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| '''Walter Seff Isaacson''' (born 1952) is an American historian, author, and journalist best known in the second half of his life for writing outstanding biographies of several public, historical figures, including [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Albert Einstein]], [[Steve Jobs]], and Elon Musk. Earlier in his life, he was also the chairman of [[CNN]], and the editor of ''[[Time magazine|Time]]''. | | '''Walter Seff Isaacson''' (born 1952) is an American historian, author, and journalist best known in the second half of his life for writing outstanding biographies of several public, historical figures, including [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Albert Einstein]], [[Steve Jobs]], and Elon Musk. Earlier in his life, he was also the chairman of [[CNN]], and the editor of ''[[Time magazine|Time]]''. |
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| Isaacson attended [[Harvard University]] and [[Pembroke College, Oxford]] as a [[Rhodes scholar]]. He is the co-author with [[Evan Thomas]] of ''[[The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made]]'' (1986) and the author of ''Pro and Con'' (1983), ''[[Kissinger: A Biography]]'' (1992), ''[[Benjamin Franklin: An American Life]]'' (2003), ''[[Einstein: His Life and Universe]]'' (2007), ''American Sketches'' (2009), ''[[Steve Jobs (book)|Steve Jobs]]'' (2011), ''[[The Innovators (book)|The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution]]'' (2014), ''Leonardo da Vinci'' (2017), ''[[The Code Breaker|The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race]]'' (2021) and ''[[Elon Musk (Isaacson book)|Elon Musk]]'' (2023).
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| Isaacson is a professor at [[Tulane University]] and an advisory partner at [[Perella Weinberg Partners]], a New York City-based financial services firm.<ref name=MichaelNeibauer/> He was vice chair of the [[Louisiana Recovery Authority]], which oversaw the rebuilding after [[Hurricane Katrina]], chaired the [[Broadcasting Board of Governors|government board]] that runs [[Voice of America]], and was a member of the Defense Innovation Board.
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| ==Early life and education==
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| Walter Seff Isaacson was born on May 20, 1952,<ref name="mball">{{cite news|first=Millie|last=Ball|url=http://www.nola.com/books/index.ssf/2011/12/steve_jobs_biographer_is_homet.html|title=Steve Jobs' biographer is hometown son Walter Isaacson|publisher=[[The Times-Picayune]]|date=11 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120212154631/http://www.nola.com/books/index.ssf/2011/12/steve_jobs_biographer_is_homet.html|archive-date=12 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="contemporary">{{cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/isaacson-walter-1952|title=Isaacson, Walter 1952–|work=Contemporary Authors|accessdate=February 16, 2022|via=Encyclopedia.com|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430041704/https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/isaacson-walter-1952|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, the son of Betty "Betsy" Lee (née Seff) and Irwin Isaacson.<ref name=DavidSkinner>{{cite web|last=Skinner|first=David|url=http://www.neh.gov/about/awards/jefferson-lecture/walter-isaacson-biography|publisher=[[National Endowment for the Humanities]]|title= Awards & Honors: 2014 Jefferson Lecturer: Walter Isaacson|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140516164627/https://www.neh.gov/about/awards/jefferson-lecture/walter-isaacson-biography|archive-date=16 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sidsalinger.com/2246.htm|title=Family of Sid Salinger|publisher=Sid Salinger|date=19 August 2013|access-date=February 1, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150201222153/http://www.sidsalinger.com/2246.htm|archive-date=1 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |title= Obituary: Irwin Isaacson Jr. |newspaper= [[The New Orleans Advocate]] |date= January 11, 2017 |url= https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/irwin-isaacson-obituary?pid=183569113 |accessdate= |archive-date= September 28, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210928211211/https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/irwin-isaacson-obituary?pid=183569113 |url-status= live }}</ref> His father was an electrical and mechanical engineer, and his mother was a [[real estate broker]].<ref name=DavidSkinner/> He attended New Orleans' [[Isidore Newman School]], where he was student body president. He also attended the [[Telluride Association]] Summer Program (TASP) at [[Deep Springs College]].
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| Isaacson studied at [[Harvard University]], where he majored in history and literature and graduated in 1974. At Harvard, Isaacson was the president of the [[Signet Society]], a member of the ''[[Harvard Lampoon]]'', and a resident of [[Lowell House]]. He later attended [[Pembroke College, Oxford]], as a [[Rhodes scholar]], where he studied [[Philosophy, Politics, and Economics|philosophy, politics, and economics]] (PPE) and graduated with [[First-Class Honours|first-class honours]].<ref name="rpogrebin"/><ref name="mball"/> | | Isaacson studied at [[Harvard University]], where he majored in history and literature and graduated in 1974. At Harvard, Isaacson was the president of the [[Signet Society]], a member of the ''[[Harvard Lampoon]]'', and a resident of [[Lowell House]]. He later attended [[Pembroke College, Oxford]], as a [[Rhodes scholar]], where he studied [[Philosophy, Politics, and Economics|philosophy, politics, and economics]] (PPE) and graduated with [[First-Class Honours|first-class honours]].<ref name="rpogrebin"/><ref name="mball"/> |
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| ==Career==
| | As of 2024, Isaacson is a professor at [[Tulane University]] and since 2018 has served as one of several interview hosts for the [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] and CNN news show ''[[Amanpour & Company]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Guthrie|first=Marisa|date=8 May 2018|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christiane-amanpour-will-lead-new-pbs-late-night-program-1109701|title=Christiane Amanpour Will Lead New PBS Late-Night Program|publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508211023/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christiane-amanpour-will-lead-new-pbs-late-night-program-1109701|archive-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> |
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| ===Media===
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| Isaacson began his career in journalism at ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' in London, followed by a position with the ''[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]]''. He joined ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine in 1978, serving as the magazine's political correspondent, national editor, and editor of new media before becoming the magazine's 14th editor in 1996.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/5/4/walter-isaacson/ | title=Q&A with Walter S. Isaacson | author=William C. Skinner | date=4 May 2016 | publisher=[[The Harvard Crimson]] | access-date=5 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=18 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918193806/http://www.thecrimson.com:80/article/2016/5/4/walter-isaacson/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/money/moving-ladder-big-time-article-1.878355 | title=Moving up the Ladder Big Time | author=Paul D. Colford | date=15 November 2000 | work=[[New York Daily News]] | access-date=5 July 2016 | archive-date=June 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619215015/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/money/moving-ladder-big-time-article-1.878355 | url-status=live }}</ref>
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| Isaacson became chairman and CEO of [[CNN]] in July 2001, replacing [[Tom Johnson (journalist)|Tom Johnson]], and only two months later, guided CNN through the events of [[September 11 attacks|9/11]].<ref name=JimWalton>{{cite news | last = Cook | first = John | title = CNN's turmoil continues over identity, ratings | url = http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-01-21/features/0301210060_1_cnn-jim-walton-fox-news-channel/2 | newspaper = [[The Chicago Tribune]] | date = January 21, 2003 | access-date = March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319022842/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-01-21-0301210060-story.html|archive-date=19 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=StepsDownCNN>{{cite news | title = CNN: Head of news network to step down | url = http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-01-14/business/0301140255_1_aspen-institute-cnn-aaron-brown | newspaper = The Chicago Tribune | date = January 14, 2003 | access-date = March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319023056/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-01-14-0301140255-story.html|archive-date=19 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly after his appointment at CNN, Isaacson attracted attention for seeking the views of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] leaders on Capitol Hill regarding criticisms that CNN broadcast content that was unfair to Republicans or conservatives. He was quoted in ''[[Roll Call]]'' magazine as saying: "I was trying to reach out to a lot of Republicans who feel that CNN has not been as open to covering Republicans, and I wanted to hear their concerns." The CEO's conduct was criticized by the [[Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting]] (FAIR) organization, which said that Isaacson's "pandering" behavior was endowing conservative politicians with power over CNN.