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James McWhorter peaks with Erik Larson about Larson’s latest best-selling book, “The Splendid and the Vile.” 

During his first year as prime minister, Winston Churchill and the citizens of London endured 57 nights of consecutive bombing by German air forces.

While both the Blitz and Churchill have been written about often, author Erik Larson offers an intimate view of how a leader — through words and actions — can help a nation through a terrifying and deadly assault on their country and their freedom.

Larson draws on the personal diaries of Churchill’s staff and children to reveal how he used the power of words to express compassion, model fearlessness, and ultimately unite the British people to carry on.

Thanks to the genius of biochemists such as Jennifer Doudna, who’s credited with the co-discovery of CRISPR, our biggest scientific advances in the near future may easily come by way of the genome-editing technology. CRISPR enables scientists to change or remove genes quickly, with a precision only dreamed of just a few years ago.

But just how far are we willing to go to edit our gene pool? Damning disease is one thing. But what about designing for intelligence? Beauty? Height? The power to pick and choose traits sends us down a slippery ethical slope.

Best-selling author and University Professor of History at Tulane Walter Isaacson discusses his latest dive into the often dramatic subject of innovation with Susan Goldberg, editor in chief of National Geographic. Isaacson’s book, “The Code Breaker: The Tale of Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR and the Future of the Human Race” will be published in March 2021.

A global pandemic; economic piracy; predatory pricing; military investment — These are among the challenges that color the concerns expressed by Utah Sen. Mitt Romney regarding China’s rise, both politically and economically.

In discussion with Lanhee Chen, a fellow at Hoover Institution, Romney shares his belief that the United States can not stand alone in its drive to require China to play by the same rules as others across the world.

China’s ambitions, should they be realized, will leave the U.S. in the rearview mirror, argues Romney. Critically, we can not go it alone — we need a broad coalition of nations to stand up as one. China, Romney says, is “the greatest adversary we’re going to face over the coming century."

Find more about the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival 

MPR News Staff

Author

Erik Larson and Walter Isaacson speak at the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival about their books, “The Splendid and the Vile” and “The Code Breaker: The Tale of Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR and the Future of the Human Race.” Mitt Romney speaks about the U.S.-China relations.

Courtesy of Aspen Ideas Festival

'The Splendid and the Vile' by Erik Larson

2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Erik Larson on 'The Splendid and the Vile' and Walter Isaacson on 'The Code Breaker'

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