Brian Klass –- author of this year’s Oswego Reading Initiative (ORI) book “Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us” –- will speak on campus at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, in the Sheldon Hall ballroom.
The talk is free and open to the public, with a book signing to follow. Klass also will speak to classes during his visit.
Klaas is an associate professor in global politics at University College London and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. “Corruptible” is his fourth book and continues themes related to attacks on democracy and his “Power Corrupts” podcast.
“Corruptible” draws on over 500 interviews with some of the world’s top leaders, including presidents and philanthropists as well as rebels, cultists and dictators. The book aims to challenge readers’ most basic assumptions about becoming a leader and what might happen if they get there. It also provides a roadmap for avoiding classic temptations, suggesting a series of reforms that would facilitate better people finding a path to power — and ensuring that power purifies rather than corrupts.
Klaas has advised governments, U.S. political campaigns, NATO, the European Union, multi-billion-dollar investors, international non-governmental organizations and international politicians.
His writing and research have also recently been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, the Times Literary Supplement, Financial Times, Newsweek, The Telegraph, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Foreign Policy and many other publications. Klaas is a regular commentator on a wide array of international media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, BBC News, Sky News, NPR News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, BBC World Service, Monocle 24, France 24 and many others.
A virtual Zoom stream also will be available for the evening event.
ORI, an annual project dating back more than 20 years, asks incoming freshmen to read one book over the summer with events, class sessions and discussions on campus in relation to that selection.
Klass’ appearance also is part of this year’s Living Writers Series, for which he will hold a 3 p.m. talk via Zoom.
Those needing accommodations to attend this event should email erin.timbello@oswego.edu.