of one of the major world epics, the Sanskrit Mahabharat. Told from the point of view of Princess Panchaali, who is married to five men—the Pandavi brothers who are great heroes of their time, The Palace of Illusions offers a fresh perspective on a character who, in the original, is depicted as the usual feminine scapegoat. Panchaali and other women of the Mahabharat are examined with a new insight and complexity that puts them at the center of the story's emotional, mythic and political drama. Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Wednesday, March 5th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Charles Halpern
Making Waves and Riding the Currents

A widely acclaimed social innovator, Charles Halpern provides a model for civic transformation that depends on development of a person’s inner resources to complement cognitive and advocacy skills. He describes how the practice of wisdom is essential for personal effectiveness, as well as our collective capacity to fully address the challenges of our times. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, March 6th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Dee Dee Myers
Why Women Should Rule the World

Hear Dee Dee Myers' fresh take on the achievements that women have made in all aspects of public life. At the age of 31, Myers was appointed as White House press secretary under Clinton. She holds the distinction of being the first women and second-youngest person to occupy the position. Myers highlights the difficulties women have faced throughout history, as well as their collective battle to achieve a presence in areas once denied to them. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Friday, March 7th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Phil Borges
Women Empowered

Phil Borges’ photography exhibit Women Empowered shares how women such as Fahima in Afghanistan, Abay in Ethiopia, Hasina in Bangladesh, and Violeta in Ecuador are improving and enriching their own lives, and those of the people around them. Phil joins the Council on the eve of International Womens’ Day to share their stories. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is $5. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Tuesday, March 11th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Jennifer Fox
Your Child’s Strengths

Writer, teacher, and administrator, Jennifer Fox is the creator of the Affinities Program. In Your Child’s Strengths, Fox makes the argument that knowing your child’s strengths is the key to his or her future and provides practical tools and resources for parents and educators. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, March 11th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Brian Fagan
The Great Warming

Anthropologist and historian Brian Fagan joins the Council to discuss how the earth’s previous global warming phase—a millennium ago—might have reshaped human societies. With lessons for our own time, Fagan recounts how the earth experienced a rise in surface temperature from the tenth to the fifteenth centuries and the drought and famine that ensued—perhaps a preview of today’s global warming. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Wednesday, March 12th @ 5:45 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Peter Barnes
Capitalism 3.0

Fighting climate change is going to cost all of us money. That’s because the price of dumping carbon into the atmosphere must, necessarily, rise. Whether the price rise is prompted by a tax or a cap makes no difference—we will all pay more. Any solution to climate change has to work for forty years or more. A policy that soaks the middle class won’t last longer than an election cycle. Come to find out how we might solve this political conundrum. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:15 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, March 12th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Robin Wright
Dreams and Shadows

Robin Wright offers a compelling account of the political contours that are defining the Middle East. Drawing upon her decades of travel and reporting from the region (she has reported from more than 130 countries for a host of leading publications), Wright reveals the undercurrents of the latest fundamental searching in Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon, as well as the labyrinthine politics of Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Iran and other nations. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, March 12th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Carl Bernstein
A Woman in Charge

In the early 1970s, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward broke the Watergate story for The Washington Post and set the standard for modern investigative reporting.  Since then, in books, magazine articles, television reporting and commentary, Bernstein has continued to build on the theme he and Woodward first explored in the Nixon years—the use and abuse of power: political power, media power, financial power and spiritual power.  Carl Bernstein's latest book is a biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mr. Bernstein will be in conversation with Phil Bronstein. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Thursday, March 13th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
E.J. Dionne
Souled Out

One of our most prolific thinkers, E. J. Dionne argues that the advantage of the religious right is over. He says mainstream America has taken up the causes of social justice, peace and the environment. Though he expects evangelical Christians to continue to thrive, they are beginning to focus on these issues as well, rather than abortion and gay marriage. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Sunday, March 16th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Rabbi Irwin Kula
Yearnings

We live in an age when one can feel proud of being Jewish without any overt Jewish behavior, affiliation, or Jewish knowledge.  What if, asks Rabbi Irwin Kula, we were to let go of all our anxieties and concerns about Jewish identity and Jewish continuity? What would Torah—Jewish wisdom and practice—look like if the choices we made of what to teach and how to measure success were informed, not by whether people became "more Jewish," but by the power of the wisdom to actually help people navigate their lives. What if we began to treat Judaism as having less to do with being Jewish and more with being one of a number of profound ways available to all people for becoming more deeply human? Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Monday, March 17th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Mary Doria Russell
Dreamers of the Day

Mary Doria Russell, critically acclaimed author of The Sparrow, illuminates the long, rich history of the Middle East. As enlightening as it is entertaining, Dreamers of the Day is a memorable, gorgeously written novel. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, March 18th @ 12:30 pm
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Keith Heyer Meldahl
Hard Road West

Professor Meldahl chronicles the massive westward migration that followed the 1849 Gold Rush. This fascinating look at the overland trek to California draws heavily on the diaries and letters of these western settlers as they encountered the challenging and magnificent American landscape. Meldahl reveals the unique historical geology and topography of the West and how it affected their arduous 2000-mile journey. Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Tuesday, March 25th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Mohammed Hafez
Suicide Bombers in Iraq

Suicide bombers continue to kill in Baghdad to deliver the message that the surge will not bring victory for the U.S. and stability for Iraqis. According to Mohammed Hafez’s new book Suicide Bombers in Iraq, the rate of suicide attacks in the Iraqi insurgency has surpassed the number of suicide operations by all previous insurgent groups combined. Dr. Hafez will join the Council to examine the history of suicide bombing in Iraq and across the globe, theoretical perspectives on suicide bombing, the varied factions that comprise the Iraq insurgency, the ideology and theology of martyrdom supporting suicide bombers. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Wednesday, March 26th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Mona Sutphen and Nina Hachigian
The Next American Century

Is the future of U.S. foreign policy doomed to an era of being "the bad guy"? Two former White House staffers from the Clinton era don't think so. Mona Hachigian and Nina Sutphen discovered their shared views on world politics when they were forced to share a converted broom closet during their days in the West Wing. The duo will explain how the United States can thrive with a more nuanced and savvy approach to diplomacy in an age of multiple strong powers. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, March 26th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Parag Khanna
The Second World

As “second world” nations struggle to rise into the first world and avoid falling into the third, what effect will resources in countries like Azerbaijan, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam have on the fate of China, Europe, and the United States? To help us understand the shifting balance of power at this intersection of geopolitics and globalization, Parag Khanna joins the Council to discuss his new book, The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, March 27th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Richard Price
Lush Life

Clockers showed Richard Price to be a master of the Bronx and Jersey projects. In Lush Life he turns his unrelenting eye on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in a manic crescendo of a novel that explores the repercussions of a seemingly random shooting. In their starred review, Publisher’s Weekly stated, “With its perfect dialogue and attention to the smallest detail, Price’s latest reminds readers why he’s one of the masters of American urban crime fiction.” Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, March 27th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Joseph Nye
The Powers to Lead

How can the next U.S. President revitalize American influence and leadership in the world with a mix hard power, or force, and soft power, or attraction to our society and way of life? What qualities give a leader the ability to successfully combine these types of power in proportions that vary with different situations? One of America’s most influential scholars of international relations, Joseph Nye, Jr. joins the Council to discuss his new book The Powers to Lead and to offer insight into the qualities necessary for the next U.S. president to understand changing events and to capitalize on trends so that hard and soft power can be successfully combined into smart power and intelligent global leadership. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, March 27th @ 6:00 pm
MARINES’ MEMORIAL CLUB
Bruce Bechtol
Red Rogue

In Red Rogue, Bruce Bechtol, Professor of International Relations at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, analyzes the changing nature of North Korea’s national defense, foreign policy, and illicit economic activities in the post–9/11 era. He describes how North Korea has adapted to a changing global and regional environment to ensure regime survival, and has often dictated the agenda in East Asia. Bechtol explains why North Korea frequently resorts to brinkmanship and provocation as foreign policy tools and why North Korea remains a threat to the United States and South Korea. Please note: This event will take place at the Marines’ Memorial Club, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco. Admission is free. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, contact www.marineclub.com.

