Shougarian to Present `West of Eden, East of the Chessboard’ at ALMA

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By Weekly Staff – on February 19, 2010

WATERTOWN, Mass. – On Wed., March 3, the Armenian Library and Museum of
America (ALMA) will feature Rouben Shougarian presenting his
thought-provoking book West of Eden, East of the Chessboard: Four
Philosophical Looks Upon the Unknown (Gomidas Institute). The book
presentation and signing will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Museum’s
Contemporary Art Gallery, 3rd floor, on 65 Main Street in Watertown.

In West of Eden, East of the Chessboard, Shougarian draws heavily on
literary criticisms, allegories, American literature, and his own
political experiences to offer a creative twist and unorthodox
examination of freedom, liberty, and necessity. The book considers the
sociological and philosophical causes behind the contemporary American
political mind-set and role of human will in decision-making, some
aspects of European evolution, and the genesis of national characters
and idiosyncrasies.

Dr. Margaret Cezair-Thompson of Wellesley College calls the book `a
provocative treatise.’ Shougarian `offers a unique perspective as a
thinker schooled in both American and European (including
Eastern-European) traditions,’ she says.

His is `an intellectually stimulating portrait of American society and
culture as witnessed by a foreign diplomat,’ says Edward Alexander, a
retired U.S. diplomat. `[A] refreshing and provocative, following in
the tradition of de Tocqueville and other foreign analysts of the
American character…’

Shougarian was the first Armenian ambassador to the United States
(1993-99), was deputy foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia
(1999-2005) and ambassador to Italy, Spain, and Portugal (2005-08). He
currently teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts
University in Massachusetts.

The event is free and open to the public. West of Eden, East of the
Chessboard is available for pre-order on ALMA’s website
(). The book can either be picked up on the day of the
event or signed by Shougarian and shipped to a specified address
following the event.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress