America's most intellectual city.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Boston, USA — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: August 10, 2026
Siddhartha Mukherjee · MIT · August 12, 2026
Physician-scientist Siddhartha Mukherjee explores the ways advances in genetics and cellular biology reshape our understanding of identity and disease. He will connect scientific f…
Paul Krugman · Harvard University · August 12, 2026
Nobel laureate Paul Krugman examines recent global economic disruptions and what they mean for domestic policy and inequality. The lecture will be open to the public with time allo…
Atul Gawande · Boston Public Library · August 12, 2026
Surgeon and public-health writer Atul Gawande examines the challenges of caregiving and health systems for aging populations. The program will include time for audience questions a…
Ta-Nehisi Coates · Harvard Book Store · August 12, 2026
Ta-Nehisi Coates reads from his forthcoming book and discusses narrative form, memory, and race in contemporary America. The event will include a moderated conversation and audienc…
Mary Roach · Brattle Theatre · August 12, 2026
Bestselling science writer Mary Roach reads from her latest book and discusses the oddities of scientific research with the audience. The event will include a moderated Q&A and a b…
Atul Gawande · Harvard Book Store · August 12, 2026
Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande discusses his latest work on clinical judgement, systems of care, and what improves patient outcomes. The talk will be followed by a moderated Q&A a…
Samantha Power · Boston Public Library, Central Library - Rabb Hall · August 12, 2026
Former U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power addresses the changing landscape of international human rights and humanitarian response. The lecture is followed by a moderated discussion wi…
Atul Gawande · Boston Public Library · August 12, 2026
Surgeon and public-health researcher Atul Gawande delivers a lecture on the intersection of clinical practice and health policy in the post-pandemic era. The talk will explore prac…
Lisa Randall · Boston Public Library - Central Library · August 12, 2026
Harvard theoretical physicist Lisa Randall gives a public lecture on recent developments in particle physics and the search for dark matter. The talk is geared toward a general aud…
Jill Lepore · Boston Public Library (Central Library, Copley) · August 12, 2026
Historian Jill Lepore discusses how national narratives are constructed and the consequences for civic life. She will draw on her recent research to examine contested memories in A…
Elizabeth Kolbert · Harvard Book Store · August 12, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winner Elizabeth Kolbert returns to discuss new research on biodiversity loss and the policy responses needed to slow species collapse. The talk will examine global …
Michael Pollan · Boston Public Library (Lecture Hall) · August 12, 2026
Michael Pollan discusses the intersections of food systems, personal health, and public policy from his recent research and reporting. The talk will offer practical insights and a …
Roxane Gay · Brookline Booksmith · August 12, 2026
Author Roxane Gay presents selections from her forthcoming essay collection, reflecting on appetite, culture, and the politics of the body. The reading will be followed by a conver…
Jill Lepore · Boston Public Library - Central Library, Copley Square · August 12, 2026
Harvard historian Jill Lepore examines turning points in American constitutional history and what they mean for civic life today. The talk will be followed by a short Q&A and book-…
Yuval Noah Harari · Harvard University · August 12, 2026
Historian Yuval Noah Harari discusses the intersection of technology, climate, and collective human choices in the coming decades. The lecture includes time for audience questions …
Neil deGrasse Tyson · MIT · August 12, 2026
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson presents a popular-science talk on communicating complex ideas about the universe to broad audiences. The session includes audience Q&A and a sho…
Ed Yong · MIT · August 13, 2026
Science journalist Ed Yong explores the interplay between virology, public understanding, and policy-making since the pandemic. The lecture will highlight how reporting shapes scie…
Atul Gawande · Boston Public Library — Central Library (Copley) · August 14, 2026
Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande explores systemic challenges in public health and the policies needed for long-term resilience. The program will end with audience questions and a b…
Atul Gawande · Boston Public Library · August 15, 2026
Surgeon and public-health writer Atul Gawande gives a public lecture on ethical decision-making in modern medicine and the pressures facing health systems. The talk will be followe…
Mary Roach · Brookline Booksmith — Author Series · August 15, 2026
Science writer Mary Roach shares comedic and revealing stories from her new book on human physiology and the scientific questions that surprise us. The reading will be followed by …