Caesar's Last Breath: Sam Kean

New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean details the secret science of the air around us.

Embark on a journey through the periodic table, around the globe, and across time to discover the story behind the air we breathe. That tale, Sam Kean argues in Caesar’s Last Breath, is also the story of Earth and our existence on it. On the ides of March, 44 BC, Julius Caesar died of stab wounds on the Senate floor, but the story of his last breath is still unfolding. Of the sextillions of molecules entering or leaving your lungs at this moment, some might bear traces of Cleopatra’s perfumes, German mustard gas, or remnants of stardust from the dawn of the universe. With every breath, we literally inhale the history of the world.

Kean will reveal the science of the air swirling around us—how the alchemy of air reshaped continents, steered human progress, powered revolutions, and continues to influence every aspect of life on the planet. 

FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED

Registration does not guarantee admission. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A stand by line will form thirty minutes before the program.

The Program Room opens at 6 PM.