Readings & Conversations

About

It’s probably no spoiler that we believe in the power of literature. We also believe the connection between a writer and reader is a sacred bond. For more than 20 years, The Cabin’s Readings & Conversations series has featured literary superstars, bestselling authors, and high-profile thinkers to jumpstart community conversations on critical issues. From MacArthur Fellows to National Book Award winners, some of our past authors include Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ann Patchett, Jesmyn Ward, Jennifer Egan, Reza Aslan, Matthew Desmond, Anthony Doerr, Colson Whitehead, Tara Westover, Gloria Steinem, and David Grann.

A Readings & Conversations lecture is typically an original talk by the author on the subject of their choice. It can be about their current book, upcoming projects, past works, relevant cultural issues, and more. The talk runs for about an hour and is followed by a 20ish minute Q&A from the audience, moderated by Kurt Zwolfer, The Cabin’s Executive Director.

2024-25 Series Lineup

See details for the 2023-24 series lineup here.

Buy Readings & Conversations Tickets

OPTION 1

Buy Series Tickets

Season tickets are sold out but you can now purchase individual tickets to the remaining events in the series.

OPTION 2

Buy Individual Event Tickets

Want to pick and choose which events to attend? You can purchase individual tickets to the following events:

Seating Chart and Ticket Prices

Timeline to Purchase Series Tickets

Members will receive a link to purchase series tickets by email. Series tickets will not be available for sale online until they go on sale to the general public on May 21, 2024.

May 7, 2024

If you are a Cabin member with a $300+ level membership, you will receive an email to purchase blind (without knowing the season lineup) R&C series tickets on May 7 at 10 AM.


May 14, 2024

The 2024-25 series lineup will be announced at Ed Yong’s R&C lecture.


May 15, 2024

If you are a Cabin member at any level and you have 2023-24 R&C series tickets, you will receive an email to purchase R&C series tickets on May 15 at 10 AM. Note: If you need additional assistance to purchase tickets, please call (208) 331-8000 or stop by The Cabin during our open hours (Tuesday through Thursday, 11 AM - 2 PM).


May 17, 2024

If you are a Cabin member at any level, you will receive an email to purchase R&C series tickets on May 17 at 10 AM.


May 21, 2024

Any remaining series tickets go on sale to the general public on this page (see “Buy Readings & Conversations Tickets” section above.)

FAQs

Guest Communications

Do you have a guest who attends Readings & Conversations with you? Fill out out the form with their contact information and we’ll make sure they receive all communications about the series.

Individual Ticket Timeline

Please note: individual tickets are subject to venue capacity and post-season ticket sales availability.

Single tickets to individual lectures

Current Members & General Public
Dates to come

For readings held at the Morrison Center, individual tickets are available. Check each event page for purchase links.

For events held at The Egyptian Theatre, The Cabin sells last-minute, returned season tickets in the lobby beginning at 6:30 PM the night of each lecture.

These seats can be anywhere in the theater and are sold on a first-purchase, best availability basis.

Tickets are $25 for members and students and $30 for the general public, and yes, we accept cards.


“I do a lot of book touring and events, but my visit to Boise stands out as one of the best. The evening event on stage at the magnificent Egyptian Theater was...magnificent! The audience was warm and welcoming, and I learned so much about the fascinating history of the city. But the truly memorable part of the trip was my visit to Capital High, and the enthusiasm and excitement of the forty or fifty students who had read my novels and came to the library during their lunch hour to talk about writing. We had a wonderful conversation, and I was so moved by the students' thoughtful questions and by the dedicated efforts of their librarians to cultivate this love of books and nurture this generation of young readers and writers. And, finally, the folks at The Cabin are my heroes, working on the front lines of the culture wars to keep our libraries open, our speech free, and our books in circulation.”

Ruth Ozeki, author of The Book of Form and Emptiness, 2023 Readings & Conversations Guest Lecturer

The 2024-2025 season is sponsored by:

 

Past Guests

2023-2024

Steve Inskeep
Nicholas Kristof
Ayana Mathis
Gabrielle Zevin
Ed Yong
Elizabeth Gilbert

2022-2023

Reza Aslan
Rainn Wilson
Amor Towles
Joy Harjo
Ruth Ozeki
Patrick Radden Keefe

2021-2022

Sandra Cisneros
Louise Erdrich
Anthony Doerr
Josh Ritter in conversation with John Darnielle
Cathy Park Hong
Richard Powers

2020–2021

Barbara Kingsolver
Patti Smith
Madeline Miller
James McBride
Laila Lalami
Mary Roach

2019–2020

Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ann Patchett
Jad Abumrad
Francisco Cantú

2018-2019

Matthew Desmond
Tayari Jones
Tara Westover
David Grann
Jennifer Egan

2017-2018

Reza Aslan
Jesmyn Ward
Colson Whitehead
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Katherine Boo

2016-2017

Gloria Steinem
Colum McCann
Juan Felipe Herrera
Aimee and Karen Bender
Lauren Groff

2015-2016

Anthony Doerr in conversation with Jess Walter
Daniel James Brown
Roz Chast
George Saunders
Jacqueline Woodson

2014-2015

Erik Larson
Chris Abani
Markus Zusak
Sherman Alexie
Karen Russell

2013-2014

Ruth Reichl
Junot Diaz
Susan Orlean
Cheryl Strayed

2012-2013

Abraham Verghese
Anthony Doerr
Firoozah Dumas
Andrew Ross Sorkin

2011-2012

Jonathan Franzen
Chris Abani
Elizabeth Strout
Scott Simon

2010-2011

T.C. Boyle
Maile Meloy, Tony Doerr
Elizabeth Gilbert
W.S. Merwin

2009-2010

Frank Deford
Annie Proulx
Michael Chabon
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

2008-2009

Michael Pollan
Aimee Bender, Tony Doerr
Edward Albee
Alexander McCall Smith

2007-2008

Richard Ford
Mary Oliver
Luis Alberto Urrea
Marjane Satrapi

2006-2007

Amy Tan
Joyce Carol Oates
Andrei Codrescu
Barry Lopez

2005-2006

Walter Mosley
Anne Garrels
Marilynne Robinson
Billy Collins

2004-2005

Anne Lamott
Russell Banks
Scott Momaday
Sarah Vowell

2003-2004

Terry Gross
Dave Eggers
Naomi Shihab Nye
Dr. Oliver Sacks

2002-2003

Ira Glass
Frances Mayes
Sandra Cisneros
David Sedaris