Daniel James Brown

EXCLUSIVE
  • #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of 'Boys in the Boat', 'Facing the Mountain', and More
  • Historian

Author Daniel James Brown is one of America’s most beloved narrative nonfiction authors. His #1 New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics captured the world's attention and quickly skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists. The Boys in the Boat served as the inspiration for the PBS documentary The Boys of ‘36. Brown's other books include Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894, The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride, and his second New York Times bestseller, Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War ll. In his captivating presentations, Brown shares the remarkable stories covered in his work, bringing history to life and leaving audiences inspired.

Brown’s primary interest as a writer is in bringing compelling historical events to life as vividly and accurately as he can. Brown has shared history with hosts including Bailard, Arts & Letters, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and more.

 


Daniel James  Brown headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Case IH
  • Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons
  • Bailard
  • Women’s University Club of Seattle
  • Kinetic
  • Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series
  • Newport Beach Public Library Foundation
  • Arts & Letters Live
  • Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures
  • Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Rave Reviews About Daniel James Brown
Dan Brown has made a lot of people happy! He has such a great story to tell and he tells it with so much personal joy and authenticity. I am sure it is no surprise to you that he was beyond gracious and enthusiastic to staff and patrons throughout the reception. Our audience was rapt throughout his lecture and after the Q&A (which people did not want to end) the hall erupted with a buzz of everyone sharing how much they loved the lecture. "Best yet!" was a common refrain. His kindness, passion, strong character, and humility shined through. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures is glad to know Daniel James Brown. Thank you for sending him our way.

Author Daniel James Brown for IHC North Idaho Distinguished Humanities Lecture - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Daniel James Brown
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The Persistence & Comfort of History

Historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author DANIEL JAMES BROWN is often asked to connect the cross currents of history to today’s news cycles. Considering today’s turbulence, Brown uses historical examples to demonstrate what can happen when determined people work together to manage and defea ...

Historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author DANIEL JAMES BROWN is often asked to connect the cross currents of history to today’s news cycles. Considering today’s turbulence, Brown uses historical examples to demonstrate what can happen when determined people work together to manage and defeat challenges.

How to Be a Writer

Historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author DANIEL JAMES BROWN shares his career trajectory, from teaching writing at Stanford to working as a technical writer at Microsoft before finally settling into his narrative nonfiction groove. In this enlightening conversation, Brown reflects on his h ...

Historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author DANIEL JAMES BROWN shares his career trajectory, from teaching writing at Stanford to working as a technical writer at Microsoft before finally settling into his narrative nonfiction groove. In this enlightening conversation, Brown reflects on his hard-earned lessons from decades of writing.

Author Talk: 'The Boys in the Boat'

In his presentations, DANIEL JAMES BROWN shares the remarkable story from his New York Times bestselling book, The Boys in the Boat, also a hit movie directed by George Clooney and Grant Heslov. Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope i ...

In his presentations, DANIEL JAMES BROWN shares the remarkable story from his New York Times bestselling book, The Boys in the Boat, also a hit movie directed by George Clooney and Grant Heslov. Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—it is the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant.

Ask your agent about book buys and signings with Daniel James Brown!

Author Talk: 'Facing the Mountain'

DANIEL JAMES BROWN shares the gripping story of his New York Times Bestselling book, Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War ll, a World War II saga of patriotism, highlighting the contributions and sacrifices that Japanese immigrants and their American-born childr ...

DANIEL JAMES BROWN shares the gripping story of his New York Times Bestselling book, Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War ll, a World War II saga of patriotism, highlighting the contributions and sacrifices that Japanese immigrants and their American-born children made for the sake of the nation: the courageous Japanese-American Army unit that overcame brutal odds in Europe; their families, incarcerated back home; and a young man who refused to surrender his constitutional rights, even if it meant imprisonment. In all of his talks, Brown weaves impeccable research and masterful storytelling, bringing history to life and leaving audiences inspired.

Ask your agent about book buys and signings with Daniel James Brown!

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Daniel James Brown receives rave reviews for his live readings and events

Historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author DANIEL JAMES BROWN is in demand for live engagements. Brown’s breadth of experiences with audiences of all kinds lends itself to positive, engaging events with any organization. Here’s what his past hosts have to say:

  • Women’s University Club of Seattle: “Daniel was absolutely wonderful to everyone… he was serious and yet humorous, approachable and kind. One of Daniel’s beloved attributes is that no matter how many accolades he has received for his writing and research, he is still so humble.”
  • Newport Beach Public Library Foundation: "Daniel James Brown was absolutely wonderful – what a gem. He is SO personable and talked to every guest who approached him with great warmth. His talk prompted several eruptions of applause."
  • Arts & Letters Live: "Dan was wonderful! He was such an engaging and thoughtful speaker and incredibly gracious during the long book signing line and many requests for photos. We sold almost 780 tickets with an audience ranging in age from 8-80!"

Watch Daniel James Brown speak at IHC North Idaho >>

Watch Daniel James Brown on PBS >>

Daniel James Brown sees “The Boys in the Boat” on the silver screen

Historian and author DANIEL JAMES BROWN highlights the power of teamwork, collaboration, and rowing in his instant #1 New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Adapted into a critically acclaimed movie directed by George Clooney, the story continues to inspire audiences with the power of working towards a shared purpose in all contexts. Brown told Parade Magazine, “It’s a pretty dark time in a lot of ways; we’re so divided and fractured… We’re in a time when people are looking for stories that are unifying and uplifting.”

Watch Daniel James Brown speak at IHC North Idaho >>

Watch Daniel James Brown on PBS >>

Daniel James Brown’s “Facing the Mountain” is a powerful community reading experience

Historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author DANIEL JAMES BROWN weaves impeccable research and masterful storytelling from his book Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War ll into his speeches, bringing history to life and leaving audiences inspired. Whether fighting on battlefields or in courtrooms, Brown’s subjects are Americans under unprecedented strain, doing what Americans do best--striving, resisting, pushing back, rising up, standing on principle, laying down their lives, and enduring. Often chosen as community read, Brown’s Facing the Mountain is an opportunity to reflect on the enduring meaning of Americana.

Watch Daniel James Brown speak at Politics & Prose >>

Watch Daniel James Brown speak at IHC North Idaho >>

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Books by Daniel James Brown
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Biography

Daniel James Brown is The New York Times bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, now being made into a movie directed by George Clooney and Grant Heslov. Brown's other books include Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894, which traces the personal stories and social, economic, and environmental causes of the Great Hinkley Fire, The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride, which follows the footsteps of Sarah Graves, a young bride who left her home in Illinois in the spring of 1846, only to become one of a handful of the ill-fated Donner Party members who attempted to hike out of the Sierra Nevada to save herself and her family, and his second New York Times bestseller, Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War ll, a gripping World War II saga of patriotism, highlighting the contributions and sacrifices that Japanese immigrants and their American-born children made for the sake of the nation.

The author grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended the University of California at Berkeley. He taught writing at San Jose State University and Stanford before becoming a technical writer and editor, first in Silicon Valley and later at Microsoft. He now writes narrative nonfiction books full time. His primary interest as a writer is in bringing compelling historical events to life as vividly and accurately as he can.

He lives in the country outside of Seattle, Washington with his wife, two daughters, and an assortment of cats, dogs, chickens, and honeybees. When he is not writing, he is likely to be birding, gardening, fly fishing, reading American history, or chasing bears away from the bee hives.