📖 Overview
Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele are investigative journalists who have worked together for over four decades. They spent most of their careers at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where they produced groundbreaking investigations that earned them two Pulitzer Prizes for National Reporting.
The duo specializes in long-form investigative reporting that examines corporate power, government corruption, and economic inequality. Their work typically involves months or years of research, document analysis, and interviews to expose systemic problems in American institutions.
After leaving The Philadelphia Inquirer, Barlett and Steele continued their partnership at Time magazine and later at Vanity Fair. They have authored several books that expand on their investigative journalism, focusing on subjects ranging from tax policy to corporate influence on government.
Their biographical work on Howard Hughes represents a departure from their usual policy-focused investigations. The book draws on their investigative skills to examine the life of one of America's most reclusive billionaires, using extensive research and previously unreported details.