Arts and Humanities People and Community

University is set to dazzle at the Miami Book Fair

The University of Miami has joined the Miami Book Fair family of sponsors, supporting a premier event that brings people together from all over the world, celebrates literacy, and provides important discussion on timely topics.
Visitors attend the 2019 Miami Book Fair street fair. Photo: Miami Dade College
Visitors attend the 2019 Miami Book Fair street fair. Photo: Miami Dade College

The Miami Book Fair is making a comeback. In just a few days, people from all over the world will convene in Downtown Miami for an eight-day literary event that celebrates the arts and humanities.

This year, the University of Miami will partner in this signature event that draws thousands to experience and learn more about strong talent and vast arts and culture offerings.

“The Miami Book Fair is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the University’s arts and humanities offerings through The U Creates initiative and to highlight outstanding faculty scholarship as well as institutional jewels like the Cuban Heritage Collection, Frost School of Music, Cosford Cinema, Lowe Art Museum, the Kislak Collection, and the Center for the Humanities, among others,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

​​The fair, which runs Nov. 14–21, is a hybrid blend of in-person and online events. University faculty and administration members will have a presence in unique events and sessions throughout the eight days—including Duerk, who will participate in an “Evening With” session with Sebastian Junger, who is the author of the book “Freedom.”

Rudy Fernandez, senior vice president for public affairs and communications and chief of staff to the president, will take part in an “Evening With” session where he will introduce former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Jean Becker, author of the book, “The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush’s Post-Presidency.” Fernandez previously served in the White House as special assistant to former President George W. Bush.

“This internationally acclaimed Miami event, which draws hundreds of thousands of attendees to more than 350 live events with world-renowned authors, is an invaluable opportunity for us to engage with our community,” Fernandez said. “The book fair showcases thought leaders, including our talented faculty, and is another way to highlight the inspiring legacy of arts at the U.”

Faculty authors highlighted at the fair include Chantel Acevedo, Michael J. Bustamante, Patricia Engel, Amishi P. Jha, and Kei Miller, among others. In addition, several faculty members are serving as panelists and facilitators.

Bustamante, associate professor of history and the Emilio Bacardí Moreau Chair in Cuban and Cuban American Studies, will also have the opportunity to speak about his new book, “Cuban Memory Wars: Retrospective Politics in Revolution and Exile,” during a virtual session.

“As a Miami-based author, I can think of no better venue to present my recently published book—‘Cuban Memory Wars,’ about the history of Cuba and the Cuban diaspora in the United States—to an audience composed of many Cubans and Cuban Americans who, I hope, will be particularly interested in the subject matter,” said Bustamante. “I hope the book inspires readers to think about the island’s past in new ways and to recover elements of the Cuban past that, on both sides of the Florida Straits, tend to be forgotten or overlooked.” 

Jha, professor and neuroscientist, will also take part in a virtual conversation with Scott Rogers, founder of the Mindfulness in Law Program at the University of Miami School of Law. She will discuss her book “Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day,” which highlights her life’s work to understanding the science of attention at every level. 

“​​I am thrilled to be participating in this year’s book fair. It's a wonderful opportunity to share my new book ‘Peak Mind’ with an important Miami institution,” she said. “The book details research my lab has been conducting, including our work with the University of Miami football team and many other projects conducted since my arrival here, which makes it a particularly gratifying opportunity.” 

For those interested in learning more about the arts and humanities at the U, the university will have an interactive presence at the Street Fair, which runs Nov. 19–21. Guests who stop by will have an opportunity to discover more about The U Creates and unique offerings across the university’s performance halls, venues, and galleries. Visit The U Creates booth in section C, near the Red Entrance.

Visitors also can sign up for a free raffle to win a University of Miami gift basket that includes a variety of gear. 

Purchase tickets for the street fair. 

Visit https://arts.miami.edu/miamibookfair2021/index.html for an extensive list of other University-affiliated programming at the Miami Book Fair.

For more information about The U Creates, visit https://arts.miami.edu/index.html.