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Extreme conspiracies taken as fact. Uncannily lifelike AI-generated content. A democracy so divided it’s impossible to know who we can trust. How do we find our way back from a landscape rife with doubles and confusion?

Naomi Klein knows how. A legendary activist and critic described as “one of the few revolutionary public intellectuals of great integrity and vision” (Cornel West), Naomi examines this Mirror World in her new book, Doppelganger. She begins by discussing her own doppelganger, Naomi Wolf—author of The Beauty Myth and once a liberal feminist icon, now turned “an industrial-scale disseminator of vaccine-related medical misinformation”—and what being confused for the “Other Naomi” did to her sense of self. She then turns to the other doubles and sources of disorientation that we’re all experiencing, offering us not only a look at how we got here, but also a way to get ourselves out.

In empathetic talks, Naomi shows us how we can navigate the overlapping crises that have “taken humanity somewhere we have not been before, a place close but different—everything so familiar and yet more than a little off.” Author Judith Butler says that Naomi “moves her reader toward the truer grounds of solidarity in these times, letting ourselves be upended by what we thought we could not bear to see so that we can face and build an affirmative future.”

“Our world has changed but, as if we’re having a collective case of jet lag, most of us are still attuned to the rhythms and habits of the place and selves we left behind,” Naomi says. “It’s past time to find our bearings.”

Watch Naomi explain how to escape the Mirror World and get back to what really matters:

Self-Compassion Is Your Secret Superpower

How do you boost motivation, persevere longer, and become a better performer? The answer is simple, says Kristin Neff: be kind to yourself. The UT Austin professor, who pioneered the field of self-compassion, shares simple and actionable strategies from her bestselling books to help you harness this superpower. Her science-based guidance shows you how to bolster resilience and transform how you work and live.

Watch Kristin’s TEDx talk on self-esteem and self-compassion.

The Skill of “Deep Curiosity” Is Your Key to Connection and Creativity

“Deep curiosity” is our compass to navigating differences, sidestepping negative behaviors, and controlling anxiety, says Scott Shigeoka. Drawing from his research at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center and his eagerly awaited book Seek, Scott shows us how to practice transformative curiosity and develop better workplace teams and personal relationships. When we harness the power of curiosity, we can bridge the disparities we encounter and foster a more inclusive world.

Watch Scott explain how “deep curiosity” differs from shallow curiosity.

Leading Others Starts with Leading—and Talking to—Yourself

The voice inside your head can be your worst critic—but it can also be your best coach, says Ethan Kross, bestselling author of Chatter and University of Michigan professor. In talks, the award-winning psychologist reveals practical steps to becoming your own coach, taking control of the conversations you have with yourself, boosting motivation, overcoming impostor syndrome, and gaining an edge.

Watch Ethan talk about how to stop your inner voice from being cruel.

Anxiety Feels Bad, but It’s Actually Good for You

Anxiety is uncomfortable. But it’s also a vital tool that helps us plan for a hopeful future, says psychologist Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author of Future Tense. Through a new framework for anxiety, real-world examples, and groundbreaking research, Tracy helps us see anxiety (which is just a natural response to uncertainty!) as a tool we can leverage rather than be overwhelmed by—sparking boundless change.

Watch Tracy break down the three steps to using anxiety to your advantage.

The Four Pillars of Meaning Can Help You Find Purpose

Finding our purpose can be transformative, and Emily Esfahani Smith is on a mission to show us how. Drawing from her book The Power of Meaning, she reveals the “four pillars” that can help you develop motivation and grace. In her inspiring talks (like her popular TED Talk with over 5M views!), she offers actionable strategies that help you find meaning in your day-to-day and thrive at work and beyond.

Watch Emily’s viral TED Talk on the power of finding meaning.

In the Story of Your Life, Are You a Side Character—or the Hero?

Don’t let your story be told for you—take control of it, says Lori Gottlieb. The instant New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone and renowned psychotherapist, Lori offers a unique perspective on how we navigate our mental health. If the story you’re telling about your life, your relationships, or your purpose is keeping you stuck—then it’s time for a change.

