Sam Harris
Born 1967 · Age 58
American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, meditation teacher and podcast host; prominent critic of religion and proponent of secular spirituality (one of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Los Angeles, California
Samuel Benjamin Harris born to Berkeley Harris (actor) and Susan Spivak (TV writer/producer).
Parents divorced; raised by mother
Parents divorced when Harris was two; he was raised by his mother, Susan Harris.
Matriculated at Stanford University (initially English)
Entered Stanford University; original major English before shifting interests to philosophy and consciousness.
Left Stanford in second year; traveled to India & Nepal
Left Stanford a quarter after his MDMA experience and spent the next decade-plus studying meditation in India and Nepal.
Psychoactive experience (MDMA) at Stanford
Reports a decisive MDMA experience while at Stanford that triggered interest in philosophical questions and non-drug spiritual practice.
Studied meditation with Tibetan and Hindu teachers
Studied meditation in South Asia, including with Dilgo Khyentse, exploring spiritual practice without religious belief.
Volunteer guard for the Dalai Lama (briefly)
Served for a few weeks in the early 1990s as a volunteer guard in the Dalai Lama's security detail.
Returned to Stanford after ~11 years abroad
Returned to Stanford to complete undergraduate studies after eleven years overseas studying meditation and travel.
Completed B.A. in Philosophy, Stanford University
Graduated from Stanford with a BA in philosophy.
Began writing The End of Faith
Started writing his first book immediately after the September 11 attacks.
Published The End of Faith
Debut book criticizing religion and arguing for rationalism; became widely discussed and established Harris as a public intellectual.
The End of Faith — New York Times bestseller 33 weeks
The book remained on The New York Times Best Seller list for 33 weeks.
Married Annaka Gorton
Married Annaka (also known as Annaka Harris), who later becomes an author/editor; couple have two daughters (dates not specified).
Became recognized as one of the 'Four Horsemen' of New Atheism
Identified alongside Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett as leading figures in the New Atheist movement after The End of Faith's prominence.
Received PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction
The End of Faith won the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction (award often cited as 2005).
Published Letter to a Christian Nation
Released a short polemical follow-up to The End of Faith addressing American Christian conservatism.
Debated Robert Wright on religion
Engaged in a public debate (September 2006) on the rationality of religious belief.
Debated Rick Warren (Newsweek) and Andrew Sullivan (Beliefnet)
Public debates with Rick Warren (April 2007) and a lengthy online exchange with Andrew Sullivan in 2007.
Co-founded Project Reason (nonprofit)
Co-founded Project Reason, a nonprofit promoting scientific literacy and secularism (commonly associated with Harris).
Endorsed Barack Obama (2008 presidential election)
Publicly supported Barack Obama's 2008 presidential candidacy and opposed John McCain.
Awarded Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience, UCLA
Received Ph.D.; thesis titled 'The Moral Landscape: How Science Could Determine Human Values'; doctoral advisor Mark S. Cohen; used fMRI in research on belief and uncertainty.
Ph.D. thesis: 'The Moral Landscape: How Science Could Determine Human Values'
Doctoral thesis used fMRI to study neural basis of belief and uncertainty and later formed the basis for his 2010 book.
Published The Moral Landscape
Published The Moral Landscape arguing science can answer moral questions; expanded his public profile in ethics and neuroscience.
Debated Deepak Chopra on ABC News Nightline
Joined Michael Shermer in a debate with Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston on the future of God (2010, Nightline-hosted debate).
Published Lying (long-form essay)
Released Lying, a long-form essay discussing the ethics and practicalities of honesty.
Debated William Lane Craig on objective morality
April 2011 public debate on whether there can be objective morality without God.
Published Free Will (short book)
Released Free Will, arguing free will is an illusion and discussing neuroscientific implications.
Podcast interviews with prominent thinkers
Podcast (Waking Up / Making Sense) hosted extensive interviews with figures like Daniel Dennett, Peter Singer, Jordan Peterson, David Chalmers, increasing his public influence.
Launched Waking Up podcast (later Making Sense)
Began the Waking Up podcast in September 2013 (retitled Making Sense). Long-form interviews on science, philosophy, politics, meditation and AI.