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Eason Jordan|title=New CNN Chief Trying to Please GOP Elite|url=http://fair.org/take-action/action-alerts/new-cnn-chief-trying-to-please-gop-elite/|website=FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting)|publisher=Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting|access-date=18 January 2015|date=15 August 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208154413/https://fair.org/take-action/action-alerts/new-cnn-chief-trying-to-please-gop-elite/|archive-date=8 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=New CNN chairman meets with GOP critics|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2001-08-06-cnn.htm|access-date=18 January 2015|work=[[USA Today]]|date=6 August 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118085627/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2001-08-06-cnn.htm|archive-date=18 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> | |
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| In January 2003, he announced that he would step down as president of CNN to become president of the [[Aspen Institute]].<ref name=StepsDownCNN/> [[Jim Walton (journalist)|Jim Walton]] replaced Isaacson as president of CNN.<ref name=JimWalton/>
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| Isaacson served as the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute from 2003 until 2018, when he announced that he would step down to become a professor of history at [[Tulane University]] and an advisory partner at the New York City financial services firm [[Perella Weinberg Partners]].<ref name=MichaelNeibauer>{{Cite news|first=Michael|last=Neibauer|title=Walter Isaacson leaving the Aspen Institute|date=15 March 2017|publisher=[[American City Business Journals|Washington Business Journal]]|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/03/15/walter-isaacson-leaving-the-aspen-institute.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315160000/https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/03/15/walter-isaacson-leaving-the-aspen-institute.html|archive-date=15 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2017, the Aspen Institute named [[Daniel R. Porterfield|Dan Porterfield]], the president of [[Franklin & Marshall College]], as Isaacson's successor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/11/30/aspen-institute/|title=Aspen Institute names Dan Porterfield, president of Franklin and Marshall College, as its new leader|last=Thompson|first=Krissah|date=2017-11-30|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-12-15|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508225101/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/11/30/aspen-institute/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| In March 2017, Isaacson launched a [[podcast]] with [[Dell Technologies]] called ''Trailblazers'', which focuses on technology's effects on business.<ref name="johnson2017">{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Lauren|date=15 March 2017|publisher=[[Adweek]]|url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/walter-isaacson-is-getting-into-podcasting-with-a-series-for-dell-about-technology/|title=Walter Isaacson Is Getting Into Podcasting With a Series About Technology|access-date=2017-07-01|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315145859/http://www.adweek.com/digital/walter-isaacson-is-getting-into-podcasting-with-a-series-for-dell-about-technology/|archive-date=15 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Isaacson was named as a contributor for the ''[[Amanpour & Company]]'' airing on PBS and CNN that replaced ''The Charlie Rose Show''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Guthrie|first=Marisa|date=8 May 2018|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christiane-amanpour-will-lead-new-pbs-late-night-program-1109701|title=Christiane Amanpour Will Lead New PBS Late-Night Program|publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508211023/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christiane-amanpour-will-lead-new-pbs-late-night-program-1109701|archive-date=8 May 2018}}</ref>
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| ===Writing===
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| Isaacson is the author of multiple published books, including ''[[Kissinger: A Biography]]'' (1992), ''[[Benjamin Franklin: An American Life]]'' (2003), ''[[Einstein: His Life and Universe]]'' (2007) and ''[[American Sketches]]'' (2009). He additionally co-authored with [[Evan Thomas]] the work ''[[The Wise Men (book)|The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made]]'' (1986).<ref name="rpogrebin"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Walter Isaacson|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Walter-Isaacson/697650|website=Author page|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|access-date=19 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102200454/https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Walter-Isaacson/697650|archive-date=2 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| On October 24, 2011, ''[[Steve Jobs (book)|Steve Jobs]]'', Isaacson's [[authorized biography]] of [[Apple Inc.]]'s Jobs, was published by [[Simon & Schuster]], only a few weeks after Jobs's death. It became an international best-seller, breaking all records for sales of a biography. The book was based on over forty interviews with Jobs over a two-year period up until shortly before his death, and on conversations with friends, family members, and business rivals of the entrepreneur.