Author guide

Walter Isaacson Books in Order

Walter Isaacson is an American journalist, historian, and professor of history at Tulane University. He has served as editor of Time, chair and CEO of CNN, and president and CEO of the Aspen Institute. He is known for narrative biographies of influential figures in politics, science, technology, and business.

biographyhistoryjournalismscience and technology nonfictionbusiness nonfiction

Catalog record updated August 25, 2026.

Walter Isaacson's Newest Book

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

history · First published 2025

"To celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson takes readers on a ... deep dive into the creation of one of history's most powerful sentences: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.' Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation. Isaacson unpacks its genius, word by word, illuminating the then-radical concepts behind it"--

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Steve Jobs

A representative example of Isaacson's narrative biography.

The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution

An accessible entry to his history of science and technology.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

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Novels (1)

Pro and Con: Both Sides of Dozens of Unsettled and Unsettling Arguments
nonfiction · 1983

Presents both sides of the arguments concerning controversial topics, such as the draft, gun control, abortion, religious cults, television, and smoking

Nonfiction (10)

The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made
history · 1986

A captivating blend of personal biography and public drama, The Wise Men introduces six close friends who shaped the role their country would play in the dangerous years following World War II. They were the original best and brightest,…
Kissinger: A Biography
biography · 1992

893 p., [16] p. of plates : 24 cm
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
biography · 2003

Rescuing Benjamin Franklin from the clich of genial codger, this book celebrates the most interesting, advanced, and earthy of the founding fathers. 16-page four-color insert.
Einstein: His Life and Universe
biography · 2007

How did his mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson’s biography shows how his scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. His fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and…
Steve Jobs
biography · 2011

Based on more than forty interviews with Steve Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than 100 family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the…
The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
history · 2014

"Following his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, The Innovators is Walter Isaacson's revealing story of the people who created the computer and the Internet. It is destined to be the standard history of the digital revolution and an…
Leonardo da Vinci
biography · 2017

The author of the acclaimed best sellers Benjamin Franklin, Einstein, and Steve Jobs delivers an engrossing biography of Leonardo da Vinci, the world's most creative genius.Leonardo da Vinci created the two most famous paintings in…
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
biography · 2021

A scientific biography of Jennifer Doudna, a founder and co-developer of the CRISPR gene-editing mechanism, and an examination of what happened after CRISPR hit the marketplace.
Elon Musk
biography · 2023

Epic feats. Epic failures. An epic story. Walter Isaacson charts Elon Musk’s journey from humble beginnings to one of the wealthiest people on the planet – but is Musk a genius or a jerk? From the author of Steve Jobs and other…
The Greatest Sentence Ever Written
history · 2025

"To celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson takes readers on a ... deep dive into the creation of one of history's most powerful sentences: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they…

Essays and speeches (1)

American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers, and Heroes of a Hurricane
essay-collection · 2009

What are the roots of creativity? What makes for great leadership? How do influential people end up rippling the surface of history? In this collection of essays, the author reflects on the lessons to be learned from Benjamin Franklin,…

Frequently asked questions about Walter Isaacson

Who is Walter Isaacson?

Walter Isaacson is an American journalist, historian, and biographer. He is the Leonard Lauder Professor of American History and Values at Tulane University and is known for writing narrative biographies of influential figures.

Sources: liberalarts.tulane.edu (opens in a new tab)neh.gov (opens in a new tab)

When and where was Walter Isaacson born, and where did he study?

He was born on May 20, 1952, in New Orleans. He studied at Harvard College and Pembroke College, Oxford University, as a Rhodes Scholar.

Sources: neh.gov (opens in a new tab)aspeninstitute.org (opens in a new tab)

What did Walter Isaacson do before becoming a professor?

Isaacson began as a journalist at The Sunday Times of London and the New Orleans Times-Picayune, then became editor of TIME. He later served as chairman and CEO of CNN and president and CEO of the Aspen Institute.

Sources: aspeninstitute.org (opens in a new tab)neh.gov (opens in a new tab)

What influenced Walter Isaacson’s interest in innovators and creativity?

Isaacson has described New Orleans’s cultural diversity, his book-filled childhood, his engineer father, and his early interest in mathematics and science as formative influences. His work repeatedly examines how creativity emerges where the humanities, science, and technology meet.

Sources: neh.gov (opens in a new tab)neh.gov (opens in a new tab)

What awards and honors has Walter Isaacson received?

He received the 2021 National Humanities Medal, presented in 2023, for chronicling the history and genius of America. He also delivered the 2014 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities, the federal government’s highest honor for distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities.

Sources: neh.gov (opens in a new tab)neh.gov (opens in a new tab)