Bringing his special brand of humor, top-notch “how-to” and loads of expert tips about living with science and technology, New York Times weekly tech columnist and best-selling author David Pogue appears Feb. 27 at Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. Presented by Cal Performances, the consumer advice guru is part of the Speaker Series that features leading movers and thinkers expounding on culture, entertainment, technology, science, politics and life in the 21st century.
A five-time Emmy winner for entertaining stories told on CBS Sunday Morning and concise insights as host of 17 science specials on NOVA on PBS, Pogue holds a vanguard position when it comes to making emerging trends in science and technology comprehensible to the average consumer. A lover of language and literature, his public appearances are theatrical, occasionally including songs.
Pogue’s entertaining musical segues notwithstanding — “Don’t Cry For Me, Cupertino” and “I Got an iPhone” (to the tune of “I Did It My Way”) — people still want advice from a trusted expert when it comes to checkbook decisions and immense empathy when confronting fast-paced change and disruptive technology. It’s a big package to deliver. Pogue offers his audiences all these things and more — bringing thoughtful perspectives on issues relating to trust, balance, privacy, and how tech impacts the quality of societal and individual life in the 21st century.
Thursday’s conversation in Berkeley is likely to address the newest tech topics: blockchain, self-driving cars, robotics, AI, wearable health trackers, online medical care, and more. Pogue has also been known to direct his wide-roving expertise to address money-saving tricks for squirting toothpaste, how to bring a wet phone back to life, gaining access to maps without an internet connection, and recitations of the most amusing, sincere, strange and provocative tweets gathered from Twitter. Come to think about it, laughing and learning with Pogue might be the best remedy for surviving today’s high tech, super speed world.
Cal Performances: Thursday, Feb. 27 @ 8 p.m., UC Berkeley Zellerbach Hall. For information and tickets, click here.