Decorah residents will have a chance to hear New York Times bestselling author David Epstein discuss education, creativity and adapting to changing careers when he speaks at Luther College on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. His free-for-Luther-community lecture begins at 7 p.m. in Main Hall at the college’s Center for Faith and Life.
The event is open to Luther College students, employees and the general public. It is supported by the Elwin D. and Helen Farwell Distinguished Lecture Series Endowment and is expected to focus on the value of broad-based learning in a world where careers and workplaces continue to change.
Tickets and admission information
Luther students, faculty, staff, emeriti faculty and retired staff may attend at no charge by presenting a valid Luther College identification card. Members of the public can 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 ticket office is located at the Center for Faith and Life, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101.
Regular ticket-office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Thursday hours extending to 7 p.m. On the day of the lecture, the office will be open from 9 a.m. until the program. Saturday show-day hours begin at 1 p.m. The office phone number is 563-387-1357, and the listed email address is [email protected].
Epstein’s case for generalists
Epstein is expected to draw from his book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. The book questions whether narrow specialization is always the strongest path to high performance, especially in careers that are complex, unpredictable or difficult to automate.
According to Luther College, Epstein will discuss how a liberal arts education can help students think flexibly and expansively. The college says broad study can build awareness, perception, critical thinking and creativity while giving graduates tools to respond to a changing world.
The subject reflects Luther’s educational approach. President Brad Chamberlain said, “At Luther College, we know that the best preparation for an uncertain future is a broad course of study that develops whole persons,” He also said 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.”
Books, signing and speaker background
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. It 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 lecture. Epstein plans to sign books after his presentation.
Chamberlain said Epstein’s books reflect Luther’s emphasis 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 been recognized by 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. His TED Talks have been viewed more than 12 million times. Epstein holds master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism and is a runner who held a Columbia University record and was twice named NCAA All-East in the 800-meter event.
For Decorah, the Sept. 24 program will provide a public discussion of education, career preparation, creativity and adaptation. Luther students and employees can reserve free admission with valid college identification, while other attendees can obtain general-seating tickets through the Luther Ticket Office.