​Desert Town Hall Presents New York Times Best-Selling Author Michael Lewis

From Desert Town Hall: Desert Town Hall, presented by The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, brings financial journalist and New York Times best-selling author, Michael Lewis, to the stage at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells on Monday, March 27, at 6 p.m.

Lewis has published more than a dozen books on subjects ranging from politics to Wall Street. Three of his books became Academy Award nominated films. His latest book, “Flash Boys,” reveals how the legal – but highly questionable – practice of high-frequency trading has allowed certain Wall Street players to work the stock market to their advantage, and has been called one of the most provocative books to hit shelves since his book “The Big Short” – which published in 2010 and was about the build-up of the United States housing bubble during the 2000’s.

In “The Blind Side,” he tells the story of NFL offensive tackle Michael Oher, and how his life was transformed from being a teen living on the streets of Memphis after he is adopted by Evangelical Christians. Prior to that, Lewis wrote “Moneyball,” a book ostensibly about baseball but also about the way markets value people.
Prior to the main speech to a sold out audience of nearly 1,900 ticket holders, Lewis will speak to 150 students at 5 p.m. as part of the Youth Town Hall (YTH) program. In addition to Lewis presenting to the students, they will also hear from Tod Goldberg, a New York Times best-selling author of more than a dozen books. Goldberg wrote “Gangsterland,” “Living Dead Girl,” and “The House of Secrets.” He also directs the Low Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts at the University of Riverside, California – Palm Desert Campus. His talk is entitled, “How I Went from Growing up in Palm Springs to the Bestseller List.”

Youth Town Hall offers a unique opportunity for high school students in the Coachella Valley to advance their educational goals and worldly experiences by participating in Youth Town Hall. Students get to collaborate with peers and interface with influential leaders of the world. They are provided a special reception before the evening’s main lecture in which leaders and high-profile personalities and provocative thinkers speak to the students and answer their questions. In addition, a highlight of the program is the Youth Ambassador representative, in which 10 students apply for the opportunity to introduce the speaker at the reception.

The nationally recognized Desert Town Hall speaker series has included world leaders and other notables including Bill O'Reilly, David Petraeus, Felipe Calderon, and Nando Parrado in 2016; 2015's Mitt Romney, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Platon, Charles Krauthammer; and in 2014, Leon Panetta, Lisa Ling & Laura Ling, Karl Rove, Dr. Ben Carson. A complete list of the renowned speakers who have appeared on the Desert Town Hall stage can be found at www.DesertTownHall.org.

While ticket prices begin at $400 for all four speakers, the series is currently sold out. Those interested in being added to a wait list should call (760) 610-2852.

Desert Forum, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational corporation, produces Desert Town Hall. A portion of the cost of the tickets is tax-­‐deductible. The lecture series is sponsored by a number of local companies, organizations and philanthropic individuals.

Serving as officers for 2016-17, the 25th season of the celebrated series, are: President Andy Clark (111 Wealth Management), Vice President Judy Vossler (Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau), Vice President Brian Harnik (Roemer & Harnik), Treasurer Keith Goff (Rabobank), and Secretary Phillip K. Smith, Jr. (Sunrise Company).

Members of the Board of Directors are: Jerry Fogelson (Fogelson Properties), Bill Powers (retired, Pacific Western Bank), Tim Sullivan (retired, Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa), Tom Tabler (Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa), and Mark Winkler (The Desert Sun).

Staff for the series includes Becky Kurtz, executive director; Marissa Willman, marketing coordinator; Maria Cross, administrative director; and Gina Irwin, executive assistant. Nearly 40 dedicated volunteers, many of whom have been with the series since its inception in 1993, help to make the series a success every year.
Sponsors of the series include the presenting sponsor, The H. N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, along with The City of Indian Wells, The Desert Sun, Helene Galen, Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Roemer & Harnik LLP, Sunrise Company/Toscana Country Club, West Coast Turf/Foster-Gardner, Inc., and Valentine-Dougherty-Clark/111 Wealth Management Group.

For more information about Desert Town Hall call (760) 610-2852 or visit www.DesertTownHall.org. Follow Desert Town Hall on Facebook and Twitter.

Image courtesy of Desert Town Hall