Walter Isaacson on The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

What is the greatest sentence ever written? According to Walter Isaacson — former editor of Time, ex-CEO of CNN, and the acclaimed biographer of Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Jennifer Doudna — it’s this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Yes, it’s eloquent, but more than that, it gave the United States a mission statement, one that we are still striving — fitfully, imperfectly — to meet.

Walter’s new book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, unpacks that mission statement: how it came to be written, what it meant to the founders, and why it matters today. We're pleased to announce that we've chosen it as our latest selection for the Next Big Idea Club. That means current members will receive a copy in the mail any day now, along with a digital reading guide, the opportunity to discuss the book with fellow members in our WhatsApp community, and an exclusive invitation to a live Q&A with Walter in December.

If you're not already a member, sign up today at nextbigideaclub.com. And if you use the code PODCAST at checkout, we’ll take 20% off your order and send you a signed copy of the book.

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