David Brooks at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre

Brooks occupies one of American journalism's most influential perches. He has built a reputation for fairness and trenchant analysis during his nearly eleven years on the New York Times op-ed page. His interests are broad and always relevant and range from politics to education, from foreign affairs to cultural trends - often presented with his unique sense of humor. He has been a senior editor at The Weekly Standard, a contributing editor at Newsweek and the Atlantic Monthly, and an editor and reporter at the Wall Street Journal. He is currently a commentator on PBS NewsHour and on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. His most recent book, The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement, was published in 2011.