Friday, March 28th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Joseph Nye
The Powers to Lead

How can the next U.S. President revitalize American influence and leadership in the world with a mix hard power, or force, and soft power, or attraction to our society and way of life? What qualities give a leader the ability to successfully combine these types of power in proportions that vary with different situations? One of America’s most influential scholars of international relations, Joseph Nye, Jr. discusses his new book The Powers to Lead and offers insight into the qualities necessary for the next U.S. president to understand changing events and to capitalize on trends so that hard and soft power can be successfully combined into smart power and intelligent global leadership. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Friday, March 28th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks
Apollo’s Fire

Is it possible to overcome America's addiction to petroleum and reverse the tide of global warming?  Many experts believe that it is possible, but that it will require extraordinary leadership from our Federal government, along with truly collaborative efforts among businesses, universities, state and local government, and citizens. Congressman
Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks will outline a program they believe will get the job done, code-named "Apollo" in honor of the late President Kennedy's challenge to Americans to put a man on the moon in one decade, and will share the encouraging news about recent developments in this effort. . Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, March 31st @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Ellen Frost
Asia’s New Regionalism

Asian integration has acquired new momentum. Asian governments are forging closer links and building new regional architecture. At a time when Washington is preoccupied with the Middle East, China has become a skilled practitioner of regional diplomacy in Asia. Meanwhile, globalization is fueling the spontaneous (re)integration of Asia’s maritime regions In her new book, Asia’s New Regionalism, Ellen Frost will take us through the implications of Asia’s new policy direction. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Wednesday, April 2nd @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Peggy Klaus
The Hard Truth About Soft Skills

Recession jitters are the signal it's time to sharpen your soft-skills repertoire. While the hard skills (your technical expertise) certainly matter, they aren't enough if you can't get along with people, sell your ideas, solve problems, or motivate others. In this high-energy presentation, Peggy Klaus outlines useful insights and strategies for making you a success in the workplace. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.
STACEY’S EVENTS –FEBRUARY 2008
581 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
www.staceys.com
415-421-4687

Tuesday, February 5th @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY ASIA SOCIETY
John Burnham Schwartz
The Commoner

John Burnham Schwartz received acclaim for his novel Reservation Road. In The Commoner, Schwartz tells the tale of the secretive, cloistered and privileged life of the current Empress of Japan; the story of one woman’s rise from humble beginnings to Empress, and the costs of such a transformation.

Wednesday, February 6th @ 12:30
Lynne Cox
Grayson

Lynne Cox was a young girl when she discovered the joys of swimming in open water. She set a record for crossing the English Channel at age 15 and wrote the memoir Swimming to Antarctica. We’re delighted to welcome Ms. Cox for the paperback release of Grayson; reflections on her experience in reuniting a baby gray whale with its mother.

Thursday, February 7th @ 12:30
EVOLUTION OF A WRITER
Daniel Alarcon
Lost City Radio

Set in a fictional South American nation where guerrillas have long clashed with the government, the ambitious first novel of local author Daniel Alarcon (after his PEN Hemingway-nominated story collection War by Candlelight) follows a trio of characters upended by civil strife, including Norma, who hosts the popular radio show "Lost City Radio," reconnecting callers with their missing loved ones

Friday, February 8th @ 12:30
William Vollmann
Riding Toward Everywhere

William Vollmann is a relentlessly curious, determinedly sensitive, and unequivocally adventurous examiner of human existence. In his latest book, Riding Toward Everywhere, he turns his attentions to America itself; from our romanticizing of "freedom" to the ways in which we restrict the very freedoms we profess to admire.

Wednesday, February 13th @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY ASIA SOCIETY
Charles Li
The Bitter Sea: Coming of Age in a China Before Mao

In this exceptional memoir, Charles Li brings into focus the growth pains of a nation undergoing torturous rebirth, and offers an intimate understanding of the intricate, subtle, and yet all-powerful traditions that bind the Chinese family. Intense and illuminating, The Bitter Sea is a unique tale of the coming-of-age of one young man and a country.

Wednesday, February 20th @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY ASIA SOCIETY
Susan Choi
A Person of Interest

Susan Choi was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for her novel American Woman. A Person of Interest is a riveting story that asks how far one man can run from his past, and explores the impact of scrutiny and suspicion in an age of terror. Choi’s use of subtle humor, emotional acuity, and breathtaking plot twists keep this tale of wounding secrets rolling.

