The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau
A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.
If you feel like everything that used to be familiar is now slightly wrong, you’re not alone. Naomi Klein, internationally bestselling author of No Logo and The Shock Doctrine, tackles this “Mirror World” in her new book. Doppelganger is a blend of personal memoir and social analysis that Publishers Weekly calls “a definitive signpost of the times.”
A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic
Can someone’s political identity influence their ability to process information? It appears so. In the cognitive phenomenon known as partisanship, identification with a social group becomes so important, it can override reality. Psychology professor Jay Van Bavel shares strategies to combat this problem in a new TED-Ed video. Imagine you’re watching your favorite sports team […]
Hypocrisy in politics is not, by any means, a new concept. But it does seem to be escalating—especially in an Internet age, where every tweet and video clip can be captured and circulated indefinitely. As the 2020 election approaches, NYU’s Associate Professor of Psychology Jay Van Bavel explores how we got here. “It is pragmatic […]
Bestselling author and Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi is the host of ‘Useful Idiots,’ a compelling weekly series focusing on news and politics. Useful Idiots is described as “an iconoclastic take on the political podcast.” Rather than jumping on the bandwagon of viral coverage, Matt Taibbi and his co-host Katie Halper will cover the […]
This election year, our democracy is at a crossroads. How can we get through this together? First, we need to look back, Eric says. The overlapping crises of 2020, from the pandemic to the George Floyd protests, revealed issues that we’re still living with today. And we must work through them to find our way forward.
March is Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s progress and contributions to this country since its founding. Lavin is proud to exclusively represent the world’s top Women’s History Month speakers: from Margaret Atwood, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Handmaid’s Tale, to Ellen Ochoa, first Latina in space.
In the pursuit of equality, a growing number of people have begun to define themselves in terms of their group identities, like race or gender. But Lavin’s Yascha Mounk says that’s actually counterproductive to our goal. In his new book, The Identity Trap, he shows us how to escape the trap and find solidarity.
Artificial Intelligence is changing everything: from our work to our politics to even our novels, and far beyond. Lavin’s Kate Crawford and Stephen Marche are making headlines everywhere from The New York Times to MSNBC for their sharp and prescient discussion of the biggest questions of our day.
Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence
The Seismic Change In Canadian Politics , Business, And Culture And What It Means For Our Future
How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America’s Heartland
Resisting Trump’s Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need
A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion
Are you the right person in the wrong job? Have you stayed up all night debating politics, music, civil rights and social justice, old philosophies, new technologies, the media, the economy—or, better yet, the intersection of them all? A real debate where minds get changed, including your own? Yes? Then maybe we’re the home you […]
For Black History Month this February, we’d like to celebrate a few of the many Lavin speakers whose work year-round shows us how to honor the legacy and history of Black communities across America. These leading voices empower us to fight for racial justice and equality, and learn more about the history of this country. ANGELA DAVIS “One […]
As one of our foremost authorities on the Constitution and our reproductive rights, Mary argues that the effects of Roe v. Wade don’t just end at the abortion debate. Instead, Roe has taken on meanings far beyond its original purpose. Its repercussions have affected us all, in many different areas of our lives—from women’s rights […]
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THE LAVIN AGENCY is the world’s largest intellectual talent agency, representing leading thinkers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, consulting, and endorsements. Our Team “We have a remarkable team here, and one reason is that the staff is very diverse, politically and intellectually. I like people who want to contribute to the debate. At The Lavin […]
There has never been a book like Secret City. Lauded as the most important work of gay history in decades, it surveys the broad sweep of 20th century American politics through a gay lens. The Washington Examiner said that “It is, in many ways, one of the most human works of history written this decade […]
Roe v. Wade was overturned last week — and the ripple effects will be enormous for the country, the justice system, and democracy as a whole. “I can’t think of anything bigger than this Supreme Court decision in my lifetime,” Mary Ziegler says. As one of the foremost nonpartisan authorities on the Constitution and our […]
