Usually, the President of the United States gives the commencement address at the University of Michigan during election years.
But that wasn’t the case last year. Instead, U-M alumnus Brad Meltzer – a prolific New York Times bestselling author who has penned mystery-thrillers, children’s books, non-fiction books, comics books for DC Comics and Marvel Comics, co-created the 2003-4 TV series “Jack and Bobby,” and hosted TV shows – gave the commencement address.
“I’m still asking myself that question (why I was chosen),” confessed Meltzer. “I hope it’s because they thought I could deliver a message that would speak to everyone. Something that could bring people together. Isn’t that what we all actually need right now?”
Although there were 70,000 people in Michigan Stadium on May 4, 2024, Meltzer stated he was speaking to only one: His eldest son, Jonas, who was among the graduates.
“That was all that mattered,” he said. “My kids don’t give me many compliments – but even they said they were impressed. I don’t think you have any idea how much that means to me. Someone also caught a photo of my son cheering. And that’s a gift I can never repay.”
Meltzer’s commencement address was so inspiring and powerful that it went viral. He adapted it into a book called “Make Magic: The Book of Inspiration You Didn’t Know You Needed” (William Morrow Books $14.99), which he’ll be signing at The Detroit Jewish Book Fair in West Bloomfield on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for this event, which includes a copy of “Make Magic.”
“Right after graduation, we got inundated with people asking for the text of the speech. I got requests, my wife got requests, people tracked down my sister in New York and asked if she could get it for them. I’ve been writing for nearly three decades, and no one has ever requested the text of anything I’ve said,” he said, laughing. “And then the publishers started calling and we realized, maybe this should be a book.”
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“Make Magic” offers readers the tools for creating an extraordinary life. It is the book of hope for anyone wishing for more. More authenticity. More empathy. More gratitude. A more fulfilling life.
“If you really want to shock the world, unleash your kindness,” said Meltzer.
The author uses magic as allegory, revealing that there are only four types of magic tricks:
- You make something appear.
- You make something disappear.
- You make two things switch places.
- You turn one thing in something else, which is the hardest trick of all: Transformation.
Embracing each of these tricks and unleashing your kindness and empathy will
inspire you to craft a life filled with awe and wonder, according to Meltzer. Regarding the third point – making two things switch places – Meltzer spoke passionately about empathy, pointing out cruelty and venom aren’t signs of strength, but signs of weakness and petty insecurity.
“What takes strength is switching places and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes,” he said.
Meltzer talked about the best part of adapting his speech into “Make Magic.”
“My kids could always rewatch the speech, but now they can hold it in their hands,” he explained. “It’s an actual physical object. And it gives it a permanence that I just love. It turns it into a gift that you can give people who are looking for magic in their lives. And that’s the real goal. As it says at the end, the only people who find magic are the ones who look for it.”
In addition to “Make Magic,” Meltzer recently released “The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy – and Why It Failed” (Flatiron Books $29.99), who he co-wrote with Josh Mensch; and “I Am Sally Ride” (Penguin Young Readers Group $16.99), illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos, which is the 35th entry in his top-selling “Ordinary People Change the World” series. This book chronicles the life of Ride, the first American woman in space.
“She’s always been on our list. When we did ‘I Am Neil Armstrong,’ we would get all these photos of little girls dressing up as astronauts,” explained Meltzer. “And I just really wanted to do a book that was for them. A book to show my own sons the greatness of Sally Ride. She defied all expectations and biases.”
Later in 2025, Meltzer will release the comic book called “First Ghost” through Ghost Machine, the cooperative media company he co-founded with several other creators in 2023 that publishes comics through Image Comics. He is co-writing this project with fellow Ghost Machine founder/Clarkston native/Michigan State University alumnus Geoff Johns. Artist Gene Ha, who attended the College of Creative Studies in Detroit will illustrating “First Ghost.”
“During COVID, Geoff called me up and asked, ‘Want to write a book together? There was only one answer to that. We started meeting on a weekly basis and the whole thing came to life,” recalled Meltzer.
In “First Ghost,” the newly elected President moves into the White House with his son. They quickly discover it’s more terrifying than cutthroat politicians and bureaucratic red tape once they cross paths with this apparition.
“Geoff and I have been planning this for years,” said Meltzer. “It’s a dream come true to work with friends and creative titans like Geoff and Gene. Comic books are one of my first creative loves and I’m thrilled to be part of Ghost Machine, where we can create stories that we’re all invested in.”
He’s looking forward to his March 6 event at The J.
“I haven’t been back to do an (book) event in Michigan for nearly a decade,” said Meltzer. “So I’m really just excited to be able to come say thank you for all the people who have been cheering for us from my very start.”
For questions or more information about Meltzer’s March 6 event, contact The J at 248-661-1000 or bookfair@jccdet.org.