Thursday, February 21st @ 12:30
Charles Barber
Comfortably Numb

In Comfortably Numb Charles Barber presents a timely, unflinching look at the overuse and abuse of psychiatric medicines across America today. Barber, a lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, exposes the increasing pressure Americans are under to medicate themselves.

Monday, February 25th @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE SERIES
Diane Wei Liang
The Eye of Jade

Diane Wei Liang’s gripping debut novel is a new mystery series set in Beijing. The Eye of Jade features an unforgettable female detective whose search for a missing artifact leads her to discover the dishonorable secrets of her nation’s culture . . . and her family’s past.

Tuesday, February 26th @ 12:30
Samantha Power
Chasing the Flame

Stacey’s is proud to host Pulitzer Prize-winning author Samantha Power. Power’s new book, Chasing the Flame is the epic tale—part thriller, part tragedy—of the political career of humanitarian Sergio Vieira de Mello, the charismatic Brazilian chief of the U.N. Mission to Iraq, and his tragic death in 2003 in a terrorist attack on U.N. Headquarters.

Wednesday, March 5th @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE SERIES
Cara Black
Murder in the Rue de Paradis

In Cara Black’s eighth Aimée Leduc mystery, Aimée reconnects with a former boyfriend and then is shocked to be called in to identify his body at the morgue. Believing he was working undercover, Aimée ignores the sanitized police report and enlists her partner and best friend, René Friant, to help solve the murder. We’ll celebrate Spring in Paris with some wine and cheese.

Affiliate Events

Friday, February 1st @ Noon
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Steven Cook
Ruling But Not Governing

In his new book, Ruling But Not Governing, Steven Cook highlights the role that the military and the political elite play in the stability of the Egyptian, Algerian, and Turkish political systems. According to Cook, the military and multilayered institutions ensure the durability of authoritarian systems. He considers how an authoritarian elite can control democratic practices such as elections, multiparty politics, and a relatively freer press as part of a strategy to remain in power. However, with Turkey’s recent reforms as a model, Cook will explore how other external political actors could improve the likelihood of political change in Egypt and Algeria. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 11:30 am. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.
 
Tuesday, February 5th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Anthony Lewis
The First Amendment

The First Amendment ensures that all Americans have the right to free speech, but it was only in the 20th century that the Supreme Court began to consistently enforce this basic freedom, says Lewis. He will explore how the First Amendment came to represent what it does today, taking a close look at how the courts, public opinion and the political will of the time have influenced the course of our country’s development. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, February 6th @ Noon
OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
Dr. Lillian Rubin
Sixty on Up

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute invites you to join us for a discussion with Lillian B. Rubin, PhD., psychotherapist, writer and public sociologist on the realities of aging. Dr. Rubin is the best-selling author of Sixty on Up: The Truth about Aging in America. Bring your lunch and join with other inquiring minds in learning from this invigorating truth-teller. Dr. Rubin's is the first in OLLI's five-lecture series entitled Playing on the Tightrope of Time: AGING WELL. The Wednesday following each lecture there will be a facilitated discussion during which participants can broaden their understanding of the topic presented in the previous lecture. Future topics will explore Being Alone, Being with Others; Coping with Change; Dying and Death, and So Much to Do, So Many Ways to Be. Please note: This event will take place at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute-SF State, 835 Market Street, 6th Floor. Admission is free. For more information check www.cel.sfsu.edu/olli or call 415-817-4243.

Wednesday, February 6th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Lester Brown
Plan B 3.0

The world faces many trends of environmental disruption and decline, including rising temperatures and spreading water shortages. In addition to these looming threats, we face the peaking of oil production, annual population growth of 70 million, a widening global economic divide, and a growing list of failing states. In his new book Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, renowned environmentalist and founder of the Earth Policy Institute Lester Brown outlines a survival strategy for our twenty-first-century civilization. With what he refers to as “Plan A,” or business as usual, Brown believes that we have neglected these issues for far too long and warns that the only effective response now is mobilization. At the center of his solution to save the planet is a detailed plan that includes climate stabilization, population stabilization, poverty eradication, and the restoration of the earth’s ecosystems. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, February 7th @ 6:00 pm
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Bill Hayes
The Anatomist
On the 150th anniversary of the publication of the classic medical text, Gray’s Anatomy, Bill Hayes tells the untold story of how the brilliant, gifted scientist Henry Gray and the talented, young illustrator H.V. Carter created this magnificent, seminal book.  Gleaned from Gray’s extensive experiments and a treasure trove of forgotten letters, diaries and correspondence, Hayes brings together a perfect blend of art, culture, history and science. Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Thursday, February 7th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Deborah Rodriguez
Kabul Beauty School

