What is Walter Isaacson famous for?

Walter Isaacson is an American author, journalist, and professor who has written acclaimed biographies of influential figures such as Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, and Jennifer Doudna. He is also a former editor of Time magazine and a former CEO of CNN. He is currently a professor of history at Tulane University and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg Partners, a financial services firm based in New York City.

Isaacson was born on May 20, 1952, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a Jewish family. He attended Harvard University and Pembroke College, Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. He began his career in journalism at The Sunday Times in London and then at the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He joined Time magazine in 1978 and became its 14th editor in 1996. He left Time in 2001 to become the chairman and CEO of CNN, where he guided the network through the events of 9/11. He resigned from CNN in 2003 to become the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C. He stepped down from the Aspen Institute in 2018 and joined Tulane University as a professor of history. He is also a distinguished fellow at the Aspen Institute and a member of various boards and councils, such as the Defense Innovation Board, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Isaacson is best known for his biographies of prominent historical and contemporary figures, which combine meticulous research, vivid storytelling, and insightful analysis. He has written 10 books, most of which have been bestsellers and have received critical acclaim. His first book, The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made (1986), co-authored with Evan Thomas, was a biography of six American diplomats and statesmen who shaped the post-World War II era. His second book, Kissinger: A Biography (1992), was a comprehensive and controversial portrait of the former secretary of state and Nobel laureate. His third book, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003), was a lively and engaging account of the founding father’s multifaceted career and personality. His fourth book, Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007), was a biography of the scientific genius and cultural icon, based on newly released personal letters. His fifth book, American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers, and Heroes of a Hurricane (2009), was a collection of essays and profiles of influential Americans, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Steve Jobs. His sixth book, Steve Jobs (2011), was an authorized and candid biography of the visionary co-founder of Apple, based on more than 40 interviews with Jobs and hundreds of interviews with his family, friends, colleagues, and rivals. His seventh book, The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution (2014), was a history of the people who invented the computer, the internet, and the digital age. His eighth book, Leonardo da Vinci (2017), was a biography of the Renaissance master and universal genius, based on thousands of pages of his notebooks and drawings. His ninth book, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race (2021), was a biography of the Nobel-winning scientist who co-discovered CRISPR, the revolutionary tool for editing DNA. His tenth book, Elon Musk (2023), was a biography of the entrepreneur and innovator who founded SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink, and who aims to colonize Mars and revolutionize transportation.

Isaacson’s biographies have been praised for their depth, breadth, and accessibility, as well as for their exploration of the themes of creativity, innovation, and leadership. He has also received numerous awards and honors for his work, such as the Benjamin Franklin Medal, the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal, the National Humanities Medal, and the Jefferson Lecture. He has been described as “one of America’s foremost public intellectuals” and “one of the most respected biographers of our time”.

Isaacson is widely regarded as a master of the biographical genre, who combines rigorous scholarship, compelling narrative, and insightful commentary. He has brought to life some of the most influential and fascinating people in history and in our time, and has illuminated the connections between their lives, their ideas, and their impact on the world. He has also contributed to the public discourse on the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, and has advocated for the importance of the humanities and the liberal arts in fostering a culture of innovation and citizenship.