Meet the Masterminds Behind the Most Influential Books with High-Quality Author Summaries

Adam Smith was an 18th century Scottish philosopher, economist and moralist who wrote the classic work "The Wealth of Nations".

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Doris Kearns Goodwin is known for her books on U.S. presidents and team-building in the workplace.

Elizabeth Kolbert is an award-winning journalist and New Yorker staff writer. Her work illuminates the urgent consequences of climate change.

Alex Haley is an acclaimed American author, best known for writing "Roots: The Saga of an American Family" and "The Autobiography of Malcolm X."

Malcolm X was a controversial civil rights activist, who championed black pride and racial equality.

Verne Harnish is a renowned business consultant and writer on topics such as entrepreneurship, scaling, and leadership.

Craig Walsh is an acclaimed Australian author, with works exploring themes of personal struggle, family, and relationships.

Leading sportswriter Bill Walsh is renowned for his insights and exposés on the NFL.

"Steve Jamison is a renowned author, writing about subjects such as sports, education, and leadership."

Tim Wu is an award-winning author and scholar who explores how law and technology intersect.

Funny, insightful British author of classic sci-fi comedy novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

Isaac Asimov was a renowned scientist and prolific science-fiction writer, best known for his Foundation series.

Award-winning author Min Jin Lee is known for her realistic and powerful stories about family, identity, and belonging.

Virgil is considered one of the greatest Latin authors and poets, known for his epic poem, the Aeneid.

Andy Weir is an American science fiction author best known for his award-winning novel "The Martian".

Joby Warrick is an award-winning American journalist and author of gripping nonfiction books about recent history.

Chris Yeh is an venture capitalist and author of the bestseller "The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age".

Elad Gil is a technology executive, investor, and author of multiple books on startups and business strategy.

Neil Gaiman is an award-winning author of fantasy and sci-fi novels, short stories and comic books, praised for his imaginative narratives.

Jack Kerouac was an iconic counterculture figure, author of the beat generation classic, "On the Road".

Marc Goodman is a security futurist, author and policing expert exposing the challenges of cybercrime.

Ford Madox Ford was an acclaimed English novelist, poet, and critic during the early 20th century.

John Milton was an influential English poet and polemicist, known for his masterpiece "Paradise Lost".

Raymond Chandler is a legendary American crime fiction writer, best known for his tough detective novels with witty dialogue.