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
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
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