We are only just beginning to understand the deep impacts of racial resentment—including its fatal consequences on public health. In the era of Donald Trump, many lower- and middle-class white Americans were drawn to politicians who pledged to make their lives great again. But as Lavin’s newest speaker physician JONATHAN METZL shows in his explosive […]
In his new book Black Paper, Teju Cole explores what it was like to be a Black man in America between 2016 and 2019, through the lenses of art, literature, politics, and activism. How do we sustain our humanity during times of darkness? And what does it mean to bear witness to the humanity […]
From the smartphones in our pockets to the diagnostic tools used by doctors, AI has taken over every facet of our lives. But in his new book Rule of the Robots, New York Times bestselling author Martin Ford argues that the true revolution has yet to come. In this sequel to his prescient New […]
The billion-dollar question of business, politics, even the foundation of society itself—why do we want the things that we want? It is both shocking and revealing that everything we desire, do, or create is powerfully influenced by those around us. In his new book,Wanting, serial entrepreneur LUKE BURGIS makes a startling case about the hidden […]
Now that the election cycle is complete, the peaceful transfer of power came to pass, and President Biden settles into his role as commander-in-chief, what happens next? And what can we expect from this new administration? These Lavin Speakers help us make sense of today’s most vital political news. Speaking to the cautious hope he has […]
Is there any better way to spend the holidays than curled up with a good book? As this year comes to a close, we’ve rounded up the reads that have inspired, motivated, challenged, and moved us. So, whether you’re shopping for a history buff or a poetry lover, or even a gift for yourself, there’s […]
Everything about this election—from the global pandemic ravaging the nation, to the president’s claims of voter fraud—has been unusual, to say the least. And though the peaceful transfer of power will begin, Trump continues to contest his defeat and several lawsuits remain in motion. What happens next? And what can we expect from a Biden […]
This year has been an unforgettable one, to say the least. Marked by a global pandemic, a worldwide call for racial justice, and the worst economic recession we’ve seen since the Great Depression, 2020 also happens to fall on an election year. Soon, we will decide on the next President of the United States—a decision […]
Once the stuff of dystopian nightmares, artificial intelligence has become an essential part of our daily lives. Today, AI recommends our products, routes our taxis, predicts our Internet searches. Tomorrow? It will be a tool as fundamental as electricity. Lavin’s Top 10 artificial intelligence speakers help us navigate the changes to come. Radhika Dirks: There […]
On the latest Democracy Now, Molly Crabapple sat down with Amy Goodman and Juan González to discuss her time on the campaign trail with Bernie Sanders, the Electoral College system and the Democratic primaries—and how she is using her art and activism to fight for change. “I was doing these illustrations from life, packed into these […]
In the not-so-distant past, citizens have rallied around their president in moments of terror and distress. The crisis in Iran feels different. Taking place in the shadow of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, the current political moment is inspiring more fear than faith. Globe and Mail alum John Ibbitson considers what might happen next. “No […]
As we enter a new decade, there’s a lot to look forward to—and a lot left to fight for. And unfortunately, racism isn’t a relic of shameful times past—it’s still very much alive today. Here at The Lavin Agency, our Top Race Speakers tackle this tough topic from all angles—public policy, pop culture, education, and […]
In his year-end celebration of his favorite books of 2019, Barack Obama names Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism—a groundbreaking analysis of the intersection of the monetization of private data, big tech, the economy, and society—one of his top books. Not only has Zuboff’s in-depth exploration of a growing phenomenon—the titular surveillance capitalism—captured the […]
Is there anything Reza Aslan can’t do? The Harvard-educated religious scholar has published numerous books and screenplays, is adapting his New York Times bestseller Zealot into a feature film, and executive produces the new Chuck Lorre comedy on CBS. Combine that with his hilarious podcast with Rainn Wilson, and you have a bona-fide “multi-hyphenate.” “I […]
Among Entertainment Weekly’s top 10 non-fiction books of the decade is Patti Smith’s beloved memoir Just Kids and George Packer’s historical juggernaut The Unwinding. Patti Smith—Just Kids In Just Kids, bohemian rocker Patti Smith takes readers through her artistic awakening in the raw and gritty world of New York City in the late sixties and […]
Ever since the 2016 election, American politics have seemed more like a circus than a system of government. Lavin’s top ten political speakers are some of the brightest, sharpest minds fighting anti-democractic forces and standing up for the values of free society. Garrett M. Graff: Garret Graff has unique insight into America’s ever-shifting political […]
