Jean-Pierre Isbouts

Jean-Pierre Isbouts is a historian, bestselling author, and award-winning filmmaker specializing in biblical archaeology, Renaissance art, and 19th-century European history. A humanities scholar and doctoral professor at Fielding Graduate University, he has authored numerous acclaimed works, including the National Geographic bestseller "The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas" and "In the Footsteps of Jesus," which sold over 100,000 copies within its first eight weeks. His other notable publications include "The Mona Lisa Myth," co-authored with Christopher Brown, and "Young Leonardo," which explores Leonardo da Vinci's early career and is being adapted into a motion picture.

Isbouts' career spans academia, publishing, and multimedia production. Born in the Netherlands, he studied archaeology, art history, and musicology before completing his doctoral research at Columbia University. As a filmmaker, he has collaborated with figures such as Charlton Heston, Morgan Freeman, and Leonard Nimoy, producing programs for networks like PBS, History Channel, and Disney. His interdisciplinary approach blends historical scholarship with narrative storytelling, evident in works like "Ten Prayers that Changed the World," which won the "Best Spirituality Book of 2016" award.

In addition to his biblical studies, Isbouts has contributed to Renaissance scholarship with books like "The Story of Christianity" and "The Archaeology of the Bible." His versatility extends to musicology, having produced recordings with ensembles such as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Residing in Santa Monica with his family, Isbouts continues to research, write, and explore historical narratives across cultures and eras.
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Biblical World, The: An Illustrated Atlas 2007
2 Young Jesus: Restoring the "Lost Years" of a Social Activist and Religious Dissident 2008
3 From Moses to Muhammad 2010
4 In the Footsteps of Jesus: A Chronicle of His Life and the Origins of Christianity 2012
5 National Geographic Who's Who in the Bible: Unforgettable People and Timeless Stories from Genesis to Revelation 2012
6 Wild Thing: A Teenage Journey to Hell and Back 2013
7 The Mona Lisa Myth: How new discoveries unlock the final mystery of the world's most famous painting 2013
8 Social Change in the Modern Workplace: New Research and Scholarly Reflections 2014
9 Story of Christianity, The: A Chronicle of Christian Civilization From Ancient Rome to Today 2014
10 Jesus: An Illustrated Life 2015
11 Ten Prayers That Changed the World: Extraordinary Stories of Faith That Shaped the Course of History 2016
12 Archaeology of the Bible: The Greatest Discoveries From Genesis to the Roman Era 2016
13 Young Leonardo: The Evolution of a Revolutionary Artist, 1472-1499 2017
14 National Geographic 50 Most Influential Figures of the Bible (With: National Geographic Society) 2017
15 Atlas of the Bible 2018
16 National Geographic Atlas of the Bible: Exploring the Holy Lands (With: National Geographic Society) 2018
17 Young Leonardo: The Companion Book to the Film the Search for the Last Supper (With: Christopher Heath Brown) 2018
18 The Da Vinci Legacy: How a 16th Century Solitary Genius Became a Global Pop Icon 2019
19 The History and Archaeology of the Bible 2021
20 In the Footsteps of Vincent van Gogh 2021
21 Mapping America: The Incredible Story and Stunning Hand-Colored Maps and Engravings that Created the United States 2021
22 Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa: New Perspectives 2021
23 National Geographic Ultimate Visual History of the World: The Story of Humankind From Prehistory to Modern Times 2021
24 The Search for Heaven: A historian investigates the case for the afterlife 2022
25 The Fractured Kingdom: Uniting Modern Christianity through the Historical Jesus 2023
26 Leonardo da Vinci: The Complete Paintings 2024
National Geographic Shorts Books
# Title Year
1 Inside Animal Minds (By: Virginia Morell) 2012
2 36 Healing Herbs (By: Rebecca L. Johnson) 2012
3 Titanic (By: National Geographic Society) 2012
4 Mysteries of Jesus 2012
5 Shark Attacks (By: Gordon Grice) 2012
6 88 Natural Remedies (By: Rebecca L. Johnson) 2013