Dan Brown Popular Books

Dan Brown Biography & Facts

Daniel Gerhard Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author best known for his thriller novels, including the Robert Langdon novels Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013), and Origin (2017). His novels are treasure hunts that usually take place over a period of 24 hours. They feature recurring themes of cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into 57 languages and, as of 2012, have sold over 200 million copies. Three of them, Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno, have been adapted into films, while one of them, The Lost Symbol, was adapted into a television show. The Robert Langdon novels are deeply engaged with Christian themes and historical fiction, and have generated controversy as a result. Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian and he is on a "constant spiritual journey" himself. He states that his book The Da Vinci Code is "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith." Early life Daniel Gerhard Brown was born on June 22, 1964, in Exeter, New Hampshire. He has a younger sister, Valerie (born 1968) and brother, Gregory (born 1974). Brown attended Exeter's public schools until the ninth grade. He grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy, where his father, Richard G. Brown, was a teacher of mathematics and wrote textbooks from 1968 until his retirement in 1997. His mother, Constance (née Gerhard), descended from Pennsylvania Dutch Schwenkfelders, and trained as a church organist and student of sacred music. Brown was raised an Episcopalian, and described his religious evolution in a 2009 interview: "I was raised Episcopalian, and I was very religious as a kid. Then, in eighth or ninth grade, I studied astronomy, cosmology, and the origins of the universe. I remember saying to a minister, 'I don't get it. I read a book that said there was an explosion known as the Big Bang, but here it says God created heaven and Earth and the animals in seven days. Which is right?' Unfortunately, the response I got was, 'Nice boys don't ask that question.' A light went off, and I said, 'The Bible doesn't make sense. Science makes much more sense to me.' And I just gravitated away from religion." When asked in the same interview about his then-current religious views, Brown replied:"The irony is that I've really come full circle. The more science I studied, the more I saw that physics becomes metaphysics and numbers become imaginary numbers. The further you go into science, the mushier the ground gets. You start to say, 'Oh, there is an order and a spiritual aspect to science.'" Brown's interest in secrets and puzzles stems from their presence in his household as a child, where codes and ciphers were the linchpin tying together the mathematics, music, and languages in which his parents worked. The young Brown spent hours working out anagrams and crossword puzzles, and he and his siblings participated in elaborate treasure hunts devised by their father on birthdays and holidays. On Christmas, for example, Brown and his siblings did not find gifts under the tree, but followed a treasure map with codes and clues throughout their house and even around town to find the gifts. Brown's relationship with his father inspired that of Sophie Neveu and Jacques Saunière in The Da Vinci Code, and Chapter 23 of that novel was inspired by one of his childhood treasure hunts.After graduating from Phillips Exeter, Brown attended Amherst College where he double majored in English and Spanish. At Amherst, he was initiated into the Psi Upsilon fraternity. He played squash, sang in the Amherst Glee Club, and was a writing student of visiting novelist Alan Lelchuk. Brown spent the 1985 school year abroad in Seville, Spain, where he was enrolled in an art history course at the University of Seville. Brown graduated from Amherst in 1986. Career Composer and singer After graduating from Amherst, Brown dabbled with a musical career, creating effects with a synthesizer, and self-producing a children's cassette entitled SynthAnimals, which included a collection of tracks such as "Happy Frogs" and "Suzuki Elephants"; it sold a few hundred copies. The music has been compared to Gary Glitter. He then formed his own record company called Dalliance, and in 1990 self-published a CD entitled Perspective, targeted to the adult market, which also sold a few hundred copies. In 1991 he moved to Hollywood to pursue a career as singer-songwriter and pianist. To support himself, he taught classes at Beverly Hills Preparatory School.He also joined the National Academy of Songwriters and participated in many of its events. It was there that he met his wife, Blythe Newlon, who was the academy's Director of Artist Development. Though it was not officially part of her job, she took on the seemingly unusual task of helping to promote Brown's projects; she wrote press releases, set up promotional events, and put him in contact with people who could be helpful to his career. She and Brown also developed a personal relationship, though this was not known to all of their associates until 1993, when Brown moved back to New Hampshire, and it was learned that Newlon would accompany him. They married in 1997, at Pea Porridge Pond, near Conway, New Hampshire. In 1994 Brown released a CD titled Angels & Demons. Its artwork was the same ambigram by artist John Langdon which he later used for the novel Angels & Demons. The liner notes also again credited his wife for her involvement, thanking her "for being my tireless cowriter, coproducer, second engineer, significant other, and therapist". The CD included songs such as "Here in These Fields" and the religious ballad, "All I Believe".Brown and his wife Blythe moved to Rye, New Hampshire in 1993. Brown became an English teacher at his alma mater Phillips Exeter, and gave Spanish classes to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Lincoln Akerman School, a small school for K–8th grade with about 250 students, in Hampton Falls.Brown has written a symphonic work titled Wild Symphony which is supplemented by a book of the same name. The book is illustrated by Hungarian artist Susan Batori which feature simple ambigrams for children, while the visuals trigger the corresponding music in an accompanying app. The music was recorded by the Zagreb Festival Orchestra and will receive its world concert premiere by the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra in 2020. On March 30, 2022, it was announced that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Weed Road Pictures will turn Wild Symphony into an animated musical feature film in the vein of Walt Disney's Fantasia, with Brown writing the screenplay and songs, and Akiva Goldsman producing. Writing While on vacation in Tahiti in 1993, Brown read Sidney Sheldon's novel The Doomsday Conspiracy, and was inspired.... Discover the Dan Brown popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Dan Brown books.

