Idea Man

By his early thirties, Paul Allen was a world-famous billionaire-and that was just the beginning.

In 2007 and 2008, Time named Paul Allen, the cofounder of Microsoft, one of the hundred most influential people in the world. Since he made his fortune, his impact has been felt in science, technology, business, medicine, sports, music, and philanthropy. His passion, curiosity, and intellectual rigor-combined with the resources to launch and support new initiatives-have literally changed the world.

In 2009 Allen discovered that he had lymphoma, lending urgency to his desire to share his story for the first time. In this long-awaited memoir, Allen explains how he has solved problems, what he's learned from his many endeavors-both the triumphs and the failures-and his compelling vision for the future. He reflects candidly on an extraordinary life.

The book also features previously untold stories about everything from the true origins of Microsoft to Allen's role in the dawn of private space travel (with SpaceShipOne) and in discoveries at the frontiers of brain science. With honesty, humor, and insight, Allen tells the story of a life of ideas made real.

Paul Allen is the billionaire technologist and philanthropist who cofounded Microsoft with Bill Gates. He is the chairman of Vulcan Inc. and founder of the Allen Institute for Brain Science. He also owns the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers and is co-owner of the Seattle Sounders pro soccer team.

Advance Praise for IDEA MAN

"The virtual world he imagined is now as real as concrete... the very fabric of a twenty-first century that he and a tiny club of others literally invented. Shy, humble, brilliant... Paul Allen's intellect and generosity of spirit are there on every page."
- Bono

"Here is the tale of one of the most restlessly curious and broadly imaginative people of our times, which in simple and eloquent language tells how he changed those times forever."
- Jann S. Wenner, editor and publisher, Rolling Stone

"Paul's natural curiosity will always guide him into uncharted waters. Whether it's a newfangled device called the personal computer; exploring the bottom of the sea or deep space; music, movies, and museums; or perhaps his most significant adventure so far-the human brain-two things are certain: It won't be the same afterward, and it will be an extraordinary journey."
- Peter Gabriel

"Whenever you are given the opportunity to get behind the scenes with one of the greatest creative minds in the world of technology and innovation, you have to jump on it. Paul Allen has shown a unique ability and desire to contribute to and powerfully influence a broad spectrum of interests, including technology, science, medicine, the arts, and philanthropic endeavors."
- Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks

"A rare glimpse into the mind of a great innovator; a chance to see Paul as only his friends have. The fascinating tale of an ordinary American boy's rise to being one of the richest men in history."
- Carrie Fisher

"Paul is a true adventurer in every sense of the word and, as a friend, he is both loyal and generous of spirit. His ideas have helped shaped the world we live in, and witnessing the way his mind works is like watching a Jimi Hendrix guitar solo: you have no idea how he does it, but it blows your mind."
- Dave Stewart

"This son of Oklahoma, by way of Seattle, electrocuted a classmate, soldered his skin, gassed the family pet, purposely crashed systems, dove in dumpsters for coffee-stained printouts, and went on to create the engine that changed the world."
- Dan Aykroyd