Fresh off her Booker Prize win, prolific Canadian author Margaret Atwood received another honor recently—and an incredible career first: it was presented to her by none other than Queen Elizabeth. As of late October 2019, Atwood is now one of the select few people granted the Companion of Honor award—given for achievements in the arts, […]
Andrew Marantz’ first book Antisocial has been described as a “searching study of the right-wing gate-crashers who have overwhelmed social media in the Trump Era” (Kirkus Reviews). In a new interview with Longform podcast, Marantz reveals what inspired him to write the book, and why he doesn’t shy away from the tough questions. In Antisocial: […]
Author of four New York Times bestsellers, and an award-winning columnist for Rolling Stone, journalist Matt Taibbi tackles the current state of the media, with The Hill’s Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti. How did we get here, and how we can get out of this toxic spiral of fearmongering, clickbait and corruption? Taibbi has the answers in his […]
A year ago, Greta Thunberg was an unknown Swedish teenager striking from school once a week to protest climate inaction. Today, she’s a global icon and climate activist that’s inspired a nation. Alongside Greta, these top Climate Change speakers are united in the fight to save our planet, and they show us—beyond activism—what we must […]
What is the one thing wrong with the world that you would change, and why? It’s a question posed by Harvard University to its faculty, in a new ongoing series. In it, professor Steven Pinker shares his desire to temper our cognitive biases with hard facts. A president riling up citizens over the supposed […]
Common wisdom would suggest that Donald Trump’s campaign is targeted towards his most ardent supporters: fellow Republicans. Yet, a new study co-authored by Stanford Sociology Professor Robb Willer and his colleague suggests the opposite is true. Liberals, not conservatives, may be most swayed by the President’s re-election strategy. It turns out that a subset of […]
In his latest book, award-winning journalist George Packer tells the story of controversial American diplomat Richard Holbrooke. Our Man paints a dazzling portrait of a policy giant who was brilliant, self-absorbed, and willing to do anything to fulfill his political ambition. Recently, Packer joined Mother Jones editor Clara Jeffery for an enlightening conversation about the […]
As the democratic debates kick off, Contributing Editor at Rolling Stone Matt Taibbi joins broadcast journalist Warren Olney on KCRW to discuss how the rise of social media has dramatically altered America’s political landscape. The democratic debates take part in two two-hour sessions, each featuring ten candidates and five moderators. Each candidate has no […]
The time in your life that you read a book will alter the impact it will have on you. The Washington Post has rounded up the best book for every age, a list of recommendations chosen based on the “age-appropriate wisdom they impart.” Included in the round-up are Lavin speakers Angie Thomas, Margaret Atwood, Salman […]
The Global Economy Prize has been awarded by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and its partners since 2005, honoring those who have pioneered “creative and path-breaking” globalization initiatives in politics, business, and science. This year, it recognizes the outstanding contribution of economist Daron Acemoglu. “Daron Acemoglu is an economist in a league of […]
1984—George Orwell’s seminal work—has enjoyed a cultural resurgence in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency. Now, award-winning journalist and author George Packer unpacks the novel’s newfound relevance for The Atlantic. “Orwell never intended his novel to be a prediction, only a warning,” George Packer writes in Doublethink is Stronger than Orwell Imagined, his latest article […]
Netflix’s new series When They See Us tells the story of the Central Park 5: the five teenagers who were wrongfully imprisoned for the violent rape of a female jogger in 1989. Following its release, The New York Times has chosen Emily Bazelon’s Charged as one of six must-read books to help viewers better contextualize […]
The 2020 Presidential Race is densely packed with contenders. Journalist and Lavin Speaker Emily Bazelon explores the legitimacy of one of the Democratic Party’s most visible candidates—Elizabeth Warren—in her cover story for the New York Times Magazine. Who can beat Donald Trump in 2020? That is the question on many people’s lips as the election […]
In today’s political climate, nationalism tends to carry negative connotations. But in the latest video from Big Think, historian, geographer, and bestselling author JARED DIAMOND explores how—much like self-confidence for the individual—nationalism is something that countries should have, in healthy doses. Nationalism isn’t inherently bad—it just depends how much you have of it. Jared Diamond […]
“To confront the threats we face, we must recognize that the Trump presidency is a symptom, not the malady.” Eric Klinenberg’s latest co-edited project Antidemocracy in America: Truth, Power, and the Republic at Risk seeks to uncover the fundamental problems rooted inside America’s institutions—problems that existed long before President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Antidemocracy in America, […]
