On Saturday, September 21st, First Light Books is honored to welcome Francis Collins, the physician and geneticist known for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international Human Genome Project. His new book, The Road to Wisdom, takes up the question of how, in the face of societal division and polarization, we can find our way back to the sources of wisdom. Collins will be joined in conversation by neuroscientist Maninder “Mini” Kahlon, a founding vice dean of the Dell Medical School at UT Austin.

Tickets for this event include a reserved seat and a hardcover copy of The Road to Wisdom, and RSVPs are appreciated. All unreserved seats will be available on a first come, first served basis.

About the book

In The Road to Wisdom, Francis Collins reminds us of the four core sources of judgement and clear thinking: truth, science, faith, and trust. Drawing on his work from the Human Genome Project and heading the National Institutes of Health, as well as on ethics, philosophy, and Christian theology, Collins makes a robust, thoughtful case for each of these sources—their reliability, and their limits. Ultimately, he shows how they work together, not separately—and certainly not in conflict. It is only when we relink these four foundations of wisdom that we can begin to discern the best path forward in life.

About the author

Francis S. Collins is a physician and geneticist. His groundbreaking work has led to the discovery of the cause of cystic fibrosis, among other diseases.  In 1993 he was appointed director of the international Human Genome Project, which successfully sequenced all 3 billion letters of our DNA. He went on to serve three Presidents as the Director of the National Institutes of Health.

Maninder “Mini” Kahlon translates the science of empathetic human connection to better medical outcomes.  Mini is the founder and CEO of 'beheld', a public benefit corporation, was previously founding Vice Dean at Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, and is faculty in the Department of Population Health. She received her PhD in Neuroscience at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).