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The Luncheon Society
 We started the 2010 season of The Luncheon Society with Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic nominee for the Presidency and 3 term governor of Massachusetts, who communicated his concerns that Democrats were not building grassroots networks for the 2010 midterm races at gatherings in Los Angeles as well as San Francisco. The concern that Dukakis had was that 2010 is a triple witching year-a midterm elections, a year that determines how seats will reapportioned in the next decade, and the statehouse control will be up for grabs. If Democrats who showed up for Obama stay home because the midterms do not have his name on the ballot, it could be rough sledding for Democrats throughout the rest of his time in office.
 In San Francisco, the best-selling animal advocate Dr. Temple Grandin offers the most exciting exploration of how animals feel since The Hidden Life of Dogs. In her groundbreaking and best-selling book "Animals in Translation," Dr. Temple Grandin drew on her own experience with autism as well as her distinguished career as an animal scientist to deliver extraordinary insights into how animals think, act, and feel. Now she builds on those insights to show us how to give our animals the best and happiest life-on their terms, not ours. It's usually easy to pinpoint the cause of physical pain in animals, but to know what is causing them emotional distress is much harder. Drawing on the latest research and her own work, Grandin identifies the core emotional needs of animals. Then she explains how to fulfill them for dogs and cats, horses, farm animals, and zoo animals. Whether it's how to make the healthiest environment for the dog you must leave alone most of the day, how to keep pigs from being bored, or how to know if the lion pacing in the zoo is miserable or just exercising, Grandin teaches us to challenge our assumptions about animal contentment and honor our bond with our fellow creatures. She also discussed her award winning HBO biopic, which starred Claire Danes.
 Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC Senior Political Analyst, West Wing Executive Producer, and former Capitol Hill staffer joined us for a conversation about Healthcare reform, which at that point in time looked doomed thanks to Scott Brown's election in Massachusetts at Chez Mimi in Santa Monica. From 1999 to 2006, O'Donnell was associated with the television drama The West Wing. During that time, he wrote 16 episodes. From 1999 to 2000, he was executive story editor for 12 episodes; in 2000, he was co-producer of five episodes; from 2000 to 2001, he was producer of 17 episodes; from 2003 to 2005, he was consulting producer for 44 episodes; and, from 2005 to 2006, he was executive producer for 22 episodes. O'Donnell won the 2001 Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series for The West Wing and was nominated for the 2006 Emmy for the same category. In 2002, O'Donnell was supervising producer and writer for the television drama First Monday; and, in 2003, he was creator, executive producer, and writer for the television drama Mister Sterling. In 2009, O'Donnell became a regular contributor on Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough. In September 2010 (a few months after our gathering), O'Donnell began hosting a 10 p.m. show on MSNBC, called The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. On January 21, 2011, it was announced that O'Donnell would take over the 8 p.m. slot from Keith Olbermann after Olbermann announced the abrupt termination of his show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Beginning October 24, 2011, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell switched time slots with The Ed Show, with Ed Schultz taking over the 8 p.m. Eastern slot, and O'Donnell returning to the 10 p.m. Eastern slot.
 Roz Savage MBE, international explorer and adventurer, joined us in both San Francisco and Los Angeles before finishing her final leg on being the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean. She had already completed the Atlantic voyage and we wanted to know what it took to get from here to there? In 2007, Roz Savage set out to row 8,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean-alone. Despite having successfully rowed across the Atlantic the previous year, the Pacific presented the former office worker with unprecedented challenges and overpowering currents-both in the water and within herself. Crossing Earth's largest ocean alone might seem a long way removed from everyday life, yet the lessons Roz learned about the inner journey, the ocean, and the world are relevant to all of us. She shares tales of the ups and downs of her voyage across the waves, while offering insights on how to find happiness through a meaningful and rewarding life.
