The Book of the Year: The Extraordinary Life of and Ordinary Man by Paul Newman

**THIS PROGRAM IS FULL, PLEASE CALL 828-526-8811 TO PUT PLACED ON THE WAIT LIST**

For more than 15 years, Dr. Brian Railsback has been offering CLE members thought provoking literature classes. He returns this year to stimulate the conversation as he examines a book of the last year (2022) that achieved literary and popular acclaim. Since the Book of the Year is too new to be enshrined as a classic, we will have plenty of room to debate its merits and misfires. We will examine a celebrated memoir, Paul Newman’s The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man. The memoir and Newman’s unusual project to create it are the subject of Ethan Hawke’s six-part docuseries on HBO Max, The Last Movie Stars. The book itself was compiled and heavily edited, creating some controversy. Despite the tortured path to Newman’s memoir, the result is an intensely honest and personal discussion of a great artist’s life and an unsparing look at what it takes to be a famous Hollywood actor. The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man is an unusual memoir produced in a novel way. As such, the book is a great jumping off place to examine what makes a successful memoir and might be of interest to those interested in writing their own. The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man (Knopf 2022) is widely available; we will read the hard cover edition. Please plan on completing the book before the program. ​ 

Location:  Private Residence. A catered meal will be provided.