Kenneth R. Feinberg — What is Life Worth? - with Peter L.W. Osnos — at Conn Ave
Kenneth R. Feinberg discusses *What Is Life Worth?*, the book that inspired the film *Worth*, with Peter L.W. Osnos. Feinberg recounts his role administering the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, created to compensate families affected by the terrorist attacks, and reflects on the moral and practical challenges of assigning monetary awards after a national tragedy.
The conversation also addresses Feinberg’s newer reflections on how a deeply divided United States might find common ground when confronting major challenges. Over three years, he met with survivors and bereaved families, listened to their experiences, and worked through intense disputes over compensation. Ultimately, more than 97 percent of eligible families participated in the fund rather than pursuing lawsuits.
When: Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 7:00pm
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Format: Kenneth R. Feinberg will be in conversation with Peter L.W. Osnos.
Lineup: Kenneth R. Feinberg is an attorney and former Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. He evaluated claims, determined awards, and distributed compensation to eligible applicants. He has also helped resolve other major national disputes, served on two presidential-level commissions, and taught law as an adjunct professor at Harvard, Georgetown, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, New York University, and the University of Virginia. His books include *What Is Life Worth?* and *Who Gets What*.
Moderator: Peter L.W. Osnos is the founder of PublicAffairs and a former publisher at Random House’s Times Books imprint. Before entering publishing, he spent 18 years at *The Washington Post*, working as a correspondent in Saigon, Moscow, and London and later as foreign and national editor. He is the author of *An Especially Good View: Watching History Happen*, coauthor of *Would You Believe . . . The Helsinki Accords Changed the World?*, editor of *George Soros: A Life in Full*, and author of *LBJ and McNamara: The Vietnam Partnership Destined to Fail*. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
Tickets: Free
Seating: Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests submitted up to the event time.
Related book: A new edition of *What Is Life Worth?*, featuring reflections 25 years after 9/11, is listed as a $19.95 paperback. It was published September 8, 2026, and has ISBN 9781953943828.