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Books that Changed My Life

A Festival of Literature + Culture | Jan + Feb 2023

The first annual Books That Changed My Life Festival ran from Jan 5–Feb 28, 2023. An initiative that celebrated the transformational role books play in our lives, the two-month celebration of literature and culture featured events inspired by or adapted from beloved literary works, including author conversations, writers workshops, weekly storytime, a gallery exhibit, musical concerts, theatrical and film events, and more.


Books That Changed My Life Festival 2023 By the Numbers

  • 54 days
  • 2,300+ festival attendees
  • 40+ festival programs
  • 85+ artists engaged
  • 15+ Conversation events
  • 11 children + families events
  • 4 podcast episodes
  • 3 visual art events
  • 3 theater events
  • 3 music events
  • 3 panel discussions
  • 2 film events
  • 2 storytelling events
  • 2 virtual events

2023 Schedule

Jan 5 | Books That Changed My Life Pop-Up Library: Opening Reception

Jan 9 | Book Social: Bookstagrammer Panel

Jan 10 | Storytime in the Lobby: WonderSpark Puppets, Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup

Jan 17 | Storytime with Jennifer from the JCC Welcome Desk

Jan 17 | Cynthia Nixon in Conversation with Author Felicia Kornbluh, A Woman's Life Is a Human Life

Jan 18 | National Jewish Book Award Winners Announcement

Jan 19 | The Year of Living Biblically Author A.J. Jacobs in Conversation with Freakonomics' Stephen J. Dubner

Jan 24 | Storytime in the Lobby with Author Samantha Cluster (Germaine: The Cold Who Could)

Jan 25 | This Time Tomorrow Author Emma Straub in Conversation with Vanessa Kroll Bennett

Jan 29 | An Evening of Life-Changing Poetry

Jan 31 | Film: Butterfly in the Sky

Feb 1 | Schmaltzy: Live Podcast Taping with the Jewish Food Society

Feb 5 | Ha'Keves haShisha Asar in Concert

Feb 6 | Author Allegra Goodman in Conversation with Literary Agent Julie Barer

Feb 7 | Storytime in the Lobby with Amy Rosenfeld

Feb 9 | Banned Books Panel with PEN America

Feb 13 | Chelsea Clinton in Conversation with Abigail Pogrebin

Feb 14 | Storytime in the Lobby with Kerin Robbins

Feb 15 | Altered Book Workshop

Feb 16 | Michael Winograd Plays Tanz: A Live Album Recreation

Feb 21 | Author Jai Chakrabarti in Conversation with Jewish Book Council's Becca Kantor

Feb 23 | Rebroadcast: Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert + Maggie Smith in Conversation

Feb 26 | Dot Dot Dot: A New Musical

Feb 27 | National Jewish Book Award Winner Book Club: Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

Feb 27 | Chef/Author Claudia Fleming + NY Times' Melissa Clark in Conversation

Feb 28 | Storytime in the Lobby: National Jewish Book Award Winner Author Shoshana Nambi

Feb 28 | Film: Judy Blume Forever