An Evening with David Brooks

Drake University is honored to welcome David Brooks, a best-selling author and keen observer of American life and politics, for the 48th Annual Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship. Brooks is known for his decades-long career as an op-ed columnist for the New York Times and is Yale’s first Jackson School of Global Affairs presidential senior fellow. His latest book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, debuted on the New York Times and Amazon bestseller lists, and is a guide to fostering authentic connections in a society plagued by loneliness and fragmentation. As part of the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship Series, Brooks will deliver a lecture on April 1, 2027, at 7 p.m. in the Knapp Center.

Event Details

• Date: April 1, 2027
• Location: Knapp Center, Drake University
• Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Lecture begins at 7:00 p.m.
• Other Details: The event is free and open to the public. The session will be livestreamed at live.drake.edu, and a recording will be posted online after the lecture.

About the Speaker

David Brooks is a bestselling author, Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs first presidential senior fellow, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and recurring commentator on PBS NewsHour. With decades of experience as an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, Brooks is an insightful observer of the American way of life and a savvy analyst of present-day politics and foreign affairs whose columns are among the most read in the nation.

The author of six books with many bestsellers among them, Brooks seeks to share and encourage intellectual curiosity and emotional wisdom, emphasizing the value of community and the importance of nourishing both the inner self and the social self in our journeys to live fulfilling lives.

Brooks is the founder and chair of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute whose mission is to promote the building of connection and the weaving of a rich social fabric in our schools, workplaces, and every part of life. He has been awarded more than 30 honorary degrees from American colleges and universities and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Science.

The Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series

The Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series is made possible by a gift from the late Melva and Martin Bucksbaum. The Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Committee includes Pam Bass-Bookey, Dr. Hope Bibens, Dr. Kelly Bruhn (chair), Dr. Richard Deming, Dr. Neil Hamilton, Liz Hatfield, Shawna Kasner-Hannam, Allie Koenigsfeld, Paul LeFort, Dr. Alanah Mitchell, Robert Riley, Janis Ruan, Mary Scanlan, Julie Stewart, Marcia Wanamaker, and Dr. Eleanor Zeff. The Bucksbaum Lectureship Series includes two tracks—the Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business, launched in Fall 2023, and the original Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship.