Arthur Brooks

Arthur Brooks is a bestselling author, a social scientist, and the past president of the American Enterprise Institute. At AEI, Arthur worked with top scholars, policymakers, and elected officials to fight for for all Americans’ access to free enterprise and earned success.

Arthur’s path to Washington, DC, was anything but typical. At 19, he left college to play the French horn professionally. He toured internationally and recorded several albums, eventually landing in the City Orchestra of Barcelona.

In his late 20s, Arthur returned to the US and completed his bachelor’s degree by correspondence. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in public policy, focusing on microeconomics and mathematical modeling. After completing his doctorate, he spent 10 years as a professor of public administration.

Arthur is an in-demand speaker, a Washington Post columnist, and a frequent radio and TV commentator. A Seattle native, he has been married for 27 years to his wife, Ester. They live in Maryland and have three children.