Watch Lori’s TED Talk on how changing your story can change your life.

Happiness, or Success? Good News: You Don’t Have to Choose

You don’t have to sacrifice your happiness when chasing success, says Dan Lerner. In fact, putting your well-being first helps you do better at work and in life. Dan is a positive psychologist and creator of NYU’s most popular elective, “The Science of Happiness.” His electric talks spark real change in how we see the world, proving that we must prioritize our well-being to unlock our full potential.

Watch Dan talk about how “harmonious passion” is the key to a happier life.

Music Isn’t Just Art. It’s a Tool for Hope and Healing

Music is medicine, says Vijay Gupta—it’s a powerful tool for human well-being. A MacArthur Genius and TED mainstager, Vijay is the founder of Street Symphony, an organization bringing music and art to America’s most disadvantaged communities. “A riveting speaker” (The New Yorker), Vijay shows us the creative ways to revitalize our sense of hope and belonging even in the face of inequality.

Watch Vijay’s TED Talk on how music can spark hope and change the world.

David Eagleman has been called “the kind of guy who really does make being a neuroscientist look like fun” by The New York Times. He’s a popular TED mainstage speaker. He’s been profiled in the New Yorker. He hosted the Emmy-nominated PBS series The Brain. And he’s the national bestselling author of several books, including Incognito and, most recently, Livewired, a look at brain plasticity that Kirkus called “outstanding popular science.” In talks, David offers unique and accessible insights into everything from neuroscience and creativity, to our future in an AI-dominated world, and beyond.

In Inner Cosmos, David employs captivating storytelling, meticulous research, dynamic interviews, and exciting experiments—helping us understand ourselves, and others, better.

Among many topics, he answers the questions:

• Is AI truly intelligent? And is it intelligent in the same way humans are? Traditional intelligence tests are ineffective, so David proposes a new test to help us better answer this question.
• Will writers, artists, and musicians find themselves replaced by AI? (Hint: they won’t!) What are the new capabilities and opportunities emerging instead?
• How does your brain decide what to buy? How is your decision-making influenced by price, emotions, or your friends? (Turns out, all three play a huge part!)

This podcast is more than just a reflection of David’s expertise—it’s a testament to his exceptional ability to narrate the wonders of the human brain.

The legendary South By Southwest conference—an essential collection of film fests, conferences, sessions, and networking opportunities that spotlight creativity globally—is back for 2022, and Lavin’s speakers are showing up in a big way. Here’s a who’s who of the groundbreaking Lavin talent you’ll find on the SXSW stage:

Jessica Nordell’s brilliant career as a science and culture journalist led her to tackle one of the biggest issues that divides us today: bias and all the ways that it keeps us from living in a fair, just society. Her work in The End of Bias was shortlisted for the Lukas Prize for Excellence in Nonfiction and the Royal Society Science Book Prize, and it was named a Best Book of the Year by the World Economic Forum, Greater Good, AARP, and Inc.

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman is the head editor of The Black Agenda, the first book of its kind: it brings together three dozen Black experts in disciplines from economics and climate change to education, fighting for bold solutions to our big problems. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be Antiracist, lauded that Anna’s book “will challenge what you think is possible.”

Wajahat Ali is the warm, funny, bitingly incisive New York Times writer, TED Talk hero, and author of Go Back to Where You Came From—his heartful, honest, uproarious memoir that bestselling author Timothy Snyder said “belongs on your bookshelf next to Mark Twain and James Baldwin.”

Deepa Purushothaman was the first Indian-American woman to make partner at Deloitte and she knows what it means to be the rare woman of color in a team or company. Now she’s teaching us what she learned from her journey in The First, the Few, the Only, an urgent, warm guidebook for women of color who want to rediscover their unique power in the workplace.

