At 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, Patten Free Library will open after hours to welcome Sen. George Mitchell on his book tour for “The Negotiator: A Memoir.” The evening will consist of a 30-40 minute talk by the Senator, followed by a Q&A session and ending with a book signing. The Mustard Seed Bookstore will handle sales. The library’s community room is climate-controlled and accessible. Parking is limited, so those wishing to attend should plan accordingly. The doors open at 6 p.m. and one will be admitted after 7 p.m.
In “The Negotiator: A Memoir,” former Senate majority leader George Mitchell looks back on his eclectic career in politics, law and business, reflecting on his experience and valuable lessons he’s learned. With warmth and wit, Mitchell tells his favorite stories about growing up in Maine, the last half century of politics — both domestic and international — and how we achieve our goals through negotiation and compromise.
In this candid and heartfelt memoir, Mitchell traces his skills to a lifetime of challenges, great and small, since his childhood in an industrial town in Maine. From humble beginnings to a leading figure on the international stage, Mitchell’s work has led him to travel near and far, but he remains firmly rooted in the place of his birth, upbringing, family and values. His story is emblematic of the American Dream. The son of Lebanese-Irish parents,
Mitchell grew up in a workingclass textile town and watched his father struggle to overcome the demoralizing effects of unemployment after being laid off from a lifelong job. Mitchell worked and studied hard his entire young adult life. He made his way to Bowdoin and was stationed with the Army in Berlin during the Cold War before entering Georgetown Law School.
Mitchell illustrates that the process of negotiation – much like life – is not the result of a straight and predictable line of thoughts or events. What’s key in both political and personal challenges is a willingness to confront risk and face the odds. He successfully forged a peace treaty in Northern Ireland after chairing three separate committees, but in the Middle East ended his two tours of duty with the regional conflicts unresolved, providing a hard lesson about the reality that negotiations can also fail.
For more information, call (207) 443- 5141.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