Best Seller Dan Brown Books of 2024

  • Flood Tide synopsis, comments

    Flood Tide

    Clive Cussler

    A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Cussler is hard to beat' Daily MailThe fourteenth incredible Dirk Pitt classic from multimillioncopy king of the adventure novel, Clive Cussler.Tracking a...

  • The Samurai Inheritance synopsis, comments

    The Samurai Inheritance

    James Douglas

    Jamie Saintclair embarks on another fullthrottle historical adventure an absolute pageturner! If you love Dan Brown, Chris Kuzneski and Scott Mariani you will love this! READERS ...

  • El angel perdido synopsis, comments

    El angel perdido

    Javier Sierra

    Mientras trabaja en la restauración del Pórtico de la Gloria de Santiago de Compostela, Julia Álvarez recibe una noticia devastadora: su marido ha sido secuestrado en una región mo...

  • The Fifth Gospel synopsis, comments

    The Fifth Gospel

    Ian Caldwell

    The instant New York Times bestseller from the author of the international sensation The Rule of Four combines a lost gospel, a contentious relic, and a dying pope’s final wish int...

  • Holy Terror synopsis, comments

    Holy Terror

    Richard Marcinko

    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn calls “the real deal,” Richard Marcinko delivers a Rogue Warrior thriller that finds Demo Dick darkening the aisles of St....

  • The Da Vinci Code synopsis, comments

    The Da Vinci Code

    Dan Brown

    #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER  While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been mu...

  • Origin synopsis, comments

    Origin

    Dan Brown

    #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER  "Dr. Langdon is once again wrapped up in a globalscale event that could have massive ramifications on the world’s religions. As he does in all hi...

  • The Lost Symbol synopsis, comments

    The Lost Symbol

    Dan Brown

    #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER An intelligent, lightningpaced thriller set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., with surprises at every turn. Don’t miss...

  • The Orpheus Descent synopsis, comments

    The Orpheus Descent

    Tom Harper

    A cerebral literary thriller in the vein of Dan Brown, Matthew Pearl, and Sam Bourne, The Orpheus Descent follows classical philosopher Plato on a mysterious journey to Italy that ...

  • Where Eagles Dare synopsis, comments

    Where Eagles Dare

    Alistair Maclean

    The classic World War II thriller from the acclaimed master of action and suspense.Winter 1943, and US General Carnaby has been captured by the Nazis. He is being held in a fortres...