 Writer, talk show host, and all-around raconteur Dick Cavett spent time with us in Manhattan where he talked of Groucho, The Late Night Wars between Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, and the need for conversation on television. Cavett has been nominated for at least 10 Emmy Awards and has won three. In 1970, he co-hosted the Emmy Awards Show (from Carnegie Hall in New York) with Bill Cosby (from Century Plaza in Los Angeles). His most popular talk show was his ABC program, which ran from 1969 to 1974. From 1962 to 1992, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was arguably the most popular late night variety and talk show. Unlike many contemporary shows that attempted to compete with Carson in the same timeslot but were quickly cancelled, Cavett managed to remain on the air for five years. Although his shows did not attract a wide audience, remaining in third place in the ratings behind Carson and Merv Griffin, he earned a reputation as "the thinking man's talk show host" and received favorable reviews from critics. As a talk show host, Cavett has been noted for his ability to listen to his guests and engage them in intellectual conversation. Clive James described Cavett "as a true sophisticate with a daunting intellectual range" and "the most distinguished talk-show host in America." He is also known for his ability to remain calm and mediate between contentious guests, and for his resonant voice; unusual for a man of his stature (5'7" / 170 cm).
 That evening, Mario Cuomo, former three-term Governor of New York, joined us in Midtown Manhattan to appeal for civility and bipartisanship in light of the current political entrenchment. Cuomo spoke of his political orientation as "progressive pragmatism." He was influenced by his ethnic, religious, and lower-class upbringing. He reminded people of America's immigrant heritage and the upward mobility of its people. His political philosophy was a "family kind of politics" that conceived of people sharing their burdens and blessings and understanding that their individual well-being depends on the well-being of the community. Thus, he believed that government has a responsibility to help those who through no fault of their own are either permanently or temporarily unable to help themselves. Cuomo is an introspective person, keeping diaries to explore his own motivations and sort his thinking. He has been described as being a workaholic, competitive, having a quick temper, and refusing to delegate authority. Cuomo considers himself devoted to his family and friends. He doted on his three daughters and two sons. His elder son, Andrew, managed his father's campaigns and served as a chief adviser to the governor.
 Back in San Francisco, Dr Ken Eisold, author of What You Don't Know, You Know, spoke of our hidden motives in life, business, and everything else, tells us that the unconscious is everywhere. The book is about this emergent understanding, and how it forces us to rethink our relationships with each other as well as our beliefs about what it means to be a person, to have a self. It is for all those who want a better understanding of the complexity of human motivation, whether as an executive faced with employees resisting change, an elected official trying to forge agreements among competing interests, a consultant brought in to restructure an ailing corporation, or individuals struggling to understand their relationships and why they do the things they do.
 We were pleased to have Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association) join us in San Francisco to talk more about the need for good mental health services for all of the men and women who have bravely served. "Most Americans are unaware that 22 veterans a day take their own lives. As a nation, our challenge is to break the silence, show veterans there is no shame in getting help, and provide solid service. This research is critical to helping us understand why this is happening and how to help vets in crisis. It highlights the importance of effective screening prior to entering the military, as well as the continued need for support throughout a military career and after separation," said IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff. "Many veterans and servicemembers are dealing with invisible injuries. As the war in Afghanistan draws down and more of our warriors return home, our country must recognize suicide and mental health as a top issue.
 From the moment The Man With No Name first fixed the screen with his murderous squint, from the first time audiences heard Dirty Harry Callahan growl "Make my day," Clint Eastwood has been an icon of American manhood in all its coolness and ferocity. But that icon is also an actor of surprising subtlety, a filmmaker of vast intelligence and originality--and an intensely private man who eludes the stereotypes with which his fans and critics try to label him. In this in-depth biography, the distinguished film critic Richard Schickel talks with Eastwood's family, friends, and colleagues--and, above all, with his notoriously reticent subject--to produce a portrait more astute and revealing than any we have ever had. Following Eastwood from his unstable childhood through his turbulent love affairs, assessing films from A Fistful of Dollars to the Oscar-winning The Unforgiven, and locating the subversive streak of rage and solitude that runs through all his work, Clint Eastwood is candid and endlessly fascinating, an unerring closeup of one of our brightest stars.
