Decorah residents and Luther College students will have an opportunity to hear New York Times bestselling author David Epstein make the case for a broad-based education when he visits campus Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Epstein’s lecture, titled around the value of a liberal arts education, is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall at Luther College. The event is supported by the Elwin D. and Helen Farwell Distinguished Lecture Series Endowment.
Tickets and event information
Luther students, faculty, staff, emeriti faculty and retired staff may attend without charge by showing a Luther College ID card. Members of the public may purchase general-seating tickets for $10 each, plus transaction fees.
Tickets are available through the Luther Ticket Office and online at tickets.luther.edu. The Luther Ticket Office is located at the Center for Faith and Life, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101. The office lists regular hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Thursday hours extending to 7 p.m. Show-day hours run from 9 a.m. until the performance, while Saturday show-day hours begin at 1 p.m. The ticket office can be reached at 563-387-1357 or [email protected].
Why Epstein says generalists matter
Epstein is expected to draw on his book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. His argument challenges the idea that narrow specialization is always the best route to high performance, particularly in careers that are complex, unpredictable or difficult to automate.
According to Luther College, Epstein will explain how a liberal arts curriculum can help students think flexibly and expansively. The college says that kind of education builds graduates’ awareness, perception, critical thinking and creativity while giving them tools to adapt in a changing world.
The lecture also connects directly to Luther’s educational approach. Luther College President Brad Chamberlain said the school views broad study and a sense of purpose as preparation for an uncertain future.
“At Luther College, we know that the best preparation for an uncertain future is a broad course of study that develops whole persons,”
Chamberlain also said that a guiding purpose can help students become global citizens prepared to contribute to the world.
“We also understand how nurturing a guiding purpose inspires and equips students with the tools and dispositions to be global citizens working to make a difference in the world.”
Book sales and signing planned after the lecture
Epstein’s newest book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, was published in May 2026 and became an instant New York Times bestseller. The book examines how limits and restrictions can encourage creativity, collaboration, contentment, resilience and reinvention in changing business environments.
Copies of both Range and Inside the Box are expected to be available for purchase in the Center for Faith and Life lobby before and after the event. Epstein plans to sign books after his presentation.
Chamberlain said Epstein’s two bestselling books reinforce the value Luther places on connecting ideas across fields and applying disciplined thinking to difficult problems.
“With his two New York Times best sellers, David Epstein affirms the impact of Luther’s approach to learning, explaining why generalists triumph in a specialized world and how a disciplined approach to analyzing, connecting and formulating ideas enable us to engage society’s most pressing challenges and identify innovative solutions,”
Before becoming an author, Epstein worked as a science and investigative reporter at ProPublica and as a senior writer at Sports Illustrated. His writing has received recognition from organizations including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the Society of Professional Journalists; and the National Center on Disability and Journalism. His work has also appeared in the Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology.
Epstein’s TED Talks have been viewed more than 12 million times. He holds master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism. He is also a runner who held a Columbia University record and was twice named NCAA All-East in the 800-meter event.
The Sept. 24 program gives the Decorah community access to a public discussion about education, career preparation, creativity and adaptation, while offering Luther students and employees free admission with valid college identification.