On the CIC’s Rooftop: Luke Burgis’ The One and the Ninety-Nine (IN-PERSON ONLY)

THIS ROOFTOP EVENT IS OFFERED IN-PERSON ONLY (No Livestream)

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 6:00 PM EDT,  join the CIC as we host Luke Burgis on our building’s rooftop for a presentation on his new book, The One and the Ninety-Nine. 

FAQS:

9/9/26 SCHEDULE?

• 6:00 PM: Check-in begins in the main foyer of the 1501 K Street Building (The Investment Building); the Rooftop Happy Hour(s) bar opens; the book is available to purchase of the rooftop.
• 6:30 PM: Luke Burgis’ presentation of The One and the Ninety-Nine with time for Q&A
• 7:30 PM: Booksigning with Luke Burgis; the Happy Hour(s) continues.
• 8:00 PM: Evening concludes; please exit down the elevators.

BAD WEATHER?
In the event of a very rainy weather forecast, a decision will be made a couple days before the program to move into the CIC’s space on the first floor of the 1501 K Street building or change the date. If registered, check your email for updates.

VIDEO OF THIS TALK?
This program is offered in-person only, and will not be livestreamed. However, we will record this interview to be placed later on our YouTube Channel. If you would like to be emailed the recording, make your request through this online form: https://forms.gle/NLiQEqDHcEv9bD8A8.

PARKING OPTIONS?
The CIC building’s garage at 1501 K Street NW (Atlantic Parking) will offer you a discounted rate of $6 to park. When arriving, tell the garage attendant you are attending the CIC’s program. Please note that the garage closes at 7:00 PM on Wednesdays. Those who park will be able to access the garage from inside the CIC’s building.

NEED TO CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION?
Email the CIC Event Team at events@cicdc.org.

About Luke Burgis’ New Book, The One and the Ninety-Nine:

It’s not hard to find your tribe. The real challenge today is not losing yourself within one.

We are surrounded by tribes: political, professional, online, ideological. Each offer belonging at a price. Join, and you risk dissolving into a ready-made identity. Refuse, and you risk drifting into isolation. Either way, the modern person is pulled toward the same end: forming a fragmented self that is easier to manage, easier to sell to, and easier to recruit.

In The One and the Ninety-Nine, bestselling author Luke Burgis argues that the great crisis of our time is not simply polarization or loneliness, but a crisis of formation: it’s difficult to form an identity that is solid enough to withstand the pressure of the crowd, and modern institutions don’t reward the effort. Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and personal experience, Burgis shows how groups shape our desires, how “social contagion” spreads through families and institutions, and why the hunger to belong can turn ordinary people into instruments of movements they barely understand.

This book is about the missing skill that makes real community possible: learning how to remain oneself while staying connected to others. Burgis offers a practical map for recognizing false belonging, escaping coercive dynamics, and passing through the rites of passage that produce people with integrity and courage.

The One and the Ninety-Nine is a timely and inspiring wake-up call, an invitation to reject counterfeit community and develop depth of personality—to become someone who can stand alone—so that we can finally stand together.

This book is available to purchase at the CIC bookstore.