Recently, in that role, she asked me to introduce two authors who happen to be my friends: Alan Zweibel (original Saturday Night Live writer and recipient of 5 Emmys, amongst countless other honors) and Adam Mansbach (author of the subject book to be discussed, The Golem of Brooklyn, and many others).  

Julie's plan was for me to introduce Alan and Adam (I dubbed them the A Team) and have Alan moderate the book discussion with Adam. 

Not wanting to introduce Adam without having read his novel, I awoke at 5:00 am Sunday morning and consumed his brilliant, insightful and provocative work by 10:30.  

At noon, I, Julie, my wife Joanne, and Alan's wife Robin brunched with the A Team at Roslyn's Hendrick's Tavern (where George Washington spent one long ago night on a tour of Long Island). The lunch presented a perfect opportunity for final preparation and bonding over excellent food with good conversation.  

At 2:00 we reconvened at the Library and just before I was introduced by Friends of the Library President Evelyn Pollack Julie introduced me to the compelling (she made a very good first impression) new Library Director Michele Lipson.  

I began my presentation by harking back to 1952 when the Library moved to its present location and recalling my first visit that same year to take out magazines (National Geographic and Popular Mechanics). 

I then mentioned early library pillars Norma Perlman and Helen Glennon, recognizing their roles in making the Bryant Library a "Beacon of Light and Learning, a Haven" and ended by thanking Julie for her role in perpetuating their legacy.  

I then introduced Alan, noting that he is a still relevant comedic Time Capsule who the New York Times said has "Earned a place in the pantheon of American pop culture."

I introduced Adam as an equally talented 47 year old younger generation comic writer and author, citing his best selling Go the Fuck to Sleep, Angry Black White Boy and other works.  

With that the A Team took over with a raucous, yet spellbinding, discussion of the state of humor, movies, literature with Adam's book The Golem of Brooklyn as center piece.  Let me tell you, those boys could have gone all night with their humorous banter and had to be stopped so their books could be sold and autographed! Their A Team sobriquet is well earned and fitting.  

The Bryant Room was filled to capacity and I would like to thank my friends Stu Cantor, David Abeshouse, Alan Kreit, Lou and Joanne Celi and Peter Cohn for helping to pack the room.  

PS: Adam's brilliant book is now more prescient than ever in the context of most recent events.