Alexandra Samuel wrote the book about hybrid work—some days at the office, some days remote—giving us a prophetic road map to the future of professional life. Arianna Huffington called Alex’s brilliant and practical strategies in Remote Inc. a “timely guide to how we can recharge, reset, and bring our full attention to work”, no matter where we are.

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman is the editor of The Black Agenda: the first ever book to bring together dozens of Black writers, scholars, and leaders to solve today’s most pressing social issues, from economics to education to climate change. The Black Agenda “will challenge what you think is possible” (Ibram X. Kendi, New York Times bestselling author).

America needs help. We’re confronting police brutality, the resurgence of white supremacy, and COVID’s disproportionate effect on Black communities. What’s next? How do we fix this?

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman decided to bring together some of the country’s brightest, most engaged Black voices to figure out the solutions. The result is The Black Agenda (out now!), a profound and fearless vision for how we can reckon with and root out centuries of oppression.

Anna’s book tackles the big problems we face today, from economics and healthcare, to education and climate action: she asks radical questions and draws out dramatic and courageous answers that reveal how all of these problems are related to racism—and what we need to do to solve them. It’s an “inclusive, edifying, often fiery assembly” (Kirkus Reviews) of new thoughts that point the way to a new America.

Wajahat Ali was just an ordinary Muslim kid in Husky jeans—but after 9/11, he was called a terrorist. Ali’s new book is a funny, emotional, insightful dive into what happened to America and what we need to do if we want to trust each other again.

Twenty years ago, Muslims replaced communists as America’s public enemy #1. Wajahat Ali, then a student—in love with sports, comic books, and Winona Ryder—suddenly became an “accidental spokesman and ambassador” of all things Muslim. Ali’s Go Back to Where You Came From (out now!) is the story of what happened next and where we are today, offering a deeply personal and human story alongside sharp commentary about the growing danger of Islamophobia and white supremacy we see all around us.

But more than anything, Ali wants to give us hope. We’ve all got to help each other, he says, and his book shows us the power of immigrants and people of color coming together in community. Filled with “brazen wit, rigorous analysis, and searing insight” (Suleika Jaouad, New York Times bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms), Ali’s inspirational storytelling points the way to a brighter and more inclusive future for his beloved country.

Violeta tells the epic story of a woman who bears witness to modern history’s greatest upheavals, starting with the Spanish flu and ending with the coronavirus.

Violeta is one of the most anticipated books of 2022 because Isabel Allende brings her uniquely magical voice to our most pressing modern problems—while dealing with the weight of history that we all feel on our shoulders. “My intention was to use the pandemics as bookends to the century that Violeta lives through, which is the century my mother lived [through],” explains Allende, who cites her mother’s death two years earlier as her inspiration for writing the book. “My mother was a wonderful person but she didn’t have an extraordinary life. Violeta lives in a way I wish my mother could have done.”

Violeta’s heroine is shaped by all the big events that defined the past hundred years: wars, the rise and fall of tyrants, economic depressions, the fight for women’s rights, and yes, pandemics. But Violeta refuses to be defined or defeated by the world’s ups and downs. She remains passionate and determined through it all, using her humor to ride the waves of heartbreak, joy, poverty, and loss that she faces in her inspiring journey.

Violeta is the latest masterpiece by a true literary icon, and it’s widely available January 25th.

If you’ve ever experienced the ‘mental jet-lag’ that comes from juggling too many devices, tabs, and social networks—Johann Hari’s new book Stolen Focus is for you.

Your ability to pay attention is broken—but it’s not your fault. Your attention is slipping because its profitable for powerful companies, argues New York Times bestselling author Johann Hari in his masterful book Stolen Focus. He traveled all over the world, from Miami to Moscow, interviewing the leading experts about our diminishing ability to focus, and what it means for our future. Daring and visionary, Johann’s findings reveal how we can fight back against the dangers of this attention crisis on our humanity.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Adam Grant writes: “Stolen Focus won’t just capture your attention—it will keep you thinking and rethinking long after you’ve finished it.”

Stolen Focus is available everywhere you buy books on January 25th.

