Brad Meltzer Popular Books

Brad Meltzer Biography & Facts

Brad Meltzer (born April 1, 1970) is an American novelist, non-fiction writer, TV show creator, and comic book author. His novels touch on the political thriller, legal thriller and conspiracy fiction genres, while he has also written superhero fiction for DC Comics and a series of short biographies of prominent people for young readers. Early life In 1993, Meltzer lived in Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts with roommate, fellow comic book writer/artist Judd Winick, working in sales at Games magazine by day while working on his first novel by night. Afterwards Meltzer graduated from Columbia Law School, and was selected to the Columbia Law Review. Career Meltzer's books have appeared on the bestseller lists for fiction, non-fiction (History Decoded), advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), children's books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln), and comic books (Justice League of America, for which he won an Eisner Award).Meltzer is also responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero at the World Trade Center site, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Using his TV show, Brad Meltzer's Lost History, he told the story of the missing flag and asked Americans for their help in returning it. Four days later, a former Marine walked into a fire station in Everett, Washington, said that he saw Meltzer's TV show, and that he now wanted to return the flag. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, where it is now on display.Known for his thorough research, Meltzer counts former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush as fans, and both have helped him with his research. During Brad's research, Bush gave Brad the secret letter he left for President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office desk.In September 2006, Meltzer participated in a work group with the CIA, the FBI, various psychologists, and Department of Homeland Security intelligence staff to brainstorm new ways that terrorists might attack the U.S.As an inspirational speaker, Meltzer's TEDx Talk, "How to Write Your Own Obituary", has been viewed over 50,000 times, and prompted TED to ask him to do another TED Talk: "Write Your Story, Change History", which has been viewed over 80,000 times.Meltzer helped preserve the house where Superman was created in Cleveland, Ohio, helping to create the Siegel & Shuster Society, then telling the story of the house and running an auction that raised over $100,000.Meltzer has worked with numerous organizations throughout Florida to promote literacy within the State. Meltzer has worked in the past with Florida Family Literacy Initiative, and is due to participate in the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County's 23rd Annual Love of Literacy Luncheon in March 2014.Meltzer was one of four authors selected to entertain at Barbara Bush's 90th birthday party in 2015.Meltzer aided in helping save the life of his 11th grade history teacher. When his teacher told Meltzer she was sick and needed a new kidney, Meltzer asked his 100,000 Facebook fans to find her a new kidney and in the process, helped find a donor.During Star Wars Night at the 2015 Marlins/Mets baseball game, Meltzer threw out the first pitch of the game, then proceeded to fight mascot Billy the Marlin in a lightsaber battle. Novels His first novel, Fraternity, garnered 24 rejection letters, but he then sold his second novel, The Tenth Justice, while in law school. In 1994, he co-wrote the original swearing-in oath that is taken by AmeriCorps members, and has been delivered by Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In 1996, Meltzer created one of the earliest author websites for his first published novel, The Tenth Justice. Over the years, every one of Meltzer's thrillers has made The New York Times bestseller list and The Hollywood Reporter has listed him as one of "Hollywood's Most Powerful Authors".While Meltzer was conducting research for his 2011 novel The Inner Circle, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush gave him a copy of the secret letter that he had left in the Oval Office desk for Bill Clinton.His popular “Culper Ring” novels, of which The President's Shadow is the third, imagine that a secret spy ring, founded in real life by George Washington, continues to exist today. His 2013 novel, The Fifth Assassin, follows a killer bent on re-creating the crimes of presidential assassinations from John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald.Meltzer's 2018 novel The Escape Artist debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller list. Non-fiction In May 2010, Meltzer released his first nonfiction book, Heroes For My Son, a book he had worked on for almost a decade, beginning on the night his first son was born. The book is part of a two-book deal with Meltzer's publisher. He stated in a May 2010 interview that he was working on Heroes for My Daughter. The book is a collection of stories from the lives of 52 people such as Jim Henson, Rosa Parks and Mr. Rogers, and was written with the intention of being presented one day to his then-eight-year-old son. It debuted at #2 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Heroes for My Daughter also made The New York Times bestseller list.In January 2014, Meltzer and artist Chris Eliopoulos launched a line of biographies for kids, starting with I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which debuted on The New York Times bestseller list. The books are part of a series, Ordinary People Change the World, whose books tell the stories of America's icons in an entertaining way to engage young readers. He followed the initial books with I Am Albert Einstein, I Am Rosa Parks, I Am Lucille Ball, I Am Jackie Robinson, I Am Helen Keller, I Am Martin Luther King, Jr., I Am Jane Goodall, I Am George Washington and I Am Jim Henson. Then in October 2017, I Am Gandhi and I Am Sacagawea were released. In October 2018, PBS announced an animated adaptation of the series called Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, which debuted in November 2019.In January 2019, Meltzer released The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington, cowritten with Josh Mensch. In May 2020, Meltzer and his co-author Josh Mensch released The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President—and Why It Failed, which covers the foiled plot to kill Lincoln in 1861. Comics Meltzer followed director Kevin Smith's run on DC Comics' Green Arrow and created a six-issue story arc for DC Comics' Green Arrow #16–21 (October 2002 – April 2003). In 2004 he wrote the miniseries Identity Crisis, which became one of the most controversial storylines of the decade, one of the top selling books of that decade, and also one of the most popular. It regularly makes the list of DC Comics' "best comics", "best moments", and even "best fights", praised by The New York Times and director Joss Whedon. While the miniseries holds an average score of 7.3 out of 10 at.... Discover the Brad Meltzer popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Brad Meltzer books.

