Where creativity and curiosity converge.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Los Angeles, USA — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: September 16, 2026
Roxane Gay · Skylight Books · September 17, 2026
Author Roxane Gay reads from her recent essays and discusses craft, truth-telling, and the intersections of the personal and political. A moderated Q&A will follow, with time for a…
Viet Thanh Nguyen · UCLA Hammer Museum (Billy Wilder Theater) · September 17, 2026
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen explores stories of migration, identity, and historical memory in contemporary fiction. The presentation will include readings and a…
Mary Roach · PEN America LA · September 18, 2026
Science writer Mary Roach brings her trademark humor to investigations of the body, death, and the odd corners of scientific inquiry. She will read from her new book and take quest…
Ta-Nehisi Coates · USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism · September 18, 2026
Author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates explores the intersections of nonfiction, memoir, and political argument in contemporary America. He will read excerpts from recent work and …
Michael Kimmelman · Getty Center · September 18, 2026
New York Times critic Michael Kimmelman explores the role of criticism in shaping public engagement with urban art and architecture. He will discuss recent projects and how critics…
Ocean Vuong · Skylight Books · September 18, 2026
Poet and novelist Ocean Vuong reads from his recent work and discusses language, memory, and the craft of poetic storytelling. The evening includes a short conversation and book si…
Anne Applebaum · The Getty Center · September 18, 2026
Historian Anne Applebaum presents new research on twentieth-century Europe and the politics of memory in contemporary crises. The presentation will be accompanied by a moderated di…
Roxane Gay · UCLA Hammer Museum - Billy Wilder Theater · September 18, 2026
Author and critic Roxane Gay reads from her new collection and discusses the intersections of personal narrative, politics, and public life. The program includes a moderated conver…
Ibram X. Kendi · Getty Center, Harold M. Williams Auditorium · September 18, 2026
Author and historian Ibram X. Kendi presents a lecture on the intersections of anti-racist theory and urban policy, focusing on concrete strategies for municipal reform. The talk w…
Rebecca Solnit · Getty Center · September 18, 2026
Rebecca Solnit discusses the intersections of geography, activism, and storytelling in a talk that traces how place shapes political imagination. The program includes a short Q&A a…
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie · PEN America Los Angeles · September 18, 2026
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie joins PEN America Los Angeles to discuss the role of fiction in shaping feminist thought and public discourse. The evening includes audience questions and …
Elizabeth Kolbert · LACMA · September 18, 2026
Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert discusses biodiversity loss, climate impacts on urban life, and strategies for resilient cities. The talk will be …
Atul Gawande · LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) · September 18, 2026
Surgeon and public health writer Atul Gawande discusses the ethical and systemic challenges of modern medicine and healthcare delivery. The program includes a moderated discussion …
Viet Thanh Nguyen · Skylight Books · September 18, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen reads from his forthcoming book and engages in conversation about history, memory, and storytelling in the Asian diaspora. A book …
Jia Tolentino · PEN America Los Angeles (presented at The Geffen Playhouse) · September 18, 2026
Journalist and cultural critic Jia Tolentino explores the evolving digital landscape and its effects on art, politics, and identity. The event includes a conversation with a local …
LaToya Ruby Frazier · Getty Center · September 18, 2026
Photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier discusses documentary photography as a tool for activism and community storytelling. The talk will feature a slide presentation and a conversation …
David Wallace-Wells · Los Angeles Public Library - Central Library · September 18, 2026
Pulitzer-prize finalist David Wallace-Wells discusses the responsibilities and challenges of reporting on climate risk, misinformation, and policy in an age of accelerating change.…
Rebecca Solnit · Los Angeles Public Library - Central Library · September 18, 2026
Essayist Rebecca Solnit discusses her new collection about landscape, activism, and the narratives that shape civic life. The program includes a moderated conversation and a commun…
Roxane Gay · Hammer Museum · September 18, 2026
Roxane Gay discusses her latest work in a wide-ranging conversation about fiction, criticism, and the responsibilities of writers in public discourse. The program includes a short …
Mary Beard · Getty Villa · September 18, 2026
Renowned classicist Mary Beard considers how ancient Mediterranean cultures continue to shape contemporary art and public life. Her lecture ties themes from antiquity to objects on…