 For more of an investment luncheon, our dear friend and New York Times best-selling author Mary Buffett, joined us in San Francisco to discuss Warren Buffett's investment strategies. Pay attention to what she says and you will do well. Buffett clearly outline Warren Buffett's strategies in a way that will appeal to newcomers and seasoned Buffettologists alike. Inspired by the seminal work of Buffett's mentor, Benjamin Graham (The Interpretation of Financial Statements, 1937), this book presents Buffett's interpretation of financial statements with anecdotes and quotes from the master investor himself. Once readers complete and master Buffett's simple financial calculations and methods for interpreting a company's financial statement, they'll be well on their way to identifying which companies are going to be tomorrow's winners -- and which will be the losers they should avoid at all costs. Destined to become a classic in the world of investment books, Warren Buffett and the Interpretation of Financial Statements is the perfect companion volume to The New Buffettology and The Tao of Warren Buffett.
 Mireille Guiliano joined us in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The #1 national bestseller that launched a fabulous French Revolution about how to approach healthy living: the ultimate non-diet book-now with more recipes. French women don't get fat, even though they enjoy bread and pastry, wine, and regular three-course meals. Unlocking the simple secrets of this "French paradox"-how they enjoy food while staying slim and healthy-Mireille Guiliano gives us a charming, inspiring take on health and eating for our times. For anyone who has slipped out of her Zone, missed the flight to South Beach, or accidentally let a carb pass her lips, here is a positive way to stay trim, a culture's most precious secrets recast for the twenty-first century. A life of wine, bread-even chocolate-without girth or guilt? Pourquoi pas?
 Pioneering songwriters and members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, met with us at Chez Mimi in Santa Monica for our last luncheon before their closure where they talked about the arc of their career and the curious tale of Hound Dog. There is a great story. Stoller, then 23, was returning from a three-month trip to Europe with his first wife, Meryl, paid for by a royalty cheque for a recording of Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots. Mike Stoller felt certain he would die when the transatlantic liner Andrea Doria and the Stockholm collided in fog off the Massachusetts coast at 11.10pm on July 25, 1956, and sank 11 hours later, on July 26. Saved by a freighter in what was called 'the greatest sea rescue in history', Stoller arrived ashore in New York to discover from his songwriting partner, Jerry Leiber, that a new singer called Elvis had taken Hound Dog to the top of the charts. 'Jerry was at the dock in New York harbor. He was carrying a suit in case I had no clothes,' Mr Stoller recalled yesterday. 'He ran down the gangplank and said, 'Mike, you're OK'. I said, 'We're all right'. He said, 'We have a smash hit! Hound Dog'. I said, 'Big Mama Thornton?' "No," Leiber said, "Elvis Presley." Stoller replied, "Who is Elvis Presley?"
 In his breakout bestseller, The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger created "a wild ride that brilliantly captures the awesome power of the raging sea and the often futile attempts of humans to withstand it." Now, Junger turns his brilliant and empathetic eye to the reality of combat--the fear, the honor, and the trust among men in an extreme situation whose survival depends on their absolute commitment to one another. His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon (the 173rd Airborne brigade) through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a daily basis.
 In Googled, esteemed media writer and critic Ken Auletta joined us in Manhattan and used the story of Google's rise to explore the inner workings of the company and the future of the media at large. Although Google has often been secretive, this book is based on the most extensive cooperation ever granted a journalist, including access to closed-door meetings and interviews with founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, CEO Eric Schmidt, and some 150 present and former employees. Inside the Google campus, Auletta finds a culture driven by brilliant engineers in which even the most basic ways of doing things are questioned. His reporting shines light on how Google has been so hugely successful-and why it could slip. On one hand, Auletta reveals how the company has innovated, from Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Earth to YouTube, search, and other seminal programs. On the other, he charts its conflicts: the tension between massive growth and its mandate of "Don't be evil"; the limitations of a belief that mathematical algorithms always provide correct answers; and the collisions of Google engineers who want more data with citizens worried about privacy. More than a comprehensive study of media's most powerful digital company, Googled is also a lesson in new media truths. Pairing Auletta's unmatched analysis with vivid details and rich anecdotes, it shows how the Google wave grew, how it threatens to drown media institutions once considered impregnable-and where it is now taking us all.
