Back Roads and Better Angels with Frank Barry and Andrew Kirtzman

​Author Frank Barry joins us to discuss his new book Back Roads and Better Angels: A Journey into the Heart of American Democracy with veteran political journalist and author Andrew Kirtzman.

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 1st floor.

A year into his marriage and having never driven an RV, Frank and his wife Laurel set out from New York City in a Winnebago to drive the nation’s first transcontinental route, the Lincoln Highway, which zigzags through small towns and big cities from Times Square to San Francisco. Using the spirit of Abraham Lincoln to guide them across the land, they hope to see more clearly what holds the country together — and how we can keep it together, even amidst political divisions have grown increasingly rancorous, bitter, and exhausting. Along the way, Frank and Laurel meet Americans whose personal experiences help humanize the nation’s divisions, and they encounter historical figures and events whose legacies are still shaping our sense of national identity and the struggles over it. This unforgettable journey is full of what makes any great road trip memorable and enjoyable: music, conversation, and laughter. By the end, readers will have a clearer picture of how we have arrived at a period that carries echoes of the Civil War era, and — using Lincoln as a guide — where the path forward lies.

 At this event, author Frank Barry will discuss the book with political journalist and fellow author Andrew Kirtzman. 

To join the event in-person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, registration does not guarantee admission, and all registered seats are released shortly before start time. Some seats will be available for walk-ins.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Francis Barry is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and member of the editorial board covering national affairs. He is the author of the new book, Back Roads and Better Angels: A Journey Into the Heart of American Democracy. He served as chief speechwriter on the Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign after having been director of speechwriting for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in City Hall, where he also helped create a variety of government and election reform initiatives. He is also the author of The Scandal of Reform: The Grand Failures of New York's Political Crusaders and the Death of Nonpartisanship. He received degrees from the University of Notre Dame and New York University..

Andrew Kirtzman is a veteran political journalist, author and commentator. He appears often on MSNBC and CNN to comment on national politics, and writes frequently for The New York Times and Washington Post. He recently published his second biography of Rudy Giuliani for Simon and Schuster, Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor, which the New Yorker named one of the best books of 2022. In 2000, Harper Collins published Rudy Giuliani: Emperor of The City. He was with Giuliani on the morning of September 11th, and wrote a first-person account of the mayor’s handling of the crisis. In 2009, Harper Collins published Kirtzman’s second book, Betrayal: The Life and Lies of Bernie Madoff, a biography of the man who perpetrated the most sweeping financial crime in history. Time magazine called it the best book written about the scandal. Kirtzman began his newspaper career as city editor of the Hudson Dispatch in New Jersey; investigative reporter for the Houston Post; and City Hall reporter for the New York Daily News. Kirtzman was born and raised on Manhattan's Lower East Side, and resides in Noho.

GET THE BOOK

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


• E-Book app: SimplyE, available on iOS and Android

Don't have a New York Public Library card? Get one here!

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

In-Person

• Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.


• You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email [email protected] or use this Gmail template.


• This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

CONNECT WITH US

Sign up for our e-newsletters to stay up to date on upcoming events and Library offerings.

Please submit all press inquiries to Lizzie Tribone at least 48 hours before the event: email [email protected].
 

SUPPORT THE LIBRARY

The New York Public Library's free services and resources are made possible thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library. Join this group of Library lovers and take advantage of special membership benefits, like invitations to members-only virtual events, discounts at the Library Shop, and more. Join now.

All programs are subject to change or cancellation.