Book Society Speakers

Dr. Arthur C. Brooks is a Professor at Harvard University (Kennedy School and Business School) and a #1 NYT bestselling author of over a dozen books, including From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want (with Oprah Winfrey). As a former President of the AEI and a national columnist for The Atlantic, he is a sought-after speaker on Leadership & Happiness in Times of Rapid Change. He provides a framework for cultivating satisfaction, enjoyment, and meaning through science, faith, and daily practice.

Bruce Schneier is a leading security technologist and the bestselling author of over a dozen books, including Applied Cryptography and Click Here to Kill Everybody. He is a Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and one of the world's foremost security experts. A highly sought-after speaker, he provides refreshingly candid analysis on our hyper-connected era. His keynotes lay out common-sense policies for organizations and governments to reap the benefits of the digital age without falling prey to the consequences of its inherent insecurity and risks of unchecked data collection.

Dr. Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and Professor at NYU Stern School of Business. He is the bestselling author of books like The Righteous Mind and The Anxious Generation, focusing on the intuitive foundations of morality and societal division. His research has been instrumental in co-founding initiatives like HeterodoxAcademy.org and The Constructive Dialogue Institute. His highly-sought after talks provide critical insights into political polarization, the decline of teen mental health due to social media, and strategies for building constructive dialogue across profound moral differences.

Leymah Gbowee is the recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize and a Liberian peace activist known for leading the nonviolent movement that ended Liberia’s civil war. Her story is chronicled in the memoir Mighty Be Our Powers and the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell. She is the founder of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, which focuses on educational and leadership development for women and youth. As a speaker, she shares her powerful, firsthand experience on nonviolent resistance, conflict transformation, and the necessity of women's strategic participation in global peace and security governance.

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel Peace Laureate in history, a Pakistani education activist, and the co-founder of the Malala Fund. She is a global symbol of resilience and the right to education. She is the author of the international bestseller I Am Malala. Her advocacy has earned her numerous honors, including the Sakharov Prize, and has transformed into a global movement that champions gender equality and universal access to quality education.

Lance Armstrong is the founder of Next Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on health and wellness, and the host of the chart-topping podcasts THEMOVE and The Forward. He is a former world-champion cyclist and a leading voice on mental endurance and overcoming adversity. During his tenure with Livestrong, the foundation raised over $500 million for cancer research and support. His compelling and candid talks champion the power of resiliency and make no subject off-limits, offering hard-learned lessons that are applicable to business, personal development, and overcoming life's most formidable challenges.

Rachel Botsman is a leading expert on trust, a bestselling author, and a former Trust Fellow at Oxford University. She is globally recognized for her insights on societal change, technology, and work culture. Her influential books, including Who Can You Trust? and How to Trust & Be Trusted, are translated into 14 languages. As a speaker, she combines warm storytelling with clear insights, providing audiences with actionable strategies to build credibility, foster trust in digital environments, and empower the next generation to make informed decisions about technology and trust.

Sadhguru is a Yogi, Mystic, and Global Thought Leader who founded the Isha Foundation, which has touched the lives of millions worldwide through transformational programs and social welfare projects. The internationally renowned speaker has addressed the United Nations World Headquarters and the World Economic Forum. His unique ability to make ancient yogic sciences relevant to modern minds provides audiences with powerful, non-dogmatic methods for inner transformation, leadership, and personal well-being.

Yuval Noah Harari is a historian and philosopher, and the author of the international bestseller Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, which has sold over 50 million copies. His books have been recommended by prominent figures and have been translated into 65 languages. As a speaker, Harari draws on his extensive research to address topics like the future of humanity, the impact of AI, and the challenges of the 21st century. His talks offer a thought-provoking analysis of our past and present, providing audiences with a clear understanding of the major forces shaping our future.

Kailash Satyarthi is a Nobel Peace Laureate (2014) and the founder of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement). He has personally liberated over 138,000 children from child labor and exploitation. A worldwide campaigner, he spearheaded the Global March Against Child Labour and successfully led the movement to make education a constitutional right in India. His talks champion the power of compassionate action and detail the relentless efforts required to eliminate violence against the most vulnerable.

Professor Muhammad Yunus is a Nobel Peace Laureate (2006) and the founder of Grameen Bank and the concept of social business. Fortune Magazine named him "one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time" for his constant innovation. He is one of only seven individuals in history to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. His books, including A World of Three Zeroes, provide a blueprint for a new kind of capitalism based on zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions.

Dan Buettner is a National Geographic Fellow and #1 New York Times bestselling author who discovered the world’s "Blue Zones"—the regions of exceptional longevity. He is the Host and Co-producer of the Emmy-winning Netflix series, Live to 100. He is a 3x Guinness World Record holder for distance cycling, lending credibility to his focus on health and endurance. As a keynote speaker, Buettner provides research-backed strategies on longevity, well-being, and happiness, and the core lifestyle changes needed to dramatically improve the health of entire communities.

Alison McCauley is a globally recognized AI expert and the founder/CEO of Unblocked Future. Her work focuses on empowering businesses and individuals to leverage the potential of Artificial Intelligence ethically and profitably. The author of Unblocked, her expertise is sought after by organizations undergoing tech-driven transformations. Her keynotes clarify the current AI landscape, future developments, and offer actionable advice to promote the ethical and responsible use of AI for business value.

Ben Hammersley is a top global futurist, the inventor of the term 'podcast,' and the Editor-at-Large of WIRED UK. He is a strategic advisor to three governments and the European Commission on technology and media. The author of 64 Things You Need to Know Now For Then, his expertise spans Cybersecurity, AI, and Big Data. His keynotes deliver practical, practice-changing messages on sustainable leadership and innovation across five continents, drawing from his unique personal experiences in war reporting, genomic science, and disaster response.

Dr. Jared Diamond is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and scientist, celebrated for his works Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse. His research synthesizes history, evolutionary biology, and anthropology to understand the trajectory of human civilizations. As a keynote speaker, Dr. Diamond draws on his profound understanding of historical patterns to provide urgent and persuasive insights into modern societal challenges. His talks focus on learning lessons from the past, particularly regarding conflict resolution and risk management, to create a more prosperous future.

Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan is a Professor at UCLA and the Founder of the Digital Cultures Lab. He is a leading expert on the future of the internet and how technology and innovation can foster global democracy and economic security. His books, including Beyond the Valley (named a Top Ten 2019 Tech Book by Forbes), argue that a fairer internet is possible by leveraging global ingenuity. As a speaker, he provides critical, cross-disciplinary insights on AI/automation, digital ethics, and the complex US vs. China AI Space Race.

Dr. Hannah Fry is a mathematician, Professor at UCL’s Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, and a prominent TV and radio host. She studies patterns in human behavior and the mathematical structures of social problems. Her critically acclaimed book, Hello World: How to be human in the age of the machine, won the 2020 Asimov Prize. As a speaker, she uses her intellectual insight and wit to demystify complex concepts, empowering audiences to question and shape the future of our lives and society.

Christopher Wylie is the whistleblower of Cambridge Analytica and an expert on the misuse of data, AI, and cyberwarfare. His revelations forced global legislative hearings and a major overhaul of Silicon Valley privacy practices. The Director of Research for H&M, Wylie is a strategic advisor on the practical applications of AI in business, supply chain management, and quantifying fashion style. As a speaker, he uses his signature candor to make complex topics like weaponized algorithms and cyber resilience compelling and actionable for executive audiences.