This month, the PBS Books Readers Club welcomes distinguished historian Walter Isaacson, author of “Leonardo da Vinci,” and guest Sarah Burns, co-Director and writer of the new Ken Burns film, “Leonardo da Vinci” airing at 7 p.m. on November 18 and 19 on Arizona PBS.

He was history’s most creative genius. What secrets can he teach us?

Based on thousands of pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s astonishing notebooks and new discoveries about his life and work, Isaacson reveals an intimate portrait of Leonardo in a narrative that connects his art to his science. A true visionary, and creative across numerous disciplines, Isaacson 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.

Isaacson shows how Leonardo’s passion, that sometimes became obsessive, led him to pursue 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 the Vitruvian Man, made him history’s most creative genius.

Readers will be excited to pair this biography with the new, two-part, four-hour documentary “Leonardo da Vinci” directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon, which explores the life and work of the 15th century Renaissance man.

Walter Isaacson, author of the acclaimed bestsellers “Steve Jobs,” “Einstein” and “Benjamin Franklin,” brings Leonardo da Vinci to life in an exciting biography. This book is the capstone to Isaacson’s biographies on genius, creativity, innovation and where the humanities intersect the sciences.

Isaacson is a Professor of History at Tulane. He has been the editor of “Time Magazine,” the CEO and Chairman of CNN and the CEO of the Aspen Institute. He is an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, a financial services firm based in New York City, a cohost of the PBS show “Amanpour & Co.,” a contributor to CNBC and host of the podcast “Trailblazers, from Dell Technologies.”

Isaacson is a graduate of Harvard College and Pembroke College of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is chair emeritus of Teach for America. In 2023, he was awarded the National Humanities Award by President Joe Biden. Isaacson is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of the Arts and the American Philosophical Society.

Sarah Burns is an author, public speaker and filmmaker. She is the author of “The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding.” She is also the co-producer and director for the documentary film “The Central Park Five” which she co-produced and directed with her husband, David McMahon, and her father, Ken Burns.

In 2016, Burns produced and directed, along with McMahon and Ken Burns, a two-part, four-hour series titled “Jackie Robinson.” This same trio created a four-part biography of Muhammad Ali, which premiered on PBS in September 2021 and was named the best television show of 2021 by AwardsDaily.com writer David Phillips.

Burns was born and raised in Walpole, New Hampshire. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in American Studies, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and children.

Join us for the PBS Books Readers Club on November 20, 2024, to watch the interview with Burns, and hear from esteemed journalist Walter Isaacson who shares his vision behind his powerful biography, revealing how his extensive research into this most famous portraitist changed him and what he desires for readers to take away from this powerful memoire.

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Every month, the PBS Books Readers Club curates a selection of outstanding books and provides exclusive interviews with renowned authors. It’s the perfect community for book enthusiasts to connect and discover their next captivating read. Catch new episodes on the last Wednesday of each month via the PBS Books Facebook page, the PBS Books YouTube Channel, and the PBS app on your smart TV or device. Each episode pairs perfectly with your favorite PBS shows and features books that promise to be unforgettable. Members can access extended interviews with authors on Arizona PBS Passport and enjoy an on-demand library of quality public television programming. Additionally, subscribers receive a bi-monthly e-newsletter packed with exclusive interviews, engaging book-related articles, and more book recommendations. Tune in to our new digital video series, the Readers Club, for in-depth conversations with some of today’s most prolific and thought-provoking authors and PBS personalities.

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