World Philosophy Begins November 5

People's University to Explore World Philosophy

The Ohio County Public Library's People’s University program will continue in November with a series on World Philosophy. All classes will meet on Tuesday evenings beginning at 7:00 pm.

The six-part series will cover everything from ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, to ancient Asian, Christian, Enlightenment, Romantic, and Contemporary philosophies. Instructors for the program will include Darin S. McGinnis, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Wheeling Jesuit University and Andy Staron, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Wheeling Jesuit University. An additional instructor will be announced.

The People's University is a free program for adults who wish to continue their education in the liberal arts. It features courses — taught by experts in each subject — that enable patrons to pursue their goal of lifelong learning in classic subjects. 

The full Schedule for World Philosophy follows (all classes start at 7:00 pm).

Class 1: Nov. 5--What is Philosophy? An introduction to how we make sense of the world.  Instructor: Darin McGinnis.

Class 2: Nov. 12 --Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy.The enduring origins of Western thinking. Instructor: Darin McGinnis.

Class 3: Nov. 19 --Ancient Asian Philosophy. Confucius, Buddha, Hinduism, and more. Instructor: TBA.

Class 4: Nov. 26--Christian Philosophy. Instructor: Andy Staron.

Class 5: Dec. 3--Enlightenment & Romantic Philosophy.The conflict and compatibility of science and freedom. Instructor: Darin McGinnis.

Dec 10: NO CLASS

Class 6: Dec. 17 --Contemporary Philosophy. Language, logic, and existence. Instructor: Darin McGinnis

All People's University classes are free and open to the public. Please RSVP by calling 304-232-0244 or by sending an email to lunchwithbooks@yahoo.com. For more information, visit ohiocountylibrary.org.

Oct 29: A Look at One of the most Haunted Sites in America

Author Sherri Brake will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, October 29 at noon to discuss her book, The Haunted History of the West Virginia Penitentiary: Afterlife with No Parole. Located in Moundsville, and built in 1866, the WV Pen has a dark and deadly history. The Cincinnati Enquirer dubbed it "Hell on Earth,” while inmates called it "Bloody Alley.” It ranked on the nation's Most Violent Prison list for many years. Paranormal investigator and author Sherri Brake will share the bloody frontier history, the building of the Pen, and reports of early torture. She will discuss the wardens, the electrocutions, the notorious prisoners, and the most active paranormal hotspots. Over 100 Ghost Hunters shared their experiences for Brake’s book on one of America's most haunted locations. Sherrie Brake is an author, lecturer, paranormal investigator, and tour guide. She owns the award-winning "Haunted Heartland Tours" and in the past has instructed classes on the paranormal while finding time to consult on a few paranormal television shows. An aficionado of folklore and dark history, Brake has a monthly column in West Virginia's largest independent publication, Two-Lane Livin'. The column is called “Fireside Folklore” and features Mountain States ghosts, folklore and legends. Brake is a member of many historical & heritage societies and lives on a 100-acre farm in central West Virginia in a house she says is "slightly" haunted. For more information, visit her website at www.HauntedHistory.net. 

AND

That same evening on Tuesday, October 29 at 6:30 pm, the library will host a free screening of the documentary film, Gasland Part 2, directed by Josh Fox. The program will be presented in partnership with Wheeling Water Warriors, FaCTOV, and Ohio Valley Peace. Former Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields will be in attendance.

Like all library programs, the "Fracking Facts" series is free and open to the public. Please call 304-232-0244 or visit ohiocountylibrary.org for more information.


YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

I will send a FREE copy of the new book,Legendary Locals of Wheeling, to LIKE number 500 of the main Lunch With Books page at facebook.com/lunchwithbooks. 

This book,  features more than 40 contributors from the community.Royalties benefit the Ohio County Public Library. Copies are available at the library's circulation desk.

Is he a Hero? Or is he just Bats?

Dr. Travis Langley will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling on Tuesday, October 15 at noon to discuss his book, Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight. From the book description: “Batman is one of the most compelling and enduring characters to come from the Golden Age of Comics, and interest in his story has only increased through countless incarnations since his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. Why does this superhero without superpowers fascinate us? What does that fascination say about us? Batman and Psychology explores these and other intriguing questions about the masked vigilante, including: Does Batman have PTSD?  Why does he fight crime? Why as a vigilante? Why the mask, the bat, and the underage partner? Why are his most intimate relationships with ‘bad girls’ he ought to lock up? And why won't he kill that homicidal, green-haired clown?” Dr. Langley is a professor of psychology at Henderson State University. He received his Ph.D. in experimental social psychology from Tulane University. His research includes studies of aggressive behavior and mass media, particularly the psychology of media fans. He and his students collect data for their ERIICA Project: Empirical Research on the Interpretation & Influence of the Comic Arts. He regularly makes presentations on the psychology of superheroes at conventions like San Diego Comic-Con International. He was also an undefeated champion on the Wheel of Fortune game show even though none of the puzzles had anything to do with psychology or superheroes. Dr. Langley’s appearance at Lunch With Books is sponsored by the distinguished Hughes Lecture Series at West LibertyUniversity. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are served. Please visit ohiocountylibrary.org, call 304-232-0244, or visit facebook.com/lunchwithbooks for more information.

Next Week: Mythical Ireland & Northern Ireland

LUNCH WITH BOOKS, Tuesday, Oct. 8 at noon— WV Author Laura Treacy Bentley

On Tuesday: West Virginia author Laura Treacy Bentley will visit Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on October 8 at noon. She will discuss and read from her first novel, THE SILVER TATTOO, a dark literary thriller set in mythical Ireland. Laura is a poet and the book editor (“Conversations”) for WV LIVING magazine and divides her time between the beautiful mountains of WV and western Maryland. Her first book of poetry, LAKE EFFECT, was published in 2006. She has read from her poetry at the Wheeling Arts and Cultural Festival. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are served. Please visit ohiocountylibrary.org, call 304-232-0244, or visit facebook.com/lunchwithbooks for more information.

And on Thursday...

Special Lunch With Books--Oct. 10 (Thursday) Northern Ireland in Photos and Song

Singer-songwriter Steafán Hanvey, from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Thursday, October 10 at noon to present “Look Behind You: A Father & Son’sImpressions of ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland Through Photograph &Song.” This multi-media performance-lecture details how a father and son have negotiated the personal and political landscapes of Northern Ireland. A melding of image and voice, anecdote and memory, it showcases Bobbie Hanvey’s prize-winning photojournalism along with radio-edits of his interviews with some of Northern Ireland’s best-known figures. These are complemented and contextualized by Steafán Hanvey’s story-telling, which comes in the form of critically-acclaimed song-writing, and a trained academic’s gift for presenting complex issues in an engaging manner. Hanvey will appear that same evening at 7:00 p.m. at River City Ale Works on 14th and Main to present a solo-acoustic performance of his of his new album and back catalog. 

Both programs are cos-sponsored by the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation

and additional funding is being provided by the Bishop Whelan Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Wheeling.  Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are served. Please visit ohiocountylibrary.org, call 304-232-0244, or visit facebook.com/lunchwithbooks for more information.