Walter Isaacson’s name has become synonymous with captivating chronicles of the extraordinary, weaving tales of scientific giants, artistic geniuses, and visionary leaders. But with a bibliography bursting with brilliance, where do you even begin? In this post we aim to answer that question by presenting Walter Isaacson Books Ranked, According to their Goodreads ratings.
All of Walter Isaacson Books Ranked According to Goodreads
Elon Musk, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 4.42 / 5
Released on September 12, 2023, by Simon & Schuster
In Walter Isaacson’s biography, Elon Musk, prepare to blast off on a rollercoaster ride through the life of the tech titan who dares to dream beyond earthly bounds. Isaacson charts Musk’s trajectory from tech whiz kid to disruptive innovator, unveiling the man behind the Tesla, SpaceX, and X empires. Witness his relentless drive to electrify transportation, colonize Mars, and push the boundaries of human potential. Isaacson doesn’t just paint a rosy picture; he explores Musk’s controversies and complexities, offering a nuanced portrait of a visionary who thrives on both ambition and drama. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the man shaping our future, Elon Musk is a gripping exploration of innovation, ambition, and the ever-thinning line between genius and audacity.
The Code Breaker, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 4.29 / 5
Released on March 9, 2021, by Simon & Schuster
In sixth grade, Jennifer Doudna discovered her passion for science through a book on DNA. Despite being discouraged by her high school counselor, she pursued her dream, eventually co-discovering CRISPR, a groundbreaking tool for DNA editing. This invention, born from a curiosity about nature, has opened doors to medical miracles and ethical dilemmas. Doudna, along with collaborator Emmanuelle Charpentier, won the 2020 Nobel Prize for their work. Now, as we enter a life-science revolution, the development of CRISPR and efforts to combat the coronavirus signal a new era. Doudna grapples with moral questions surrounding genetic manipulation, offering a captivating story that spans from the origins of life to the future of humanity.
Leonardo Da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 4.19 / 5
Released on October 17, 2017, by Simon & Schuster
Based on thousands of pages from Leonardo’s astonishing notebooks and new discoveries about his life and work, Walter Isaacson weaves a narrative that connects his art to his science. He shows how Leonardo’s genius was based on skills we can improve in ourselves, such as passionate curiosity, careful observation, and an imagination so playful that it flirted with fantasy. He produced the two most famous paintings in history, The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. But in his own mind, he was just as much a man of science and technology. With a passion that sometimes became obsessive, he pursued innovative studies of anatomy, fossils, birds, the heart, flying machines, botany, geology, and weaponry. His ability to stand at the crossroads of the humanities and the sciences, made iconic by his drawing of Vitruvian Man, made him history’s most creative genius
Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 4.16 / 5
Released on October 24, 2011, by Simon & Schuster
Walter Isaacson’s worldwide bestselling biography of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs. 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 roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. Isaacson’s portrait touched millions of readers. At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination.
Einstein: His Life and Universe, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 4.16 / 5
Released on April 10, 2023, by Simon & Schuster
Einstein was a rebel and nonconformist from boyhood days, and these character traits drove both his life and his science. In this narrative, Walter Isaacson explains how his mind worked and the mysteries of the universe that he discovered.
The Innovators, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Ratings: 4.11 / 5
Released on April 10, 2007, by Simon & Schuster
The Innovators delves into the history of computer and internet development, offering insights into the minds of innovators. From Ada Lovelace to modern tech giants like Bill Gates and Larry Page, Isaacson explores the talents and collaboration that fueled the digital revolution. This book serves as a guide to understanding the factors that turned disruptive ideas into realities, revealing the secrets of innovation, creativity, and effective teamwork.
The Wise Men, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 4.08 / 5
Released October 1986
In this classic account, with a new introduction by the authors, The Wise Men explores the lives of six influential American statesmen who played a pivotal role in rebuilding the world after World War II. A captivating blend of personal biographies and public drama, the book introduces Averell Harriman, Dean Acheson, George Kennan, Robert Lovett, John McCloy, and Charles Bohlen—individuals whose intellects and actions shaped postwar order and continue to impact American policy.
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 4.03 / 5
Released on July 4, 2003, by Simon & Schuster
Benjamin Franklin is the Founding Father who winks at us. An ambitious urban entrepreneur who rose up the social ladder, from leather-aproned shopkeeper to dining with kings, he seems made of flesh rather than of marble. In bestselling author Walter Isaacson’s vivid and witty full-scale biography, we discover why Franklin seems to turn to us from history’s stage with eyes that twinkle from behind his new-fangled spectacles. By bringing Franklin to life, Isaacson shows how he helped to define both his own time and ours.
Kissinger, by Walter Isaacson
Goodreads Rating: 3.99 / 5
Released 1992, by Simon & Schuster
In 1973, when Henry Kissinger became secretary of state, he was both the most admired and reviled figure in America. This biography explores the complex relationship between Kissinger’s personality and his foreign policy decisions. Drawing on extensive interviews with Kissinger and 150 other sources, including presidents and business clients, the book uses private papers and classified memos to provide an intimate narrative. From his childhood as a persecuted Jew in Nazi Germany to his globe-trotting business consultant years, the biography reveals surprising facets of this grand statesman’s uniquely American story.
