the format today is to have a discussion and our guest today is david maraniss a pulitzer prize-winning author called once in a great city". [laughter] i should have known that and of course, it is for sale in the bookstore so after the presentation we will ask you to go upstairs and he will be more than happy to side -- cited are few brought a book with you that is where he will be end dash is that the conclusion at about noon if we are honored to have a mark cavanagh representing the cavanaugh family the oldest son of jerome cavanagh and they will guide is an interactive discussion of the time period covered in this book. as time allows there will be questions and answers that they will entertain and but if you have a question approach the microphone in it and orderly way and big knowledge before you have your question. sir everyone knows what questions period answering. with that we are ready to start. c-span is here that is why we have the bright lights. looking for a to a great session. [applause] >> one good morning. i am mark cavanagh the oldest son of the former mayor jerome cav

author david maraniss is known for the research he puts into his work and in his latest book he dives into the glory days of detroit, his home town. it is called once in a great city. a detroit city. although it detailed the peak in the city, it says signs of a decline were already there. i asked him what inspired him to write the book >> i wasn't expecting to write a book about detroit until the bowl in 2011, during half-time watching the super bowl, and it saw a-- i saw a commercial. first i saw the highway sign that said detroit and that made me pay attention and then all of these iconic images of detroit, the joe illegal use, the-- lewis, heavy weight champ, murals of detroit history, and eminem, walking into the gloryous faction theatre, a black rising, and eimen pointing and saying this is the motor city. this is what we do. i choked up. they were just selling chryslers, but it meant a lot to me t i thought about what it gave america and what i could write >>> you focused on the year, 1963. tell us why. >> this was a period when detroit was booming. there are four main themes or

. >>> pulitzer prize winner, david maraniss is known for doing his research. his latest book looks at the roots of detroit. it's called "once in a great city: a detroit story." i asked him why he wrote the book now? >> i wasn't expecting to write a book about detroit until super bowl sunday 2011, when during halftime, i was watching the super bowl, and saw a commercial. first i saw a -- a highway sign that said detroit, and that made me pay attention and all of these iconic images of detroit. the great heavyweight champ, the wonderful murals, and the rapper driving down a main thoroughfare of detroit, a black gospel choir rising in song and eminem pointing at the camera saying this is the motor city. i choked up seeing that ad. i was born in detroit and it got me thinking what detroit gave america and how i could write about that. >> you focus on the year 1963. tell us why. >> this was a period when detroit was booming. and there are four main themes or threads of the book. auto industry, obviously, music, motown, the soundtrack of my generation, the labor gov