MIT Reads: Let's talk "Burnout" with authors Emily and Amelia Nagoski

Join us to hear Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, co-authors of this semester's MIT Reads selection, in dialogue with Dr. Karen Singleton, Deputy Chief Health Officer of MIT Health.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle is a New York Times bestseller and must-read for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by endless responsibilities yet still worried they weren’t doing “enough.” This groundbreaking book explores the science behind burnout, examining how factors like gender shape our experiences and offering a practical roadmap for reducing stress, managing emotions, and cultivating joy.

Sisters Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, are here to help break the relentless cycle of burnout. With a deep compassion that guided their research, the Nagoski sisters illuminate the societal pressures that fuel exhaustion—and provide actionable strategies to reclaim balance and well-being.

Emily and Amelia's TED Talk, the introduction video, and the video course trailer provide additional insights into their fascinating research.

You can also follow them on Instagram at @enagoski for updates and more.

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This event is free and open to all, but pre-registration is required. Please join us for refreshments after the discussion.

For virtual registrants: a URL will be emailed closer to the event.

Accessibility: ASL and CART Services will be available. Our events are enriched by your presence and we are committed to making them accessible. Please email [email protected] by Wednesday, April 9th for further accommodation requests.

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Speaker information:

Emily Nagoski is also the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of and . She earned an MS in counseling and a PhD in health behavior, both from Indiana University, with clinical and research training at the Kinsey Institute. Now she combines sex education and stress education to teach women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies. She lives in Massachusetts with two dogs, a cat, and a cartoonist.

Amelia Nagoski was an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music at Western New England University. She specializes in educating others on the application of communications science and psychological research for audiences of other professional musicians, including embodied wellness for conductors. She has a DMA (Doctorate of Musical Arts) in conducting from the University of Connecticut. She lives in New England with her spouse and pets.

Yes, Emily and Amelia are twins. Yes, they’re identical. Yes, one time they pretended to be each other; it did not go well.

Karen Singleton, PhD, is the Deputy Chief Health Officer at MIT Health. She is a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and crisis response. She enjoys presenting, writing, and consulting on a variety of mental health topics, particularly collegiate mental health and leadership. Dr. Singleton currently serves on advisory boards of the Health Systems Initiative (HSI) at MIT Sloan, the Princeton Review and the Ruderman Foundation, and has formerly served on mental health advisory boards for Harvard, Princeton, and Cornell Universities.

Event Venue

The Nexus in Hayden Library, 160 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, United States