Jedediah Purdy, the 25-year-old author who gained international notoriety with his book "For Common Things: Irony, Trust and Commitment in America Today," will visit the University of Colorado at Boulder campus Nov. 14聳17 as a guest of the World Affairs Athenaeum program.
Purdy will host a public forum Thursday, Nov. 16, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Eaton Humanities Building room 250 to discuss some of the issues raised in his book.
"Jedediah Purdy is a perfect example of a young person who has accomplished a great deal early in his life," said Hadley Evans, one of two CU-Boulder Athenaeum fellows responsible for pulling together the program聮s events. "There are a lot of aspiring authors on this campus and we want to expose them to a published writer who is really close to them in age."
Purdy, who some have anointed an important voice for Generation X, grew up on a small farm in the hills of West Virginia and was schooled at home until high school, after which he went on to graduate from Harvard and now is studying at Yale. He gained notoriety last fall with the publication of his book in which he calls for a renewed commitment to public service and other common causes.
In the most publicized part of the book he criticizes popular culture聮s obsession with irony, pointing to Jerry Seinfeld聮s television character as exemplifying what he calls terminal irony, a view that nothing at all is serious.
"One of the most important aspects of Purdy聮s book is that he gives constructive suggestions for dealing with the overwhelming problems we face today," said Athenaeum fellow Adam Van Iwaarden. "He calls for increased civic participation and public service, as well as taking stands on controversial topics."
"For Common Things: Irony, Trust and Commitment in America Today" has received both praise and biting criticism over the past year. "Saturday Night Live" parodied Purdy on a show with guest Jerry Seinfeld playing "Dr. Jedediah Purdy." He has been written about in scores of newspapers in America, Canada and Europe with additional pieces in New York Times Magazine, Harper聮s, Time and Salon.
Purdy also has spent time working in environmental politics, and he dedicates part of his book to the troubling issue of destructive coal mining practices in West Virginia.
The Athenaeum, launched in February, is an extension of the annual World Affairs Conference at CU-Boulder designed to create a more intimate setting for visitors and students to meet and discuss world affairs and new ideas. The program聮s goal is to bring two to three guests each semester to campus. In September, German film director Werner Herzog visited campus for three days as a guest of the Athenaeum.
During his three-day visit, Purdy will be attending several classes and a formal dinner with CU-Boulder students and faculty. For more information about the Athenaeum call (303) 492-2525.