Arthur C. Brooks

Arthur C. Brooks

Keynote Speaker: Professor & Leader of the Leadership & Happiness Laboratory, Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University; Columnist for The Atlantic; Bestselling Author & Podcast Host, "How to Build a Happy Life"

Arthur C. Brooks Biography

Arthur C. Brooks holds the positions of Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. At Harvard Business School, he teaches a popular course titled "Leadership and Happiness." Brooks also leads the Leadership & Happiness Laboratory at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard. In addition, he is a columnist for The Atlantic, contributing to the "How to Build a Life" column since 2020.

Brooks is the author of 13 books that cover a wide range of topics. His most recent works include co-authoring the 2023 #1 New York Times bestseller, "Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier" with Oprah Winfrey, and writing the 2022 #1 New York Times bestseller, "From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life." This book received endorsements from influential figures such as Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama. He also authored "Love Your Enemies" in 2019. Brooks is a recognized speaker who engages with audiences worldwide about human happiness and well-being. He hosts the podcast "How to Build a Happy Life." In 2022, he participated in The Atlantic's "In Pursuit of Happiness" Conference.

Prior to his current academic positions, Brooks began his career as a classical French hornist, leaving college at 19 and touring and recording in the United States and Spain. He later returned to education, earning a BA through distance learning. At 31, he transitioned away from music and pursued higher education in public policy analysis, obtaining an MPhil and PhD from the Rand Graduate School. During his doctoral studies, Brooks worked as an analyst for the Rand Corporation’s Project Air Force, performing military operations research analysis.

After a decade as a university professor, primarily at Syracuse University, where he taught economics and nonprofit management, Brooks became the 11th President of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, DC. During his tenure, he was recognized as one of Fortune Magazine’s “50 World’s Greatest Leaders” and awarded multiple honorary doctorates. Moreover, he has been named Bowdoin's first Joseph McKeen Visiting Fellow.

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Arthur C. Brooks Speaking Topics

Love Your Enemies

America is afflicted with a "culture of contempt," says Brooks. It is increasingly common for people to view those who disagree with them as worthless, instead of just misguided or incorrect. This is fomented by an “outrage industrial complex” in media and politics. Through ancient wisdom and cutting-edge behavioral science, Brooks provides a roadmap to the happiness and gratification that comes when we choose to love one another – gaining strength from our differences.

From Strength to Strength

Our skills and interests naturally change as we age—a fact that can be difficult and frightening for many “strivers.” How can we prepare for the changes that come later in life, and how can we structure our lives in a way that uncovers new strengths and leads to lasting happiness? Blending the latest in behavioral social science research, ancient wisdom, and historical analysis, Arthur Brooks will reveal how effectiveness and wellbeing at all stages of life come not from holding on to past achievements, but from cultivating new habits and a different understanding of success and fulfillment.

Emotional Self-Management

Most people are good at managing things around them–their families, their homes, their jobs, even their companies. But managing their own feelings is a big mystery, and an enormous barrier to happiness. This talk introduces the amazing science of emotional self-management. With knowledge and a few changes in habits, each of us can take control of our emotions and lead lives that are more satisfying and successful.

How to Get Happier in an Unhappy World

The evidence is clear: In almost every country, happiness is falling. It is easy to get dragged down when around us, loneliness is increasing, relationships are harder to form, and political polarization is on the rise. But we can counter this trend by understanding the fundamentals of happiness science, practicing it each day, and sharing it with others.

Leadership and Happiness

Most people think success is the key to happiness, but they are wrong. Happiness is the key to success. According to research, to be successful in life, one should understand happiness and manage to it—our own and others’. Unfortunately, most people have to learn this fact by hard experience. Happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks shows that behind this problem lies an enormous opportunity for leaders to improve happiness practices internally to their organizations, thus raising workplace engagement, facilitating recruitment, and increasing retention and productivity. Indeed, companies can establish a culture of meaning, purpose, and life satisfaction–and can thus prosper in highly-competitive labor markets where culture and quality of life are so critical.

