Jared Diamond
Pulitzer Prize winner and MacArthur “genius” Fellow, Jared Diamond appeared at The Progressive Forum to discuss his book, Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? The event took place at Congregation Emanu El, Houston, Texas, on August 31, 2026. This page also features Diamond’s previous appearances on May 12, 2019, on his book, Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis at Congregation Emanu El. And on February 24, 2006, on his book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed at the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston.
More Jared Diamond Videos
SHORT: Darwin worked four hours a day and cultivated a curious mind. What’s your daily life? (4:41) |
Jared Diamond recorded a brief, pre-program interview for this webpage. He discusses influences towards his approach to the big questions with Randall Morton, Progressive Forum executive director. (9:17) |
SHORT. How might the threat of authoritarianism play out in the U.S.? Lessons from Jared Diamond’s study of Chile where a thriving democracy unexpectedly spiraled into a dictatorship. (3:50) |
SHORT. “I’m cautiously optimistic.” Jared Diamond says there’s a 49% chance the world as we know it could collapse by 2050. (1:40) |
Background
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.
Generously sponsored by Margery and Robert Loeb, Tricia and Steve Rosencranz.
Jared Diamond Updates
- Jared Diamond Website
- Jared Diamond’s Q&A with the Houston Chronicle, “Jared Diamond on Trump, Jesus and when leaders actually matter.” August 31, 2026
- Jared Diamond’s Q&A with the Houston Chronicle, “Jared Diamond Cuts Through Political Fog with Upheaval.” May 9, 2019.
- Jared Diamond’s Q&A on Houston Public Media’s Houston Matters. May 9, 2019.
- Books by Jared Diamond
Thanks to videographers:
Ben Doyle, BEND Productions
Thanks to photographer Mike Charleton
For citing this website as a source: ProgressiveForumHouston.org
Thanks to Jared Diamond for permission to post event recordings to our website. We welcome visitors to share this exciting educational material.