10 events in Boston this month that will make you smarter
Because even the brightest Harvard professor can learn something new.
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Boston is bursting at the seams with intellect. With over 40 colleges and universities in the area—including two of the world’s most prestigious—Greater Boston is a haven for some of the brightest historians, programmers, doctors, writers, biologists, and engineers in the world.
With so many brilliant minds forming and firming in its vicinity, Bostonians—regardless of age, income, and education level—have an overwhelming (and unique) opportunity to learn via lectures, workshops, and events. It’s one of the best things about our city.
The goal of this list is to trim down the seemingly endless cognitive possibilities Boston offers into a manageable itinerary for the curious mind. Here are 10 events in the month of August that will make you brighter.
Jeffrey Toobin discusses his new book on Patty Hearst at Harvard Bookstore
Lawyer, author, New Yorker staff writer, and CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin has written a wide variety of books, including two award-winning looks at the inner workings of the Supreme Court and The Run of His Life: The People vs. OJ Simpson, which was recently adapted into a miniseries on FX. Toobin will be at the Harvard Bookstore on August 3 to discuss his new book, American Heiress, which chronicles the “kidnapping, crimes, and trial of Patty Hearst.” (Wednesday, August 3, 6 p.m.; Harvard Bookstore; $5; all ages)
Free admission to the Harvard Museum of Natural History
Every Friday this summer, the Highland Street Foundation offers free admission to a number of Boston-area museums and cultural institutions. One of the highlights on the list of participating museums is the Harvard Museum of Natural History, where visitors can explore mounted wildlife from every continent, rare minerals and gemstones, and a newly renovated glass flower exhibit free of charge on August 5. (Friday, August 5, 9 a.m to 5 p.m.; Harvard Museum of Natural History; free; all ages)
The women of Iran: then and now
Cambridge photojournalist Randy H. Goodman took a series of photos of women living in the Islamic Republic of Iran during the hostage crisis and the Iran-Iraq war in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Thirty-three years later, she returned to Iran during the signing of its nuclear agreement with the U.S., again photographing women during a pivotal moment in the U.S.-Iran relationship. Goodman’s photos are currently on display in Harvard University’s Center for Geographic Analysis building, and she’ll be holding an artist talk at the gallery on August 9 to discuss her work. (Tuesday, August 9, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; CGIS Knafel Building; free; all ages)
Public speaking hacks: How to compel an audience
Some people are natural-born orators. Others are masters of the written word but can’t string a sentence together when forced to address a large group. If you’re in the latter category, Bryant University Adjunct Professor Todd Stewart’s public speaking workshop examines the traits and behaviors of great (and not-so-great) public speakers, and explores how certain presentations better command audience attention. (Wednesday, August 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; General Assembly; free; all ages)
Book club for the curious
Created in partnership by the Museum of Science, Boston and the Cambridge Innovation Center, the Book Club for the Curious is a reading group designed especially for those who are interested in science and technology and how it impacts our society. This month’s book: Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs. (Thursday, August 11, 5:30-7 p.m.; Cambridge Innovation Center; free; all ages)
Dead in Good Company: A Celebration of Mount Auburn Cemetery
With countless Boston Brahmins and Harvard luminaries buried beyond its gates, as well as a vibrant arboretum, Watertown’s Mount Auburn Cemetery has offered mourners, historians, and wildlife enthusiasts centuries of wonder. It’s also inspired a new collection of stories celebrating it. Join some of the local contributors to Dead in Good Company, the new collection about the famous burial ground, to learn more. (Tuesday, August 16, 7 p.m.; Porter Square Books; free; all ages)
The Danish Way of Parenting
Time and again, worldwide rankings find that Denmark residents are some of the happiest people in the world. And, as the country boasts generations of well-adjusted families, it’s only natural that others have looked to how Danes raise their kids. At this event, author Jessica Joelle Alexander will discuss her new book, The Danish Way of Parenting, which emphasizes ways to encourage free play and foster authenticity and confidence in children. (Monday, August 22, 7-8:30 p.m.; Scandinavian Cultural Center; free; all ages)
You can’t get what you don’t ask for: Negotiating salary
Selling yourself for a job is hard. But negotiating a starting salary, and asking for raises down the line, may be even harder. Join instructor Israela Brill-Cass as she shares helpful steps you should use to ensure a successful salary negotiation. (Tuesday, August 23, 6:30-8:00 p.m.; Society of Grownups; $30; all ages)
Learn about time-lapse photography on Georges Island
The city of Boston has been captured beautifully through the use of time-lapse video and photography. With the help of filmmaker/photographer Elliot Higger, you can learn the subtle art of creating a powerful time-lapse image at one of the most picturesque locations in the city, Georges Island. While the class is free, registration is suggested, and you’ll need to buy a ferry ticket to the island. (Saturday, August 27, 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Georges Island; free; all ages)
A history of slavery in Massachusetts
In 1783, Massachusetts became the first state to abolish slavery. But slaves first arrived in the colony in 1638, which means there are 150 years’ worth of slavery history that are often overlooked in textbooks and classrooms. Learn about how slavery first came to Massachusetts, early efforts to abolish the practice, and its eventual outlaw at this lecture. (Wednesday, August 31, 12-1:30 p.m.; Congregational Library and Archives; free; all ages)
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