Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is an accomplished author, business leader, and biographer who has made countless contributions to the media and publishing industry over the span of his decades-long career. Recently, his best-known work is The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, which chronicles the history of the digital age from 1945 to the early 2000s.

Isaacson was born in New Orleans and raised in an eclectic home. Both of his parents were educators, and he has described his upbringing in the same manner. He received his bachelor's degree from Tulane University before earning a PhD from Princeton. He transitioned into business journalism in 1977 as a writing fellow with Time magazine and later worked as the magazine’s managing editor until 1986.

He is a well-known writer of organizational and political biographies, having written biographies on Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Henry Kissinger, Benjamin Franklin, and even the United States Constitution itself. Isaacson's ability to bring life to the stories of these influential figures, as well as to make them relatable to modern audiences, has awarded him much acclaim and admiration.

Isaacson went on to become the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a non-profit, nonpartisan educational organization. He then served as chairman and CEO of CNN from 2001 to 2003. In this role, Isaacson was responsible for overseeing the development of the cable news channel and its various networks, from fine-tuning editorial direction to broadening audience reach. Isaacson was hailed for his work in using the Internet and technology to create a platform where knowledge and wisdom flourished.

As an author, Isaacson never ceases to amaze. He has published numerous books over the years, including “The Innovators”, “Einstein: His Life and Universe”, “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life”, and “Kissinger: A Biography”. His books have won him a National Book Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, among other honors.

Isaacson’s latest book, “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene-Editing, and the Future of the Human Race”, was released in early 2021. The book chronicles the life of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna and her work in developing the gene-editing technology CRISPR, which has had a major impact on the field of molecular biology.

The sheer breadth and depth of knowledge Isaacson has amassed throughout his illustrious career makes him an author who deserves recognition and admiration. Whether it’s for his biographies of influential figures, his contributions to the media and business industry, or his latest book, Isaacson’s body of work will continue to make an impact for many years to come.