The SMU Tate Lecture Series is one of my favorite things to look forward to in Dallas. They have done an extremely amazing job at hosting some of the finest intellectuals, musicians, politicians, activists, and journalists from around the world. The series not only assists in offering Dallas residents the opportunity to listen to some of the greatest influential leaders of our time, but it also gives SMU recognition as being forefronts of continuing education. The series started in 1983 and today is “one of the country’s leading forums for intellectual inquiry and discussion.” I couldn’t agree more.

Christopher Buckley, known for the bestsellers Supreme Courtship and Thank You for Smoking, will be speaking  on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online for $40. Don’t wait! (I am still kicking myself for not purchasing tickets early enough for Thomas Friedman’s lecture.) SMU students are eligible for free admission and are available on a first-come-first-served basis the evening of the lecture. Go to the McFarlin auditorium at 7pm and bring a valid SMU ID to claim a ticket.

Thursday, November 17th at 8pm
Buy Tickets

Southern Methodist University: McFarlin Auditorium
www.smu.edu/McFarlin

6405 Boaz St
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 768-3139
Get directions

Image by Larry D. Moore, used under a Creative Commons ShareAlike License.

About Christopher Buckley
Christopher Buckley, “the quintessential political novelist of his time” according to Fortune Magazine, is the winner of the distinguished ninth annual Thurber Prize for American Humor. John Updike calls him “A Benchley with Word-Perfect,” and Joseph Heller described him as “an effervescent joy.” Tom Wolfe named Buckley “One of the funniest writers in the English language.”

Audiences have called Buckley’s talks “The wittiest, funniest, wry-est presentation of them all!” and “the best…in the eleven year history of our event.” Buckley is the author of twelve books, including his 2007 best-seller, Boomsday. His other works include Thank You For Smoking, God Is My Broker, Little Green Men, No Way To Treat A First Lady, Washington Schlepped Here and Florence of Arabia, among which are several national best sellers. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages, including Russian and Korean.

As with his writing, Buckley’s talks and lectures provide a uniquely humorous perspective on current events and culture that will amuse, enlighten and stimulate every audience.  Marked by a savvy understanding of the truth behind the headlines and a perceptive wit that holds no target sacred, Buckley delivers a comedic look at national politics and world affairs.

Buckley was born in New York in 1952. He graduated with honors from Yale University, shipped out with the Merchant Marine and was managing editor of Esquire magazine at the age of 24. At age 29, he published his first best seller, Steaming To Bamboola: The World of a Tramp Freighter and became chief speechwriter to the Vice President of the United States, George H.W. Bush. His experiences during his two years at the White House make up part of his hilarious commentary. He has traveled and adventured far and wide.

In 1989, the late Malcolm Forbes hired him to start a new magazine, Forbes FYI. He has been editor of chief of the publication since then. Buckley has written for most national newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Time, The Atlantic Monthly, Smithsonian, US News and World Report, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler. He has published over 50 comic essays in The New Yorker magazine. In 2002, Buckley received the Washington Irving Medal for Literary Excellence.

Thursday, November 17th at 8pm
Buy Tickets

Southern Methodist University: McFarlin Auditorium
www.smu.edu/McFarlin

6405 Boaz St
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 768-3139
Get directions

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