  • The Ark synopsis, comments

    The Ark

    Boyd Morrison

    In nationally bestselling author Boyd Morrison’s debut, the unraveling of one of the greatest archeological mysteries from the bibleNoah’s Arkcould threaten civilization itself in ...

  • HMS Ulysses synopsis, comments

    HMS Ulysses

    Alistair Maclean

    The novel that launched the astonishing career of one of the 20th century’s greatest writers of action and suspense – an acclaimed classic of heroism and the sea in World War II.Co...

  • Ice Station Zebra synopsis, comments

    Ice Station Zebra

    Alistair Maclean

    A classic thriller from the bestselling master of action and suspense.The atomic submarine Dolphin has impossible orders: to sail beneath the ice floes of the Arctic Ocean, and som...

  • The Lazarus Vault synopsis, comments

    The Lazarus Vault

    Tom Harper

    From the pen of prizewinning author Tom Harper, this is a highoctane adventure thriller in the bestselling tradition of The Da Vinci Code. With a lingering sense of tension and une...

  • The Vault synopsis, comments

    The Vault

    Boyd Morrison

    National bestselling author Boyd Morrison brings back Tyler Locke, who must race to stop a terrorist cell that has stolen an ancient text related to the tale of King Midas in this,...

  • Inferno synopsis, comments

    Inferno

    Dan Brown

    #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER  Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital, disoriented and with no recollection of the past thirtysix hours, includ...

  • The Littlest Bigfoot synopsis, comments

    The Littlest Bigfoot

    Jennifer Weiner

    From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a “cheerful” (The New York Times Book Review) and “charming” (People) tale of friendship, furry creatures, and findi...

  • Shock Wave synopsis, comments

    Shock Wave

    Clive Cussler

    A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Cussler is hard to beat' Daily MailThe thirteenth adrenalinefilled Dirk Pitt classic from multimillioncopy king of the adventure novel, Clive Cussler.A hu...

  • The Bounty synopsis, comments

    The Bounty

    Janet Evanovich & Steve Hamilton

    FBI agent Kate O’Hare and charming criminal Nick Fox race against time to uncover a buried train filled with Nazi gold in this thrilling adventure from #1 New York Times bestsellin...

  • The Tournament synopsis, comments

    The Tournament

    Matthew Reilly

    “A complete success…action fans and PBS types can share their enthusiasm” (Booklist, starred review) when a young Queen Elizabeth I is thrust into a gripping game of deception and ...

  • Leading Without Authority synopsis, comments

    Leading Without Authority

    Keith Ferrazzi & Noel Weyrich

    The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Never Eat Alone redefines collaboration with a radical new workplace operating system in which leadership no longer demands an offi...

  • Illuminati synopsis, comments

    Illuminati

    Dan Brown

    Die Illuminaten sind zurück ... Ein Kernforscher wird in seinem Schweizer Labor ermordet aufgefunden. Auf seiner Brust finden sich merkwürdige Symbole eingraviert, Symbole, die nur...

  • The Decameron synopsis, comments

    The Decameron

    Giovanni Boccaccio & G. H. McWilliam

    In the summer of 1348, as the Black Death ravages their city, ten young Florentines take refuge in the countryside...Taken from the Greek, meaning 'tenday event', Boccaccio's Decam...

  • House of War synopsis, comments

    House of War

    Scott Mariani

    The edgeofyourseat thriller from the #1 bestseller.‘A gripping tale that will have you turning the pages well into the night’ MARK DAWSONA DEADLY TERROR PLOT. A RACE AGAINST THE CL...

  • Alistair MacLean Arctic Chillers 4-Book Collection synopsis, comments

    Alistair MacLean Arctic Chillers 4-Book Collection

    Alistair Maclean

    Four classic tales of adventure in the frozen north, from the master of action and suspense, available for the first time in this ebundle.Discover why Alistair MacLean was the most...