<ref name="lynch2011">{{cite web|first=Rene|last=Lynch|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/new-steve-jobs-biography-skyrockets-to-no-1-spot-on-amazon.html|title=Steve Jobs biography: Release date moves up, skyrockets to No. 1|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018163517/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/new-steve-jobs-biography-skyrockets-to-no-1-spot-on-amazon.html|archive-date=18 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Brad Stone, [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/technology/companies/16apple.html "Jobs Is Said to Assist With Book on His Life"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117123855/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/technology/companies/16apple.html |date=November 17, 2017 }}, ''New York Times'', February 15, 2010.</ref><ref name="peralta2011">{{cite web|first=Eyder|last=Peralta|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/04/11/135318057/steve-jobs-authorizes-biography-its-due-out-early-2012|title=Steve Jobs Authorizes Biography; It's Due Out Early 2012|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=11 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014133840/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/04/11/135318057/steve-jobs-authorizes-biography-its-due-out-early-2012|archive-date=14 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="swisher2011">{{cite news|first=Kara|last=Swisher |author-link=Kara Swisher |url=http://allthingsd.com/20110815/new-jobs-bio-cover-is-all-apple-with-pub-date-of-november/|title= New Jobs Bio Cover Is All Apple With Pub Date of November|publisher=[[All Things Digital]]|date=15 August 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827134838/http://allthingsd.com/20110815/new-jobs-bio-cover-is-all-apple-with-pub-date-of-november/|archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first=Walter|last=Isaacson|url=http://hbr.org/2012/04/the-real-leadership-lessons-of-steve-jobs/ar/1|title=The Real Leadership Lessons of Steve Jobs|journal=[[Harvard Business Review]]|date=April 2012|volume=90|issue=4|pages=92–100, 102, 146|pmid=22458204|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322192235/http://hbr.org/2012/04/the-real-leadership-lessons-of-steve-jobs/ar/1|archive-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>
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| In October 2014, Isaacson published ''[[The Innovators (book)|The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution]]'', which explores the history of the key technological innovations that were prominent in the [[digital revolution]], most notably the parallel developments of the computer and the Internet. It became a ''New York Times'' bestseller.<ref name="pickering2015">{{cite web|author1=Rachel Pickering|title=The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution by Walter Isaacson|url=http://maroonweekly.com/innovators-group-hackers-geniuses-geeks-created-digital-revolution-walter-isaacson|website=Maroon Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903181556/http://maroonweekly.com/innovators-group-hackers-geniuses-geeks-created-digital-revolution-walter-isaacson|archive-date=3 September 2015|url-status=dead|publisher=Campus Press LP|access-date=18 January 2015|date=29 October 2014}}</ref> Writing for the ''New York Times'', [[Janet Maslin]] described the author as "a kindred spirit to the visionaries and enthusiasts" whom Isaacson wrote about.<ref>{{cite news|author-link1=Janet Maslin|author1=Janet Maslin|title=Heralds of the Digital Tomorrow|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/arts/walter-isaacsons-the-innovators-studies-computer-wizards.html?_r=0|access-date=18 January 2015|work=The New York Times|date=8 October 2014|archive-date=January 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118144646/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/arts/walter-isaacsons-the-innovators-studies-computer-wizards.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| He is the editor of ''Profiles in Leadership: Historians on the Elusive Quality of Greatness'' (2010, [[W. W. Norton]]).<ref name="mball"/><ref>[[Janet Maslin]], [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/books/09masl.html? "The Scale of Einstein, From Faith to Formulas,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221152232/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/books/09masl.html? |date=February 21, 2017 }} ''New York Times'', April 9, 2007.</ref>
