Robert Kanigel - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Robert Kanigel (born 1946) is an American biographer, science writer, and professor emeritus of science writing at MIT, whose work has significantly shaped the landscape of scientific biography and narrative non-fiction. Through his meticulous research and engaging prose, Kanigel has distinguished himself as a master chronicler of the intersections between science, culture, and human achievement.
First emerging as a technical writer in the 1970s, Kanigel's journey to literary prominence began with his work for various publications, including Johns Hopkins Magazine and The Sciences. His breakthrough came with the publication of "Apprentice to Genius" (1986), which offered an unprecedented glimpse into the mentor-protégé relationships in scientific research. However, it was his 1991 masterwork "The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan" that established him as a preeminent biographer, earning widespread acclaim and later inspiring a 2015 film starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons.
Throughout his career, Kanigel has demonstrated a remarkable ability to illuminate complex scientific concepts and historical figures through accessible, compelling narratives. His works span diverse subjects, from the Indian mathematical prodigy Ramanujan to the efficiency expert Frederick Winslow Taylor ("The One Best Way," 1997) and the pioneering urban activist Jane Jacobs ("Eyes on the Street," 2016). Each biography reveals Kanigel's talent for uncovering the human stories behind scientific and social innovations, while maintaining scholarly rigor and historical accuracy.
Kanigel's influence extends beyond his publications through his role as Professor of Science Writing at MIT's Graduate Program in Science Writing, where he helped shape a new generation of science communicators. His approach to biography—combining thorough research with narrative sophistication—has established a model for science writing that bridges the gap between academic precision and public accessibility. Today, his work continues to demonstrate how the lives of influential figures can illuminate broader historical and cultural movements, while inspiring readers to explore the complex relationships between individual genius and societal progress.