Artist and Lecture Series
Society in Focus with David Brooks
Thursday, November 20th at 7 p.m. in Goddard Auditorium (in Carpenter Hall at Earlham College)
Over more than 20 years at the New York Times, David Brooks’s opinion columns have ranked amongst the most read in the country. His books are guaranteed bestsellers. His insights on humanity and world events are valued across the globe. In this presentation that evolves to address the present moment, combining recurring themes from his bestselling books with the same astute observations that make his columns so popular, Brooks delves into the heart of the challenges we face as a society.
With his signature intellectual curiosity, quiet passion, and humor, he outlines the path to better days. You’ll leave this thought-provoking conversation with a deeper understanding of the forces shaping both our present and future and more cognizant of the roles each of us play in creating the society we wish to inhabit.
This event is free and open to the public.
David Brooks is a bestselling author, op-ed columnist at the New York Times, and recurring commentator on PBS NewsHour. He has a gift for bringing readers and audiences alike face to face with the spirit of our times with humor, insight, and quiet passion. He is a keen observer of the American way of life and a savvy analyst of present-day politics and foreign affairs whose columns are among the most read in the nation.
The author of six books with many bestsellers among them, Brooks seeks to further explore and explain humanity and the way we live with every addition to his critically acclaimed body of work. With intellectual curiosity and emotional wisdom, he underscores the value of community and the importance of nourishing both the inner self and the social self in our journeys to live fulfilling lives.
Up next: Pete Buttigieg on February 18, 2026
Past events
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones, award-winning New York Times correspondent and creator of “The 1619 Project,” visited Earlham College on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, for a moderated talk titled “A Conversation about Truth, History, and The 1619 Project.”
“The 1619 Project” examines the harsh history of the transatlantic slave trade and honors the contributions of Black people and culture to the founding, creation, and ongoing prosperity of the Untied States. The endeavor has spawned three books including a New York Times-bestselling adaptation of the original podcast, a picture book adaptation for kids titled “Born on the Water,” and an anthology of essays and poems that expands on The 1619 Project’s original content, titled “A New Origin Story.” Hulu recently picked up the series for a six-part documentary that covers six chapters of “The 1619 Project” book and topics such as capitalism, music and democracy.
Hannah-Jones has earned accolades such as the MacArthur Fellowship (“Genius Grant”), the Peabody Award, and the National Magazine Award (three times over). Prior to joining The New York Times, Hannah-Jones worked as an investigative reporter at ProPublica in New York City, where she spent three years chronicling the way official policy created and maintains segregation in housing and schools. She is also the Knight Chair of Race and Journalism at Howard University and the founder of the Center for Journalism & Democracy.
Van Jones
The first Presidential Lecture Series hosted CNN commentator and Emmy award winner Van Jones.
Best known for his insightful election night analysis on CNN, Van Jones is a three-time New York Times-bestselling author, attorney, social entrepreneur, and an Emmy Award winner.
Jones has hosted or co-hosted the CNN shows Crossfire, The Messy Truth, The Van Jones Show, and The Redemption Project with Van Jones. He is the author of “The Green Collar Economy,” “Rebuild the Dream,” and “Beyond the Messy Truth.”
Jones has also created success having founded and led many thriving nonprofits including the REFORM Alliance, Color of Change, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
Van Jones recently spoke to Cal State students about the importance of character in political candidates in the school’s Behind the Ballot initiative.
