This semester, the Center has hosted some wonderful speakers. Talking with Scott Brown was definitely a highlight, but Dr. Ted Steinbock, a scholar on Benjamin Franklin, was one of my favorites. Dr. Steinbock is not only an accomplished surgeon and a well versed scholar on Ben Franklin; he is also a collector of rare books. In our conversation with him, he brought out numerous books that he has accumulated over the years ranging from French books on electric to a collection of personal growth reflections by Ben Franklin. Each book he shared with us had its own story, each one fascinating in its own way. I particularly enjoyed our discussion on the importance of physical books within society, and how the recent demand for ebooks will affect out future. We also has an interesting discussion over what current book would be remembered in one hundred years. This truly made me think about the literature of today and what it means for our education in the future. I enjoyed Dr. Steinbock and the conversations we had and greatly appreciate his willingness to share his collection with us.
McConnellCenter.org