The images many people have of Afghan women are of veiled faces and burkas. Rodriguez shows vibrant personalities of the region by sharing her experience of starting a beauty school after the ouster of the Taliban, born out of a desire to help those torn apart by war, and the discovery that her skills could make a major difference. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, February 7th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
William Overholt
Asia, America and the Transformation of Geopolitics

Is the United States stuck in a Cold War mentality when it comes to Asia? How has U.S. policy toward Asia changed since the break-up of the Soviet Union? Asia expert William Overholt contends that, during the Cold War, the United States focused on consolidating the U.S.- Japan alliance and explicitly targeted China as a potential enemy. Although still in use, this strategy has long become obsolete and a new approach is necessary. In his book Asia, America, and the Transformation of Geopolitics, Overholt argues that it is essential that the U.S. reevaluate its current military-heavy priorities, which undermine its position within the region, and in turn seek a more adaptable approach to foreign policy. He argues that a rebalancing of the U.S. relationship with Japan and China could ensure peace and, thereby, the continuation of the Asian economic miracle. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Monday, February 11th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Mike Moore
Twilight War

Is military conflict in space inevitable? Has Eisenhower’s vision of keeping space peaceful become outdated? How can the United States secure its space interests and assets without provoking dispute or open conflict? In his new book Twilight War: The Folly of U.S. Space Dominance, Mike Moore examines the historical background of space militarization and addresses the issue of U.S. military ambitions in space. He argues that America must either ensure that space-related weapons are verifiably banned for all nations through an international treaty, or choose a policy of unilateral dominance that may lead to an arms race in space. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Monday, February 11th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Peggy Orenstein
Waiting for Daisy

When acclaimed journalist and feminist author Peggy Orenstein finally decided at thirty-five that she wanted a child, her trouble began. The extraordinary account of her six-year journey to motherhood is about being a woman in a confusing, contradictory time, testing the limits of a loving marriage, and trying (and trying and trying) to have a baby. Just as professional women are warned by the media to heed the ticking of their biological clocks, and just as fertility clinics have become a boom industry (with over two million women a year seeking them out), Orenstein gives us an unforgettable story of love, loss, sadness, and redemption. Ms. Orenstein will be in conversation with Rebecca Walker. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Wednesday, February 13th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Anders Åslund
Russia’s Capitalist Revolution

Russia is well along in its Capitalist Revolution, which brought down the system created by the Great Russian Socialist Revolution of 1917. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of communist dictatorship, and the termination of the Soviet command economy concluded the 20th century. Anders Åslund, a leading specialist on postcommunist economic transformation, joins the Council to take stock of these great events and explain why capitalism has taken root in Russia but democracy has not. Åslund argues that, in the brief years since 1985 when Mikhail Gorbachev launched the economic and political transformation of Russia, the country has reached an unusual combination of a reasonably free market economy and increasingly authoritarian politics reminiscent of the tsarist period. Åslund suggests that this situation is not likely to last. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Wednesday, February 13th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Nina DiSesa
Seducing the Boys Club

Nina DiSesa gives a wry reality check on how to get ahead and thrive in the testosterone-driven business arena. A master communicator, ceiling crasher, and one of the most successful women in the corporate world, DiSesa is also a big-time realist who has figured out that S&M—seduction and manipulation—is the secret to winning over (and surpassing) the big guys. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, February 13th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
You Don't Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right

When it comes to fanaticism, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield is not speaking abstractly; as a young man he moved to the West Bank settlement of Hebron where he carried a gun and, on one occasion, used it. Today, the orthodox rabbi and co-president of CLAL—The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership—is deeply committed to nurturing interfaith communities, teaching inclusiveness, and delivering a message of acceptance.  He is also considered one of the Top 50 Rabbis in America (Newsweek).  You Don't Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right provides a pragmatic path to peace, understanding, and hope that appeals to the common wisdom of all religions. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Tuesday, February 19th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Parker Palmer
The Courage to Teach

