systematic accounting of these issues in that book. let's break for lunch, but let's -- we will be joining the second floor at the conference center. before we do a warm round of applause. [applause] [inaudible conversations] >> here is, that books published this week. former director of the counterterrorism center.

look for these titles in bookstores this coming weekend watch for the authors in the near future on booktv. >> saturday, january 24th is being called national readathon

day. what is national readathon date? >> all across america we invite readers to spend the afternoon? >> all across america we invite readers to spend the afternoon meeting any book they like the weather across the country, any book you want. >> why are you promoting this? >> guest: essentially our hope is to find different ways in coming years to foster a culture of reading in america and remind people what they experience is like to sit and dedicate a nice long swath of time to read in. we here feedback all the times that people read books less now because they feel they don't have time or do it in little snippets here and there but there's a real pleasure that

comes from getting lost in the world of a book, different than if you rejecting the phone every few minutes or on the go, and want people to remember what the experience was like and get a little lost again. >> host: you are setting a time frame for this, to 4:00 p.m. saturday afternoon. >> exactly right. we agreed four hours was longer than any of us normally spend reading a book but not so onerous it would be impossible for people with kids or jobs that there would be no way they could do it. four was the agreed upon time that seemed a reasonable amount to ask everyone to try to set aside. >> host: are there groups participating in this? >> we have a lot of different groups from both clubs to local libraries and schools and on the web site there is a list state-by-state of different venues by cities that are

participating. go there to see if a place near you is participating and you could join. >> host: if somebody wants to do this at home how can they stay in contact with the larger group? besides the web site, is there a hash tag? >> absolutely. we are using the hash tag time to read reminding people why we make time to read the importance of making time to read these you can search on any platform, already see a bunch of people participating talking about what they plan to be reading that saturday and you can share yourself what you will be reading, why you are excited about it. and participate in the larger virtual community out day. >> host: there is the money aspect. what is it? >> it is similar to walkathons or running a marathon, is

optional, but if you are raising money for the national book club foundation, it is most famous for the national book awards they give out every fall in fiction and nonfiction and poetry but they also do incredible work around the country bringing everything from literacy training, tutoring office to speak to kids around america, communities that are not necessarily getting diverse rich programming in books and national book foundation isn't filling that gap. we're is an ongoing effort. >> how do you contribute? >> you can find the link to first giving. it is more from marathons and you can donate any amount or set up your fundraising page or face

funds that way and is under the event so it is easy to find. >> host: is there a target how much money went to raise? >> guest: this is our first year trying to do this so we are leaving it open to see what is happening. there are $15,000 raise already in the early days so i am pleased to see the diversity of people donating and it is the kind of thing where smaller amounts will make a big difference in overall getting us to a nice number to give to the national book club foundation. >> host: it benefits the national book foundation but who are the corporate sponsors behind national readathon day? >> good read this on board talking about it in their newsletters and on their web site and they will have a reading party in san francisco which is where their headquarters is and matchable, one of the leading tech websites that has an incredible monthly

book club, they are also participating and talking about it on social media having a book party in their headquarters in new york so from coast to coast some nice sponsors coming on to help support it. >> host: your own blood at random house. >> guest: i would be in trouble for is that one. penguin random house the publishing company. we have been supporting the effort as well. we have a number of our authors on board to be reading themselves who are making these lovely videos which just started releasing yesterday and it is writers talking about why books are important in their lives and why they make time to read and they are really fun and also on the web site and can be found on social media channels searching for the time to read hash tag. >> making time to read is important. >> if you don't make time to

read -- >> keeps you entertained. >> nothing like a book to make you see the world in a new way. >> like the impact books have had in my life or saved my life. >> i have never been without a book. >> every meal in our lives today don't require a password. >> i read when i should be looking at television. >> it is hard to find time to read but when you do i always do. >> i developed my love for reading as a boy. >> all kinds of crazy stuff. >> colonel ivanhoe. >> and trashed too. >> alice in wonderland, treasure island. >> how appropriate. >> a look comes into the child's

eyes, the mouth drops ought open-end you know the child is lost in the story. >> to me that is the ideal thing. >> i like to pick up a book at my local neighborhood bookstore because i like a random encounter. >> when you are reading this book you leave your own world, leave your own space. >> everything we hold dear is in books. go out, get a book and read. >> keep reading. >> saturday, january 24th, noon to 4:00 p.m. your time zone. website and jim martin? >> penguins a randomhouse.com/readat athon.

>> host: thank you very much. >> here is a look at upcoming book fairs and festivals happening around the country. booktv will have live coverage of the savannah book festival which takes place from the twelfth through the fifteenth in savannah, georgia. on march 14th and fifteenth, booktv at the university of arizona on coverage for the tucson festival of books. the following week the va festival of the book will be held in charlottesville, virginia and march 25th through 20 ninth the city of new orleans will host the tennessee williams literary festival. let us know about book fairs and festivals in your area and we will add them to our list. e-mail us at booktv@c-span.org. >> booktv continues now with a recounting of john quincy adams's plans for the united states to become a global

leader. charles howell describes the strategy and the costs incurred to reach and maintain international prominence. it is about an hour. >> we are very lucky to have charles here today. ..