Walter Isaacson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Isaacson
|
|
|---|---|
Isaacson in 2012
|
|
| Born |
Walter Seff Isaacson
May 20, 1952 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
|
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Pembroke College, Oxford (BA) |
| Spouse(s) |
Cathy Wright
(m. 1984) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Benjamin Franklin Medal (2013) Nichols-Chancellor's Medal (2015) National Humanities Medal (2023) |
| Chair of the Broadcasting Board of Governors | |
| In office July 2, 2010 – January 27, 2012 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | James K. Glassman |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Shell |
Walter Seff Isaacson, born on May 20, 1952, is a famous American journalist and author. He is well-known for writing detailed biographies about important people. These include Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Leonardo da Vinci, Jennifer Doudna, and Elon Musk.
Isaacson has held many important jobs. He was the head of CNN and the editor of Time magazine. He also led the Aspen Institute, an organization that studies important public issues. Today, he teaches at Tulane University and interviews people for the Amanpour & Company news show on PBS and CNN.
Contents
Walter Isaacson's Early Life and School
Walter Seff Isaacson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 20, 1952. His father was an engineer, and his mother worked as a real estate agent. He went to Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where he was the student body president.
Isaacson later studied at Harvard University. He focused on history and literature and finished his degree in 1974. While at Harvard, he was involved in several student groups. After Harvard, he went to Pembroke College, Oxford in England. He studied philosophy, politics, and economics there as a Rhodes scholar.
Walter Isaacson's Career in Media
Walter Isaacson started his journalism career in London at The Sunday Times. He then worked for the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper. In 1978, he joined Time magazine. He worked his way up, becoming the magazine's editor in 1996.
Leading CNN Through Big Events
In July 2001, Isaacson became the chairman and CEO of CNN. Just two months later, he led CNN's news coverage during the September 11 attacks. This was a very challenging time for the news network. He worked to make sure CNN covered all viewpoints fairly.
In 2003, Isaacson left CNN to become the president of the Aspen Institute. This organization helps people think about and discuss important ideas. He led the Aspen Institute until 2018. After that, he became a history professor at Tulane University.
Podcasts and TV Interviews
In 2017, Isaacson started a podcast called Trailblazers. This podcast talks about how technology changes business. Since 2018, he has been a regular interviewer for Amanpour & Company. This show airs on PBS and CNN.
Walter Isaacson's Books
Walter Isaacson is famous for writing many biographies. These books tell the life stories of important people.
Biographies of Famous People
- Kissinger: A Biography (1992)
- Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003)
- Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007)
- American Sketches (2009)
He also wrote The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made (1986) with Evan Thomas.
Writing About Steve Jobs
On October 24, 2011, Isaacson's book Steve Jobs was published. This book was an official biography of Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs. It came out just a few weeks after Jobs passed away. The book became a huge international best-seller. It broke sales records for biographies. Isaacson interviewed Jobs over 40 times for the book. He also spoke with Jobs's friends, family, and business rivals.
Exploring Innovation and Technology
In October 2014, Isaacson released The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution. This book explores the history of key inventions in the digital revolution. It looks at how computers and the Internet developed. The book became a New York Times best-seller.
Leonardo da Vinci and Gene Editing
His book about Leonardo da Vinci, titled Leonardo da Vinci, came out in October 2017. Critics gave it very good reviews. Paramount Pictures bought the rights to make a movie based on this book. Leonardo DiCaprio is planned to star in and produce the film.
In March 2021, Isaacson's book The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race was published. This book is about Jennifer Doudna. She won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work on CRISPR gene editing. The book quickly became a number one best-seller on The New York Times list.
The Elon Musk Biography
Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk, titled Elon Musk, was published in September 2023. It was considered for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award.
Walter Isaacson's Government Work
Isaacson has also worked with the U.S. government on several important projects.
Helping After Hurricane Katrina
In October 2005, the Governor of Louisiana asked Isaacson to help lead the Louisiana Recovery Authority. This group was in charge of rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. He helped oversee how money was spent to help the state recover.
Promoting International Partnerships
Isaacson was appointed to lead the U.S.-Palestinian Partnership. This group works to create economic and educational chances in Palestinian areas. He also helped lead the U.S.-Vietnamese Dialogue on Agent Orange. This group worked to clean up harmful chemicals left behind in Vietnam. They also planned to build health centers in affected areas.
Leading Government Broadcasts
In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Isaacson to lead the Broadcasting Board of Governors. This board runs international broadcasts like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. He served in this role until 2012.
He also served on the Defense Innovation Advisory Board. This board advises the U.S. Department of Defense on new ideas.
Walter Isaacson's Other Roles
Isaacson is involved in many different organizations. He is an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, a financial services company. He is also the chairman emeritus of Teach for America, which helps improve education. He serves on the boards of several important groups, including Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Rockefeller Foundation.
He is an honorary fellow at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he studied. At Tulane University, he teaches courses on the digital revolution and U.S. history. He also helps organize the annual New Orleans Book Festival.
Walter Isaacson's Awards and Honors
Walter Isaacson has received many awards for his work.
In 2023, President Joe Biden gave him the National Humanities Medal. This award honors people who have made great contributions to the humanities. The award recognized his ability to connect science and humanities.
His book Steve Jobs won the 2012 Gerald Loeb Award. In 2012, Time magazine named him one of the Time 100, a list of the world's most influential people. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He received their Benjamin Franklin Medal in 2013.
In 2014, the National Endowment for the Humanities chose Isaacson for the Jefferson Lecture. This is the highest honor the U.S. government gives for achievements in the humanities. His lecture was about how the humanities and sciences connect.
He has received honorary degrees from many universities. The Isaacson School of Media and Communications at Colorado Mountain College is named after him.
Images for kids
-
Isaacson in 2012
-
Isaacson at a State Department briefing in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Walter Isaacson para niños