 A top aide to Martin Luther King, Jr., and one of history's most important civil rights leaders, Andrew Young has been a witness to history and made his own. During the civil rights movement, he worked tirelessly as a strategist and negotiator in the campaigns that resulted in the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, and was at Dr. King's side when he was assassinated. For years, he has been mentoring his godson, Kabir Sehgal, in correspondence and conversation. In this entertaining and provocative discourse, Young shares his thoughts and meditations on such important topics as civil rights, race, faith, love, and leadership.
 Reaching out to the Cameroonian Diaspora in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, we sat down with Bernard Muna, Candidate for President from The Republic of Cameroon as he works to bring democracy and reform his nation, which is currently run by a dictatorship. Muna was elected President of the Cameroon Bar Association in May 1986, a position he retained until 1992. He was then named United Nations Country Rapporteur for penal reform and crime prevention in 1987, and elected President of the newly created Central African Lawyers Union (UNAAC). Bernard Muna was appointed Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on 29 April 1997. He retained this position until December 2002. Bernard Muna was the brother of Akere Muna, founder and former president of Transparency International Cameroon .In 2013, Bernard Muna was appointed by the UN Secretary General to the UN Commission of Inquiry on the situation in the Central African Republic. Bernard Muna announced his candidacy for President of the Republic of Cameroon, which was held in 2011. His candidacy was supported by the Alliance des Forces Progressistes (Alliance of Progressive Forces), an opposition party which had been previously prevented by government authorities to compete in presidential elections.
 Former Apollo Astronaut and current Chairman of the B612 Foundation Rusty Schweickart joined us for a conversation in Downtown Los Angeles on the dangers posed by Near Earth Asteroids and Objects (NEAs and NEOs). B612 is an organization that works towards protecting the Earth from asteroid impacts and informing and forwarding world-wide decision-making on planetary defense issues. B612 provides a non-governmental voice on the risks, options, and implications of asteroid data while advancing the technical means by which that data is acquired. We work to make interpretation of asteroid data open and accessible, and we serve as an informed source for an international community of policy makers and scientists who can best help to achieve these goals. What happens when something from out there crashes down here?
 With "The Good Soldiers," Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Finkel has produced an eternal story not just of the Iraq War, but of all wars, for all time. It was the last-chance moment of the war. In January 2007, President George W. Bush announced a new strategy for Iraq. It became known as "the surge." Among those called to carry it out were the young, optimistic army infantry soldiers of the 2-16, the battalion nicknamed the Rangers. About to head to a vicious area of Baghdad, they decided the difference would be them. Fifteen months later, the soldiers returned home...forever changed. The chronicle of their tour is gripping, devastating, and deeply illuminating for anyone with an interest in human conflict.
 "Wake up, Muffy. We're back." From Lisa Birnbach, the author of The Official Preppy Handbook - and designer Chip Kidd - comes a whole new take on the prep world that Birnbach turned into an international best-selling phenomenon 30 years ago. True Prep is a contemporary look at how the old guard of natural-fiber-loving, dog-worshipping, G&T-soaked preppies adapt to the new order of things. Birnbach considers the prep attitude towards money (ambivalent), schools (good investment), wardrobe (now your clothes fit), work (some careers will never be prep), decorating (ask mummy), scandal (including rehab and prison), and food and drink (with some classic recipes for both). She also looks at weekends (and what to do to get asked back), entertaining, sports (including sailing and shopping), weddings, etiquette, the Internet and electronic gadgetry, political correctness, reality TV, and... polar fleece. And last but not least: a do-it-yourself eulogy. It was a "natural-fiber-loving dog-worshiping G&T soaked preppies have adapted to the new order of things" gatherings.
