Al Gores Book Signing A crowd of more than 300 people gathered on Presidents Day at The Booksellers at Laurelwood to meet

former vice president and author Al Gore, who was in Memphis to promote and sign his new book, The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change. Before Gore signed books, for patient fans who formed a line wrapping through the shop, he gave a short speech discussing his book and the issues, like shifts in economic power, overpopulation, and humanitys relationship with the ecosystem, saying, I believe deeply in our ability as a free people to reclaim control of our destiny and take part in making the decisions that are necessary to make the future a brighter place than it would otherwise be, Gore said. The shop was humming with admirers eager to have a moment with the man many had voted for in past elections. The crowd predominately consisting of middle age professionals, but retirees and young families with children also attended the signing. Geneva Simpson-Moore, a registered nurse and stay-at-home mother from Collierville, said she had been in line for hours. In fact, she was the first in line to have her book signed. But not everyone in the crowd was there to have a book signed. Vicki Deaton, an internal auditor, 53, of Memphis said she had heard from a friend that Gore would be at the store and simply wanted to hear him speak. Ive never seen a vice president in person before, Deaton said. Gore served two terms as vice president to Bill Clinton and unsuccessfully ran for president in 2000 in an excruciatingly close and still controversial race against George W. Bush.

Ricky Davis, 52, took the day off to be at the event. He works in Somerville as a mechanic, and recalled his shock when he learned Gore lost the election for president. I was in my hunting stand near Chickasaw the night of the election, Davis recalled, When I turned the radio off and went to bed I thought he was the president. When I turned on the radio in the morning they said that Bush had won. In his speech, Gore said ambitions toward political office were behind him. Im a recovering politician, and chances of a relapse have been diminishing for long enough to increase my confidence that I will not succumb to that temptation again, Gore said, now a committed environmental activist, author, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. His book explains his concern for the U.S. to be a leader of nations along with solutions for the challenges that the world faces. This book sets out all of the major drivers of change and proposes the best way we can come to grips with them, he said. Gores next stop on his book tour will be in Little Rock, Ark. at the Clinton Presidential Center.