Friends, Adventurers, Teachers, Travelers, Sages, and Heroes:

The book tour journeys east! Please come out, support the places that are hosting me and Double Happiness, and let me read to you, answer your questions, and thank you in person!

I depart San Francisco this Wednesday, March 26, and land in St. Louis that afternoon.

Here’s the latest full list, with dates and places:

March 26 (ST LOUIS, MO)
6pm : Reading and Signing
Subterranean Books
6275 Delmar, in the U. City Loop

March 28 (WASHINGTON DC)
9:30pm : Song Performance and Book Reading
Politics & Prose Bookstore
Downstairs Cafe
5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC

March 29 (WASHINGTON DC)
6pm : Open House, Reading, and Signing
1021 North Garfield Street, #303, Arlington
(If you find the front door closed, dial
415-647-8587 and we’ll let you in.)

March 30 (CHARLES TOWN, WV)
1-4pm : Open House, Reading, and Signing
Home of Barbara June Appelgren
415 E. Academy St., Charles Town

March 31 (CHARLES TOWN, WV)
12:30pm : Book Reading & Signing
Old Charles Town Library
200 E Washington St, Charles Town

March 31 (PRINCETON, NJ)
6:30pm : Dinner Reception and Book Reading
Hosted by Princeton-in-Asia
Princeton University

April 2 (NEW YORK, NY)
7:30pm : Open House, Reading and Signing
Home of Nick & Wendy Heilbut
490 West End Avenue, Apt 10D, Manhattan

April 3 (NEW YORK, NY)
Event tba.

April 4 (AMHERST, MA)
12:15pm : Conversation On Living Abroad After College
Hosted by Amherst Career Center
Valentine Hall, Terrace Room B, Amherst College

April 4 (ROSENDALE, NY)
6:30pm : Book Reading & Signing
With Tanya Robie and Dorothy Albertini
Roos Arts Gallery
449 Main St, Rosendale

April 7 (BOSTON, MA)
6:30pm : Open House, Reading, and Signing
467 Columbus Avenue, Boston
(If you find the front door closed, dial
415-647-8587 and we’ll let you in.)

Help Me Add a Date or Two To The Tour

Do you know a cafe, bookstore, library, high school, or university department that might enjoy a Double Happiness event. Can you help book an event in the cities where nothing is booked yet? Let me know! If you need materials, please download the miniature media kit [ZIP].

If you have already finished the book, or if you are simply interested in China and discovery, join us tonight as we complete the journey together and discuss happiness. Details on how to connect and join the online event are below.

I returned home Monday from a fascinating trip to China. With my wife Pamela, I visited the freezing north, the capital city of Beijing, and the tropical south. I walked the halls of Peizheng High School in Guangzhou, where I taught English over a decade ago. I discovered that while many Chinese are pleased with their country’s rapid development, on a personal level there are widespread worries that it’s all happening too fast. I will be sufficiently over jetlag tonight to explain this.

This will be the final reading event, so we’ll go a little longer — 45 minutes instead of the normal 30 minutes. Please join us for this Double Happiness reading and discussion!

Consider this question in advance of our discussion:

When did you find a new understanding of happiness?

Tonight: Completing the Journey – “South of the Clouds”

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COMPLETE THE JOURNEY: GO “SOUTH OF THE CLOUDS”
Online Reading from Chapter 37 & Discussion of Happiness
Wednesday, March 12, 6:30pm PST / 9:30pm EST

Option 1: Join via the internet:
global.gotomeeting.com/join/646380061
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you’ll download a nifty app to your computer. Use your microphone and speakers – a headset is recommended.

Option 2: Call in using your telephone.
United States : (773) 945-1031
Access Code / Meeting ID: 646-380-061
(Use *6 when you want to mute/unmute your line)
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I hope you’ll join us tonight!

It’s been a wild return to the Middle Kingdom, full of snow and trains and friendly taxi drivers. But I’m delighted to be here.

I’ll tell you about it all during tonight’s live online Reading and Discussion. I’ll do an update from Beijing, a reading from Chapter 32 “White Rabbit, Black Rabbit,” and a discussion based on your responses to the question, “When did you realize you were not immortal?” Details on how to connect are below.

The Ice Festival in Harbin was stunning, absolutely freezing, and magical. I signed copies of Double Happiness over “rare American Whiskey” (turned out to be Jack Daniels) in a cafe called Sweet Station. Now we’re down in Beijing, taking in the massive changes this city has undergone since I was last here over a decade ago.

Tonight: A Return to China – “White Rabbit, Black Rabbit”

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DOUBLE HAPPINESS READING EVENT: “LIVE FROM CHINA”
Free Webcast Reading & Discussion
Thursday, Feb 27, 6:30pm PST / 9:30pm EST

Option 1: Join via the internet:
global.gotomeeting.com/join/646380061
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you’ll download a nifty app to your computer. Use your microphone and speakers – a headset is recommended.

Option 2: Call in using your telephone.
United States : (773) 945-1031
Access Code / Meeting ID: 646-380-061
(Use *6 when you want to mute/unmute your line)

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I hope you’ll join us tonight!

Meanwhile, the Year of the Horse gallops on.

Have fun and take chances,
Tony

Thank you for joining us on the journey thus far. We’ve had some great discussions. I love hearing your thoughts and questions.

If you weren’t able to join us in real time, here are recordings of the previous two events. (Event #2 is here.)

Event #3 – Chinese New Year

A reading from Chapter 18, “The New Light Party.”
An introduction to Chinese Astrology and the Year of the Horse.
If you don’t see the above audio player, you can hear the file here.

Event #4 – Walking to Heaven

A reading from Chapter 26, “Walking to Heaven.”
A discussion of why the book is called Double Happiness.
If you don’t see the above audio player, you can hear the file here.

Future Readings

Our next reading will be from China! Thursday, February 27, I’ll read from Chapter 32, “White Rabbit, Black Rabbit.,” and we’ll discuss the crossroads we face in our early twenties.

The Year of the Horse has begun!

Take heart, take chances, take adventures,
Tony

Experience reading the book in community tonight at 6:30pm Pacific Time, 9:30pm Eastern Time. I’ll read from “Walking to Heaven,” Chapter 26, beginning on page 194, and then we’ll open it up for this question:

    Why do you think the book is entitled “Double Happiness”?

I’ll also comment briefly on yesterday’s event: Taiwan and China having their first state-to-state talks.

I truly love to hear your voices and your questions. Join us by phone or via the internet. Instructions on connecting are below.

DOUBLE HAPPINESS READING EVENT: “WALKING TO HEAVEN”

Free Webcast Reading & Discussion
Wednesday, Feb 12, 6:30pm PST / 9:30pm EST

Option 1: Join via the internet:
global.gotomeeting.com/join/646380061
If you didn’t download it before, you’ll download a small app to your computer. Use your microphone and speakers – a headset is recommended.

Option 2: Call in using your telephone.
United States : (773) 945-1031
Access Code / Meeting ID: 646-380-061

Thanks everyone for joining the call tonight and sharing all your interesting thoughts. Here’s a link to the Chinese Astrologer that was mentioned, and her reading on what’s in store for the Year of the Horse 2014.

www.susanlevitt.com/astrology/horse-year-2014

It’s a year for adventure and fun. Go for it, take chances, reach for the stars, become the being you’ve always been and have always longed to be.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Our next reading will be on Wed., Feb 12, and we’ll journey to the Tibetan city of Xiahe as I read from Chapter 26, “Walking to Heaven.”