Ari Shapiro does what we all should do. He listens. He observes. He considers. It’s fundamental to the sensitive and compelling reporting he has done over nearly two decades for NPR.

In a special presentation as part of the Library’s yearlong sesquicentennial celebration, Shapiro discusses his work and the power of stories and storytelling to foster connectedness. Now a popular host of NPR’s award-winning news magazine All Things Considered, he weighs the importance of not only journalism but also libraries in that role and their essentialness in these divided times as public institutions.

Shapiro has been one of the distinctive voices of All Things Considered since 2015 and hosts the companion podcast Consider This. He previously served as NPR’s international correspondent based in London, White House correspondent during the Obama administration, and justice correspondent during the George W. Bush administration. Among many other honors, his work has won three national Edward R. Murrow awards for outstanding achievement in broadcast and digital journalism

Shapiro’s first book, The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening, was a bestseller upon its release in March 2023.

His presentation at the Library will be preceded by a 6 p.m. reception with Ensemble Ibérica featuring Beau Bledsoe, Amado Espinoza, and Ezgi Karakus. The Kansas City-based group performs music from around the world, seeking to integrate different musical cultures with diverse audiences. Food and drinks will also be provided.