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| His self-titled biography of [[Leonardo da Vinci]] was published on October 17, 2017, to positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lithub.com/bookmarks/reviews/leonardo-da-vinci/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019111848/http://lithub.com/bookmarks/reviews/leonardo-da-vinci/|archive-date=19 October 2017|title=Bookmarks reviews of Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson|publisher=LitHub|access-date=October 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Leonardo da Vinci|last=Isaacson|first=Walter|date=2017-10-17|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-5011-3915-4|language=en}}</ref> In August 2017, [[Paramount Pictures]] won a bidding war against [[Universal Pictures]] for the rights to adapt Isaacson's biography of da Vinci. The studio bought the rights under its deal with [[Leonardo DiCaprio]]'s Appian Way Productions, which said that it planned to produce the film with DiCaprio as the star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/leonardo-dicaprio-to-play-leonardo-da-vinci-paramouint-walter-isaacson-appian-way-movie-deal-1202147317/|title=Update: Paramount Wins Leonardo Battle: Lands Walter Isaacson Da Vinci Book For DiCaprio|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr. |date=2017-08-12|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812103152/https://deadline.com/2017/08/leonardo-dicaprio-to-play-leonardo-da-vinci-paramouint-walter-isaacson-appian-way-movie-deal-1202147317/|archive-date=12 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Screenwriter [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]] ([[The Aviator (2004 film)|''The Aviator'']], [[Gladiator (2000 film)|''Gladiator'']]) has been tapped to pen the script.<ref name="fleming2018">{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/leonardo-dicaprio-leonardo-da-vinci-john-logan-walter-isaacson-paramount-pictures-movie-1202276443/|title=John Logan To Adapt Walter Isaacson's Leonardo Da Vinci Book For Leo DiCaprio|first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202000930/https://deadline.com/2018/02/leonardo-dicaprio-leonardo-da-vinci-john-logan-walter-isaacson-paramount-pictures-movie-1202276443/|archive-date=2 February 2018|date=1 February 2018|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19|quote=Paramount has set [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]] to adapt the Walter Isaacson book Leonardo da Vinci as a star vehicle for [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] to play the [[Leonardo da Vinci|painter/scientist]]. DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson [Jennifer Davisson Killoran] are producing through their [[Appian Way Productions|Appian Way banner]]. }}</ref>
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| His book ''[[The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race]]'' was published in March 2021 by [[Simon & Schuster]]. It is a biography of [[Jennifer Doudna]], the winner of the 2020 [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] for her work on the [[CRISPR]] system of [[CRISPR gene editing|gene editing]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Code Breaker |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Code-Breaker/Walter-Isaacson/9781982115852 |access-date=March 18, 2021 |date=March 9, 2021 |isbn=9781982115852 |last1=Isaacson |first1=Walter |publisher=Simon and Schuster |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414054804/https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Code-Breaker/Walter-Isaacson/9781982115852 |url-status=live }}</ref> The book debuted at number one on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' nonfiction best-seller list]] for the week ending March 13, 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction - Best Sellers |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2021/03/28/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/ |access-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331154721/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2021/03/28/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' called it a "gripping account of a great scientific advancement and of the dedicated scientists who realized it."<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2021 |title=Nonfiction Book Review: The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-9821-1585-2 |access-date=March 18, 2021 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212185100/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-9821-1585-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| Isaacson's [[Elon Musk (Isaacson book)|biography]] of [[Elon Musk]] was published by Simon & Schuster on September 12, 2023. It was shortlisted for the 2023 [[Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award|''Financial Times'' Business Book of the Year Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-04 |title=FT Business Book of the Year Award shortlist |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/10/04/238701/ft-business-book-of-the-year-award-shortlist/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |publisher=Books+Publishing |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118211335/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/10/04/238701/ft-business-book-of-the-year-award-shortlist/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| ===Government===
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| [[File:WalterIsaacsonStateDeptUSPPImage1.JPG|thumb|Isaacson at a State Department briefing in 2008]]
