David Brooks Bio
David Brooks is an acclaimed Canadian-born American political and cultural commentator, author, and broadcast journalist based in Washington, D.C. He is widely recognized for his long-running role as a regular political analyst for PBS NewsHour and his prominent, two-decade career as an opinion columnist for The New York Times. Characterized as a moderate conservative or centrist, his writing heavily explores American social trends, moral formation, and the intersection of politics and behavioral science.
Brooks began his journalism career in Chicago as a police reporter before shifting into conservative media as a writer and editor for the National Review. In 1986, he joined The Wall Street Journal, serving a nine-year tenure that included posts as a European correspondent in Brussels and ultimately as the paper’s op-ed editor. He later became a foundational senior editor at The Weekly Standard and a contributing writer for Newsweek and The Atlantic.
Beyond his weekly print columns, Brooks is a celebrated, bestselling author of several cultural anthropology and self-improvement books. His most notable non-fiction works include Bobos in Paradise (2000), The Social Animal (2011), The Road to Character (2015), and How to Be a Person (2023). David’s broad sociological insights have earned him teaching positions in global affairs and grand strategy at Yale University, Duke University, and the University of Chicago.
His distinguished academic foundation comes from the University of Chicago, where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. During his time at the university, his satirical writing caught the attention of prominent commentators, paving his path into professional political media. He is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and serves as the chair of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute.
David Brooks Age
David Brooks is 64 years old as of early 2026. He was born on August 11, 1961, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where his father was completing graduate studies. He celebrates his birthday on the 11th of August each year, typically marking the occasion with intellectual lectures or spending personal time at his home in the Washington area.
David Brooks Family
Brooks was born to his parents, both of whom were highly accomplished academics. His father taught English literature at New York University, while his mother specialized in 19th-century British history as a scholar at Columbia University. He grew up alongside his sibling, a brother named Daniel Brooks, inside a highly intellectual urban household that split its time between Stuyvesant Town in New York City and the suburbs of Philadelphia’s Main Line.
David Brooks’ Wife
Brooks is married to his wife, Anne Snyder. Anne is an accomplished author, journalist, and the editor-in-chief of Comment magazine. The couple tied the knot in 2017 following a collaborative working relationship during the production of The Road to Character. Previously, Brooks was married to his first wife, Sarah Brooks (formerly Jane Hughes), from 1986 until their divorce in 2013. Across his marriages, he has three adult children from his first relationship, with whom he maintains close personal ties.
David Brooks’ Height
Brooks stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 11 inches.
David Brooks Net Worth
Brooks has an estimated net worth of between $3 million and $6 million as of 2026. This solid financial foundation has been built through multiple bestselling book advances and royalties, lucrative long-term print syndication contracts with The New York Times, broadcast commentator fees from PBS, and academic lecturing honorariums.
David Brooks’ Salary
Brooks earns an estimated annual salary ranging from $180,000 to $300,000. This scale reflects his senior standing as a primary, multi-platform political commentator, network television analyst, and veteran magazine columnist within top-tier American media bureaus.
