Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson

is a Professor of History at Tulane and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, a financial services firm based in New York City. He is the past CEO of the Aspen Institute, where he is now a Distinguished Fellow, and has been the chairman of CNN and the editor of TIME magazine.

Isaacson’s most recent biography, Leonardo da Vinci (2017), offers new discoveries about Leonardo’s life and work, weaving a narrative that connects his art to his science. He is also the author of The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution (2014), Steve Jobs (2011), Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007), Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003), and Kissinger: A Biography (1992), and coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made (1986).

He is a host of the show “Amanpour and Company” on PBS and CNN, a contributor to CNBC, and host of the podcast “Trailblazers, from Dell Technologies.”

Isaacson was born on May 20, 1952, in New Orleans. He is a graduate of Harvard College and of Pembroke College of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He began his career at The Sunday Times of London and then the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He joined TIME in 1978 and served as a political correspondent, national editor, and editor of digital media before becoming the magazine’s 14th editor in 1996. He became chairman and CEO of CNN in 2001, and then president and CEO of the Aspen Institute in 2003.

He is chair emeritus of Teach for America. From 2005-2007 he was the vice-chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which oversaw the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and other international broadcasts of the United States, a position he held from 2009 to 2012.

He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of the Arts, and the American Philosophical Society. He serves on the board of United Airlines, the New Orleans City Planning Commission, the New Orleans Tricentennial Commission, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Society of American Historians, the U.S. Defense Department Innovation Board, the Carnegie Institution for Science, and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

Download high-resolution images of Walter Isaacson:

Download Mr. Isaacson’s biography (PDF)

Articles about and interviews with Walter Isaacson and reviews of his book Leonardo da Vinci (Simon & Schuster):

From Leonardo da Vinci to Steve Jobs: The Benefits of Being a Misfit, Adam Grant, Knowledge @ Wharton

Articles about and interviews with Walter Isaacson and reviews of his book The Innovators (Simon & Schuster):

Walter Isaacson loves post-Katrina newcomers to New Orleans. What about you?, Chris Waddington, The Times-Picayune
Book Review: ‘The Innovators’ by Walter Isaacson, Steven Shapin, Wall Street Journal
Isaacson Advocates for STEM and Humanities Collaboration, Eric Sumner, The Diamondback
Innovators of Digital Revolution (NBC “Meet the Press: Press Pass” Video)
Celebrating Innovation at Penn, Amanda Mott, Penn: University of Pennsylvania
I’m Walter Isaacson and This Is How I Work, Andy Orin, Lifehacker
Walter Isaacson, “The Innovators” (Talks at Google Video)
Review – The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution by Walter Isaacson, Ed Conway, The Sunday Times
Ada’s Long Revolution, Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times
Book Review: ‘The Innovators’ by Walter Isaacson, Charles Euchner, The Boston Globe
The Innovators by Walter Isaacson review – a lucid, thrilling and amusing history of the digital age, Peter Conrad, The Observer
What’s Best: Individual Or Team Leadership? Lessons From Apple, Google And More In Walter Isaacson’s New Book, Andrew Cave, Forbes
Lone Geniuses Are Overrated, Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic
Walter Isaacson on the traits of “Innovators”, CBS Sunday Morning
Heralds of the Digital Tomorrow, Walter Isaacson’s ‘The Innovators’ Studies Computer Wizards, Janet Maslin, The New York Times
How The Cold War And George Orwell Helped Make The Internet What It Is, NPR All Tech Considered
Book Review: ‘The Innovators,’ on the Digital Revolution, by Walter Isaacson, Matthew Wisnioski, The Washington Post
‘The Innovators,’ by Walter Isaacson, Brendan I. Koerner, New York TimesSunday Book Review
Book Review: ‘The Innovators,’ by Walter Isaacson, John Homans, Bloomberg Businessweek
‘The Innovators,’ by Walter Isaacson: review, Glenn C. Altschuler, SFGate
The Women Tech Forgot, ‘The Innovators’ by Walter Isaacson: How Women Shaped Technology, Nick Bilton, The New York Times
“Ghosts in the Machines,” interview with Walter Isaacson, Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette
Walter Isaacson Discusses the Environment that Helped Steve Jobs Succeed in the Computing Business(Fortune video)

Video: Isaacson discussed The Innovators at the Aspen Institute in October, 2014:

Articles about and interviews with Walter Isaacson and reviews of his book Steve Jobs (Simon & Schuster):