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| In October 2005, the Governor of Louisiana, [[Kathleen Blanco]], appointed Isaacson vice chairman of the [[Louisiana Recovery Authority]], a board that oversaw spending on the recovery from [[Hurricane Katrina]]. In December 2007, he was appointed by President [[George W. Bush]] to the chairman of the U.S.-Palestinian Partnership, which seeks to create economic and educational opportunities in the Palestinian territories.<ref>[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071203-7.html "President Bush Meets with U.S.-Palestinian Public-Private Partnership"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318233630/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071203-7.html |date=March 18, 2021 }}, White House press release, December 2007.</ref> Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] appointed him vice-chair of the [[Partners for a New Beginning]], which encourages private-sector investments and partnerships in the Muslim world.<ref name="pnb2010">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/141152.pdf|title=Partners for a New Beginning|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217045808/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/141152.pdf|archive-date=17 December 2019|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|date=26 April 2010|quote=Former Secretary of State [[Madeleine Albright]] will serve as the Chair of PNB. Walter Isaacson (President of The Aspen Institute) and [[Muhtar Kent]] (Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company) will serve as Vice-Chairs. }}</ref>
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| He also served as the co-chair of the [[U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin|U.S.-Vietnamese Dialogue]] on [[Agent Orange]], which in January 2008 announced completion of a project to contain the [[Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds|dioxin]] left behind by the U.S. at the [[Da Nang]] air base and plans to build health centers and a dioxin laboratory in the affected regions.<ref name="mason2010">{{Cite web|location=[[Hanoi]]|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37735860/ns/world_news-world_environment/t/million-agent-orange-fund/ |title=Plan addresses Agent Orange legacy in Vietnam - World news - World environment|publisher=[[NBC News]]|first=Margie|last=Mason|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=2010-06-16|website=msnbc.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19|quote=$300 million (${{Format price|{{inflation|US|300,000,000|2010|2019}}}} in 2019) for Agent Orange fund|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083530/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37735860/|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, he was appointed to be a member of the Advisory Committee of the [[National Institutes of Health]]. In 2009, he was appointed by President Obama to be chairman of the [[Broadcasting Board of Governors]], which runs [[Voice of America]], [[Radio Free Europe]], and the other international broadcasts of the U.S. government; he served until January 2012.<ref>[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts-111809 "President Obama More Key Administration Posts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216173623/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts-111809 |date=February 16, 2017 }}, White House press release, November 18, 2009.</ref>
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| In 2014, he was appointed by New Orleans Mayor [[Mitch Landrieu]] to be the co-chair of the New Orleans Tricentennial Commission, which planned the city's 300th-anniversary commemoration in 2018.<ref name="woodward2014">{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Woodward|url-status=dead|url=http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2014/12/01/mayor-landrieu-unveils-new-orleans-tricentennial-group|title=Mayor Landrieu unveils New Orleans' tricentennial group|publisher=Best of New Orleans|date=1 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212230417/http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2014/12/01/mayor-landrieu-unveils-new-orleans-tricentennial-group|archive-date=12 February 2015}}</ref> In 2015, he was appointed to the board of My Brother's Keeper Alliance, which seeks to carry out President Obama's anti-poverty and youth opportunity initiatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mbkalliance.org/updates/mbk-alliance-launch|title=My Brother's Keeper Fact Sheet|publisher=[[Obama Foundation#My Brother's Keeper Alliance|My Brother's Keeper Alliance]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510160134/http://www.mbkalliance.org/updates/mbk-alliance-launch|archive-date=10 May 2015|url-status=dead|quote=Board and Leadership Team: Walter Isaacson, CEO, Aspen Institute}}</ref> In 2016, he was appointed by Landrieu and confirmed by the City Council to be a member of the New Orleans City Planning Commission.<ref name="litten2016">{{cite news|date=1 November 2016|first=Kevin|last=Litten|publisher=[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]]|title=New Orleans Native Walter Isaacson Appointed to CPC|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/11/walter_isaacson_planning_commi.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102155959/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/11/walter_isaacson_planning_commi.html|archive-date=2 November 2016}}</ref> He is a member of the U.S. Department of [[Defense Innovation Advisory Board]]. In 2018, he was appointed by New Orleans mayor-elect [[LaToya Cantrell]] to be co-chair of her transition team.
