Concord, Massachusetts
Two weeks of talks, readings, and discussions celebrating the written and the spoken word.
Nathaniel Philbrick
Gish Jen
Andrew Bacevich
Pauline Maier
How You Can Participate
- Attend: Most events are free. All events are open to the public. Events that require a ticket are so indicated and include information about how and where to obtain tickets.
- Donate: The festival is produced by a non-profit foundation and depends greatly on individual support. Tax deductible donations in any amount are encouraged and can be made online.
- Sponsor: Corporate sponsorship is welcomed and is available. For information please .
Ellen J. Langer
Events: Aging and the Mind-Body Connection
Book: Counter Clockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility
Ellen J. Langer is the author of eleven books, including the international bestseller Mindfulness and more than two-hundred research articles. A member of the psychology department at Harvard, she is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Her trailblazing experiments in social psychology have earned her inclusion in The New York Times Magazine’s “Year in Ideas” issue.
In Counterclockwise she draws on landmark work in the field and her own body of colorful and highly original experiments to show that the magic of rejuvenation and ongoing good health lies in being aware of the ways we mindlessly react to social and cultural cues. Examining the hidden decisions and vocabulary that shape the medical world, the powerful physical effects of placebos, and the intricate but often defeatist ways we define our physical health, she challenges the idea that the limits we assume and impose on ourselves are real.
With only subtle shifts in our thinking, in our language, and in our expectations, we can begin to change the ingrained behaviors that sap health, optimism, and vitality from our lives. Improved vision, younger appearance, weight loss, and increased longevity are just four of the results that she demonstrates.