Midwestern depth, global ambition.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Chicago, USA — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
Ta-Nehisi Coates · Chicago Humanities Festival (Chicago Theatre) · September 25, 2026
Acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates joins the Chicago Humanities Festival for a deep conversation about memory, reparations, and the craft of memoir. The session features audience qu…
Atul Gawande · Chicago Humanities Festival · September 25, 2026
Surgeon and public health writer Atul Gawande examines ethical dilemmas in modern medicine and how systems-level thinking can improve care. The lecture will include an audience dis…
Steven Pinker · Chicago Humanities Festival · September 25, 2026
Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker joins the Chicago Humanities Festival to debate the evidence for long-term progress and the role of reason in public life. This ticketed talk will…
Jill Lepore · Newberry Library · September 25, 2026
Historian Jill Lepore examines how narrative shapes our understanding of American history and the political consequences of competing historical accounts. She will read from her la…
Rebecca Solnit · Newberry Library · September 25, 2026
Essayist Rebecca Solnit presents new work on urban change, environmental justice, and the politics of place. Her talk will be framed by archival materials from the Newberry collect…
Atul Gawande · Chicago Humanities Festival · September 25, 2026
Surgeon and author Atul Gawande explores ethical dilemmas in modern medicine and how systems shape patient care. His lecture will be followed by a moderated conversation with a loc…
Rebecca Solnit · Art Institute of Chicago · September 25, 2026
Writer and activist Rebecca Solnit explores the intersections of art, activism, and historical memory in a talk inspired by exhibitions at the Art Institute. The program will inclu…
Rebecca Solnit · Seminary Co-op Bookstores · September 25, 2026
Writer Rebecca Solnit discusses themes of solitude, activism, and the geography of hope in contemporary nonfiction. The evening includes a reading and brief audience Q&A, followed …
Susan Orlean · Seminary Co-op Bookstores · September 25, 2026
Best-selling author Susan Orlean reads from her newest book and speaks about curiosity, craft, and reporting in the modern media landscape. The event includes a moderated discussio…
Colson Whitehead · Seminary Co-op Bookstores · September 25, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winning author Colson Whitehead reads from his new novel and sits for a moderated conversation about narrative, history, and the Chicago literary landscape. The even…
Elizabeth Kolbert · The Newberry Library - Center for Scholarship and Research · September 25, 2026
Environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert presents new reporting on biodiversity loss and climate change, connecting scientific findings to policy choices. The talk concludes with…
Atul Gawande · University of Chicago · September 25, 2026
Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande discusses the ethical and practical challenges facing modern medicine and public health. The lecture will be followed by audience Q&A with members o…
Roxane Gay · Seminary Co-op Bookstore (Hyde Park) · September 25, 2026
Roxane Gay discusses cultural criticism, memoir, and the role of personal narrative in public debate. A book signing follows the event; advanced tickets recommended.
Roxane Gay · Chicago Public Library — Harold Washington Library Center · September 25, 2026
Roxane Gay reads from her forthcoming book and reflects on memoir, cultural criticism, and the craft of writing in the public sphere. A moderated conversation and book-signing will…
Roxane Gay · Chicago Public Library — Harold Washington Library Center · September 25, 2026
Roxane Gay explores vulnerability in contemporary memoir and cultural criticism, examining how personal narrative shapes public discourse. The talk is followed by a community conve…
Elizabeth Kolbert · Chicago Humanities Festival · September 25, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Elizabeth Kolbert presents new reporting on biodiversity loss and the storytelling challenges of communicating extinction and climate collapse. Sh…
Elizabeth Kolbert · Newberry Library · September 25, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winner Elizabeth Kolbert presents recent research on biodiversity loss and the human-driven changes accelerating extinctions. Following the talk there will be a brie…
Jill Lepore · Newberry Library · September 25, 2026
Historian Jill Lepore offers a lecture on narrative, evidence, and how Americans have understood their past. A reception and scholar Q&A will follow the talk in the Newberry readin…
Nikole Hannah-Jones · Chicago Public Library - Harold Washington Library Center · September 25, 2026
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones discusses her reporting on race, education, and the long-term consequences of segregation. The talk will include a conversatio…
Roxane Gay · Chicago Public Library — Harold Washington Center · September 25, 2026
Writer Roxane Gay discusses the role of empathy in modern storytelling and how personal essays can shape public debate. The program includes a short reading followed by a moderated…