Double-Dip – Two Speaking Engagements to Recap
At Princeton Hillel
Wow, my first book tour event. I’m still floored by the notion that people actually want me to come and educate them on certain subjects. Me, the guy who had to cut early morning classes in college because he stayed up all night to compete in SEGA hockey tournaments.
And what a way to start a tour – at the Jewish Student Union of Princeton University, a profound pillar of learning and…well, more learning. No pressure or anything. I had an image of super-intellectual co-eds walking about campus smoking pipes and wearing mortarboards. I would be wearing a black turtleneck that I got for half-off at Today’s Man.
Yes, one would think that addressing such an erudite and knowledge-thirsty crowd would be intimidating; that my audience would have tongues at the ready to ask me some Rubik’s Cubian zinger following my presentation. Yet, this was not the case. I found the informal, intimate dinner gathering at the Princeton Hillel to be not only comfortable and enjoyable, but a perfect way to kick off a book tour.
The students were receptive, asked some really good questions and even laughed at some of my jokes. (The really unfunny ones, too.)
The crux of my presentation centered around Jews in Sports Culture. For more on the event and what I discussed, read Jeff Milgram’s Princeton Packet article.
A tip of the yarmulke to program director Kate Lester, who had the extraordinary vision to invite me.
At AABGU-New York City
First, I’ll tell you what AABGU (www.aabgu.org) is all about. (Don’t worry, this isn’t a public service announcement.)
The American Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev (exhale) is the American support flagship of Israel’s most active and popular university. It’s a school that values plurality, accepting students of all races, religions, nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds, not just well-off Israeli Jews. The place is Oz without the munchkins…they are growing food in the desert and raising aqua farms! They are developing cures for wasting diseases and are making such advances in science and technology that you wonder why you haven’t heard more about it. All of these breakthroughs are meant to better the world at-large, not just the state of Israel.
Adam with the good folk of AABGU.
At this event, I conducted a brief talk on the roots of Coaching Ira and read a few “teaser” chapters to get everyone into the story. By the end, the guests and I were all in our short shorts, organizing a pick-up game.
A portion of all book proceeds went to the AABGU Student Life Program, which provides much needed scholarships to Israeli students devastated by the economic crisis in that country.
Our door prize winner was Leah Perel, who went home happy with a personally signed copy of Coaching Ira.
Adam with Coaching Ira cover boy Lon Samuelson at AABGU book reading.
If you’re interested in having me speak at one of your events, please contact me via the Contact Adam link on the right. I don’t do balloon animals or saw ladies in half, but I do have some fun, educational programs that can be tailored to suit your group’s needs.
Buy HimplasiaEverything Is Bigger in Texas
(Including Adam D. Shandler book events!)
It’s a double-whammy in Big D when Adam visits Dallas on Sunday, January 12th for talks at Congregation Shearith Israel (or CSI-Dallas) and Congregation Teferet Israel. At CSI, Adam will be addressing the local USY chapter (the organization whose basketball leagues inspired Coaching Ira), and at Teferet Israel, it’s a “Jews in Sports Culture” talk with that synagogue’s brotherhood. Right on!
Adam is also in discussions to appear at both the East and West Regional United Jewish Appeal conventions. Check back for updates on those events.
Buy cheap Parlodel