Benefit for Point Reyes Books The generous and gentle Bob Hass has titled his retrospective collection of brilliant essays and talks with a reference to a theme that always sets his work apart: the act of attention. The New York Times applauded him as a writer who "is so intelligent that to read his poetry or prose, or to hear him speak, gives one an almost visceral pleasure." Former U.S. Poet Laureate (1995-1997) Bob has received The National Book Critics Circle Award (1996), the National Book Award (2008), and the Pulitzer Prize (2007). UC Berkeley Professor, Inverness resident and honorary chair of the 2008 Geography of Hope conference on Wallace Stegner in Point Reyes.