Former Chief Owen to Speak at Books Sandwiched In Program

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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Former Chief Owen to Speak at Books Sandwiched In Program

Posted: 02/07/2013
 In the aftermath of the unspeakable violence in Sandy Hook and other mass shootings, it's hard to believe that we may be living in the most peaceful time since human beings began walking the Earth. Knox County Public Library invites you to join former Knoxville Chief of Police Sterling Owen in a close look at the history of violence as he discusses The Angels of Our Better Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Pinker, Wednesday, February 20, 12:00 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street. This series is co-sponsored by the City of Knoxville and takes the place of the highly successful series Brown Bag, Green Book, which has had a regular and strong attendance for the past three years.

In The Angels of our Better Nature, New York Times' bestselling author Steven Pinker shows that despite the ceaseless news about war, crime, and terrorism, violence has actually been in decline over long stretches of history. Exploding myths about humankind's inherent violence and the curse of modernity, this ambitious book continues Pinker's exploration of the essence of human nature, mixing psychology and history to provide a remarkable picture of an increasingly enlightened world.

Today, Chief Owen is a consultant after a 23 year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where he served in the Jacksonville, FL, Chicago, IL and Knoxville, TN field offices, a 7 year term as the Chief of Police for Knoxville leading approximately 550 members and a $45 million budget, and a 9 year period operating his own private investigations firm contracting with various Departments of the US Government and numerous private corporations and entities.

Books Sandwiched In will continue on March 20 with Author Jay Erskine Leutze discussing his own book Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail. On April 17, Knoxville Attorney Wanda Sobieski will discuss The New Feminist Agenda: Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work, and Family by Madeleine Kunin.

The public is invited to join the conversation. Bring your favorite sandwich or pick up something from a downtown restaurant. Copies of the books are available at the Library if you'd like to read one before the program.

For more information, please call Emily Ellis at 215-8723.