In a world of complexity and ambiguity, “majority rules" can lead to rash decisions that betray the founding fathers’ notion of deliberative democracy,” says Parker Palmer. Now, the author of The Courage to Teach returns to reveal the tenuous nature of American democracy and offers insight into a better way forward. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, February 19th @ 5:45 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Gary Hirshberg
Stirring It Up

Legendary entrepreneur Gary Hirshberg stresses “the power of one,” while contending that environmental commitment makes for a healthier planet and bottom line. Drawing from his experience leading Stonyfield Farm, the world’s largest organic yogurt manufacturer, as well as from like-minded companies, Hirshberg presents evidence showing that business not only can help save the planet, but can deliver higher growth and superior profits at the same time. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor . Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:15 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, February 21st @ 6:00 pm
ASIA SOCIETY
Kishore Mahbubani, Larry Diamond, and Donald K. Emmerson
Asia Rising, The Spirit of Democracy and Hard Choices

This program, which opens the new ASNC program series The Future of Democracy in Asia, will bring together some of the world’s leading experts on Southeast Asia and democracy to consider the critical questions that hang over the region. Has the American model of democracy become tarnished in Asia, and is the Singapore/China model of authoritarian capitalism of growing appeal and significance? What are the dimensions and implications of “creeping Islamicization” for Southeast Asia? What are the prospects for cleaning up notoriously corrupt party politics? Will the military ever be driven out of politics in Burma, Thailand, the Philippines, and elsewhere? Is the American-led “war on terror” helping to stabilize politics in the region, or is it exacerbating already serious problems? What do these developments mean for U.S. foreign policy and American influence in Asia? Please note: This event will take place at the Julia Morgan Ballroom at 465 California Street, 15th Floor. For reservations and information, please call 415-421-8707.

Friday, February 22nd @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Fred Kaufman
A Short History of the American Stomach

Fred Kaufman takes us on a raucous, witty and fact-filled exploration of America's complex and often bizarre relationship with food. From secret raw-milk covens in New York City to "gastroporn" addicts, Kaufman presents an irreverent take on all aspects of the foodie world. A renowned chronicler of all things gastronomic, Kaufman's infamous Harper's article, "Debbie Does Salad," which likened the Food Network's camera shots to pornography (he sat down and watched six hours of the network's programming with a porn industry veteran to get her thoughts), generated incredible buzz in the foodie world. In his most recent article for The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Kaufman turned his subversive gaze on the world of pet food-and hit the "most e-mailed" list. In his latest work, Kaufman uncovers Puritan anorexia and bulimia and sheds a completely new light on this issue, as does his subversive take on cookbooks and diet books, his explorations into genetically modified food, and the digestive underpinnings of American imperialism. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, February 26th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Jonny Steinberg
Sizwe’s Test

At the heart of South Africa’s AIDS crisis lies not only a medical obstacle but a cultural one as well. Jonny Steinberg, author of Sizwe’s Test, traces the inner struggles and the mixed feelings of shame, pride, and stubborn hope associated with those infected by H.I.V.. Offering a window into a complex set of realities, Steinberg asks why would a successful man who lives within walking distance of treatment refuse to be tested for H.I.V.? His exploration reveals the superstitions, stigmas, and rampant cultural misunderstandings—between Western medicine and African healing traditions—that hinder the efforts to combat the spread of AIDS. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.

Thursday, February 28th @ 6:00 pm
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Philip Fradkin
Wallace Stegner and the American West

Wallace Stegner was the premier chronicler of the twentieth-century western American experience, and his novels, the Pulitzer Prize–winning Angle of Repose and the National Book Award–winning The Spectator Bird, brought the life and landscapes of the West to national and international attention. In this illuminating biography, Philip L. Fradkin goes beyond Stegner’s iconic literary status to give us the influential teacher and visionary conservationist, the man for whom the preservation and integrity of place was as important as his ability to render its qualities and character in his brilliantly crafted fiction and nonfiction. Please note: This event will take place at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-393-0100 or email rsvp@milibrary.org.

