Mr. Short talked about his book Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare, published by Henry Holt and Company. He described the life of Cambodia's Pol Pot, the former leader of the Khmer Rouge who ruled the country from 1975 to 1979 and was responsible for the deaths of over one million people. Mr. Short gave an overview of Pol Pot's early life as a student in Paris and talked about the influence the French Revolution and Joseph Stalin had on him. Mr. Short also described the conditions in Cambodia that he thinks played a significant role in shaping Pol Pot's political philosophy, including the country's Buddhist tradition. After his presentation the author answered audience members' questions. The event was held at the UCLA International Center.