Bestselling author James Patterson to discuss book on positive disruption March 26

Our world is constantly evolving, and the ability to embrace the disruption that arises from change can be the key to unlocking new opportunities and achieving personal growth. That’s the premise behind Disrupt Everything, a new book by acclaimed author and Vanderbilt alum James Patterson and associate professor Patrick Leddin. Together, the authors will discuss the idea behind positive disruption during a book event at Langford Auditorium on March 26 at 7 p.m.   

The event is free to attend, but seating is limited and registration is required.  

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This event is billed as the first live discussion of Disrupt Everything. The first 200 attendees will receive a free copy of the book six months ahead of its official release. “Our publisher, Little, Brown and Company, had a bold idea,” Leddin said. “What if early copies were available only at events where James [Patterson] and I spoke about the book? We loved the disruptive approach. And what better way to launch a book on disruption? And what better place for our first event than Vanderbilt University, where James and I first met?” 

FROM SPEAKER TO CO-AUTHOR 

The groundwork for the book began in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Leddin was invited to create an online course for Vanderbilt students. He proposed a course titled Leading Business through Times of Crisis, which led to a collaborative course on managing through adversity with Vanderbilt Trustee Emeritus Michael Ainslie. One of the guest speakers from that first semester was Patterson, MA’70. Leddin recalls, “He joined us via Zoom that day, and he started off by looking into camera and saying, ‘I am Stephen King,’ which is a funny line and caused a bit of a disruption right from the beginning.” 

Throughout the class discussion with Patterson, Leddin realized the author’s career trajectory was a disruptive force. “It prompted me to think, ‘What if I started studying disruptors, but specifically, positive disruptors?’” 

 DISRUPTING EVERYTHING

Leddin approached Patterson about the idea for the book and worked on an outline for the concept. But formulating the right outline for Patterson took several attempts. “The first two times I was honestly guessing at what I thought he would want to write,” Leddin said. “And the third one, I decided I was going to write the book I would want to write. And guess what? That’s the outline that worked. After we both agreed on the structure, … work on the book began in earnest.”   

What sets this book apart is its foundation in real-life experiences and stories. Leddin and Patterson interviewed more than 350 people they deemed “positive disruptors,” gathering insights that would shape the narrative of their book. While what they learned from each interview is reflected in the book’s pages, the authors focused on 35 of the stories. “I hope that people understand that disruptions in life are aplenty. They’re going to keep coming at us,” Leddin said. “But with any disruption, there’s an opportunity to actually choose to embrace it as a chance to move closer to our own purpose in life.”  

The collaboration between Leddin and Patterson has been a journey of mutual respect and creativity. Leddin describes working with Patterson as a “give and take kind of partnership.” He learned invaluable lessons about writing and storytelling from Patterson, who is known for his prolific output and engaging narratives. “He’s a true partner,” Leddin said, highlighting the collaborative spirit that fueled their project.

Disrupt Everything is available for preorder and is scheduled for release on Sept. 29.