100 Books That Shaped My Life: An Evening with John Pepper

John Pepper’s love affair with books began when he was a child. He sought refuge and escape in books; he began to explore the world through them; he developed friendships, of a sort, with the authors whose writing inspired him.

Over time, he came to know many of his favorite authors personally. As he said later, “Reading let me know I wasn’t alone.”

He began to write about the books he was reading many decades ago—summarizing them, calling out passages that stood out for him, and reflecting on their timeless relevance and lessons.

Those summaries, captured in 100 Books That Shaped My Life – Reflections on a Lifetime of Reading, are like a fireside chat with John about the books he’s loved, what he learned from them, and what they still say to us today.

6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public. Registration required.

Copies of 100 Books That Shaped My Life will be available for sale & signing.

About John Pepper

John Pepper spent a 40-year career at the Procter & Gamble Company, where he rose to become Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. Later, he served as Non-executive Chairman
of the Walt Disney Company, as well as Senior Fellow of the Yale Corporation.

For over 40 years, Mr. Pepper has been devoted to early childhood education and development. He is the co-founder of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and Every Child Succeeds and has been a leader in the development of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has served as CEO of the Freedom Center and has been a member of the board since its creation.

Mr. Pepper is the recipient of several honorary degrees, including from St. Petersburg University in Russia and his alma mater, Yale University.

He has been married to his wife, Francie, for over 56 years. they are the proud parents of four children, John, David, Douglas and Susan, and have ten grandchildren: Tibby, Izzy, Bo, Andrew, Katie, Molly, Hubbard, Rhoda, Jack and Charlie.