Get the Free Centennial Book and Pass It On

Find the Future | NYPL at 100


Jonathan Franzen with

Jonathan Franzen with "The Birds of America" by John James Audubon. (Photo by Beowulf Sheehan)

The festivities begin May 19 with the distribution of FREE copies of the book Know the Past, Find the Future (published by Penguin Classics) across the city and at NYPL libraries. The book features 100 luminaries, including NFL player Justin Tuck, architect Maya Lin, comedian Stephen Colbert, and author Jonathan Franzen, who write about their favorite item from the Library’s extensive collections. Pick up a copy, read it, and, in the spirit of library borrowing, pass it on to a friend when you’re finished.

Find out who the other luminaries are and what inspired them

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