| Human Profile | |
| Name: | Arthur Charles Brooks |
| Birthday: | May 21, 1964 (age 61 years), Born in Spokane, Washington |
| Height: | 6'2" (188 cm) |
| Education: | Queen Anne High School (Diploma) California Institute of the Arts (Dropped Out), Music Thomas Edison State College (BA), Economics Florida Atlantic University (MA), Economics Pardee RAND Graduate School (PhD), Public Policy Analysis |
| Subscribers: | 187K |
| Views: | 6,428,893 |
| YouTube Revenue: | $6.4K - $32.1K |
| Videos: | 218 |
| Channel Created: | March 2020 |
Overview
Arthur Charles Brooks is an American professor, author, and public speaker, known for his distinctive career journey from a professional French hornist to president of the American Enterprise Institute, and as a Harvard University professor and bestselling writer exploring leadership and the science of happiness.
Latest News (Jan 29, 2026): Dr. Arthur Brooks was recently named an inaugural external advisory board member for the University of Utah's new presidential initiative on federalism, law, and American governance on January 26, 2026. Additionally, a video titled "The Workout Philosophy 78-Year-Old Bodybuilders Taught Arthur Brooks" was uploaded to The Tim Ferriss Show on YouTube on January 23, 2026.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Arthur Charles Brooks was born on May 21, 1964, in Spokane, Washington, to David C. Brooks, a mathematics professor, and Jacqueline Brooks, an artist. His family later moved to Seattle, where he spent his childhood. Following high school, Brooks pursued a career as a professional French hornist. This path led him to leave college at 19 to tour and record. For 12 years, he was a classical musician, a period that included playing with the City Orchestra of Barcelona in Spain.
While working as a musician in his late twenties, Brooks returned to his academic pursuits through distance learning. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Thomas Edison State College. He later received a Master of Arts in economics from Florida Atlantic University and subsequently obtained a Master of Philosophy and a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. During his doctoral studies, he worked as a military operations research analyst at the RAND Corporation.
Transition to Academia and Public Policy
In 1998, Brooks began his academic career as an assistant professor of public administration and economics at Georgia State University. He then taught at Syracuse University from 2001 to 2008, where he became a full professor and held the Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government Policy title. During his tenure at Syracuse, his research focused on the intersection of culture, politics, and economics, with a particular specialization in philanthropy and nonprofit organizations.
In 2009, Brooks became the 11th president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. He held this position until 2019. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, he stated his reason for stepping down was the belief that social enterprises thrive with periodic leadership changes to refresh the organizational vision.
Focus on Happiness and Leadership
Following his departure from AEI, Brooks joined the faculty at Harvard University in 2019. He holds appointments as a Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and a Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. At Harvard, he teaches courses on leadership and happiness and runs the Leadership & Happiness Laboratory.
His work on the science of happiness has become a central focus of his career. He is a columnist for The Atlantic, where he writes the popular weekly “How to Build a Life” column. He also hosts the “Office Hours with Arthur Brooks” podcast, which explores similar themes. This focus is also present on his YouTube channel, which features content on happiness and leadership.
Major Works and Publications
Arthur Charles Brooks is a prolific author of numerous books. His works often explore topics of happiness, conservative thought, and public policy. Some of his notable books include The Conservative Heart (2015), Love Your Enemies (2019), and the #1 New York Times bestseller From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life (2022). He also co-authored the #1 New York Times bestseller Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier (2023) with Oprah Winfrey.
His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed articles, and he is a frequent speaker on the topics of human happiness and well-being to a wide range of audiences globally. He remains an active voice in public discourse through his writing, teaching, and media appearances.