Best Seller Brad Meltzer Books of 2024

  • I am Jim Henson synopsis, comments

    I am Jim Henson

    Brad Meltzer & Christopher Eliopoulos

    Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets and Sesame Street, is the 11th hero in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. (Cover may vary) Ji...

  • The Life of Dad synopsis, comments

    The Life of Dad

    Jon Finkel

    A heartwarming and enlightening collection of advice, wisdom, and practical skills featuring an allstar cast of fathers from the popular online community Life of Dad. Becoming a da...

  • The Books That Changed My Life synopsis, comments

    The Books That Changed My Life

    Bethanne Patrick

    One hundred of today’s most prominent literary and cultural icons talk about the books that hold a special place in their heartsthat made them who they are today.Leading authors, p...

  • Losing Faith synopsis, comments

    Losing Faith

    Adam Mitzner

    From the acclaimed author Publishers Weekly called “a gifted writer” comes this nailbiting legal thriller in the bestselling tradition of John Grisham and Scott Turow.Aaron Littman...

  • I am Jackie Robinson synopsis, comments

    I am Jackie Robinson

    Brad Meltzer & Christopher Eliopoulos

    "We can all be heroes" is the message entertainingly told in this New York Times Bestselling picturebook biography series, with this title focusing on groundbreaking base...

  • I am George Washington synopsis, comments

    I am George Washington

    Brad Meltzer & Christopher Eliopoulos

    Children will want to read about our first president while discussing the presidential elections. This is the ninth book in the New York Times bestselling biography serie...

  • La escapista synopsis, comments

    La escapista

    Brad Meltzer

    ¿Quién es Nola Brown? Un misterio. Un problema. Y se supone que está muerta.El cuerpo de Nola Brown fue encontrado entre los restos de un avión que se desplomó misteriosamente al s...

  • Heroes for My Daughter synopsis, comments

    Heroes for My Daughter

    Brad Meltzer

    In this companion to his acclaimed and inspirational bestseller, Heroes for My Son, national bestselling novelist Brad Meltzer brings together the stories of fiftyfive remarkable i...

  • The Girl From Home synopsis, comments

    The Girl From Home

    Adam Mitzner

    A “gripping thriller” (Publishers Weekly) featuring pageturning tension, psychological twists and turns, and an unforgettable voice, perfect for fans of Patricia Highsmith and Gill...

  • I am Albert Einstein synopsis, comments

    I am Albert Einstein

    Brad Meltzer & Christopher Eliopoulos

    "We can all be heroes" is the message entertainingly told in this New York Times Bestselling picturebook biography series, with this one highlighting Albert Einstein (Cover ma...

  • Last Night, a Superhero Saved My Life synopsis, comments

    Last Night, a Superhero Saved My Life

    Liesa Mignogna

    An anthology of essays exploring the origins of the authors' relationships to their favorite superheroes; including stories from Neil Gaiman, Jodi Picoult, Brad Meltzer, Joe Lansda...

  • Forever and a Death synopsis, comments

    Forever and a Death

    Donald E. Westlake

    The Bond That Never WasTwo decades ago, the producers of the James Bond movies hired legendary crime novelist Donald E. Westlake to come up with a story for the next Bond film. The...

  • The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook synopsis, comments

    The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook

    Kate White, Harlan Coben, Gillian Flynn, Mary Higgins Clark & Brad Meltzer

    Enjoy over 100 recipes and murderously fun facts from legendary mystery authors like Sue Grafton, Louise Penny, Harlan Coben, and James Patterson! With art deco embellishments and...

  • I am Abraham Lincoln synopsis, comments

    I am Abraham Lincoln

    Brad Meltzer & Christopher Eliopoulos

    Each picture book in this series is a biography of an American hero, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that made the person ...

  • The Tenth Justice synopsis, comments

    The Tenth Justice

    Brad Meltzer

    Landing a prestigious position as a Supreme Court clerk fresh out of Yale Law, Ben Addison is on the ultrafast track to successuntil he inadvertently shares a classified secret wit...

  • Dead Even synopsis, comments

    Dead Even

    Brad Meltzer

    “Heartstopping intensity.” San Francisco Chronicle“Meltzer has come up with a gem of a plot….It breezes along in high gear….[A] highly recommended suspenser.” Chicago Tri...

  • I am Sonia Sotomayor synopsis, comments

    I am Sonia Sotomayor

    Brad Meltzer & Christopher Eliopoulos

    Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, is the subject of the sixteenth picture book in the New York Times bestselling series of biographies about heroes. (Cover m...