Books highlight lineup for speaker series

By By Dave Rosenthal

Mar 20, 2013 | 9:33 AM

Authors Bill Bryson and Doris Kearns Goodwin are among the headliners for the 2013-14 Baltimore Speakers Series, part of a lineup that is sure to delight book lovers.

Bryson, whose "In a Sunburned Country" is one of my favorites, will appear Sept. 30 to start the series sponsored by Stevenson University. His humorous style has won him a loyal folllowing, and his travel books are must-reads. Among his other gems are "Neither Here Nor There" -- which is on my nightstand right now -- "A Walk in the Woods" and "A Short History of Nearly Everything."

Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize winner -- whose "Team of Rivals" was the basis for the movie "Lincoln" -- and Daniel Day-Lewis' Oscar for best actor -- will appear Feb. 18. Dave Barry, a newspaper columnist who has brought his irreverent humor to several novels is scheduled for April 22.

Of course, the series offers a broad list of speakers. Among the others are George Papandreou, former prime minister of Greece; Robert Gates, former secretary of defense; and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer. Here's a photo gallery of the complete lineup.

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