The first steps were to read all of the previously published books by and about Fuller, set up interviews with his surviving relatives and associates, and arrange to get the files that I needed. Going into this project, I knew that Fuller’s archive-which by some estimates is the largest for any private individual in history-was available to the public at Stanford, so I’d have plenty of material.

Can you give us a behind-the-scenes look at your research process for this biography? What were some of the most interesting or surprising things you learned about Fuller while writing the book? His reputation as a generalist who looked for design solutions to important problems made a big impression on me, and it clearly influenced some of my own life decisions-I’ve managed to get through most of my career without specializing in any one field.Īfter I finished my previous book, Astounding, which was a history of the golden age of science fiction, Fuller seemed like the obvious next step, since he was a public figure who shaped how America saw the future, and he had never been the subject of a comprehensive biography that drew on the best available sources. I’ve been a Fuller fan since I was in high school, when I discovered him in the pages of the Whole Earth Catalog. First off, congratulations on the success of your recent biography of Buckminster Fuller! Can you tell us a bit about what drew you to his life and work? Subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss out! Hi Alec, welcome to Famous Writing Routines! It’s great to have you here with us today. In addition, his most recent book, Inventor of the Future, a biography of Buckminster Fuller, was named one of the fifty best biographies of all time by Esquire.Įach week, we publish a new daily writing routine from a famous author. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction earning him recognition as a Hugo and Locus Award finalist. His works have garnered critical acclaim, with his group biography Astounding: John W.

Alec Nevala-Lee is an American biographer, novelist, and science fiction writer.

Alec nevala lee