Daniel Schulman

Daniel Schulman is an American journalist and author known for his investigative reporting and non-fiction books focusing on business, politics, and political influence. As a senior editor at Mother Jones magazine, he has covered topics ranging from corporate wrongdoing to the intersection of money and politics. His 2014 book "Sons of Wichita: How the Koch Brothers Became America's Most Powerful and Private Dynasty" provided an in-depth examination of the Koch family and their impact on American politics. The book garnered significant attention for its detailed reporting on the Koch brothers' business empire and political activities. Prior to his work at Mother Jones, Schulman held positions at the Columbia Journalism Review and The New Republic. His writing has appeared in various publications including Vanity Fair, The Guardian, and Salon. Through his career, Schulman has specialized in exposing the hidden connections between wealthy individuals, corporations, and political movements. His investigative work has contributed to public understanding of how private money influences American political and economic systems.

Readers value Schulman's detailed research and ability to present complex financial-political relationships in clear terms. His book "Sons of Wichita" earned a 4.1/5 rating on Goodreads from over 2,000 readers and 4.5/5 on Amazon from 500+ reviews. What readers liked: - Deep investigative reporting backed by extensive sources - Balanced portrayal of controversial figures - Clear explanation of complex business dealings - Engaging narrative style that reads like a novel What readers disliked: - Some found the level of detail overwhelming - A few readers wanted more analysis of recent political activities - Several noted the book focuses more on business history than current events One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Schulman digs deep into archives and interviews to reveal the human story behind the headlines." A Goodreads review noted: "The author maintains objectivity while tackling sensitive political topics." The book received positive reviews in major newspapers but smaller attention compared to other political books of 2014, with around 2,500 total online ratings.

Sons of Wichita: How the Koch Brothers Became America's Most Powerful and Private Dynasty (2014) A biographical account tracing the rise of the Koch family, detailing how four brothers inherited their father's oil business and transformed it into one of America's largest private corporations while becoming influential figures in American politics.

Jane Mayer Her investigative work centers on money in politics and conservative political networks, similar to Schulman's focus on power brokers. Her book "Dark Money" examines the Koch brothers and other wealthy donors who influence American politics through private funding networks.

Kurt Eichenwald His books investigate corporate scandal and financial manipulation through detailed narrative reporting. His works like "The Informant" and "Conspiracy of Fools" share Schulman's approach of examining complex business stories through character-driven narratives.

Steve Coll He specializes in deep investigations of powerful institutions and families, particularly in his books about ExxonMobil and the Bin Laden family. His research methods and focus on how wealthy dynasties shape global events parallel Schulman's work.

David Cay Johnston He focuses on investigating how the wealthy and powerful influence American systems through money and politics. His books examining tax policy, inequality, and political influence share common ground with Schulman's exploration of plutocratic power.

Michael Isikoff His investigative work covers the intersection of money, politics, and corruption in American institutions. His books examine political scandals and corporate misconduct with the same investigative depth as Schulman's reporting.