OLYMPIA, Wash. — October 15, 2026 — Nationally acclaimed historian, bestselling author and longtime Evergreen faculty member Stephanie Coontz will return to The Evergreen State College on Tuesday, October 20, for a special event celebrating her newest book, For Better and Worse: The Complicated Past and Challenging Future of Marriage.
The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. at Cappy’s Corner, located on the third floor of the Daniel J. Evans Library on Evergreen’s Olympia campus. The afternoon will feature a talk by Coontz, followed by an interactive discussion about the history of marriage, changing relationships, and the challenges facing modern families.
Published in May 2026 by Viking, For Better and Worse explores one of society’s most enduring institutions at a moment of profound cultural change. Drawing on historical research and contemporary social science, Coontz examines how marriage has evolved over centuries, challenging popular assumptions about traditional family structures and exploring why marriage today can be both more fulfilling and more complicated than in previous generations.
As marriage rates decline and public conversations about gender roles, relationships and family life become increasingly polarized, Coontz offers a perspective grounded in history rather than nostalgia. Her book examines how economic uncertainty, shifting expectations and changing social norms have transformed intimate relationships, while exploring ways individuals and communities can build stronger partnerships both within and outside marriage.
A prominent voice in national discussions about marriage and family life for more than three decades, Coontz is widely recognized for challenging conventional wisdom about America's domestic past. Her influential books include The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap and Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage, the latter of which was cited in the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision on marriage equality.
Coontz's connection to Evergreen stretches back to 1974, when she joined the college's faculty. Over the following decades, she helped generations of students explore history, gender, family structures and social change through the interdisciplinary approach to education that defines Evergreen. Her career reflects the college's commitment to connecting rigorous academic inquiry with the pressing questions facing society.
Now a member of Evergreen's emeritus faculty, Coontz continues to shape public understanding of marriage and family relationships through her scholarship, writing and media appearances. She also serves as director of research and public education for the Council on Contemporary Families, a national organization dedicated to providing research-based information about contemporary family life.
Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic, and she has shared her expertise with audiences through NPR, PBS and numerous national television programs.
Coontz's return to Evergreen offers students, faculty and community members an opportunity to engage directly with a scholar whose work has influenced national conversations about relationships, gender equality and the evolving American family.
Evergreen faculty librarian Liza Rognas will introduce Coontz and facilitate a conversation with the audience following the reading.
Event Details
What: Stephanie Coontz Author Talk — For Better and Worse: The Complicated Past and Challenging Future of Marriage
When: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 3–5 p.m.
Where: Cappy's Corner, third floor of the Daniel J. Evans Library, The Evergreen State College, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, WA
Who: Evergreen students, faculty, staff and members of the public
More information: https://libguides.evergreen.edu/blog/Author-Talk-Stephanie-Coontz