Join us as local author (a longtime well-loved Basalt High School science teacher) Mark Duff reads from and presents his literary debut, "This Ruler". "This Ruler" is a portrayal of the American high school as a microcosm for the modern world, in all of its greed, ambition, and struggles. The book takes on standardized testing, publishers, and the flow of tax-dollars to get to the heart the matter—personal journeys through the education system, and the need for educational ethics. This philosophical tale of two students is told as parable, with metaphors drawn from art, biology, and history. It portrays the beauty and exuberance of youth, while drawing parallels to tales of the distant past. "This Ruler" is a look at our own journeys through a coming of age tale, and also gets us to ask some important questions: What is the journey? What is transcendence? Who do we want to be? Can we reconcile inequality? Can a good deed balance out something bad? Are ambition and pride good? Can we become good? Do you know yourself?