Frances Frei and Anne Morriss
Harvard-Trained Leadership Duo | Co-Authors of Move Fast & Fix Things | Co-Hosts of the Fixable Podcast | Experts on Trust, Change & Solving Hard Problems
David Epstein
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Range & The Sports Gene | Former Investigative Reporter at ProPublica & Sports Illustrated | TED Speaker with 12M+ Views
David Epstein is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, a favorite of Bill Gates, and of The Sports Gene. A former investigative reporter at ProPublica and Sports Illustrated, he explores what science really tells us about talent, learning, and success. On stage, he makes a rigorous, myth-busting case for breadth over early specialization, and for how people and organizations become great.
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David Epstein biography
Innovation speaker David Epstein is one of the most influential thinkers of his generation on how people and organizations actually become great. His work challenges some of our most cherished assumptions about success, including the belief that the path to excellence is to specialize as early and as narrowly as possible. Drawing on rigorous science and unforgettable stories, from Tiger Woods and Roger Federer to Nobel laureates and Nintendo inventors, he shows that, in a complex and unpredictable world, breadth is often the real advantage.
A former investigative reporter at ProPublica and senior writer at Sports Illustrated, where he co-broke the story that Alex Rodriguez had used steroids, Epstein pairs a journalist’s storytelling with deep scientific rigor. His two books have been translated into more than twenty languages, and his TED talks have been viewed over twelve million times. A graduate of Columbia University, where he ran on a record-setting relay team, he also hosts Slate’s How To! podcast and writes the popular Range Widely newsletter.
Range: Why Generalists Triumph
Epstein’s number one New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, a favorite of Bill Gates, makes the counterintuitive case that in most fields the people who thrive are those who sample widely, embrace diverse experiences, and think across domains, rather than head-start specialists. His earlier bestseller, The Sports Gene, tackled the science of athletic talent and the nature-versus-nurture debate, dismantling myths like the “10,000-hour rule.” Across both, he brings the same gift: turning complex research into insights that change how we think about ability and growth.
As a speaker, David Epstein is captivating, funny, and genuinely surprising, upending conventional wisdom with evidence and story rather than opinion. He speaks on why generalists and breadth win in a specialized world, how talent and expertise really develop, building adaptable teams and learning cultures, and thriving amid uncertainty and change. Audiences, from Fortune 500 leaders to educators and athletes, leave with a smarter, more hopeful understanding of how people reach their potential, and a fresh case for curiosity, experimentation, and range.
David Epstein Speaking Videos
Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger? | David Epstein
Why specializing early doesn't always mean career success | David Epstein
David Epstein Keynote Topics
In his signature keynote, David Epstein dismantles the myth that success requires narrow, early specialization. Drawing on his number one bestseller and the science behind the world's top performers, from athletes and Nobel laureates to inventors and forecasters, he shows why breadth, diverse experience, and the ability to think across domains are the real drivers of success in a complex world. A surprising, evidence-rich talk that gives audiences permission, and a plan, to embrace range.
Everything we're told about becoming great, focus early, practice relentlessly, put in your 10,000 hours, is only part of the story, and often the wrong part. Epstein takes audiences through decades of research on how elite performers actually develop, revealing the surprising roles of sampling, delay, and diverse experience. He offers leaders, educators, and individuals a smarter, science-based model for cultivating talent, in themselves and in the people they lead.
In a world of "wicked" problems and constant change, the organizations that win are those that can learn, adapt, and connect ideas across silos. Epstein translates his research into practical guidance for building teams and cultures that value breadth, curiosity, and cross-disciplinary thinking, and that avoid the trap of narrow expertise that grows overconfident and brittle. Essential insight for leaders navigating uncertainty and the future of work.
Drawing on his New York Times bestseller, Epstein explores one of the most fascinating questions in human performance: what actually separates the elite from the rest? Weaving together genetics, training, technology, and mindset, he unpacks the real interplay of nature and nurture, dismantles popular myths, and reveals what the science of extraordinary athletes teaches all of us about talent, potential, and pushing human limits. A riveting talk for sports, health, and performance-minded audiences.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking David Epstein
Why David Epstein?
Booking David Epstein brings audiences a rare combination: a rigorous, deeply researched thinker and a spellbinding storyteller. As the author of the number one bestseller Range and the acclaimed The Sports Gene, he has changed how millions of people, including Bill Gates, think about talent, learning, and success. He delivers genuinely counterintuitive, evidence-based insights, on why breadth beats narrow specialization, and how people and organizations really grow, with the wit and narrative gift of a top investigative journalist. Audiences leave surprised, energized, and equipped with a new model for reaching their potential. He is ideal for events on innovation, leadership, talent and learning, the future of work, and high performance. To bring David Epstein to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is David Epstein?
David Epstein is an American journalist and author widely known for his work on talent, learning, and human performance. He is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, which Bill Gates featured in his year-end recommendations, and of The Sports Gene, also a New York Times bestseller; both have been translated into more than twenty languages. A former investigative reporter at ProPublica and senior writer at Sports Illustrated, where he co-broke the story of Alex Rodriguez's steroid use, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His TED talks have been viewed more than twelve million times, and he hosts Slate's How To! podcast and writes the Range Widely newsletter.
What is David Epstein's book Range about?
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (2019) is David Epstein's number one New York Times bestseller challenging the widespread belief that early, narrow specialization is the surest path to success. Studying the world's top athletes, artists, scientists, inventors, and forecasters, Epstein finds that early specialization is the exception, not the rule, and that many of the highest performers sampled widely, changed course, and built broad, cross-disciplinary experience before excelling. He argues that in a complex, unpredictable world full of "wicked" problems, range, the ability to draw on diverse experiences and connect ideas across fields, is a powerful and underrated advantage. The book makes a hopeful, evidence-based case for curiosity, experimentation, and taking the time to find the right fit.
What topics does innovation speaker David Epstein cover?
David Epstein speaks on why generalists and breadth triumph in a specialized world, how talent and expertise really develop, building adaptable teams and learning cultures, and the science of talent and performance from The Sports Gene. His keynotes suit events on innovation, leadership, talent and learning, the future of work, high performance, and sports and health. To book David Epstein as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book David Epstein as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book David Epstein as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about David Epstein's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for David Epstein or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is David Epstein speaking fee?
David Epstein speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire David Epstein to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book David Epstein.
How can I contact David Epstein?
We only work with David Epstein on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking David Epstein and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having David Epstein speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact David Epstein for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book David Epstein for a virtual keynote?
Yes, David Epstein is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book David Epstein for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
