Linguist, Anthropologist & Cognitive Science Expert; Trustee Professor at Bentley University; Author of "Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes"

Waltham, MA, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Daniel Everett Biography

Daniel Everett is a linguist, anthropologist, and author known for his extensive fieldwork in the Amazon and his contributions to language science. Everett serves as Trustee Professor of Cognitive Sciences at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where his teaching and research encompass the evolution of human behavior, cross-cultural communication, anthropology, cognitive sciences, the nature of language, language evolution, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind. He has published more than 100 scientific articles and 11 books.

Everett's entry into linguistics began with his work in the Amazon, where he initially aimed to translate the Bible into Pirahã. Over four decades, he lived among the Pirahã community for approximately eight years. This experience led to a significant personal and professional transformation, as Everett shifted from missionary work to a focus on scientific research. He holds a diploma in international studies from Moody Bible Institute and earned master's and doctoral degrees in linguistics from the State University of Campinas in São Paulo, Brazil.

Everett's research with the Pirahã community produced the first well-documented case of a human language without recursion, challenging foundational theories in linguistics. The Pirahã language lacks numbers, a concept of counting, kinship terms beyond immediate family, named distinctions of past and future, creation stories, and recursion. Everett argued that these findings contradict Noam Chomsky's theory of universal grammar, particularly the universality of recursion. His article in Current Anthropology, "Cultural Constraints on Grammar and Cognition in Pirahã," sparked significant debate in the field. Author Tom Wolfe explored Everett's work in "The Kingdom of Speech," highlighting the theory that language is a cultural tool shaped by the need for meaning and community.

Everett has reached broad audiences through his writing, including books such as "Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: A Life in the Amazon," "Language: The Cultural Tool," "Dark Matter of the Mind: The Culturally Articulated Unconscious," and "How Language Began: The Story of Humanity's Greatest Invention." "How Language Began" presents an evolutionary perspective on language, tracing its development from early hominids to the thousands of languages spoken today. Everett's work has been featured in The New Yorker and in documentaries, public talks, radio programs, and podcasts. He appears in the documentary "Radical Wolfe," available on streaming platforms.

Throughout a career spanning nearly 50 years, Everett has held academic leadership roles, including Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bentley University and chair positions at Illinois State University and the University of Pittsburgh. He has also taught at the University of Manchester. Everett received the Mee Family Research Prize from the Mee Family Foundation and Bentley University for his contributions to linguistics and cognitive sciences. A festschrift, "From Fieldwork to Linguistic Theory: A Tribute to Dan Everett," was published by Language Science Press, recognizing his work in Amazonian fieldwork, linguistic theory, and interdisciplinary research. Everett continues to engage audiences on topics such as human communication, endangered languages, and the impact of fieldwork on linguistic theory.

BOOK Daniel Everett

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/23/2026.

Daniel Everett Videos

Wisdom from Strangers | Daniel Everett | TEDxPenn

Wisdom from Strangers | Daniel Everett | TEDxPenn

For eight of the last thirty years, Daniel Everett immersed himself in the Pirahã culture, which has no counting system, no fixed terms for color,...

Joe Rogan Experience #2547 - Daniel Everett

Joe Rogan Experience #2547 - Daniel Everett

Daniel Everett, PhD, is a linguist and college professor. He is the author of several books, including “Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and...

Daniel Everett, How Language Began: The History of

Daniel Everett, How Language Began: The History of

The second lecture of the Copernicus Festival 2019: "Language", entitled "How Language Began: The Story of Humanity's Greatest Invention", will be...

  • How do I book Daniel Everett to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Daniel Everett for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Daniel Everett, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Daniel Everett or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Daniel Everett

    Speaking fees for Daniel Everett, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Daniel Everett are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Daniel Everett, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Daniel Everett speak about?

    Daniel Everett is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Disruptive Thinking, History, Non-Fiction Authors, Professors, Research & Exploration, Social Sciences, Storytelling, Thought Leadership
  • Where does Daniel Everett travel from?

    Daniel Everett generally travels from Waltham, MA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Daniel Everett’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Daniel Everett for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Daniel Everett for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Daniel Everett or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Daniel Everett is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Daniel Everett for your event is available upon request. Daniel Everett generally travels from Waltham, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Josh Berson, Ella Al-Shamahi, Michael C. Hawkins, PhD, Kip Thorne and David Hackett Fischer. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Daniel Everett for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP