Segment 1: How 4,000 years of writing shaped history, people and civilization.
From the "Epic of Gilgamesh" and the clay tablets it was written on in 2000 B.C. to the downloadable content of today, literature and the writing technologies that go along with it have allowed humans to make sense of the world, says Martin Puchner, general editor of "The Norton Anthology of World Literature." Today, he explained how written stories are the foundation of our modern world.
- Martin Puchner, professor of English and comparative literature, Harvard University, author of "The Written World: The Power of Stories to Shape People, History, Civilization"
Segment 2 beginning at 19:53: Colonizing Mars and exploring our galaxy.
Theoretical physicist and futurist Michio Kaku explained how humanity's move from our home planet is inevitable. From billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX to self-replicating robots, Kaku offered his vision of how we will finally make our way to the stars.
- Michio Kaku, professor of theoretical physics at the City College of New York, author of "The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth"
Rainy Day Books will host Michio Kaku at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St., Kansas City, Missouri 64112. For more information, visit RainyDayBooks.com.
