WILLIAMSPORT — The Otto Bookstore will host a conversation with author and scholar Jeremy David Engels from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the bookstore, 107 W. Fourth St., Williamsport.

The event will center on Engels’ forthcoming book, “On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World,” which explores how mindfulness practices can help address political burnout, civic despair and social division. The book is available for preorder.

The discussion is intended for readers seeking clarity and direction during a time of widespread political and social uncertainty. Engels draws on mindfulness, ethics and democratic theory to offer tools for cultivating resilience, thoughtful engagement and presence amid ongoing cultural and political challenges.

The conversation will be moderated by Chris Benson, author of “Reporting From Detox” and editor-in-chief of HangoverHeadlines.com. A registered Pennsylvania lobbyist, Benson is a former political operative turned journalist who previously reported for United Press International, with his work appearing in outlets such as The Miami Herald, MSN, Yahoo! and The Korea Times. He has worked on statewide HIV planning initiatives with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and later served as a reporter and content manager for central Pennsylvania’s largest digital newsroom, followed by an award-winning newspaper in the Susquehanna River Valley. He lives in Pennsylvania with his golden retriever, Oakley.

Engels is a professor of communication and ethics in the Liberal Arts at Penn State University and a longtime teacher of mindfulness, meditation and yoga.

In 2018, he undertook a pilgrimage through India and Nepal, walking in the footsteps of the Buddha, and has since studied the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. An award-winning teacher and scholar, Engels has published numerous books and articles on democracy, deliberation, community building and peace. He lives in State College with his wife, Anna, where they operate a community yoga and meditation studio, Yoga Lab.

The Feb. 14 event is part of the Otto Bookstore’s ongoing commitment to hosting author talks and community conversations that encourage reflection, learning and dialogue around contemporary civic and cultural issues.

The Otto Bookstore, founded in 1841, is America’s oldest independently owned bookstore.

Located in downtown Williamsport, the bookstore offers a wide selection of books and hosts regular literary and educational events for the community.

For more information, visit ottobookstore.com.