Former Vice President Al Gore spoke to patrons at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock on Monday evening to promote his new book, "THE FUTURE: Six Drivers of Global Change."
Gore, who served in President Bill Clinton's administration for his eight years in office, spoke about security initiatives and the need for sustainable investing.
The lecture came as part of the Kumpuris Distinguished Lecture Series, held in the Clinton Center's Great Hall.
Gore said his book highlights the ways that the United States can remain a world leader in economic development, even though many people throughout the world see the country on the downturn of its economic dominance.
Among his points, Gore claimed that one main reason the U.S. can remain an economic stalwart is because there's no other country on Earth equipped to lead the world's economy.
"You'll find people in almost every country looking to the U.S. as the model for, you know, the way they'd like to be," Gore said. "... Democracy, they like the prosperity and they feel like the U.S. is just inspiring. But they're asking, in quiet moments, 'what's going on in the U.S.?'"
Following the lecture, hundreds waited in line for a signed copy of the book.
The lecture comes as part of a 30-city tour to promote the book over three-week period. Gore said the idea for the book came to him after a speech overseas in which he was asked what he believes will drive global change.
Read more about Gore's visit in Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.