  • Deception Point synopsis, comments

    Deception Point

    Dan Brown

    Heralded for masterfully intermingling science, history, and politics in his critically acclaimed thrillers The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, New York Times bestselling au...

  • The Atlantis Revelation synopsis, comments

    The Atlantis Revelation

    Thomas Greanias

    From the New York Times bestselling author of Raising Atlantis and The Atlantis Prophecy comes an explosive new international thriller jampacked with political and prophetic intrig...

  • The Manhattan Puzzle synopsis, comments

    The Manhattan Puzzle

    Laurence O’Bryan

    A global puzzle. A secret symbol. A conspiracy that ends in death. Perfect for fans of Dan Brown’s Inferno.An international coverup that could change the course of history…Sean has...

  • Seven Deadly Wonders synopsis, comments

    Seven Deadly Wonders

    Matthew Reilly

    Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code in this nonstop actionpacked thriller about the greatest treasure hunt of all timea headlong race to find the seven wonders of the ancient wor...

  • The Blackthorn Key synopsis, comments

    The Blackthorn Key

    Kevin Sands

    Following a series of murders, an apothecary’s apprentice must solve puzzles and decipher codes in pursuit of a secret that could destroy the world in this “spectacular debut” (Kir...

  • The Catalyst synopsis, comments

    The Catalyst

    Boyd Morrison

    THE EXPERIMENT WAS A FAILURE. THE RESEARCH SOUNDLY DISMISSED. BUT SOMEONE IS HUNTING DOWN THE SECRET KNOWLEDGE A YOUNG CHEMIST HAS UNEARTHED . . . IN AN EXHILARATING THRILLER FROM ...

  • The Guns of Navarone synopsis, comments

    The Guns of Navarone

    Alistair Maclean

    The classic World War II thriller from the acclaimed master of action and suspense.The guns of Navarone, huge and catastrophically accurate, embedded atop an impregnable iron fortr...

  • The Istanbul Puzzle synopsis, comments

    The Istanbul Puzzle

    Laurence O’Bryan

    Sean Chancellor is shocked to learn that his colleague and friend Alex Zegliwski has been savagely beheaded. His body found in an underground archaeological dig, hidden beneath the...

  • Year Zero synopsis, comments

    Year Zero

    Jeff Long

    In his sensational novel The Descent, Jeff Long created a world of stunning terror and adventure, "an imaginative tour de force" (Jon Krakauer). Now he imagines a scenario so vivid...

  • The Doomsday Testament synopsis, comments

    The Doomsday Testament

    James Douglas

    From bestselling author James Douglas, a gripping and enthralling historical conspiracy thriller a must read for fans of Dan Brown, James Becker and Chris Kuzneski.READERS ARE LOV...

  • Final Theory synopsis, comments

    Final Theory

    Mark Alpert

    A science professor on the run must find a lost Einstein theoryand keep it from those who might use it to destroy the universe. Don’t miss the “riveting” (Publishers Weekly) doomsd...

  • Raising Atlantis synopsis, comments

    Raising Atlantis

    Thomas Greanias

    Experience the first “outrageous adventure with a wild dose of the supernatural” (Clive Cussler, New York Times bestselling author) in the New York Times bestselling Atlantis trilo...

  • Thin synopsis, comments

    Thin

    Grace Bowman

    Bright, popular, pretty and successful, Grace Bowman had the world at her feet. So what drove her to starve herself nearly to death at the age of 18? And what, more importantly, ma...

  • The Last Frontier synopsis, comments

    The Last Frontier

    Alistair Maclean

    An undercover mission beyond the Iron Curtain to recover a defected scientist goes disastrously wrong – a classic early Cold War thriller from the acclaimed master of action and su...

  • The Dark Crusader synopsis, comments

    The Dark Crusader

    Alistair Maclean

    A classic tale of espionage, secret missions and exotic locations which outBonds Bond, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense.Eight job advertisements.Eight jobs. Eight s...