Arthur C. Brooks Videos

Make Higher Education Happy Again | Arthur C. Brooks | JFK Jr. Forum
Jocko Podcast 415: How to Find Happiness. w/ Arthur C. Brooks ...
Happiness And How To Build It | Arthur C. Brooks | Atlantic Festival 2023

How do I book Arthur C. Brooks to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Arthur C. Brooks for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Arthur C. Brooks, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Arthur C. Brooks or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Arthur C. Brooks for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Arthur C. Brooks, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Arthur C. Brooks, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Arthur C. Brooks speak about?

Arthur C. Brooks is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Conservative, Journalism, Social Activism, Philanthropy, Happiness, Government, Television & Film, Adventure, Space, Astronauts, Military, Entertainers, Authors, Law, Ethics & Integrity, Non-Profit, TED, Health, Finance, Personal Growth, Empowerment, Poetry, Celebrity, Leadership, Economy, Political, Commencement, Literary, Psychology and Social Sciences.

Where does Arthur C. Brooks travel from?

Arthur C. Brooks generally travels from Newton, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Arthur C. Brooks?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Arthur C. Brooks for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Arthur C. Brooks for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Arthur C. Brooks or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Arthur C. Brooks is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Conservative and Journalism. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Arthur C. Brooks generally travels from Newton, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ben Stein, Daymond John and Ian Bremmer. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Arthur C. Brooks for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/04/2025.

Arthur C. Brooks Speaking Topics

  • Love Your Enemies

    America is afflicted with a "culture of contempt," says Brooks. It is increasingly common for people to view those who disagree with them as worthless, instead of just misguided or incorrect. This is fomented by an “outrage industrial complex” in media and politics. Through ancient wisdom and cutting-edge behavioral science, Brooks provides a roadmap to the happiness and gratification that comes when we choose to love one another – gaining strength from our differences.

  • From Strength to Strength

    Our skills and interests naturally change as we age—a fact that can be difficult and frightening for many “strivers.” How can we prepare for the changes that come later in life, and how can we structure our lives in a way that uncovers new strengths and leads to lasting happiness? Blending the latest in behavioral social science research, ancient wisdom, and historical analysis, Arthur Brooks will reveal how effectiveness and wellbeing at all stages of life come not from holding on to past achievements, but from cultivating new habits and a different understanding of success and fulfillment.

  • Emotional Self-Management

    Most people are good at managing things around them–their families, their homes, their jobs, even their companies. But managing their own feelings is a big mystery, and an enormous barrier to happiness. This talk introduces the amazing science of emotional self-management. With knowledge and a few changes in habits, each of us can take control of our emotions and lead lives that are more satisfying and successful.

  • How to Get Happier in an Unhappy World

    The evidence is clear: In almost every country, happiness is falling. It is easy to get dragged down when around us, loneliness is increasing, relationships are harder to form, and political polarization is on the rise. But we can counter this trend by understanding the fundamentals of happiness science, practicing it each day, and sharing it with others.

  • Leadership and Happiness

    Most people think success is the key to happiness, but they are wrong. Happiness is the key to success. According to research, to be successful in life, one should understand happiness and manage to it—our own and others’. Unfortunately, most people have to learn this fact by hard experience. Happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks shows that behind this problem lies an enormous opportunity for leaders to improve happiness practices internally to their organizations, thus raising workplace engagement, facilitating recruitment, and increasing retention and productivity. Indeed, companies can establish a culture of meaning, purpose, and life satisfaction–and can thus prosper in highly-competitive labor markets where culture and quality of life are so critical.

Arthur C. Brooks Videos

Make Higher Education Happy Again | Arthur C. Brooks | JFK Jr. Forum
Jocko Podcast 415: How to Find Happiness. w/ Arthur C. Brooks ...
Happiness And How To Build It | Arthur C. Brooks | Atlantic Festival 2023
Arthur C. Brooks: Finding Success, Happiness, and Purpose Later in Life
Dr. Arthur C. Brooks with Gary Heil | Leadership Lessons from the ...

Arthur C. Brooks News

  • How do I book Arthur C. Brooks to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Arthur C. Brooks for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Arthur C. Brooks, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Arthur C. Brooks or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Arthur C. Brooks for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Arthur C. Brooks, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Arthur C. Brooks, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Arthur C. Brooks speak about?

  • Where does Arthur C. Brooks travel from?

    Arthur C. Brooks generally travels from Newton, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Arthur C. Brooks?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Arthur C. Brooks for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Arthur C. Brooks for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Arthur C. Brooks or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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