Author readings Monday
North Kohala’s published and amateur authors will read from their recent work and share stories of their writing life from 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday at North Kohala Public Library in Kapaau.
The free event runs from 6-7:30 p.m.
Info: Call 889-6655.
Nonfiction book club gathers Tuesday
Kona Stories hosts a nonfiction book club discussing “Prisoners of Geography – Ten maps that explain everything about the world” by Tim Marshall on Tuesday.
Maps have a mysterious hold over us. Whether ancient, crumbling parchments or generated by Google, maps tell us things we want to know, not only about our current location or where we are going but about the world in general. And yet, when it comes to geopolitics, much of what we are told is generated by analysts and other experts who have neglected to refer to a map of the place in question. All leaders of nations are constrained by geography.
In “one of the best books about geopolitics” (The Evening Standard), now updated to include 2016 geopolitical developments, Marshall, a journalist, examines Russia, China, the U.S., Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan, Korea, Greenland and the Arctic — their weather, seas, mountains, rivers, deserts and borders— to provide a context often missing from our political reportage: How the physical characteristics of these countries affect their strengths and vulnerabilities and the decisions made by their leaders.
Offering “a fresh way of looking at maps” (The New York Times Book Review), Marshall explains the complex geopolitical strategies that shape the globe. Why is Putin so obsessed with Crimea? Why was the U.S. destined to become a global superpower? Why does China’s power base continue to expand? Why is Tibet destined to lose its autonomy? Why will Europe never be united? The answers are geographical. “In an ever more complex, chaotic, and interlinked world, ‘Prisoners of Geography’ is a concise and useful primer on geopolitics” (Newsweek) and a critical guide to one of the major determining factors in world affairs.
The group meets at 6 p.m. at the store. Book groups are free if books are purchased at Kona Stories, or a $5 donation is requested.
Info: Contact Brenda or Joy at 324-0350 or visit www.konastories.com.
Dufault to discuss new book
The Naalehu Public Library will host local author Dr. Renee Dufault on Thursday in Ka’u.
Dufault will discuss her new book, “Unsafe at Any Meal: What the FDA Does Not Want You to Know About the Foods You Eat,” during the free 4:30-5:30 p.m. event at the library.
Dufault became a medical laboratory specialist when she joined the U.S. Army in 1976. Following her four-year service, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy analysis and planning at the University of California at Davis. She then served in the Navy for two years as an industrial hygiene officer, before transferring to the Public Health Service, where she served as an Environmental Health Officer. During her 14 years at the PHS, she worked at the National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration, where she provided expertise in the areas of toxicology, environmental health and industrial hygiene. Since retiring, she has went on to earn a doctorate in health education. In addition, she is the founding executive director of the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute, and, as such, collaborates with scientists worldwide to conduct studies and publish papers focused on the many toxic substances still contained in our present food supply. A worldwide speaker, Dufault has had numerous articles published in peer-reviewed journals. She currently resides in Hawaii.
Info: Call 939-2442.