Pico Iyer returns to Santa Barbara for book signing and UCSB Arts & Lectures Conversation
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-Pico Iyer flew in from Japan to visit his former hometown of Santa Barbara on Wednesday afternoon.
The author didn't waste any time relaxing, Iyer got right to work at a book signing and Q & A at the Santa Barbara Wine Collective.
Guests received free copies of The Half Known Life.
The son of former UCSB professors said he wrote his latest book in Santa Barbara, a place he calls paradise.
The books recounts moments people from different cultures find common ground.
"This was a book written in Santa Barbara, up in the hills, about the notion of paradise and of course we all know we are living in a paradise here in Santa Barbara and I am so happy to be home. I was in Japan this morning here is am blue sky and lots of friends around it is really a delight to be back here."
The timing of its release appears to coincide with a divided country and world.
Iyer will be interviewing author Walter Isaacson on Thursday evening.
The event entitled "Walter Isaacson in Conversation with Pico Iyer" will take place at Campbell Hall.
Admission includes Isaacson's new bestseller "Elon Musk."
Isaacson is well known for his work as a former chairman of CNN and editor of Time magazine.
Iyer said he has known Isaacson and his work for decades and did plenty of homework to make it an intriguing conversation.
"My secret is to keep quite, I spent six months researching my interview with Walter Isaacson," said Iyer, " I've known him for 41 years so that is going to be be fun to talk to a friend and he has written 6 big books and I am going to go into all of them I hope."
Arts & Lectures has about three events a week in and around UCSB.
"The Half Known Life is our Fall book giveaway and every quarter at Arts & Lectures we give away hundreds of copies of the book," said Director of Public Lectures Caitlin O'Hara.
This quarter's theme is cultivating connection.
To learn more visit https://www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu
