Lawrence Wright

"Larry was both a captivating and informative speaker. His keynote delivery flowed impeccably so that even an audience without much background in his subject matter could follow. He also engaged the audience in sharing the strong personal ties he has to many of his sources in the Middle East. Through this, a topic that could easily fall to statistics and policy becomes human again- something the audience can relate to and feel alongside Wright. The documentary screening was also very well received. The injected bits of humor balance the serious nature of the topic. I do think that the audience enjoyed interacting more directly with Wright, so it could be beneficial to explore a shorter version of the documentary to show when Larry is attending the screening. That way the audience has more “face time” for questions and answers. Finally, it was impressive how Larry thoroughly answered every question asked by the audience and took the time to speak with anyone who approached him. After what I am sure was a long week and weekend, his patience and welcoming ear were admirable to say the least. Overall, we could not have asked for a more talented and kind speaker."