 Alpha dog crime writer, James Ellroy, seminal crime novels as LA Confidential and The Black Dahlia on his new book, The Hilliker Curse, detailed his relationship with women in general as well as his current relationship with writer Erika Schickel in Manhattan, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The year was 1958. Jean Hilliker had divorced her hustler husband and resurrected her maiden name. Her son, James, was ten years old. In a dark moment, he "summoned her dead." Three months later she was murdered. A startling revelation, a treatise on guilt and the power of malediction, and above all, a heartfelt confession, The Hilliker Curse is a brilliant, soul-baring revelation of self. In each setting, Ellroy seemed to enjoy "mixing it up" with The Luncheon Society host or people around the table, threatening to stomp off. In LA, he threatened to beat up our pal Bennet Kelley who was hosting, but our guy played it cool and Ellroy calmed down.
 In an uplifting change of pace, Michael Goldfarb author, former NPR, and BBC commentator, joined us in San Francisco where he discussed his book "Emancipation." The first popular history of the Emancipation of Europe's Jews in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries-a transformation that was startling to those who lived through it and continues to affect the world today. Freed from their ghettos, Jews ushered in a second renaissance. Within a century Marx, Freud, and Einstein created revolutions in politics, human science, and physics that continue to shape our world. Proust, Schoenberg, Mahler, and Kafka redefined artistic expression. Emancipation reformed the practice of Judaism, encouraged some to imagine a modern nation of their own, and within decades led to the dream of Zionism.
 For almost four decades, from his role in the 1972 McGovern campaign to his years as a visionary senator, from his leadership on national security matters before and after 9/11 to his contributions as a respected statesman on various issues, former US Senator Gary Hart has been and continues to be one of America's great public servants. In this insightful, humble, and often humorous account of his political and public life, Hart shares his journey through the sometimes rough seas of American politics. More than a personal memoir, "The Thunder and the Sunshine," is an important contribution to understanding the history of our nation since the 1960s, including firsthand accounts of the end of the Cold War, the presidential elections of 1984 and beyond, America's initial forays into alternative energy, and the landmark work of the Church Committee. Drawing on the same keen intellect and foresight that shaped his political achievements and prolific writings, Hart provides a lucid critique of our past, present, and future.
 For gatherings in New York and Los Angeles, Richard Wolffe's "Revival" is the dramatic inside story of the defining period of the Obama White House. It is an epic tale that follows the president and his inner circle from the crisis of defeat to historic success. Over the span of an extraordinary two months in the life of a young presidency, Obama and his senior aides engaged in a desperate struggle for survival that stands as the measure of who they are and how they govern. Bestselling Obama biographer Wolffe draws on unrivaled access to the West Wing to write a natural sequel to his critically acclaimed book about the president and his campaign. He traces an arc from near death to resurrection that is a repeated pattern for Obama, first as a candidate and now as president. Starting at the first anniversary of the inauguration, Wolffe paints a portrait of a White House at work under exceptional strain across a sweeping set of challenges: from health care reform to a struggling economy, from two wars to terrorism. This is the sequel to his best-seller, "Renegade."
 To close out the 2010 season, Wendell Potter made national headlines with his scorching testimony before the Senate panel on health care reform. Potter explained how health insurers make promises they have no intention of keeping, how they flout regulations designed to protect consumers, and how they skew political debate with multibillion-dollar PR campaigns designed to spread disinformation. Potter had walked away from a six-figure salary and two decades as an insurance executive because he could no longer abide the routine practices of an industry where the needs of sick and suffering Americans take a backseat to the bottom line. The last straw: when he visited a rural health clinic and saw hundreds of people standing in line in the rain to receive treatment in stalls built for livestock. In Deadly Spin, Potter takes readers behind the scenes to show how a huge chunk of our absurd healthcare spending actually bankrolls a propaganda campaign and lobbying effort focused on protecting one thing: profits. Whatever the fate of the current health care legislation, it makes no attempt to change that fundamental problem.
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The Luncheon Society™
 is a series of private luncheons and dinners that take place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Manhattan, and Boston. During the Pandemic, we are on Zoom. Discussions center on politics, art, science, film, culture, and whatever else is on our mind. Think of us as "Adult Drop in Daycare." We've been around since 1996 and we're purposely understated; 2021 will be our 26th season. In these gatherings, you interact with the main guest and conversation becomes the end result. There are no rules, very little structure, and the gatherings happen when they happen. Join us when you can.
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Alan Grayson