In the aftermath of the unspeakable violence in Sandy Hook and other mass shootings, it’s hard to believe that we may be living in the most peaceful time since human beings began walking the Earth. Knox County Public Library invites you to join former Knoxville Chief of Police Sterling Owen in a close look at the history of violence as he discusses The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Pinker.

This series takes the place of Brown Bag, Green Book which covered the most critical topic of environmental sustainability. The environment will be given considerable attention in this new series, but we've expanded subject area recognizing there are many other important issues to focus on.

In The Better Angels of our Nature, New York Times' bestselling author Steven Pinker shows that despite the ceaseless news about war, crime, and terrorism, violence has actually been in decline over long stretches of history. Exploding myths about humankind's inherent violence and the curse of modernity, this ambitious book continues Pinker's exploration of the essence of human nature, mixing psychology and history to provide a remarkable picture of an increasingly enlightened world.

Today, Chief Owen is a consultant after a 23 year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where he served in the Jacksonville, FL, Chicago, IL and Knoxville, TN field offices, a 7 year term as the Chief of Police for Knoxville leading approximately 550 members and a $45 million budget, and a 9 year period operating his own private investigations firm contracting with various Departments of the US Government and numerous private corporations and entities.

Books Sandwiched In will continue on March 20 with Author Jay Erskine Leutze discussing his own book Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail. On April 17, Knoxville Attorney Wanda Sobieski will discuss The New Feminist Agenda: Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work, and Family by Madeleine Kunin.

Please come join the conversation. Bring your favorite sandwich or pick up something from a downtown restaurant. Copies of the books are available (in print, as downloadable ebook, and as an audiobook on CD) at the Library if you'd like to read one before the program.

For more information, please call Emily Ellis at 215-8723.