Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 17, 2026

Daniel H. Pink

Daniel H. Pink is an American non-fiction writer who has authored seven New York Times bestsellers. He was host and a co-executive producer of the National Geographic Channel social science TV series Crowd Control. From 1995 to 1997, he was the chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore.

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Jun 17, 2026
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Daniel H. Pink
Pink in 2018
Pink in 2018
Born (1964-07-23) July 23, 1964
OccupationAuthor
LanguageEnglish
EducationNorthwestern University (B.A.)
Yale Law School (J.D.)
GenreNon-fiction
SpouseJessica Lerner
Website
danpink.com

Daniel H. Pink (born July 23, 1964) is an American non-fiction writer who has authored seven New York Times bestsellers. He was host and a co-executive producer of the National Geographic Channel social science TV series Crowd Control.1 From 1995 to 1997, he was the chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore.2

Early life and education

Daniel Pink grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Bexley High School.34 He went on to Northwestern University, where he was a Truman Scholar, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.56 He then earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law & Policy Review.7

Career

Upon graduating law school, Pink immediately began working in politics and economic policy. From 1993 to 1995, he was special assistant to Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.8 From 1995 to 1997, he worked as the chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore.9 In 1997 he quit his job going out on his own, an experience he described in the 1998 Fast Company article "Free Agent Nation" which became his first book.10

Television and video work

He was host and co-executive producer of the National Geographic Channel social science TV series Crowd Control. The program set up experiments around the U.S. in an attempt to change behavior.11

Personal life

Pink married Jessica Lerner, a lawyer and fellow Yale Law School grad, in 1995.12 They live in Washington D.C. with their children.13

Honors and awards

Pink has received honorary degrees from Georgetown University,14 Pratt Institute,15 Ringling College of Art and Design,16 the University of Indianapolis17, and the Columbus College of Art and Design.18

Books

  • Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself. 2001. ISBN 978-0-446-67879-7.
  • Pink, Daniel H. (2005). A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-59448-171-0. NYT Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller No. 12, December 28, 2008.19
  • Pink, Daniel H. (2008). The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-59448-291-5.
  • Pink, Daniel H. (2009). Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-1-59448-884-9. NYT Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller No. 12, March 7, 2010.20
  • Pink, Daniel H. (2012). To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-59448-715-6. NYT Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller No. 8, February 10, 2013.21
  • Pink, Daniel H. (2018). When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-73521-062-2.22 NYT Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller No. 2, January 28, 2018.23
  • The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Riverhead. 2022. ISBN 978-0-7352-1065-3. NYT Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller No. 3, February 20, 202224
References

References

  1. "Dan Pink's Crowd Control on National Geographic Channel uses design to tackle social problems across America" Slate, November 13, 2014
  2. "Daniel Pink, former Gore speechwriter, discusses selling as a way of life". Washington Post.
  3. American Booksellers Association.
  4. "Class of 2017 Bexley High School Distinguished Alumni", Bexley High School website, May 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  5. Northwestern Alumni Association
  6. "Author Dan Pink on the meaning of regret, how he captures his ideas, more with John Dickerson - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  7. "YLPR masthead Issue 8.2" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  8. Kinni, Theodore. "Daniel Pink's New Pitch". strategy+business. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  9. Layton, Lyndsey (2012-02-15). "As teacher merit pay spreads, one noted voice cries, 'It doesn't work'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  10. Fox, Justin (2011-03-18). "It's a Free Agent Nation, Except in Washington". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  11. Hohenadel, Kristin (2014-11-13). "This New TV Show Experiments With Design to Deter Speeding, Jaywalking". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  12. "WEDDINGS; Jessica A. Lerner, Daniel H. Pink". The New York Times. 1995-07-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  13. Dameron, Amanda. "Daniel Pink's Home in Washington, DC (9 Photos)". Dwell. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  14. ""Georgetown Announces Speakers for 2016 Commencement"". 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  15. ""Speaker, Honorees Announced for 2013 Commencement"". Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  16. "Author Daniel H. Pink Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Arts Degree from Ringling College of Art and Design"
  17. ""UIndy to Award honorary degrees to Daniel Pink and Diana Carlson"". 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  18. Hendrix, Sheridan. "Graduation season is here. See spring commencement dates for Columbus-area colleges". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  19. "Paperback Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - December 28, 2008 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  20. "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - March 7, 2010 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  21. "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - February 10, 2013 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  22. "When To Do Everything". Fortune (mailed print edition): 16. 1 February 2018. ISSN 0015-8259.
  23. "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - January 28, 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  24. "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
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