New York Times bestselling author David Epstein to discuss the value of a liberal arts education on Sept. 24

David Epstein

Luther College is pleased to announce New York Times bestselling author David Epstein will give a lecture about the value of a liberal arts education at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall on campus.

His lecture at Luther College is supported by the Elwin D. and Helen Farwell Distinguished Lecture Series Endowment. Luther College students, faculty, staff, emeriti faculty and retired staff will be admitted at no charge by showing their Luther College ID card.

The public is invited to purchase general seating tickets for $10 each plus transaction fees. Tickets are on sale now at the Luther Ticket Office and online at tickets.luther.edu.

Drawing on his insights from his book, “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” Epstein will make the case that in most career fields — especially those that are complex, unpredictable and difficult to automate — graduates with a liberal arts education are primed to excel. Using research to dismantle the myth that specialization is the key to high performance, Epstein will discuss how a liberal arts curriculum at colleges, such as Luther College, provides a foundation for individuals to think flexibly and expansively. As a result, a liberal arts education produces graduates who are aware, perceptive, critical and creative, and it gives them the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

“At Luther College, we know that the best preparation for an uncertain future is a broad course of study that develops whole persons,” said Luther College President Brad Chamberlain. “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.”

Epstein’s latest book, “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better” was published in May 2026 and became an instant New York Times best seller. Building on questions that arose from “Range,” “Inside the Box” examines how constraints, limitations and restrictions can actually be catalysts for creativity, collaboration, contentment, resilience and reinvention in today’s rapidly changing business environments.

“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,” Chamberlain said.

Both “Range” and “Inside the Box” will be available for purchase in the lobby before and after the lecture. Epstein is planning to sign books following his lecture.

Before becoming an author, Epstein was a science and investigative reporter at ProPublica and a senior writer at Sports Illustrated. His writing has been honored by an array of organizations, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, to the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Center on Disability and Journalism, and has been included in the Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology. His TED Talks have been viewed more than 12 million times.

Epstein has master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism. An avid runner, he was a Columbia University record holder and twice NCAA All-East as an 800-meter runner.

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