Upon hearing of the passing of immensely influential biologist Edward O. Wilson, Lavin joins the multitude of world leaders, prominent scientists, and distinguished environmentalists in recognizing his abundant contributions to the study of the natural world.

“A wonderful friend and client for over 30 years,” writes our founder and CEO David Lavin, “Ed was a treasure in every sense of the word. The world has lost a unique soul.”

A two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, beloved Harvard professor, author of over 30 books, and one of the world’s leading authorities on natural history and conservation, Edward leaves behind a profound legacy of inspiring others to care for the natural world as he did. His significant scientific contributions made him a visionary on multiple fronts, from the study of biological diversity and entomology, to the evolution of behavior and the discovery of hundreds of new species—leading to his citation as Charles Darwin’s greatest 20th century heir. Later in life, Edward also took up the cause of environmentalism, highlighting the need to preserve our rich biodiversity.

“Ed’s holy grail was the sheer delight of the pursuit of knowledge,” shared Paula J. Ehrlich, CEO and President of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. “A relentless synthesizer of ideas, his courageous scientific focus and poetic voice transformed our way of understanding ourselves and our planet…His gift was a deep belief in people and our shared human resolve to save the natural world.”

As Edward ​​once said, “You are capable of more than you know…Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.”

To book speaker Lori Gottlieb for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency today, her exclusive speakers bureau.  

The ideas that change the world are those that reach the largest number of people, says John List: a leading economist at The University of Chicago, and the Chief Economist at ride-share giant Lyft. But how can we make sure our best ideas reach our desired audiences? Thankfully, there are vital attributes that all “scalable” ideas possess—and List is uniquely equipped to share them, as one of Lavin’s newest speakers.  

Book leading economist John List to boost innovation at your organization, today. Contact The Lavin Agency, his exclusive speakers bureau, for more information.

At the heart of creating change lies a deep and often destructive assumption that can thwart our best efforts at innovation: it’s the conventional belief that the best way to get people to embrace our idea, is to increase the appeal of the idea itself. However, this approach neglects the psychological “frictions” that hold us back, despite all of the benefits. Helping us demystify the forces that propel and prevent innovation is LORAN NORDGREN, professor at the Kellogg School of Management and Lavin’s newest speaker. 

As an award-winning organizational psychologist, Loran Nordgren offers us a new way of thinking about change—helping us move from a “fuel-based mindset” that focuses on persuading our audience, to a more balanced approach that also considers how we can help them overcome their natural resistance. Friction, unchecked, is the reason why even our strongest ideas face rejection (despite their clear value). But, as Nordgren reveals, friction itself can be forecasted and transformed into a catalyst for propelling our innovation forward.
 
In captivating talks and his brand new book The Human Element, Nordgren teaches us to disarm the forces of resistance that act against change. His paradigm-shifting frameworks—particularly timely in a society facing momentous upheaval—will help leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyone else improve their odds of success. Fellow Lavin Speaker Francesca Gino, an award-winning Harvard Business School professor, innovation expert, and author, calls it: “Insightful and engaging, […] a must read for anyone who wants to successfully launch a project, a product, or an idea.” 

Bring your best ideas to life with speaker Loran Nordgren at your next event. Contact The Lavin Agency, his exclusive speakers bureau, today. 

To book author Andrea Elliot for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency today, and speak to one of our agents.

We’re moving towards the post-pandemic world, but the collective grief, trauma, and suffering of the last two years still lingers. New Lavin speaker John Kaag, the Chair of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, shows us how we can process our feelings post-crisis, find hope and strength to move on, and actively pursue a life worth living.  

Discover how to live a meaningful life by booking speaker John Kaag for your next event. Contact The Lavin Agency for more information.

In her deeply personal book The First, the Few, the Only (forthcoming), Deepa Purushothaman reveals her experience as an Indian-American woman in the corporate world. Joining The Lavin Agency as a new speaker, she offers this real-world experience as a guiding light for organizations looking to evolve—creating diversity, equity, and inclusion measures that actually work. 

