Coronado Community READ Event: The World in 1938

Join University of San Diego professor Dr. Ali Gheissari as he discusses the state of the world in 1938 and draws parallels to the world we are living in today. 1938 saw Nazi Germany building up for World War II with their invasion of Czechoslovakia. It saw the dramatization of Orson Wells’ “War of the World” unfold live on the radio- causing a panic as people believed it was a news broadcast, not a play. Seabiscuit beat War Admiral in an upset that captivated the country. The United States was in the middle of a recession that occurred as the Great Depression muddled on. Vast dust storms swept the Midwest leading to migration to the coasts. 1938 was a time of uncertainty across the globe, but also a time where news was able to travel faster and farther than before, bringing people across the globe together quicker than ever. Gheissari will lead a discussion on how the world looked in 1938 and how it reflects across history.