John Brockman

John Brockman is an American literary agent and author of a series of books outlaying his philosophy and theories on various topics, such as science and philosophy, the power of ideas, and the influence of technology. He has become well known in the scientific, artistic, and academic communities, having founded the Edge Foundation, which connects some of the most influential thinkers on the planet.

John Brockman was born in 1931 in New York City. He attended Harvard University, graduating in 1955 with a degree in History and Literature. After graduating, he began working as a freelance editor, eventually founding his own literary agency, Brockman, Inc., in 1967. The agency has gone on to become one of the most successful literary agencies in literary history, representing some of the most influential science and technological thinkers of the 20th and 21st century, such as authors Stephen Hawking, Richard Dawkins, and Steven Pinker.

Brockman has written several books under the moniker “the Edge”, examining scientific and philosophical topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. His first book, The Third Culture, highlighted the emergence of a “third culture” of intellectuals, which included people who were not traditionally considered scholars or scientists, but who worked at the intellectual and innovative intersections between science and philosophy. The book argued for a more comprehensive understanding of science and culture and the role technology plays in our lives. Other books of his include Curious Minds, Reality Club, and What We Believe But Cannot Prove.

Brockman has also founded the Edge Foundation, an online platform for intellectual conversation. His goal for Edge was to bring together some of the world’s top thinkers to have open conversations about the world’s most relevant topics. To do so, Edge has hosted annual meetings and conferences featuring the world’s smartest minds and hosting questions on various topics. Brockman also conceptualized The Reality Club, a private gathering of 20-50 people, including scientists, writers, and thinkers, who come together to discuss and debate ideas. The intent of the Reality Club is to push scientific boundaries by stimulating discourse between leaders in science and philosophy.

John Brockman is responsible for fostering some of the most thought-provoking conversations of our times and his books have had a lasting effect on the scientific, academic and interdisciplinary communities. His ability to bridge science and philosophy, to bridge ideas, and the make connections between different domains, has had a profoundly positive influence on our society and our understanding of the world. He has defined a way of thinking and understanding, unifying seemingly disparate concepts and bringing relevance to an ever-evolving field of knowledge.