Robert Wright

Robert Wright is an American journalist, author, blog writer, and New York Times bestseller. His works span a variety of topics, including evolutionary psychology, history, religion and international relations. He is best known for his works The Moral Animal, Nonzero and The Evolution of God, along with his book reviews and op-eds that appear frequently in a variety of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Atlantic.

Robert Wright was born in 1957 in Wallingford, Connecticut, to William and Mary Wright. He and his two brothers, Craig and John, shared a strong interest in science from a young age. After graduating from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1975, Wright attended the University of 1986, graduating cum laude with a double major in Biology and Anthropology. After completing his undergraduate degree, Wright went on to obtain his graduate education at Princeton University, where he completed his M.A. and Ph.D in Biology in 1988 and 1992, respectively.

Prior to starting his graduate studies, Wright secured a position at The New Republic Magazine, in which he would eventually become a senior editor. During his tenure, Wright wrote several pieces that examined the ethical implications of advances in evolutionary psychology, a topic that he would explore further in his 1995 book, The Moral Animal. Combining evidence from science and philosophy, The Moral Animal sought to demonstrate how evolutionary psychology shapes our everyday social and ethical systems. The book met with great reception among both scholar and layperson alike and its success largely solidified Wright as an influential thinker in the world of evolutionary science.

Wright would go on to write Nonzero in 2000, which sought to show how improvements in communication technologies throughout history have allowed for greater critical thinking and progress from a global, macroscale perspective. He followed this book with The Evolution of God in 2009, which propose that religious beliefs have adapted to changing social conditions. Both books represented additional additions to Wright’s ever-expanding body of work.

Since the start of his career, Wright has written for a number of publications, such as Slate, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, The Atlantic and many others. Additionally, he has published eight books, including three New York Times bestsellers. He has also written several reviews and many opinion pieces, as well as interviews with thought leaders. He has also lectured in various universities and attended various conferences throughout the world.

In 2018, Wright received the National Humanities Medal from the President of the United States. In the same year, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Wright serves on the board of The New Yorker and is a founding editor of the popular website, Blogging Heads.

Today, Robert Wright can be found writing for a variety of outlets, including The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Slate and The Wall Street Journal. He is also the host of the popular podcast "MeaningofLife.tv," which features interviews with leading thinkers on various topics, like religion, evolutionary biology, technology and politics. Wright continues to be one of the most prolific thinkers of our time, providing thoughtful insights on a multitude of topics.