Culture + Arts Speakers

Deep thinkers, artists, and influencers comprise our roster of arts author speakers. They share what’s new, captivating, and currently influencing cultural conversations.

Jane Fonda

Award-winning actress, bestselling author of My Life So Far, and fitness expert

Philippe Petit

Famous french high-wire artist and author of Creativity: The Perfect Crime

Alice Waters

Chef, author, activist and founder of Chez Panisse restaurant and the Edible Schoolyard Project

More Culture + Arts Speakers

Kate Betts

Fashion and style expert, author of Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style and the memoir My Paris Dream

Ayse Birsel

Award-winning designer, co-founder of Birsel + Seck and author of Design the Life You Love

Peter Buffett

Emmy Award-winning musician, author, and philanthropist

Ron Chernow

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Washington: A Life and Alexander Hamilton

Thomas Dyja

Author of The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream

Lisa Gardner

#1 New York Times-bestselling crime thriller novelist

Masha Gessen

Russian and U.S. journalist, activist, and author of the National Book Award-winning The Future is History

Annabelle Gurwitch

New York Times Bestselling author, humorist, popular television host and storyteller.

Mohsin Hamid

Bestselling author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, and Exit West

Lesley Hazleton

Award-winning journalist, historian, blogger, and author of The First Muslim

Madhur Jaffrey

Cookbook author, actress, and world authority on Indian cuisine

Chang-rae Lee

New York Times-bestselling author of The Surrendered and Native Speaker

Amanda Lucidon

Obama White House photographer, award-winning filmmaker, and New York Times-bestselling author

Joan Nathan

Expert in Jewish American cuisine and James Beard Award-winning author of Jewish Cooking in America

Josh Neufeld

Award-winning comics journalist and author of A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge

David Owen

The New Yorker staff writer and author of Green Metropolis and The Conundrum

Najla Said

Actress, playwright and author of the memoir Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family

Will Schwalbe

New York Times-bestselling author of The End of Your Life Book Club

David Allen Sibley

The world's leading authority on birds and birding; author and illustrator