An invitation for the incurably curious

And details on this month's book contest!

Gracious readers,

In the last issue of Civic Renaissance, on curiosity and our cultural divisions, I promised you information about an event that will allow us to continue this important conversation. Next week, Civic Renaissance is partnering with the National Institute For Civil Discourse and Braver Angels to host a dialogue on whether curiosity can heal our divides today.

We live in an era of moral certainty and deep social and cultural division. But could curiosity—a fundamental openness to, and wonderment about, the world and others—help us overcome this?

What are institutional, cultural and political barriers to curiosity? How can they be overcome? What are the tools for building curiosity?

The event is Wednesday, Feb 17th from 8-10 ET.

You can register here.

Would love to have you there!

February’s book draw is a new book about a few of my favorite things—Edmund Burke, political philosophy, manners, and commerce—by Gregory Collins, just published by Oxford University Press.

The Washington Post’s George Will called it “elegant,” and Harvard’s Harvey Mansfield called it a “thorough” contribution.

Read more about Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke's Political Economy here.

Would you like a chance to win this book?

Consider becoming a subscriber below—or share this post either with a friend or on social media! Let me know when you’ve done so, and you’ll be entered into the draw.

“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” Samuel Johnson’s The Rambler

Civic Renaissance is a newsletter and community dedicated to ennobling our public discourse with the wisdom of the past, curated by award-winning writer Alexandra Hudson, whose forthcoming book on civility will be published by St. Martin’s Press. Read more about Civic Renaissance here!