Robert Reich
Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd., Houston, TX 77005
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The Progressive Forum is pleased to bring back a champion of democracy, leading political economist, and former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich. He will discuss his book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America. He will be in conversation with Randall Morton, Progressive Forum executive director.
About Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America
From a cabinet member, beloved professor, media commentator, and bestselling author of Saving Capitalism and The Common Good, comes this deeply felt, compelling memoir of growing up in baby-boom America that made progress in certain areas, fell short in so many important ways, and still has important work to do.
Coming Up Short is a thought-provoking, principled, clear-eyed chronicle of the culture, politics, and economic choices that have landed us where we are today—with irresponsible economic bullies and corporations with immense wealth and lobbying power on top, demagogues on the rise, and increasing inequality fueling anger and hatred across the country.
With characteristic spirit and humor, Reich lays out how we can reclaim a sense of community and a democratic capitalism based on American ideals we still have power to salvage.
About Robert Reich
Robert Reich is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He has served in three presidential administrations, Republican and Democratic, as well as Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton. He has written 18 books including The Work of Nations (translated into 22 languages) and Locked in the Cabinet. He is co-creator of the award-winning film, Inequality for All, and the Netflix original, Saving Capitalism. He is co-founder of Inequality Media. During the pandemic in 2020, Reich made a virtual appearance at the Forum in a livestream discussing his book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It. View the interview on Reich’s past speaker page.
Generously sponsored by Mary Cubanski and Don Griffin and Margery and Robert Loeb.
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We encourage ride-sharing and early arrival for this possible sellout.
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 PDF ETicket on your mobile device or print your PDF ETicket and bring it with you to the venue for entry. Our greeters or box office can help you.
Free parking is available in the Congregation Emanu El campus garage. Enter on Sunset Blvd where uniformed officers will direct you.
Ticket holders may pick up one free book at the Blue Willow Bookshop tables. Books are only distributed with a ticket at the event. We are unable to provide books after the event or for no-show tickets.
No book signing at the evening’s conclusion.
Ticket prices are $154, $74, and $49 plus fees. In case of a high-sale event, the $39 Gallery section will be open with a high quality, direct view of stage with large screen TV monitors.
Private patron reception with the speaker begins at 6:15 p.m. with cash bar and complimentary lite bites, dessert, and coffee buffet for $154 ticket holders and those who have donated $1,000 or more in the past year. Reception located in the Oshman Multi-Purpose Room to the right of the main entrance, if entering from the parking garage. The speaker leaves the reception at 6:45 p.m. after a half-hour. So that everyone in the speaker greeting line has a chance to chat with the speaker, there is no book signing, autographing, or photography with the speaker in the speaker greeting line. In the rest of the reception room, photography and videography are welcome.
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.