Thursday, February 28th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Richard Thompson Ford
The Race Card

What do Katrina victims waiting for federal disaster relief, millionaire rappers buying vintage champagne, Ivy League professors waiting for taxis, and ghetto hustlers trying to find steady work have in common? All have claimed to be victims of racism. Stanford Law School Professor Richard Thompson Ford brings sophisticated legal analysis, eye-popping anecdotes, and plain old common sense to this heated topic. He offers ways to separate valid claims from bellyaching. The Race Card is daring, entertaining, and incisive on a daunting social dilemma. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Tuesday, March 4th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Joseph Stiglitz
The Three Trillion Dollar War

Two of the nation’s strongest economic minds, Nobel winner Stiglitz and leading budget expert Blimes, discuss the impact of economic globalization on our world and its communities. They say globalization continues to outpace both the political structures and the moral sensitivity required to ensure a just and sustainable world, and they outline the real work all nations must undertake to realize that goal. Please note: This event will take place at the JW Marriott at 500 Post Street. Admission is $15 for members,  $30 for non-members. Premium seating is $45 for members, $65 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:15 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Tuesday, March 4th @ 8:00 pm
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Richard Powers
The Echo Maker

The New York Times calls Richard Powers "one of our most lavishly gifted writers." Author of Galatea 2.2 and The Time of Our Singing, Powers, who won this year’s National Book Award for his latest novel The Echo Maker, explores the effects of modern science and technology in his work. Please note: This event will take place at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street at Presidio. For reservations and more information, please call 415-292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

Wednesday, March 5th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Thomas Moore
Discover What You Were Born to Do

Give your soul a makeover and realize your potential. Thomas Moore is the author of numerous books, including Care of the Soul which spent 46 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. He is a leading lecturer and writer in North America and Europe in the areas of archetypal psychology, mythology and the imagination. He has also lived as a Catholic monk for 12 years. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Wednesday, March 5th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Charles Halpern
Making Waves and Riding the Currents

A widely acclaimed social innovator, Charles Halpern provides a model for civic transformation that depends on development of a person’s inner resources to complement cognitive and advocacy skills. He describes how the practice of wisdom is essential for personal effectiveness, as well as our collective capacity to fully address the challenges of our times. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Thursday, March 6th @ Noon
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Dee Dee Myers
Why Women Should Rule the World

Hear Dee Dee Myers' fresh take on the achievements that women have made in all aspects of public life. At the age of 31, Myers was appointed as White House press secretary under Clinton. She holds the distinction of being the first women and second-youngest person to occupy the position. Myers highlights the difficulties women have faced throughout history, as well as their collective battle to achieve a presence in areas once denied to them. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $8 for members,  $15 for non-members. Check-in is at 11:30 am. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

STACEY’S EVENTS –JANUARY 2008
581 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
www.staceys.com
415-421-4687

Tuesday, January 8th @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE
Laurie R. King
Touchstone

Laurie R. King, the award-winning author of the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell and Kate Martinelli series, has published her first stand-alone thriller in five years. Touchstone is a gripping story of historical suspense and political intrigue that takes readers from the bustling streets to the great houses of post World War I London.

Monday, January 14th @ 12:30
Wendy Bazilian
The SuperFoodsRx Diet

Kick off the new year with renewed energy and a commitment to a healthier self. Wendy Bazilian will show you how a diet featuring nutrient rich SuperFoods, such as blueberries and yogurt, can help you shed excess pounds and keep them off.

Tuesday, January 15th @ 12:30
MODERN SPIRITUALITY
David Richo
Everyday Commitments

Heal your body, heal your mind. In his new book Everyday Commitments, David Richo offers fifty-two promises we can make to ourselves to help navigate the ups and downs of everyday living. Richo includes practical exercises to foster inner growth and lasting change.

Wednesday, January 16th @ 12:30
MYSTERY CIRCLE
Louise Ure and Cornelia Read
The Fault Tree and The Crazy School

Stacey’s is delighted to welcome local authors Louise Ure and Cornelia Read for a celebration of their sophomore efforts. Ure, who won a Shamus award for her debut thriller Forcing Amaryllis, brings us the story of a blind woman who has witnessed the murder of a neighbor. Edgar-finalist Read reprises the role of sassy ex-debutante Maddie Dare in the search for a killer at a sinister boarding school.

Wednesday, January 23rd @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY ASIA SOCIETY
Rebecca Fannin
Silicon Dragon

In Silicon Dragon, Rebecca Fannin suggests that the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates may come from China. Based on interviews conducted with the entrepreneurs behind some of today's cutting-edge advances in mobile phones, internet searches, E-commerce, and software, Silicon Dragon takes you behind the scenes to provide an up-to-the-minute account of a phenomenon that is just now breaking the surface in mainstream media and the business press.

