Independent institute Senior Vice President Mary L.G. Theroux interviews political humorist and bestselling author P. J. O’Rourke on his book, A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land.

Full video of the Independent Institute’s 30th Anniversary Gala for the Future of Liberty. We celebrated our past successes and honored with the Alexis de Tocqueville Award world-renowned, tech-entrepreneur Timothy C. Draper; Nobel Laureate economist Vernon L. Smith; and North Korean refugee, defector, and human-rights activist Yeonmi Park.

A conversation about the Future of Liberty with Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences Vernon L. Smith, North Korean refugee and human rights activist Yeonmi Park, and entrepreneur Timothy C. Draper, moderated by author P.J. O'Rourke at the 30th Anniversary Gala for the Future of Liberty held on September 22, 2017 in San Francisco, CA.

Bestselling author and political humorist P. J. O’Rourke presentation at the 30th Anniversary Gala for the Future of Liberty held on September 22, 2017 in San Francisco, CA.

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Join with us for an elegant Gala to celebrate the Independent Institute’s 30th Anniversary! In 1986, Independent began its tradition of boldly advancing the timeless principles of liberty by combining scholarly rigor with extensive communications and media coverage of the results, engaging new audiences in innovative, enterprising solutions.

At our Gala for the Future of Liberty, we will celebrate our past successes as we look forward by honoring world-renowned, tech-entrepreneur Timothy C. Draper; Nobel Laureate economist Vernon L. Smith; North Korean refugee, defector, and human-rights activist Yeonmi Park; all exemplary champions of liberty, entrepreneurial innovation, and human well-being. P.J. O’Rourke, bestselling author and America’s leading political humorist, will be our master of ceremonies.

With his numerous books, articles and essays about politics, war and social disorder under his belt, it was only a matter of time until P.J. O'Rourke found his way to the subject of his new book, "Eat the Rich." In "Parliament of Whores," he lampooned the entire U.S. government. "All the Troubles in the World" attacked the pandemic worries of the politically correct; and this time – it's the economy, stupid! What is wealth and how do we get it? Or as he asks, "Why do some places prosper and thrive while others just stink?"

As most people (along with many "experts") try to fathom the volatility of financial markets and the complexities of global economies, the man who Time magazine has called "one of America's most hilarious and provocative writers" brings it all into perspective. Who else but P.J. could provide this primer on Wall Street: "In order to understand the stock market we have to realize that, like anything enormous and inert, it's fundamentally stable, and like anything emotion-driven, it's volatile as hell."

But he doesn't stop there. Embarking from Wall Street, P.J. takes us on a hilarious and enlightening worldwide tour of the foibles of governments from Russia to Tanzania, from Albania to Shanghai, and from Hong Kong to Havana, and revisits college economics courses, counteracting them with his own version of Econ 101.

The result is the world's only astute, comprehensive and comic presentation of the basic principles of economics that will truly make you laugh on purpose.

P. J. O’Rourke

Bestselling Author, Humorist and Political Satirist

Author, Eat the Rich: A Treatise in Economics

David J. Theroux

Founder and President, The Independent Institute

P.J. O'Rourke, a Member of the Board of Advisors for the Independent Institute, is America’s leading political humorist and the best-selling author of over twenty books. He spoke at an event held on February 13, 2014 at the Independent institute in Oakland, CA.