Bill Maher appearance; controversy over criticism of Islam
Appeared on Bill Maher in 2014 and was criticized (notably by Ben Affleck); led to public debates including with Cenk Uygur.
Named a prominent figure in the mindfulness movement
Publicly considered a leading voice promoting meditation and secular mindfulness practices.
Published Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
Published a guide to secular spirituality and meditation, combining neuroscience and contemplative practice.
Co-authored Islam and the Future of Tolerance with Maajid Nawaz
Published a dialogue-style book about Islam, reform, and tolerance with Maajid Nawaz (2015).
Email exchange with Noam Chomsky; accusations of Islamophobia
A 2015 exchange and follow-up media appearances led to public criticism by Chomsky accusing Harris of inadequate preparation and bias.
Co-wrote Islam and the Future of Tolerance (with Maajid Nawaz)
Collaborative dialogue-format book aimed at discussing reform and tolerance in Islam; contributed to public debate about Islamophobia and reform movements.
TED talk warning about existential AI risk
Delivered a TED talk arguing artificial superintelligence is an existential threat and advocating urgent attention to AI safety.
Supported Hillary Clinton (2016 election)
Supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries and the general election while criticizing her as a flawed candidate and opposing Donald Trump.
Making Sense podcast recognized (Apple / Webby mentions)
Podcast selected by Apple as an 'iTunes Best' and won a Webby Award for Science & Education (dates cited on his site).
Hosted Charles Murray on podcast—major controversy
April 2017 episode with Charles Murray (discussing IQ/race) sparked widespread criticism and debate about 'pseudoscientific' racialist claims.
Debated Jordan Peterson (June–July 2018)
Held a series of public debates/meetings with psychologist Jordan Peterson in mid-2018 focusing on religion and truth.
Described as a 'renegade' or 'marginalized' intellectual by some
Around 2018 Harris was labeled a marginalized 'renegade' intellectual by some commentators—he disputed the characterization.
Released Waking Up meditation app
Launched the Waking Up app (Sept 2018): guided meditations, lessons, conversations and a secular approach to mindfulness.
Publicly promotes secular meditation practice
Continued public advocacy for meditation sans religion; noted West can learn from Eastern meditation traditions in relation to Waking Up (2019 commentary).
Publicly disavowed association with the 'Intellectual Dark Web'
In November 2020 Harris stated he does not identify as part of the Intellectual Dark Web; later (2021) said he'd 'turned in' his imaginary membership card.
Supported Andrew Yang in 2020 Democratic primaries
Publicly supported Andrew Yang in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries and helped introduce Yang to Joe Rogan.
Committed 10% of Waking Up profits to charity (Giving What We Can)
Announced commitment to donate at least 10% of the Waking Up app's profits to highly effective charities and signed the Giving What We Can companies' pledge (retroactive to app launch).
Formally ended identification with Intellectual Dark Web
Said he had 'turned in' his imaginary membership card and publicly distanced himself from members over disagreements.
Publicly supported Israel during 2023 Israel–Hamas war
Expressed support for Israel after the October 2023 Hamas attack and criticized arguments that Israel provoked Hamas by settlements.
Hosted Matt Ridley and Alina Chan—COVID origins discussion
March 2023 podcast episode discussing COVID-19 origins and lab-leak hypotheses with Matt Ridley and Alina Chan.
Endorsed Kamala Harris (2024 presidential election)
Public endorsement of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election cycle; participated in a pre-election debate arguing for her over Donald Trump.
Estimated net worth reported (~2024)
Third-party sources give an estimated net worth (aggregated from book royalties, podcast/app revenue, speaking) around $12 million in 2024.
Interview with former Knesset member on Israel/antisemitism
Discussed UN bias, double standards, antisemitism, Gaza conflict moral equivalence, and other Israel-related topics (July 2, 2024 interview).
Supported Operation Midnight Hammer
In June 2025 Harris publicly expressed support for Operation Midnight Hammer (military strikes against Iran nuclear facilities amid Iran–Israel war situations).
Publicly qualifies support for Israel (reservations) citing Netanyahu corruption allegations
In July 2025 Harris wrote that despite supporting Israel's war effort he had reservations due to alleged corruption and influence of religious extremists on Israeli government.
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