In his only New England appearance to highlight his critically-acclaimed bestseller, Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber, Borowitz offers a witty, spot-on diagnosis of our country's political troubles by showing how ignorant leaders are degrading, embarrassing and endangering our nation. Kirkus Reviews called Profiles In Ignorance "devastatingly funny" and named it one of the seven best nonfiction books of the fall.

Joining Borowitz for the evening is actress and author Karyn Parsons (aka the legendary Hilary Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) to play the role of Dan Quayle.

The winner of the first-ever National Press Club award for humor, Andy Borowitz has been called a "Swiftian satirist" (The Wall Street Journal) and "one of the country's finest satirists" (The New York Times). Millions of fans and New Yorker readers enjoy his satirical news column "The Borowitz Report."

Profiles in Ignorance aims to make us both laugh and cry: laugh at the idiotic antics of these public figures, and cry at the cataclysms these icons of ignorance have caused. But most importantly, the book delivers a call to action and a cause for optimism: History doesn't move in a straight line, and we can change course if we act now.

Moderated by Professor Charles Wheelan '88, Senior Lecturer and Policy Fellow, The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences.

Stay after the show to buy a copy of Profiles in Ignorance at the book signing event in the Hood atrium. Apple cider and donuts will be served. Co-sponsored by Still North Books. 

Co-presented with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and Social Sciences

Generously supported by Jean and Bayne Stevenson.

About the Artists About the Artists

andy-borowitz-headshot.jpg

Andy Borowitz
He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Harvard College, where he became President of the Harvard Lampoon. In 1998, he began contributing humor to The New Yorker's "Shouts & Murmurs" and "Talk of the Town" departments, and in 2001, he created "The Borowitz Report," a satirical news column, which has millions of readers around the world. In 2012, The New Yorker began publishing "The Borowitz Report." As a storyteller, he hosted "Stories at the Moth" from 1999 to 2009. As a comedian, he has played to sold-out venues around the world, including during his national tour, "Make America Not Embarrassing Again," from 2018 to 2020. He is the first-ever winner of the National Press Club's humor award. He lives with his family in New Hampshire.

 

karyn-parsons4x5.jpg

Karyn Parsons
Karyn Parsons is best known as the character "Hilary Banks" on the long-running television show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Today, she is the founder of Sweet Blackberry, an award-winning series of children's animated films and books sharing stories of unsung black heroes in history. The films feature narration from such notable talents as Alfre Woodard, Queen Latifah, Chris Rock, and Laurence Fishburne. They have been screened on HBO and Netflix and are enjoyed by schools and libraries across the country. Karyn has also authored the Sweet Blackberry picture books Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman's Dreams Took Flight and Saving The Day, which tells the story of how Garrett Morgan invented the traffic signal. Karyn's debut novel, How High The Moon, was released in March 2019. Her latest novel, Clouds Over California, will hit bookshelves in July 2023.