Brooks to Speak at Sold-Out Breakfast
David Brooks, New York Times columnist and author of the best-selling book “The Road to Character,” will speak at the sold-out 11th annual Westmont President’s Breakfast Friday, March 4, at 7 a.m. at the Fess Parker: A Doubletree Resort by Hilton.
Brooks, a witty and astute commentator on politics and society, will speak about “The Road to Character and the Five Great Commitments,” exploring the journey to a deeper inner life and explaining why selflessness leads to greater success.
“David always brings a warm, winsome spirit, a very unique angle, and a capacity to talk across multiple disciplines,” says President Gayle D. Beebe. “I have been particularly struck by his willingness to share openly about his own pursuit of truth and his efforts to find meaning in life.”
‘The Road to Character’ makes such a striking challenge for the difference we can make if we focus on the ‘eulogy virtues’ rather than the ‘résumé virtues.’”
One of America’s most prominent political commentators, Brooks writes a bi-weekly op-ed column for the New York Times and regularly appears on PBS NewsHour and National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” His previous books include “The Social Animal,” “On Paradise Drive,” and “Bobos in Paradise.” Brooks worked at the Wall Street Journal for nine years and has written for the New Yorker, Forbes, the Washington Post, and many other periodicals. A graduate of the University of Chicago, he has taught at Duke University and teaches a global affairs course on humility at Yale University.
The Westmont Foundation and local businesses sponsor the President’s Breakfast to promote discussion of significant issues in the community. This year’s lead sponsor is Union Bank. Gold sponsors include Axia Holdings, Chronicle Family Offices, Davies, Anna and David Grotenhuis, Hub International, La Arcada, Carl and Jo Lindros, Lindsay and Laurie Parton, Matt Construction, Santa Barbara Capital, Sharol and Wayne Siemens and V3 Corporation.
Past Westmont President’s Breakfast speakers include: presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin; retired Gen. Colin Powell; Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state; Robert Gates, former secretary of defense; Walter Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute and former chairman and CEO of CNN; Thomas Friedman, author of “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” and “The World is Flat”; and American historian and bestselling author David McCullough, who has twice won the Pulitzer Prize.
The Mosher Foundation’s series on Moral and Ethical Leadership in American Society continues with Ronald C. White, author of several best-selling books, including “A. Lincoln: A Biography,” speaks about “The Long Arc of Abraham Lincoln’s Moral Vision: The American Presidency to the Modern Day” on June 1 at the Lead Where You Stand Conference at Westmont. Meg Jay speaks about “Why 30 Is Not the New 20: Understanding the Mindset of Millennials” at the conference on June 2.