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On Common Ground: Walter Issacson '70 Speaks at Newman
This summer, the entire Newman faculty and staff read The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson, Newman Class of 1970. Through the text, colleagues spent time inside the mind of an extraordinary writer who has spent four decades doing something rare: making rigorous, primary-source scholarship accessible. Mr. Isaacson doesn’t just write biographies. He immerses himself in powerful and meaningful ways in the lives of his subjects.
Mr. Isaacson speaks often and eloquently about the intersection of the humanities and the sciences – particularly relevant to the field of education. On Thursday, September 3, within the context of the 250th anniversary of the United States, he came to speak to Newman faculty and staff about his research on the first sentence of the Declaration of Independence, which begins with, “We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident.”
“It is a total thrill to be back in a magical place like this. From Green Trees to senior year, I loved every minute of my time at Newman,” Isaacson remarked.
In conversation with the Newman faculty, Isaacson spoke about the importance of community, collaboration, finding common ground, and balance.
“One of the things we get wrong about history sometimes is that we make it seem like there is a lightbulb moment that occurs and then problems get solved. It’s important to understand that innovation is a collaborative effort, a team sport, that involves people making compromises and working together,” Isaacson said.
Isaacson went on to say, “The important thing about teaching American history is that you can’t ignore the complexities. We used to have a commons of information, and now we have multiple avenues that we all gather information from. Technology was supposed to connect us, but the algorithms are made to divide us. And that’s something I hope you teach at Newman: that’s it’s a balance – and how we can find an equilibrium when there are forces that are tearing us apart.”
Isaacson concluded his talk by encouraging Newman faculty and staff to get involved at the community level, both inside and outside school walls, to ensure they utilize every day to create change.
“When we all work together for something, in community, we’re helping to ensure every generation has opportunities. Getting involved at the community level, I think, is the only thing that can save us. And that involves schools like Newman,” Isaacson shared. “We are all still part of this narrative. We haven’t finished. We have to ensure more and more people in this country feel that they have equal opportunities. I don’t think we can keep saying – they’re the problem. We must realize it’s on us, too.”
Walter Isaacson’s literary works include: Kissinger: A Biography; Benjamin Franklin: An American Life; Einstein: His Life and Universe; Steve Jobs; The Innovators; Leonardo da Vinci; The Code Breaker; and Elon Musk – every title a national bestseller, several reaching #1 on the New York Times list. Mr. Isaacson is a great model for the importance and value of primary sources, exhaustive research, and the discipline and patience to understand and navigate complexity.
We are incredibly grateful he returned to his alma mater to speak with Newman faculty and staff.
1903 Jefferson Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: 504.899.5641
Fax: 504.896.8597
Open 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: 504.899.5641
Fax: 504.896.8597
Open 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
An independent,
co-educational,
non-denominational day
school in New Orleans for
early childhood through 12th grade
co-educational,
non-denominational day
school in New Orleans for
early childhood through 12th grade
