Jared Diamond
Monday, August 31, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd., Houston, TX 77005
CLICK HERE to Purchase Tickets
The Progressive Forum is pleased to present Pulitzer Prize-winning author, scientist, and historian Jared Diamond to discuss his new book, Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? He will be in conversation with Randall Morton, Progressive Forum executive director.
About Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? 
Diamond examines leadership through an extraordinary range of case studies spanning politics, business, sports, and religion. Moving beyond traditional biography, he introduces innovative analytical methods—including "natural experiments" and the "Hamlet test"—to determine whether history would have unfolded differently under another leader.
Drawing on examples from Botswana's founding president Seretse Khama to legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, Diamond explores how exceptional leadership can influence nations, organizations, movements, and cultures.
About Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, selling over seven million copies. A former professor of geography at UCLA, he was awarded a MacArthur “genius” fellowship and the U.S. Medal of Science. He has published over 200 articles in publications like Discover and Nature, plus 400 articles in technical science journals. The Progressive Forum has presented Diamond twice before, for Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, as well as Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis. More on Diamond’s past speaker page.
Generously sponsored by Margery and Robert Loeb
Click for complete event details
Theater doors open at 6:30 p.m. when ticket holders can take their seats.
Door search, no large bags. Please refrain from bringing backpacks and anything larger than a small clutch purse into the event. Large items will be asked to be returned to your vehicle. All items are subject to search at the door.
Program is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd, Houston, TX, 77005, across from Rice University.
Please present your eTicket on your mobile device or print your PDF eTicket and bring it with you to the venue for entry. Your PDF eTicket is emailed from customerservice@ovationtix.com (please check your spam or junk folder). If needed, our box office or ushers can help you get your ticket by providing your last name.
Free parking is available in the Congregation Emanu El campus garage. Enter on Sunset Blvd where uniformed officers will direct you.
Discounted books on sale at the Blue Willow Bookshop table in the lobby.
No speaker reception.
No book signing at the evening’s conclusion.
Ticket prices are $115, $75, and $49 plus fees.
Box office services (credit card only) are available at the door on event night. In case of a sellout, there is no waiting list. Prior to event night, there are no tickets sold at Congregation Emanu El or any other physical location.
For box office assistance or for any other issues, please call 832-509-0262 or email boxoffice@progressiveforumhouston.org.
Guests who need special access are eligible for any ticket price. Ushers will seat special access guests in the aisles in the rear nearest restrooms. All rows are close to the speaker podium in the intimate seating environment.
During the lecture program, we will ask the audience to silence their personal digital devices, asking for no photography or videography.
Feel free to contact The Progressive Forum by email at staff@progressiveforumhouston.org.