Bruce Feiler

Bruce Feiler is an American author and television personality known for his work on contemporary life, family dynamics, and navigating change. Feiler draws on original research into life transitions, rituals, and personal narratives to explore how individuals and families find meaning and purpose during periods of change. He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including "Life Is in the Transitions," "The Secrets of Happy Families," and "Council of Dads." After earning an undergraduate degree from Yale University, Feiler taught English in Japan, an experience that inspired his first book, "Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan." He later completed a master's degree in international relations at the University of Cambridge.

Feiler's literary career includes "Walking the Bible," which chronicles his 10,000-mile journey retracing the Five Books of Moses through the desert. The book spent more than a year and a half on The New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into multiple languages. He continued his exploration of faith and history with "Abraham," featured on the cover of Time magazine and also a New York Times bestseller, and "Where God Was Born," which recounts his travels through Israel, Iraq, and Iran. "America's Prophet" examines the significance of Moses as a symbolic figure in American history.

In addition to his writing, Feiler has contributed to television as the writer and presenter of two PBS prime-time series: "Walking the Bible" and "Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler," which retrace pilgrimages in locations such as France, India, Japan, Israel, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. His book "The Council of Dads"—detailing his experience with osteosarcoma and the support network he created for his daughters—inspired a CNN documentary by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and the NBC drama series "Council of Dads." The book was also featured in USA Weekend, on The Today Show, and in People.

Feiler's work extends into public discourse and thought leadership. His TED Talks have garnered millions of views, and he teaches the Webby Award-winning TED Course "How to Master Life Transitions." He is a fellow at the Stanford Computational Psychology and Well-Being Lab, which is developing an AI large language model based on his research. Feiler has written for publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and Gourmet, where he received three James Beard Awards. His book "A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World — and How It Can Save Us" documents his global journey chronicling the evolution of life rituals. Feiler is a frequent speaker on topics including life transitions, family relationships, the power of gathering, and intergenerational harmony.