KNOXVILLE — The ‘most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge’ is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls caused by ‘false interpretations’ of religious texts and the growing tolerance for violence. So concludes President Jimmy Carter in his most recent book A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power. Join Knoxville Attorney Wanda Sobieski for the Knox County Public Library's Books Sandwiched In lunch on Wednesday, April 15, noon - 1:00 pm. The discussion will be held in the East Tennessee History Center auditorium, 601 South Gay Street.

In A Call to Action, Carter addresses the world’s most serious, pervasive, and ignored violation of basic human rights: the ongoing discrimination and violence against women and girls. He offers strong and unforgiving critique of countries whose practices reveal systematic women abuse, but who present a different image to the world.

“Carter makes a well-documented argument that the worst of prejudice, discrimination, wars, violence, distorted interpretations of religious texts, physical and mental abuse, poverty and disease fall disproportionately on women and girls,” Sobieski says. “He concludes with a ‘Call to Action’ list of 23 very specific steps we can take individually and/or collectively to address this worldwide challenge.”

Sobieski joined Baker, Worthington, Crossley, Stansberry & Woolf law firm in 1982, and was honored to become the first woman partner in the hundred-year history of the firm. In 1993, she established her own law firm. As coordinator of the Knoxville Women’s Suffrage Coalition and a commissioner of the Tennessee Commemorative Women’s Suffrage Commission, Sobieski led the effort to raise funding for the Tennessee Woman’s Suffrage Memorial and see it through to its unveiling in August 2006 in Knoxville’s Market Square. Sobieski has been active in social issues and political campaigns on behalf of candidates she believed would improve the administration of justice. Her work has extended to lobbying for social change legislation and appearing before the state legislative committees, including the judicial committees, to speak in support of legislation of particular value.

Books Sandwiched In continues May 20, when Jean Ash, Independent Writing and Editing Professional and Tour Director (especially to China), will lead a discussion of Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China by Evan Osnos.

On June 17, Mark Campen, City Councilman and Executive Director of the Tennessee chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, will lead a discussion of Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers' Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm by Forrest Pritchard.

On July 15, Michelle Commander, UT Assistant Professor of English and Africana Studies, will lead a discussion of Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Trade by Saidiya Hartman.

On August 19, Nate Allen, KPD Criminal Investigation Division Commander Deputy Chief will lead a discussion of 400 Things Cops Know: Street-Smart Lessons from a Veteran Patrolman by Adam Plantinga.