Daniel J. Boorstin

Daniel J. Boorstin (1914-2004) was one of the most important and influential American writers of the 20th century. An historian and social commentator, Boorstin wrote several well-regarded books, including The Americans: The Democratic Experience (1973) and The Discoverers (1983). He was the 12th librarian of Congress, a position he held from 1975 to 1987, and the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize in 1974.

Boorstin was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 1, 1914, the son of Samuel and Dorothy Greene Boorstin. His parents moved the family to Texas when Boorstin was young. Boorstin attended the University of Chicago, receiving his Ph.D. in 1941. He also studied at Harvard and Oxford, becoming a Rhodes Scholar at the latter. He taught history at Swarthmore College from 1936 to 1949.

Boorstin's first published work was The Mysterious Science of the Law (1941). This book examined the history of English common law and was widely praised for its exploration of the origin, development, and impact of the legal system. Following the success of this book, Boorstin went on to write several other books.

Boorstin is perhaps best known for The Americans. This three-volume book examined the American experience from colonial times through the Vietnam War. It was highly praised, winning a Pulitzer Prize for History in 1974.

In 1983, Boorstin published The Discoverers. This book examined the history of human exploration and discovery, looking at the great scientists, adventurers, and cartographers of the past. Boorstin argued that these explorers had profoundly changed the world and the way people think.

In addition to his books, Boorstin wrote for a number of prominent publications. He was a regular contributor to The New Republic, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic Monthly. He was also a frequent guest lecturer, speaking to college audiences around the country.

In 1975, President Gerald Ford appointed Boorstin as the 12th librarian of Congress, a position he held until 1987. While in office, he changed the Library of Congress by transforming it into a more user-friendly institution. His efforts modernized the library and opened its resources to a wider audience.

At the end of his life, Boorstin continued to write extensively. His last book, The Creators: A History of Heroes of the Imagination, was published in 1992. This book examined the influence of artists, writers, and other great thinkers on the public imagination, arguing that they had changed the world more than great military leaders and political rulers.

Daniel J. Boorstin was an internationally renowned historian, thinker, and social commentator. His works of history are still widely read and studied, and his efforts as librarian of Congress modernized and opened up the Library of Congress. His books, articles, and lectures continue to engage readers and provide fresh insight into the history of the American experience.