Author and polymath Aaron Dworkin shares life and challenges in new memoir

October 8th, 2024

Aaron Dworkin just published a new memoir, "Lessons in Gratitude" (Courtesy of Shawn Lee)

Aaron Dworkin has led an extraordinary life.

From his beginnings as a prodigious child violin player in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship and a seat on the National Council on the Arts, he has continued to impress and bring about the change that he hopes to see in the world.

As a young man, he founded the the Sphinx Organization, a groundbreaking organization that aims to diversify classical music and led to his selection as a MacArthur Fellow.

This, in turn, led to President Barack Obama naming Dworkin as his first appointment to the National Council on the Arts, and then a member of President Joe Biden’s Arts Policy Committee. Aaron Dworkin also served as Dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

As his achievements have stacked up, he has proven himself to be a gifted poet and writer, documenting his journey along the way and in retrospect. The polymath joined “City Lights” host to discuss his past and achievements, all recorded in his new memoir, “Lessons in Gratitude.”

When asked about his reasoning for sharing such a detailed and deeply personal memoir, Dworkin explained to Lois, “All of us have real stories… that are filled with obstacles and challenges and triumphs and loss.

I wanted to share, really, for two reasons; I think one, sharing often is cathartic, and I think it’s healthy for me, [and secondly] there are so many other people who have experienced some of these other things that I described, especially in the earlier chapters of the book, and I think when you read that someone has that shared experience, you build a sense of connection. It can give you a sense of hope and shared understanding.”

More information on Aaron Dworkin and his new book can be found on his website.