MORRISTOWN, NJ — Bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell is coming to Morristown this October to headline the 2026 Morristown Festival of Books, just days after the release of his newest book.
Gladwell, the author of "The Tipping Point," "Outliers," and "Blink," will take the stage at the Mayo Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 for the festival's annual keynote fundraiser.
The appearance comes shortly after the publication of Gladwell's new book, "The American Way of Killing," which examines gun violence in the United States and why the problem has proven so difficult to address.
During the Morristown event, Gladwell is expected to discuss the country's gun violence crisis through stories and research explored in the book.
According to festival organizers, "The American Way of Killing" examines what Gladwell describes as an American "peculiarity" — how one of the world's wealthiest countries experiences levels of lethal violence more commonly associated with much poorer nations.
The book draws on interviews, archival material and social science research, taking Gladwell from a shooting range in North Carolina to Chicago's South Side and an old plantation house in Alabama as he explores the roots of violence in America.
Crime, policing and punishment have been recurring subjects throughout Gladwell's career, including in his books and his podcast, Revisionist History.
Gladwell has written eight New York Times bestsellers, including "What the Dog Saw," "David and Goliath," "Talking to Strangers," "The Bomber Mafia," and "Revenge of the Tipping Point." He is also the co-founder of audio company Pushkin Industries.
Tickets for the keynote event are $68, with service fees included, and each ticket comes with a signed copy of The American Way of Killing. Tickets are available through morristownbooks.org or the MPAC box office at 973-539-8008.
Proceeds from the keynote help fund the festival's free programming the following day.
The Morristown Festival of Books' Main Festival returns Oct. 10, bringing more than 85 bestselling and award-winning authors to five venues within walking distance of one another along South Street.
Authors will participate in talks and question-and-answer sessions throughout the day, while book sales and signings will take place on the grounds of the Vail Mansion.
The festival will also feature KidFest, where young readers can meet children's authors, have books signed, and participate in activities including crafts and face painting.
More information about the keynote and the full festival is available online here.
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