Discover how work can be truly inclusive for all. Book speaker Deepa Purushothaman today by contacting The Lavin Agency today.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to essential workers and our utter dependence on them, there were countless ethically troubling jobs being performed out of sight. Imprisoning criminals. Slaughtering animals. Fighting wars. In his masterful new book Dirty Work, Eyal Press explores jobs that are both essential and, at the same time, morally compromised.  

To book speaker Eyal Press for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency today, his exclusive speakers bureau. 

This past year has taught us that sudden, unexpected change may always be just around the corner. And although this might sound scary, success is waiting for those who can let go of protecting yesterday’s status quo. Helping us find the courage to do just that is Jason Feifer—the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and Lavin’s newest speaker. Immersed in dialogue with some of the world’s most influential change-makers, Feifer teaches us how to get out of our own way and embrace the future.  

Learn how the future can be yours with Jason Feifer. Contact The Lavin Agency, his exclusive speakers bureau.

Long before self-compassion had become common parlance, DR. KRISTIN NEFF was leading pioneering research in the field. Countless studies have been published since her first groundbreaking book Self-Compassion, and today, she reshapes our understanding once more with her new release: Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive. 

With the rise of movements like #MeToo, and the guidance of leaders like Kristin Neff, we are gradually learning to acknowledge that our self-compassion must be fierce as well as tender. “When we hold our pain with fierce, empowered truth, we can speak up and tell our stories, to protect ourselves and others from being harmed,” explains Neff. By balancing both sides of our compassion, we can unlock the rewards of lasting happiness and a healthier society.
 
Ensuring our own needs are met will also make us better leaders, employees, and caregivers by boosting productivity, tackling burnout, and tapping into our full potential. Although Neff’s messaging is geared toward women, Fierce Self-Compassion offers actionable insights for how everyone can celebrate their inner voice and liberate the fierceness of their true nature.
 
“The authoritative guide to self-compassion for women by the field’s pioneering founder and leading spokesperson. Through her science and compelling personal story, Kristin Neff shows us how and why to be kind to ourselves.” —Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit
 
Fierce Self-Compassion is now available everywhere you buy books.

Learn how to claim your power and thrive with Kristin Neff—contact The Lavin Agency today. 

The pandemic brought its share of hardships, but also enabled the most beloved writers in young adult literature to collaborate on a new novel. Blackout features six award-winning, Black, female authors—including two Lavin Speakers: New York Times bestselling authors ANGIE THOMAS and NIC STONE. 

Blackout proves to be a groundbreaking book—not only thanks to the influential clout of its authors, but because of its revolutionary focus on Black joy. Standing in uplifting contrast to today’s news headlines and narratives of police brutality, both Angie Thomas and Nic Stone bring a celebratory tone to their contributions. Together, their message validates the Black youth experience—reminding young readers that they deserve to see themselves reflected in stories of joy. “We, Black people, are more than struggle or hardship,” says Thomas. Stone adds, “There is no fiercer form of rebellion than telling love stories about kids who are often told they’re unworthy of them, at a time like the one we’re living in.” In the midst of a world that inundates youth with narratives of adversity, Thomas and Stone offer a hopeful, urgent message—that life fuels art, art mirrors life, and books can change lives.
 
In addition to Thomas and Stone, Blackout features authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, who together, bring “a necessary elation to stories of Black love, queer love, and alternative forms of affection, all of which are all tenderly highlighted in these narratives” (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review).
 
Blackout is available everywhere you buy books on June 22nd. 

Address social injustice with speakers Angie Thomas and Nic Stone—contact The Lavin Agency today.

2020 was a year of confusion for America, but ultimately clarity—further exposing the nation’s blatant inequalities and deepening societal rifts. The year left Americans across the country in despair about what was next for their country and its democratic ideals. In his new book Last Best Hope, acclaimed journalist and New York Times bestselling author GEORGE PACKER offers a timely diagnosis of this descent into a failed state, and illuminates a path toward overcoming these injustices, paralyses and divides. 

Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal is available everywhere you buy books on June 15^th.

There is perhaps no one more qualified to advise you on the ins-and-outs of creative leadership than new Lavin speaker Greg Hoffman. Throughout his 20+ years at Nike, Hoffman helped lead the sporting giant’s most innovative branding, marketing, and design efforts—from the Emmy Award-winning Colin Kaepernick campaign to the most remembered ad of the 2016 Olympics. His talks teach you how to use creativity to lead stronger teams, produce better work, and leave a legacy that changes the world. 

To book speaker Greg Hoffman for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency today, his exclusive speakers’ bureau.  

To live in data is to be incessantly extracted from; to be classified and categorized, statisti-fied, sold and surveilled. Our data is mined and processed for profit, power and political gain. Our clicks, likes and virtual footsteps feed new digital methods of control. In his new hit book Living in Data: A Citizen’s Guide to a Better Information Future, Jer Thorp asks a crucial question of our time: how do we stop passively inhabiting data, and become active citizens of it?

Jer Thorp brings his work as a data artist to bear on an exploration of our current and future relationship with data, transcending facts and figures to find new, more visceral ways to engage with data. Threading a data story through hippo attacks, glaciers, and school gymnasiums; around colossal rice piles and over active minefields, Living in Data keeps humanity front and center. Thorp reminds us that the future of data is still wide open; that there are stories to be told about how data can be used, and by whom.

Living in Data not only redefines what data is, but re-imagines how it might be truly public, who gets to speak its language, and how, using its power, new institutions and spaces might be created to serve individuals and communities. 

Living in Data: A Citizen’s Guide to a Better Information Future is available everywhere you buy books. 

Looking for a speaker to help examine our ongoing dynamic with the data that defines us? Find out how to book Jer Thorp by contacting The Lavin Agency today. 

In her new book Dream First, Details Later (out April 27th), Ellen Bennett—the founder and CEO of multi-million-dollar kitchen wear brand Hedley & Bennett—shows you why you don’t need the perfect plan to make your next big idea a reality. You just need to start.

In Resurrecting Retail (OUT TODAY!), internationally renowned futurist and bestselling author Doug Stephens not only explores the massive upheaval happening in retail today; he also outlines an inspiring and actionable plan for its future in the post-pandemic world.  

To book retail speaker Doug Stephens for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency today, his exclusive speakers bureau. 

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.

Interested in learning more? Check out the Politics & Society page, or contact The Lavin Agency for more information on booking a speaker for a virtual event. 

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 something here for everyone on your list!

Abdul El-Sayed: Abdul El Sayed’s debut Healing Politics is an exciting blend of memoir, science, and public policy. From his unique perspective as both an epidemiologist and a rising voice in progressive politics, El-Sayed diagnoses the challenges facing America and lays out a bold path forward.   

Margaret Atwood: Fans were treated with not one, but two books from the inimitable Margaret Atwood recently: the Booker Prize-winning sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments; and her first poetry collection in over a decade, Dearly. While the former speaks for itself, the latter is a beautiful and haunting selection of poems touching on love, loss, humanity, nature, and even the supernatural.

Salman Rushdie: Described as “an epic Don Quixote for the modern age,” Salman Rushdie’s 14th novel Quichotte is a brilliant, multi-layered satirical work. Though released in pre-COVID times, this sharp and wickedly funny novel—named one of the best books of the year by both TIME and NPR—somehow perfectly reflects the absurdity of 2020.

Laura Huang: One of America’s top business professors, Laura Huang knows that other people’s perceptions of us can make or break our success. In her book Edge, she reveals how we can leverage our strengths and our flaws to develop a unique “edge” that will set us apart from the rest.

Erin Meyer: While many businesses struggled during the pandemic, a few notable outliers shined. Netflix was one of them. In No Rules Rules, co-founder Reed Hastings teams up with business mastermind Erin Meyer to break down the streaming giant’s famously radical work culture. Intelligent and compulsively readable, No Rules Rules is a no-brainer gift choice for the entrepreneur in your life.

Gabby Rivera: Gabby Rivera’s queer coming-of-age story Juliet Takes a Breath occurs over one magical summer in Portland, Oregon, and explores important themes of race, identity, and self-love. Most recently, the bestselling YA book was adapted into a graphic novel that fans of comics and Rivera’s other work (which includes penning Marvel’s first queer, latinx superhero America Chavez) will love.

Peter Mansbridge: Iconic broadcaster Peter Mansbridge returns to his specialty—intimate, one-on-one interviews—for his new book Extraordinary Canadians. The inspiring collection features stories from remarkable citizens across the country, including an essential worker on the frontlines of the COVID crisis. It is a book filled with kindness, compassion, and heart, reminding us all what it really means to be Canadian.

James Nestor: One of Lavin’s newest speakers, James Nestor is an acclaimed science journalist and contributor for the likes of Scientific American, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. The last few years, he’s been investigating an often overlooked and misunderstood, but definitely essential, pillar of health: breathing! The result is his instant New York Times bestseller Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art. Fascinating, funny, and intriguing, this well-researched book not only reveals how humans lost the ability to breathe properly, but how even slight adjustments to our breathing habits can profoundly improve our lives.

Lori Gottlieb: Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb’s smash hit Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a book that every single human being could read and learn something from. Both deeply personal and universally relatable, this beautiful memoir chronicles Gottlieb’s journey as a therapist undergoing therapy. The lessons she learns about herself and her patients along the way are humorous, humbling, and touching. Beyond spending an astonishing amount of time on the New York Times bestseller list, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone was named one of the 100 Must-Read Books of the year by TIME and will soon be adapted for television.

Margo Lee Shetterly: If you watched the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures but somehow missed the #1 New York Times bestselling book it was based on, now is the time to catch up. Margot Lee Shetterly tells the sweeping story of three African American women who were crucial for realizing some of America’s greatest achievements in space. The book is a triumphant (and true!) story of overcoming obstacles and challenges in the pursuit of excellence.

Jeremy Gutsche: As the CEO of the world’s largest trend-spotting platform, Jeremy Gutsche is  skilled in finding patterns and moments of opportunity where others see only chaos. His latest book, Create the Future, helps us break our path dependency and innovate during one of the most unpredictable years in recent history.

Janna Levin: For the science lover in your life, there is no better book than Janna Levin’s Black Hole Survival Guide. A gifted astrophysicist and writer, Levin takes readers on a visceral tour of space, including into one of the most mysterious and popular modern phenomena: the black hole. But forget the jargon—with her poetic and absorbing prose, Levin allows even non-scientists to appreciate the never-ending magic of the cosmos.  

Shoshana Zuboff: Shoshana Zuboff’s Surveillance Capitalism is less of a book, and more of a tome: a lengthy and spectacular exploration of how the modern giants of capitalism are using technology to possess, alter, and commodify human behavior. A brilliant and critical thinker, Zuboff maps out the sprawling systems that work together, often hidden in plain sight, to gradually encroach on our free will in the name of profit and consumerism. Named one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2019, Surveillance Capitalism is a must-read for anyone concerned about how their data is being used.

Interested in booking one of these talented authors for your next virtual event? Contact The Lavin Agency and speak with one of our knowledgeable sales agents.

To learn more about speaker Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman and how to book her for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency, her exclusive speakers bureau. 

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 presidency? These Lavin Speakers help us make sense of today’s most vital political news. 

Interested in learning more? Check out the Politics & Society page, or contact The Lavin Agency for more information on booking a speaker for a virtual event.

The Lavin Agency is proud to announce its new speaker and white supremacy historian, Kathleen Belew. Author of Bring the War Home, Kathleen shows us that with a sustained attention to the white supremacist violence of our past, we can avoid future terrorist attacks designed to undermine American democracy.

The Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 was the largest deliberate mass casualty on Amercian soil between Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Yet unlike those actions, most people don’t understand what that attack was, and what it meant. It was not the work of “lone wolves,” but rather the crescendo of a string of violent attacks perpetrated by a broad, deeply networked social movement: the white power movement. This was a movement that brought together an array of Klan, neo-Nazi skinhead, and militia activists in outright war on the federal government.

We are now decades, if not generations, into this activism, which has killed Americans, damaged infrastructure, and represents the single largest terrorist threat to the United States. And we still don’t fully understand it. As a white supremacy expert, Kathleen decodes the movement’s worldview, actions, and planned attack on America, and teaches us how to prevent it from destroying the democracy we so cherish. 

Psychologist Angela Duckworth is the world’s leading expert on grit—the coveted quality that’s a better indicator of success than talent, or even IQ. Defined by Duckworth as a blend of passion and perseverance over the course of long-term goals, grit has enormous benefits that go beyond just performance. Below, she shares how it can help us cope—and thrive—during COVID-19.

As we grapple with the ongoing, collective trauma of the pandemic, we could all stand to cultivate more grit. Why? Because when bad things happen unexpectedly, part of having grit is being able to navigate those stormy waters, explains #1 New York Times bestselling author Angela Duckworth. Another bonus? Really “gritty” people tend to look for opportunities to learn and grow during challenging times. That means that when the crisis is over, they won’t be where they were before it all started—they’ll actually be better off. Best of all, it’s never too late to develop grit, or gritty qualities like self-control, tenacity, and stamina, because people never stop developing.

Check out our Surviving COVID-19 page, or contact The Lavin Agency for more information about booking a speaker. 

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 that will no doubt impact all of our futures. With less than a week to go, we’ve rounded up what our brilliant Lavin Speakers have been saying, writing, and doing to prepare for arguably the most important election of our lifetimes.

Interested in booking a Politics Speaker for your next virtual event? Check out our Politics & Society Speaker Page or contact The Lavin Agency for more information.  

If you’ve landed on this page, it’s probably because you’re a thinker, a reader, and a do-er who cares about making the world a better place. We do too. That’s why we’re proud to introduce the Lavin Book Club: an online community for people who never want to stop learning, powered by ideas that change the world.  

Last month, we invited Stanford neuroscientist David Eagleman for a live Q&A to celebrate the launch of his most recent book Livewired. For those of you who missed it (or those of you who wanted more!) we’re happy to announce that Livewired will also be our first book club pick for the month of October. 

Join the conversation on Instagram, Facebook, or Goodreads, and use the hashtag #LavinBookClub as you follow along with us. 

To book speaker David Eagleman for your next virtual event, contact The Lavin Agency today, his exclusive speakers bureau. 

What will become of in-person events, now that the business world is acclimating to the affordability and accessibility of virtual events? The Lavin Agency’s Founder and CEO David Lavin considers the future of the industry he’s so passionate about. 

We’re all familiar with the story. In the year 2000, Blockbuster turned down the chance to purchase a fledgling DVD rental company with its sights set on the future. Unfortunately for Blockbuster, that unknown upstart grew to become the streaming giant we all know and love: Netflix. What’s less obvious is how a plucky start-up like Netflix transformed itself into a billion-dollar company—one that revolutionized the entertainment industry, and captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe.

In No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention, co-founder Reed Hastings joins forces with influential business professor Erin Meyer to answer that question. Together, they break down the unorthodox principles—then unknown and untested—that propelled Netflix to such extraordinary heights. This is a company with no vacation or expense policies. A company that values performance above hard work, and rewards it accordingly. A place where employees don’t try to please their boss, but instead feel empowered to give their candid feedback. Needless to say, it’s not your average organization.

Once named one of the top 30 HR professionals in the world, Meyer lays out the controversial ideologies learned at Netflix for leaders hoping to generate more speed, agility, and innovation in their own organizations.

To book speaker Erin Meyer for your next virtual event, contact The Lavin Agency, her exclusive speakers bureau.