'Tales of Two Americas' essayist will give Common Book talk Oct. 3


LAWRENCE – Kiese Laymon, celebrated author and contributor to the 2019-2020 KU Common Book, “Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation,” will present the fall keynote lecture for the University of Kansas’ Common Book program at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Lied Center. 

Laymon’s essay in “Tales of Two Americas,” titled “Outside,” addresses the outcomes of mass incarceration in America and is typical of his writing style — observant, perceptive and powerful. 

Susan Klusmeier, interim vice provost for undergraduate studies, will give opening remarks, and Jennifer Ng, interim vice provost for diversity & equity and associate professor of educational leadership & policy studies, will introduce the speaker.

On Oct. 4, Laymon will participate in a moderated Q&A period beginning at 10 a.m. in Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union with Cody Charles, associate director for diversity education and social justice programs in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

In addition to his contributions to “Tales of Two Americas,” Laymon is the author of “Heavy: An American Memoir,” which was awarded the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the 2018 Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose. “Heavy” was named a best book of 2018 by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, NPR, Broadly, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and it was a finalist for the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction.  The audiobook, read by the author, was named the Audible 2018 Audiobook of the Year. He is also the author of the essay collection “How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America” (2013) and the novel “Long Division” (2013). Among other publications, Laymon has written for Gawker, Esquire, ESPN The Magazine, NPR, Colorlines, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Ebony, Guernica, The Oxford American and Lit Hub.

The KU Common Book program connects first-year students to the campus community through discussion and lectures.  "Tales of Two Americas" will be used in over 100 sections of classes this fall.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are not required, but space is limited. 

Thu, 07/18/2019

author

Howard Graham

Media Contacts

Howard Graham

Office of First-Year Experience

785-864-4277