John Brockman

Science and media author John Brockman has been a pioneer in nonfiction science literature since the 1960s. His efforts to promote the ideas of prominent thinkers made him one of the more influential nonfiction literary agents of the late 20th century.

In 1988, he founded the Edge Foundation, an organization that seeks to "promote inquiry into and discussion of intellectual, philosophical, artistic, and literary issues."

Fast Facts

1. Born in 1941
2. Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
3. Founder: Edge Foundation
4. Popularized "The Third Culture", indicative of a growing interest in scientific and literary thought
5. Poses an "Annual Question" to the world's leading thinkers
6. Coined the term "Intermedia" to describe the amorphous area of study between different genres.

Writings

Brockman's 1995 book, The Third Culture, collected and described the theories of nearly two dozen scientists. The book contends that science and technical thought has become the world's dominant culture, and that mankind must seek to utilize the minds of great intellectuals to answer the universe's toughest questions.

In 2007, Brockman released What Is Your Dangerous Idea, a book that continues the process started in The Third Culture by posing some of the most oft pondered and ignored scientific questions.

Publicity and Style

Since his first writings in the 1960s, Brockman has promoted a personal and transcendental appreciation of art and an unorthodox style of publicity. In 1968, he publicized The Monkees' film Head by distributing posters with his own face on it. In his early career, he was an artist, writer, investor and frequented the studios of Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan.

Categories