Author Talk | Bruce Feiler | “A Time to Gather"

In “A Time to Gather,” bestselling author Bruce Feiler explores how rituals shape our lives and communities. Blending global storytelling with practical insights, he reveals a growing ritual renaissance and offers inspiring ways to foster connection, belonging, and togetherness in an increasingly disconnected world.

A Jewish Book Council Program

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General Admission: $10

This event is a part of the 28th Annual Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests, please note that weapons are not permitted. Small bags only. A valid photo ID is required for entry. Outside food and beverages, including water bottles, are not permitted.

About the book

One of our great decoders of human connection chronicles the astonishing rise of new rituals around the world - and offers a road map for restoring togetherness with gatherings you'll love. Humans have turned to ritual to connect in periods of change. Until today. Birth rituals and coming-of-age rituals have plummeted; fewer than half of Americans are married; only one in three is buried. "It took us ten thousand years to establish cultural norms around how we mark collective life transitions," writes Feiler. "It took us fifty years to dismantle them." Can this threat to society be reversed? To find out, Felier went on a round-the-world ritual road trip, attending-- and participating in -- life rituals in sixteen countries on six continents. Beyond the decline in traditional rituals, Feiler discoverd that we are in the midst of a ritual renaissance that is pushing back against apathy, lonliness, and digital saturation. Every day, people are reimagining collective rituals at a remarkable pace, inventing fresh ways to gather around life, love, health, and family - and forging thriving communities in the process. Feiler also collected stories of a hundred ritual designers and built first-of-its-kind database of ideas to make gatherings more effective. A Time To Gather is both a stirring adventure and practical manual. It's a landmark guide to modern ritual; a tool kit for turning everyday moments into unforgettable celebrations; and an invitation to reconnect and rejoice-- together.