Thursday, January 24th @ 12:30
Sudhir Venkatesh
Gang Leader for a Day

While working on his PhD, Sudhir Venkatesh ventured into the urban war zone of Chicago’s projects. In Gang Leader for a Day, Venkatesh turns his attention to the complex relationship between the community living in the projects and the gangs who operate there.

Wednesday, January 30th @ 12:30
Erica Sandberg
Expecting Money

Nothing makes a person get serious about money like having a baby. Erica Sandberg’s Expecting Money is designed to help parents identify and manage their financial concerns, and addresses the issues parents struggle with; from how to raise a family on less than two incomes to debt repayment, and managing expenses over the course of a child’s life.

Tuesday, February 5th @ 12:30
COSPONSORED BY ASIA SOCIETY
John Burnham Schwartz
The Commoner

John Burnham Schwartz received acclaim for his novel Reservation Road. In The Commoner, Schwartz tells the tale of the secretive, cloistered and privileged life of the current Empress of Japan. It is the story of one woman’s rise from humble beginnings to Empress, and the costs of such a transformation.

Wednesday, February 6th @ 12:30
Lynne Cox
Grayson

Lynne Cox was a young girl when she discovered the joys of swimming in open water. She set a record for crossing the English Channel at age 15 and wrote the memoir Swimming to Antarctica. We’re delighted to welcome Ms. Cox for the paperback release of Grayson; reflections on her experience in reuniting a baby gray whale with its mother.

Thursday, February 7th @ 12:30
EVOLUTION OF A WRITER
Daniel Alarcon
Lost City Radio

Set in a fictional South American nation where guerrillas have long clashed with the government, the ambitious first novel of local author Daniel Alarcon (after the PEN Hemingway-nominated story collection War by Candlelight) follows a trio of characters upended by civil strife, including Norma who hosts the popular radio show "Lost City Radio," which reconnects callers with their missing loved ones

Friday, February 8th @ 12:30
William Vollmann
Riding Toward Everywhere

William Vollmann is a relentlessly curious, determinedly sensitive, and unequivocally adventurous examiner of human existence. In his latest book, Riding Toward Everywhere, he turns his attentions to America itself; from our romanticizing of "freedom" to the ways in which we restrict the very freedoms we profess to admire.

Affiliate Events

Wednesday, January 9th @ 6:00 pm
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Stephen Braun
Merchant of Death

Before 9/11, Viktor Bout was America’s number two threat priority behind Osama bin Laden. Bout’s vast enterprise of guns, planes, and money has fueled violence in Africa and aided militants in Afghanistan as well as the American military in Iraq. While the world celebrated the end of the Cold War, Bout—and those like him—quietly built up a new, complex, international arms network. The West has had little success dismantling this transnational network that has provided essential support to despots, insurgents, and terrorists around the world. Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes, and the Man Who Makes War Possible details how a small circle of U.S. officials and international investigators worked to shut down Bout’s arms pipelines, only to be trumped by his ingenuity. Please note: This event will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor. Check in is at 5:30 pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for students, and $15 for non-members. For reservations and information, please call 415-293-4600.
 
Thursday, January 10th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Reflections on “The War” Panel
Lynn Novick, Sascha Weinzheirmer, Burnett Miller, and David Kennedy

See history come alive. Yet another monumental film by the renowned documentarian Ken Burns, The War tells the stories of World War II, focusing on its impact in four communities across the United States. Please join us in welcoming some of the documentary's participants as they tell their stories from the war that reshaped the world and changed the course of history. Please note: This event will take place at the Commonwealth Club, next door to Stacey’s at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is $12 for members,  $18 for non-members. Check-in is at 5:30 pm. For reservations and information, please call 415-597-6705.

Monday, January 14th @ 6:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
John Kao
Innovation Nation

John Kao, a former Harvard Business School professor, argues that we are in danger of becoming the General Motors of nations, complacent and secure in our assumption that we will always be on top when it comes to inventions. As other countries race for the high ground of innovation, what should be our national agenda? How can we as a nation regain our innovation edge? Please note: This event will take place a