Buzz (H.G.) Bissinger, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and bestselling author of “Friday Night Lights” and “Three Nights in August,” will be at the Olympia Timberland Library on Saturday, June 2 from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Bissinger will discuss his newest book, a memoir exploring his relationship with his son Zach, titled “Father’s Day, A Journey into the Mind & Heart of my Extraordinary Son.” Books will be available for purchase at the event.
The Book:
Bissinger’s twin sons were born three minutes—and a world—apart. Gerry, the older one, is a graduate student at Penn, preparing to become a teacher. His brother Zach has spent his life attending special schools. He’ll never drive a car, or kiss a girl, or live by himself. He is a savant, challenged by serious intellectual deficits but also blessed with rare talents: an astonishing memory, a dazzling knack for navigation, and a reflexive honesty which can make him both socially awkward and surprisingly wise.
One summer night, Buzz and Zach hit the road to revisit all the places they have lived together during Zach’s 24 years. Zach revels in his memories, and Buzz hopes this journey into their shared past will bring them closer and reveal to him the mysterious workings of his son’s mind and heart.
As father and son follow a pinball’s path from Philadelphia to LA, they see the best and worst of America and each other. Ultimately, their trip bestows a new and uplifting wisdom on Buzz, as he comes to realize that Zach’s worldview, as exotic as it is, has a sturdy logic of its own, a logic that deserves the greatest respect. And with the help of Zach’s twin, Gerry, Buzz learns an even more vital lesson about Zach: character transcends intellect. And we come to see Zach as he truly is-patient, fearless, perceptive, kind. He is not a man-child, but a man of excellent character.
About the Author:
Bissinger is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of four books, including the New York Times bestsellers “Three Nights in August” (major league baseball) and “Friday Night Lights,” (high school football in a small town in Texas) which has sold two million copies and spawned a film and TV franchise. He is a contributing editor for Vanity Fair and a sports columnist for the Daily Beast. He has written for the New York Times, The New Republic, Time, and many other publications.
Bissinger also co-wrote “Shooting Stars” (basketball) with LeBron James. Up until his newest book, Bissinger’s personal favorite is “A Prayer for the City,” about Philadelphia and Mayor Ed Rendell. Bissinger and his wife Lisa divide their time between homes in Philadelphia and the Pacific Northwest. Website: www.buzzbissinger.com.