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| ==Positions==
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| Isaacson is an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, a financial services firm. He is the chairman emeritus of the board of [[Teach for America]] and is on the boards of [[United Airlines]], [[Halliburton]] Labs, The New Orleans Advocate/Times-Picayune, New Schools New Orleans, [[Bloomberg Philanthropies]], the [[Rockefeller Foundation]], the [[Carnegie Institution for Science]] and the [[Society of American Historians]], of which he served as president in 2012.<ref name="sah2012">{{Cite web|url=https://sah.columbia.edu/content/executive-board|title=Executive Board {{!}} Society of American Historians|publisher=[[Society of American Historians]]|access-date=2020-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307091904/http://sah.columbia.edu/content/executive-board|archive-date=7 March 2012|url-status=live|quote=Executive Board, 2011-2012 [...] Officers: Walter Isaacson, President}}</ref>
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| In March 2019, Isaacson became the editor-at-large and senior adviser for [[Arcadia Publishing]], where he was to promote books for the company as well as be involved in editing, new strategy development, and partnerships.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoff |first=Patrick |url=https://charlestonbusiness.com/news/creative-industries/76190/ |title=Walter Isaacson joins Arcadia Publishing |work=Charleston Regional Business Journal |publisher=SC Biz News |date=2019-03-25 |access-date=2019-04-03 |archive-date=December 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228043647/https://charlestonbusiness.com/news/creative-industries/76190/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| Isaacson is an Associate of the History of Science Department and a member of the Lowell House Senior Common Room at [[Harvard University]]. He is also an honorary fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford. Walter Isaacson is a special professor of history at [[Tulane University]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.tulane.edu/pr/leonard-lauder-funds-tulane-university-professorship-american-history-and-values | title=Leonard A. Lauder funds Tulane University professorship on American history and values | date=March 9, 2020 | access-date=April 17, 2022 | archive-date=June 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627124309/https://news.tulane.edu/pr/leonard-lauder-funds-tulane-university-professorship-american-history-and-values | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/departments/history/people/walter-isaacson | title=Walter Isaacson, School of Liberal Arts at Tulane University | access-date=April 17, 2022 | archive-date=May 28, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528225610/https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/departments/history/people/walter-isaacson | url-status=live }}</ref> He teaches the course "The Digital Revolution" every spring and the course "Law and U.S. History" every fall. His courses often feature prominent guest speakers such as author [[Michael Lewis]], [[Kickstarter]] founder [[Perry Chen]], and billionaire businessman [[James Coulter (financier)|James Coulter]]. At Tulane, Isaacson co-chairs the annual New Orleans Book Festival.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/la-state-wire-new-orleans-lifestyle-entertainment-health-82f6b138693d71879446f18b5706f83d |title=New Orleans book festival canceled by COVID on for October |date=July 3, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524054433/https://apnews.com/article/la-state-wire-new-orleans-lifestyle-entertainment-health-82f6b138693d71879446f18b5706f83d |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bookfest.tulane.edu/about/our-team |title=Our Team |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524054434/https://bookfest.tulane.edu/about/our-team |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| ==Honors==
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| In 2023, Isaacson received the [[National Humanities Medal]] from President [[Joe Biden]]. The White House citation of Isaacson's award emphasizes that his "work, words, and wisdom bridge divides between science and the humanities and between opposing philosophies, elevating discourse and our understanding of who we are as a Nation".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Walter Isaacson |url=https://www.neh.gov/award/walter-isaacson |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=The National Endowment for the Humanities |language=en |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321203345/https://www.neh.gov/award/walter-isaacson |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| Isaacson's book ''Steve Jobs'', about the life of the entrepreneur, earned Isaacson the 2012 [[Gerald Loeb Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/media-relations/2012/loeb-award-winners |title=UCLA Anderson Announces 2012 Gerald Loeb Award Winners |date=June 26, 2012 |website=[[UCLA Anderson School of Management]] |access-date=February 2, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719055741/https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/media-relations/2012/loeb-award-winners|archive-date=19 July 2013|quote=Business Books Winner: Walter Isaacson for 'Steve Jobs' published by Simon & Schuster}}</ref>
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| In 2012, he was selected as one of the [[Time 100|''Time'' 100]], the magazine's list of the most influential people in the world.<ref name=Time2012>{{cite news|author-link=Madeleine Albright|last=Albright|first=Madeline K.|url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2111986,00.html|title=The World's 100 Most Influential People: 2012|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=April 18, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930105302/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2111986,00.html|archive-date=30 September 2013}}</ref> Isaacson is a fellow of the [[Royal Society of Arts]] and was awarded its 2013 [[Benjamin Franklin Medal (Royal Society of Arts)|Benjamin Franklin Medal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blog.rsa-us.org/2013/10/2013-benjamin-franklin-medal-presentation-to-walter-isaacson/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231044358/http://www.blog.rsa-us.org/2013/10/2013-benjamin-franklin-medal-presentation-to-walter-isaacson/|archive-date=31 December 2013|title=2013 Benjamin Franklin Medal Presentation To Walter Isaacson|publisher=RSA United States|date=October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=SDA|first=RSA-US|title=2013 Benjamin Franklin medal: Walter Isaacson|date=2013-10-09|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdaus/10404484184/|access-date=2020-03-19|archive-date=January 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114103114/https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdaus/10404484184/|url-status=live}}</ref> He is also a member of the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]], the [[American Philosophical Society]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Walter+Isaacson&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-05-25|website=search.amphilsoc.org|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122040043/https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Walter+Isaacson&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|url-status=live}}</ref> and an Honorary Fellow of [[Pembroke College, Oxford]].
