Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Thomas L. Friedman Discusses "The Future of the American Dream"

Online, September 10, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Internationally renowned reporter, journalist, and author Thomas L. Friedman will come to Adelphi University on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. to speak on "The Future of the American Dream" in the Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom in the Ruth S. Harley University Center, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. Friedman, the recipient of three Pulitzer Prizes and the author of six bestselling books, among them From Beirut to Jerusalem and The World is Flat, is the foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times. This is a ticketed event.

Thomas L. Friedman is recognized as one of "America's Best Leaders" by U.S. News and World Report, "the country's best newspaper columnist" by Vanity Fair, and ranked #2 on The Wall Street Journal's list of "influential business thinkers." Friedman's latest New York Times bestseller, co-written with Michael Mandelbaum, is That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back (2011). The book addresses the key issues-globalization, staying ahead of the Information Technology revolution; the federal deficit and unsustainable entitlement spending (read Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid); energy consumption; and climate change.

Friedman has covered monumental stories from around the globe and is winner of three Pulitzer Prizes: the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Lebanon), the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Israel), and the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary. His honors also include the National Press Club's lifetime achievement award in 2009.

He is known for his direct reporting and sophisticated analysis of complex issues facing the modern world. Friedman began his career in 1981 as a journalist with the New York Times as a general assignment financial reporter. As the Times foreign affairs columnist, a post he has held since January 1995, Friedman has done extensive travel and reporting around the world, focused mostly in the Middle East. He also was the Times' Beirut bureau chief and Israel bureau chief. Based on his experiences in the two nations, From Beirut to Jerusalem, was on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly 12 months and won the 1989 National Book Award for nonfiction and the 1989 Overseas Press Club Award for the best book on foreign policy. From Beirut to Jerusalem has been published in more than 20 languages and is now used as a basic textbook on the Middle East in many high schools and universities. During his years at the publication, he also served as the Times' chief White House correspondent covering the transition and first year of the Clinton Administration, as well as the international economic correspondent, covering foreign policy as well as trade policy.

Friedman graduated Brandeis University with a bachelor's degree in Mediterranean studies and earned a master's in modern Middle East studies from St. Antony's College, Oxford University. In addition, he has honorary degrees from Brandeis University, Macalester College, Haverford University, the University of Minnesota, Williams College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Washington University in St. Louis and Hebrew Union College.

This lecture, expected to cover topical items including the major challenges facing America (economy and healthcare) and the election, is being sponsored by The William E. Simon Lecture in American Civilization and Values, the Hagedorn Lecture Series on Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Center for Health Innovation. Ticket prices, and information on how to order tickets, are available at http://events.adelphi.edu/culturalevents/eventinfo.php?id=2079 or call The Lucia and Steven N. Fischer Box Office at (516) 877-4000. For more information about this event, please visit adelphi.edu.