Three eagerly-anticipated books drop today from Pulitzer Prize-winner Jared Diamond, MIT President Emerita Susan Hockfield, and National Book Award-winner George Packer. Here’s what’s being said about these brilliant new releases, and the speakers who wrote them. Jared Diamond | Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis In his international bestsellers Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse, […]
“I don’t think of myself as a climate person, I think of myself as a journalist,” says David Wallace-Wells, on the unique perspective he brings to the subject of climate change. His critically-acclaimed, instant New York Times bestseller The Uninhabitable Earth vividly illustrates the speed, scope, and severity of climate change like never before. In talks Wells transforms […]
South by Southwest (SXSW) is a conference that has dedicated itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Since 1987, the festival has attracted the brightest stars on the forefront of their fields to give talks and have candid conversations about the future and their industry. This year twelve Lavin speakers were invited to speak. […]
From ethics to innovation, culture to business, WIRED offers grounded, deeply-reported coverage of how technology will impact our jobs, our economy, our politics, and our lives. They provide the most essential information to help people set the smartest course for their future—mirroring our own mandate to make the world a smarter place. That's why we're […]
We’re entering the Age of Living Machines: the seamless convergence of biology and tech. This, says Susan Hockfield, President Emerita of MIT and leading voice in the STEM world, is the biggest tech story of our time. In talks (as in her new book The Age of Living Machines), she tells it, outlining the incredible […]
From an in-depth analysis of failure, to data-driven proof that the world is getting better, the biggest, boldest and best books of 2018 came from Lavin speakers. Andras Tilcsik and Chris Clearfield’s Meltdown, an analysis of why our systems fail and what we can do about it, landed on the Financial Times best books […]
Prejudice divides us, and to Lavin speaker Dave Fleischer, Director of the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Leadership LAB, dismantling it is nothing less than a science. “Deep canvassing”—a method refined by Fleischer and his team—means knocking on doors to engage people in fact-based, personal conversations about subjects like gay marriage and transgender rights. The effect is tangible: real, data-verified change […]
Not content to spend 85 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list (where it’s currently enjoying a return to the #1 spot), Lavin speaker Angie Thomas’ phenomenon of a first novel is currently sweeping the nation as a feature film, collecting popular and critical praise—and even being touted as an “Oscar-worthy masterpiece” (Forbes). We’ve collected […]
Columbia Journalism School has awarded Nikole Hannah-Jones, investigative reporter and author of the upcoming book The Problem We All Live With, the 2018 John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism. Hannah-Jones’ groundbreaking reporting on modern segregation in American schools has already earned her a collection of prestigious awards, including the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. The John Chancellor […]
Yascha Mounk recently spoke as part of the Rotman School of Management’s #shiftdisturbers series. Drawing from his book The People vs. Democracy, his fact-packed talk explored the populist phenomenon, with examples from around the world: how it gains power, how it fails people, and the three alarmingly familiar similarities all populist uprisings share. 1. A […]
CNN spent a year interviewing more than 100 American Muslims, asking who they believed were the most influential Muslims in their fields. Though no one can speak for the nearly 3.5 million Muslims in America, Reza Aslan and Wajahat Ali were among the most influential to be named, alongside an Olympic hero, a nationally televised comedian, the leader […]
Raj Chetty is one of the world’s leading economists and his efforts to level the economic playing field in the U.S. have earned him a MacArthur “Genius” grant and the John Bates Clark Medal for the best American economist under 40. His latest research, a sobering analysis of census data on 20 million children and […]
It’s only been out for a week, but already The Guardian, The New Yorker, Kirkus, and more are lauding Yascha Mounk’s The People vs. Democracy—an incisive analysis on why and how liberal democracy has broken, and what can be done to fix it— as one of the most important reads of the year. And even […]
Democracy is in decline in the West, especially among young people. They don’t trust their politicians and they don’t see themselves reflected in policy. Harvard professor Yascha Mounk’s new book The People vs. Democracy (recently excerpted in The Atlantic) explores this alarming phenomenon—and according to a glowing Kirkus review, proposes “provocative…optimistic…reasonable remedies,” to combat it. As a speaker, Mounk’s plain, […]
With uncertain political, economic, and social landscapes on the horizon, Yascha Mounk, Ajay Agrawal, Michael Casey and Megan Phelps-Roper are four speakers exploring the subjects that will define 2018. Is democracy in danger? Americans, specifically young Americans, are losing faith in democracy. Author and political theorist Yascha Mounk explains why it’s happening and what we can do about […]