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| In 2014, the [[National Endowment for the Humanities]] selected Isaacson for the [[Jefferson Lecture]], the U.S. federal government's highest honor for achievement in the [[humanities]]. The title of Isaacson's lecture was "The Intersection of the Humanities and the Sciences".<ref name="Nola2014">{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Waddington|url=http://www.nola.com/celebrities/index.ssf/2014/01/best-selling_biographer_walter.html|title=Best-selling biographer Walter Isaacson will deliver prestigious Jefferson Lecture in 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204015909/http://www.nola.com/celebrities/index.ssf/2014/01/best-selling_biographer_walter.html|archive-date=4 February 2014|publisher=[[Times-Picayune]]|date=28 January 2014}}</ref>
| | Isaacson is the author of several notable books, including: |
| | * ''Pro and Con'' (1983), ''[[Kissinger: A Biography]]'' (1992) |
| | * ''[[Benjamin Franklin: An American Life]]'' (2003) |
| | * ''[[Einstein: His Life and Universe]]'' (2007) |
| | * ''American Sketches'' (2009) |
| | * ''[[Steve Jobs (book)|Steve Jobs]]'' (2011) |
| | * ''[[The Innovators (book)|The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution]]'' (2014) |
| | * ''Leonardo da Vinci'' (2017) |
| | * ''[[The Code Breaker|The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race]]'' (2021) |
| | * ''[[Elon Musk (Isaacson book)|Elon Musk]]'' (2023) |
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| He has honorary degrees from [[Tufts University]], [[Cooper Union]], [[College of William & Mary|William & Mary]], [[Franklin University Switzerland]], [[University of New Orleans]], [[University of South Carolina]], [[City University of New York]] (Hunter College), [[Pomona College]], [[Lehigh University]], [[Duke University]], and [[Colorado Mountain College]], where the Isaacson School of Media and Communications is named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coloradomtn.edu/programs/isaacson-school/|title=The Isaacson School at Colorado Mountain College|publisher=[[Colorado Mountain College]]|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409044545/https://coloradomtn.edu/programs/isaacson-school/|archive-date=9 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cooper.edu/about/news/walter-s-isaacson-commencement-speech-may-22-2012|date=30 May 2012|quote=[W]hen I first started writing about [[Benjamin Franklin]], I thought of him as a writer, a humanities type, somebody interested in governance. I did realize that he was probably the most important experimental scientist of his time. Both with the [[Kite experiment|electricity experiment]] and so many of his [[Benjamin Franklin#Inventions and scientific inquiries|other inventions]]. And I realize that a Benjamin Franklin or a [[Thomas Jefferson]] would have thought people philistines if they didn’t appreciate the beauty of science. And likewise, [[Albert Einstein]], a great scientist would have thought people philistines if they were scientists and didn’t appreciate the beauty of Goethe or Mozart, or all of the literature or music that he loved.|url-status=live|archive-date=18 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318021420/https://cooper.edu/about/news/walter-s-isaacson-commencement-speech-may-22-2012|title=Walter S. Isaacson, Commencement Speech, May 22, 2012 {{!}} The Cooper Union|website=cooper.edu|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref> He was the 2015 recipient of [[The Nichols-Chancellor's Medal]] at [[Vanderbilt University]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Jim |last=Patterson|date=7 May 2015|title=Connect your passion to something that matters, Isaacson urges Vanderbilt graduating seniors|url=http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2015/05/senior-day-isaacson/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010440/https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2015/05/07/senior-day-isaacson/|archive-date=4 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| | Isaacson is also the co-author with [[Evan Thomas]] of ''[[The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made]]'' (1986). |
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| ==Bibliography== | | ==Bibliography== |