The Real Work of Mastery—An Exclusive Talk with Adam Gopnik at Dent 2025
Mastery isn’t just about being great at something—it’s about how we learn, refine, and push our own boundaries. At Dent The Future, we know that mastery is an ongoing pursuit, one that requires curiosity, practice, and the courage to be a beginner again. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Adam Gopnik—renowned author, New Yorker writer, and lifelong student of skill-building—to our stage at the 2025 Dent The Future Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 14-16, 2025.
Adam’s book, The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery, is a deep dive into how people become truly excellent at what they do. But unlike typical authors of books on expertise, Adam doesn’t just observe mastery: he immerses himself in it. From learning to draw under a classical painter to training with a championship boxer, from ballroom dancing to baking, he studies not just the outcome of mastery, but the process: the missteps, the practice, and the perseverance.
Adam Gopnik, speaker at Dent The Future 2025
Why Mastery Matters
In the Dent community, mastery is at the heart of what each of us does. Our attendees—entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, technologists, and changemakers—don’t just seek success. Instead, they engage deeply with their craft, constantly refining, experimenting, and exploring.
Denters like you aren’t content with surface-level knowledge. They know that true mastery isn’t about innate talent or a stroke of genius. They know it’s about commitment to the process, seeking discomfort, and learning from those who have dedicated their lives to their field.
Whether you’re leading a company, developing new technology, telling powerful stories, or launching an initiative that changes lives, Adam’s insights into the art of learning itself will directly apply to your journey.
What You’ll Take Away
Adam will challenge our assumptions about expertise and success, breaking down how mastery actually works in practice:
The difference between achievement and mastery, and why external validation isn’t the end goal
The role of deliberate practice and mentorship in accelerating expertise
Why true masters embrace imperfection, and how that leads to growth
The surprising ways mastery crosses disciplines, from art and science to business and leadership
This session isn’t just about learning how to be “better” at something—it’s about rethinking how we learn altogether. It’s a conversation that will reshape how you approach your work, your passions, and your future pursuits.
Join us at Dent The Future 2025 to explore the real work of mastery with Adam Gopnik. Request your invitation here.
