Woodworking and Tomfoolery with Nick Offerman
7:00pm - 8:00pm CT
Rockefeller Chapel
An evening of conversation and tomfoolery with the one and only Nick Offerman. Offerman makes his return to Chicago to discuss his newest work, Little Woodchucks, an illustrated woodworking guide with projects for the whole family.
Gary Shteyngart: Vera, or Faith
10:00am - 11:00am CT
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
Award-winning Russian-American novelist Gary Shteyngart offers an entirely original literary perspective, merging memoir and satire to create contemporary characters informed by his upbringing in Soviet Leningrad, his Jewish heritage, and his marriage and child with a woman of Korean descent.
Princeton University President on Academic Free Speech
10:00am - 11:00am CT
Ida Noyes Hall
Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber examines free speech on college campuses in Terms of Respect, arguing that while colleges encourage open debate, the real challenge reflects broader societal polarization.
Roxane Gay: 10 Years of Being a Bad Feminist
11:00am - 12:00pm CT
Reynolds Club
Bestselling author and cultural critic Roxane Gay reflects on the past decade, exploring how politics, culture, and feminism have evolved since Bad Feminist. With her sharp wit, she examines how the culture we consume shapes us and offers insight and hope for the next ten years.
Sally Mann: Art Work
12:30pm - 1:30pm CT
Ida Noyes Hall
New York Times bestselling author Sally Mann joins UChicago professor Laura Letinsky to discuss the challenges and pleasures of the creative process — from the hazards of early promise to the role of luck, risk-taking, and when to say yes.
20 Years of Freakonomics
2:00pm - 3:00pm CT
Reynolds Club
Celebrating 20 years of Freakonomics, Stephen J. Dubner discusses the book’s unconventional approach to economics and its evolution into a blog, documentary, podcast, and radio network. Joined by University of Chicago Dean Deborah Nelson, they explore the Freakonomics method, revealing the economic insights hidden in higher education and the humanities.
Chicago Lyric Opera: A Conversation on Medea
3:00pm - 4:00pm CT
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
Chicago Humanities and Lyric Opera present Medea Opera Insights, exploring Cherubini’s Medea within the tradition of Greek tragedy adaptations. Featuring University of Chicago faculty and Lyric artists, the event combines a live musical excerpt, a 45-minute panel discussion, and audience Q&A to illuminate Medea’s enduring complexity on the opera stage.
Professor Stephanie Burt on the Genius of Taylor Swift
4:00pm - 5:00pm CT
Ida Noyes Hall
Harvard professor and poetry expert Stephanie Burt joins us to explain the artistry — and the celebrity — of Taylor Swift. Through heartfelt critical appreciation, Burt analyzes Swift, her body of work, and the community that her art has fostered.
An Evening with Steven Pinker
5:00pm - 6:00pm CT
Reynolds Club
Join cognitive scientist Steven Pinker as he explores how “common knowledge” — our awareness of what others know and think — shapes social, political, and economic life. Pinker reveals how this hidden force drives financial bubbles, revolutions, diplomacy, and why total honesty would make life unbearable.
Amitav Ghosh: Wild Fictions
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm CT
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
Amitav Ghosh, the first English-language Jnanpith Award winner, joins UChicago’s Benjamin Morgan to discuss 25 years of work on imperialism, decolonization, climate change, and ordinary lives amid historical forces. His new book, Wild Fictions, examines imperial violence, the fictions shaping history, and the enduring need for empathy and understanding.
Chicago Humanities' UChicago Day All-Access Package
The Study Stay with VIP, All-Access Festival Perks
Eligible Stay Dates
Thursday, October 16, 2025 – Sunday, October 19, 2025
Availability
This package has limited availability and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The special rate code is available for booking through Sunday, October 13, or until sold out—whichever occurs first.
Package Inclusions*:
• Standard Room, Study Room, or Suite accommodation of your choice
• Up to two (2) all-access passes to every speaker event on October 18
• Preferred seating at all sessions
• Two (2) signed books from featured speaker
How to Book:
Please contact our reservations team by phone at 773.643.1600 or email reservations.chicago@studyhotels.com to book this package.
Upon booking the package with The Study at University of Chicago reservations team, guests will receive an email from reservations.chicago@studyhotels.com confirming the package details. Guests will also be contacted to confirm their preferences for event tickets and signed books. While the Chicago Humanities Festival cannot guarantee the availability of all requested signed books, every effort will be made to accommodate guest preferences.
Cancellation Policy
• All-access passes and signed books will be forfeited if the hotel reservation is cancelled
• Hotel cancellations made after 3:00pm on the day before check-in will incur a fee equal to one night’s room and tax
About Chicago Humanities Festival Day at the University of Chicago
Hosted by the University of Chicago Division of Arts & Humanities, Humanities Day has been a fall tradition at the University of Chicago since 1980—a day of celebrating the arts and humanities through discussions, performances, and tours that showcase the work of its award-winning faculty. The Chicago Humanities Festival began in 1989 with a similar mission: to bring the rich ideas of the humanities to wider audiences. Since then, it has grown into a year-round presenter hosting events throughout Chicagoland, bringing together some of the world’s most exciting thinkers, artists, and performers to explore ideas in civic life. This year’s first-ever partnership between these two programs offers a unique opportunity to hear inspiring speakers while experiencing the beauty of the university’s historic Hyde Park campus.