Walter Isaacson
Writing the definitive biographies of history's greatest innovators β from da Vinci to Steve Jobs to Elon Musk.
Biography
Walter Isaacson is an American biographer and journalist known for his definitive accounts of history's greatest innovators. Born in New Orleans in 1952, he served as CEO of the Aspen Institute and chairman of CNN. Isaacson has written biographies of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, and Elon Musk, each meticulously researched and widely acclaimed. His ability to make complex minds accessible has established him as the preeminent biographer of genius. He was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
Best Starting Book
Steve Jobs
The biography that defined a generation's understanding of tech innovation β gripping, honest, and impossible to put down.
Reading Order
Steve Jobs
His most popular biography β an intimate, authorized portrait written with Jobs's full cooperation before his death.
Leonardo da Vinci
Explores the ultimate Renaissance genius through his notebooks β Isaacson's most beautifully crafted work.
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Makes Einstein's physics and personality equally fascinating β science and biography perfectly balanced.
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
The founding father as entrepreneur, scientist, diplomat, and wit β surprisingly modern and entertaining.
Elon Musk
A gripping, complex portrait of the most controversial innovator of our time.