Mrs. Laura Bush’s 2025 summer reading list for kids and the Laura Bush Foundations for America’s Libraries grant awardees will also be announced at the event
Dallas, Texas — On May 8, the Laura Bush Book Club, a special edition of Engage at the Bush Center presented by NexPoint, will host a conversation with The New York Times best-selling author, Amor Towles. The discussion will include Towles’ life as a writer, his process of character development, and his career transition from working in finance to becoming a successful full-time author. Robin Berkley, the Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education at the Bush Institute, will provide introductory remarks to announce the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries grant awardees and reveal Mrs. Bush’s 2025 summer reading list for kids.
To view ticket availability, visit bushcenter.org.
One of Mrs. Bush’s favorite authors, Towles has written four novels, including Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Lincoln Highway, and his collection of shorter fiction Table for Two have all been New York Times bestsellers. Towles graduated from Yale and received an MA in English from Stanford. After working as an investment professional for over twenty years, he decided to devote himself full time to writing. For Towles as a writer, it all started at a young age for him as a reader. Towles will discuss the themes of his books, his writing process, and the importance of reading. Anne Wicks, the Don Evans Family Managing Director of Opportunity and Democracy at the Bush Institute, will moderate the conversation.
The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries supports school libraries with the greatest needs with the goal of encouraging all students to develop a love of reading and learning. Since its inception in 2002, it has awarded $23 million to over 4,000 schools across the country. Mrs. Bush’s 2025 Summer Reading List for Kids features 16 books including First Ladies Make History by mother and daughter team Anita McBride Mrs. Bush’s former Chief of Staff when she was First Lady, and Giovanna McBride as well as I Loved You First, written by Jenna Bush Hagar and Barbara Pierce Bush. More information can be found at bushcenter.org/laurabushfoundation and www.bushcenter.org.
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What: Laura Bush Book Club with author Amor Towels
When: Thursday, May 8
6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Highland Park United Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall
Dallas, Texas 75205
Media RSVP: http://www.bushcenter.org/credentials
Media should credential to attend no later than Wednesday, May 7, at 10 a.m. CT.
Those interested in watching can tune into the livestream here.
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George W. Bush Presidential Center
Located on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center is a nonpartisan institution advancing the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. The Bush Center comprises the George W. Bush Presidential Museum and the George W. Bush Institute, a solution-oriented policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies through policy solutions and public engagement. The Bush Center also houses the George W. Bush Presidential Library, operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, which provides access to official documents and artifacts from the George W. Bush Administration. Learn more about the Bush Center at bushcenter.org.
Engage at the Bush Center, Presented by NexPoint
The Engage at the Bush Center series, presented by NexPoint, brings newsmakers, thought leaders, and popular figures to the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Thought-provoking, entertaining discussions and experiences allow our guests access to events that only a presidential center can provide.