Walter Isaacson receives 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Henry R. Luce Awards (Time Inc. video)
National Endowment for the Humanities interviews 2014 Jefferson Lecturer Walter Isaacson
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Names Walter Isaacson ‘Humanist of the Year,’ Louisiana Cultural Vistas (Magazine for the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities)
The 100 Most Influential People in the World: Walter Isaacson, by Madeleine Albright (Time 100)
Walter Isaacson discusses his article “The Real Leadership Lessons of Steve Jobs” with Charlie Rose
Jobs Creator, Steve Jobs, Steve Forbes, Forbes
Walter Isaacson on Steve Jobs: Should He Have Been a Nicer CEO?Nick Carbone, Time
Steve Jobs Biographer is hometown son Walter Isaacson, Millie Ball, New Orleans Times Picayune
Steve Jobs’s ‘journey for enlightenment,’ Sally Quinn, On Faith, The Washington Post
New biography shows genius, ‘gift,’ weakness of Steve Jobs, Interview with WTOP Radio
‘Steve Jobs:’ A review of the Apple co-founder’s biography, Kevin Coughlin, Newark Star-Ledger
“Jobs saw himself as an artist, he was a perfectionist.” Interview with Walter Isaacson, Maria Tabak, RIA Novosti
‘Steve Jobs,’ by Walter Isaacson: review, Dan Zigmond, The San Francisco Chronicle
The Tweaker, Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker
Generation Jobs, Richard Waters, Financial Times
Review: Inside Jobs? Walter Isaacson’s biography of the late Steve Jobs, Stewart Oksenhorn, Aspen Times
Steve Jobs, Erik Spanberg, Christian Science Monitor
Insanely great, The Economist
Steve’s bio: A personal perspective, Jean-Louis Gassée, The Guardian
Steve Jobs Biography Examines How Rule-Breaker Tied ‘Artistry to Engineering,’ PBS Newshour
‘Steve Jobs’ review: Walter Isaacson’s biography mesmerizes, Richard Rayner, L.A. Times
Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson – review, Sam Lieth, The Guardian
Telling Steve’s Story, Dan Lyons, The Daily Beast
Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson – review, Peter Conrad, The Observer
Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson: review, Tim Martin, The Telegraph
Walter Isaacson on “Charlie Rose.”
Getting caught up in the passion of Steve Jobs, Marketplace, American Public Media
Isaacson’s Steve Jobs Rages, Weeps, Adds Sex to Tech: Interview, Zinta Lundborg, Bloomberg Businessweek
Walter Isaacson interview with Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show.”
Jobs’ Biography: Thoughts On Life, Death And Apple, NPR’s Fresh Air
New Bio Quotes Jobs On God, Gates And Great Design, NPR’s Morning Edition
Walter Isaacson on Steve Jobs: Not ‘exceptionally’ smart, but a ‘genius’, George Stephanopoulos, ABC News
Making the IBio for Apple’s Genius, Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Biography Sheds New Light on Steve Jobs’ Life, Rachel Metz, The Associated Press
Steve Jobs Biography Reveals He Told Obama, ‘You’re Headed For A One-Term Presidency,‘ Huffington Post
Steve Jobs: Revelations from a tech giant, CBS News 60 Minutes
Walter Isaacson’s ‘Steve Jobs’ biography shows Apple co-founder’s genius, flaws, Michael S. Rosenwald,The Washington Post
Biographer says Steve Jobs saw himself as ‘chosen,’ Sharon Noguchi, San Jose Mercury News

Video: Isaacson discussed Steve Jobs at the Aspen Institute in January, 2012:

Articles about and interviews with Walter Isaacson and reviews of his books American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers, and the Heroes of a Hurricane and Einstein: His Life and Universe (Simon & Schuster):

Aspen Institute CEO Walter Isaacson talks politics, media in Holliday Forum, Louisiana State University
The Wellspring of American Creativity,” CBS Sunday Morning
University of New Orleans radio WWNO’s interview with Walter Isaacson on “American Sketches.”
Every story paints a picture: Walter Isaacson’s ‘American Sketches’ is a gallery of compelling portraits, December 11, 2009
Walter Isaacson discussed his book “American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers and Heroes of a Hurricane” on C-SPAN’s Book TV in December 2009.
Walter Isaacson highlights Albert Einstein’s tenacity, or grit, as one of the characteristic features behind his genius in Einstein’s Final Quest, In Character, Spring 2009
Walter Isaacson and fellow historians Jon Meacham and Peggy Noonan discuss President Obama’s first 100 days in office on GPS: Zakaria Panel, April 26, 2009.
Walter Isaacson joins “Imus in the Morning,” May 16, 2008.
Watch Walter Isaacson discuss his book Einstein: His Life and Universe at the 2007 Miami Book Fair International.
The Man Beneath the Electrified Halo of Hair, PD Smith on Walter Isaacson’s Sympathetic Biography of Einstein, The Guardian, August 25, 2007
Interview with Walter Isaacson, Author of Einstein: His Life and Universe, BlogCritics, July 14, 2007
Einstein: His Life and Universe Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, June 23, 2007
A Flat-footed Hero. Walter Isaacson’s Einstein Retells Science’s Greatest Story, The Guardian, June 10, 2007
Einstein: His Life and Universe Review, The Sunday Times, June 4, 2007
Albert Einstein was more than an Einstein, CNN, May 22, 2007
The Einstein Enigma, The New York Sun, May 9, 2007
View Walter Issacson’s talk from the Woman’s National Democratic Club, Washington, DC, on April 12, 2007, on C-SPAN’s Book TV.
China Needs an Einstein. So Do We, by Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times, April 29, 2007 (requires free registration)
Biographer Discusses Einstein’s Life, Legacy(RealAudio), NewsHour, April 26, 2007
Einstein: ‘Dopey’ to Star Physicist, Harvard Crimson, April 25, 2007
Einstein: His Life and Universe, Ted Leonsis’ website, April 22, 2007
Isaacson Weighs Einstein’s Triumphs, $5000 Bounty on His Head, Bloomberg, April 19, 2007
Behind the Legendary Thinker’s Astonishing Legacy and Enigmatic Nature, The Boston Globe, April 15, 2007
Walter Isaacson on Albert Einstein, Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2007
A New Way to View Science, Walter Isaacson, USA Today, April 10, 2007
The Scale of Einstein, From Faith to Formulas, The New York Times, April 9, 2007
Einstein’s World, The Washington Times, April 8, 2007
The Valiant Swabian, John Updike, The New Yorker, April 2, 2007
Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, and vice chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, discusses revitalization in New Orleans since hurricane Katrina (5 Questions for Walter Isaacson,USA Today, August 6, 2006)
Walter Isaacson’s arrival at the Institute and the announcement of new trustees were the focus of an article inThe Aspen Times on April 14 2003 (“Power Players Now Ensconced at Institute“).