America’s Book Club
David M. Rubenstein and David Baldacci
Presented by C-SPAN, Live at the Folger Shakespeare Library
Booking and details
Dates Mon, May 11, 2026, 5pm
Venue Reading Room
Tickets Available to Folger Members; advance registration required
Member event
C-SPAN’s America’s Book Club returns to the Folger Shakespeare Library on May 11. In collaboration with C-SPAN, the Folger will host David M. Rubenstein in conversation with #1 New York Times best-selling author David Baldacci.
In America’s Book Club, Rubenstein leads thought-provoking conversations exploring the ideas that shaped America’s past, challenge the nation’s present, and inspire our future, as the United States approaches its 250th birthday.
For this conversation at the Folger, Rubenstein and Baldacci will discuss the craft of storytelling, the inspiration behind Baldacci’s gripping novels, and what it takes to bring high-stakes suspense to life.
Baldacci’s works have been published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide. From his debut novel Absolute Power (subsequently filmed by Clint Eastwood in a popular film) to his series of novels featuring FBI agents, intelligence operatives, hired killers, and determined police detectives, Baldacci will speak about his long career as a prolific writer of suspense novels and legal thrillers.
Members of the Folger may register to attend this live event in the Reading Room. (Please email membership@folger.edu with any questions.) The conversation will be taped and aired on C-SPAN at a future date.
About the speakers
David M. Rubenstein
David M. Rubenstein is an investor, philanthropist, interviewer, author, and historian. He is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private investment firms. Established in 1987, Carlyle now manages $465 billion from 27 offices around the world.
David Baldacci
David Baldacci is an award-winning global number one bestselling author. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. He has also published seven novels for young readers. David is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy programs in the United States. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He lives in Virginia.
About America’s Book Club
America’s Book Club is a featured part of C-SPAN’s America 250 programming to honor, explore, and celebrate the 250th birthday of the nation at iconic libraries and cultural landmarks, including the Library of Congress and the National Archives. Other guests in the America’s Book Club series include Justice Amy Coney Barrett, John Grisham, Henry Louis Gates, Arthur Brooks, Walter Isaacson, Stacey Schiff, and José Andrés. Watch the series trailer below and learn more on the America’s Book Club website.
About C-SPAN
C-SPAN, the private nonprofit public affairs media organization providing Americans with unfiltered access to government proceedings, was created in 1979 as a public service by the cable television industry and is primarily funded through fees paid by cable and satellite television companies that provide the C-SPAN Networks to subscribers. C-SPAN connects with millions of Americans through its three commercial-free TV networks, C-SPAN Radio, C-SPAN podcasts, the C-SPAN Now app, a new connected-TV streaming app C-SPAN Select, C-SPAN.org and various social media platforms. The C-SPAN Networks’ video-rich website contains over 300,000 hours of searchable and shareable content. Engage with C-SPAN on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and YouTube, and stay connected through weekly and daily newsletters.