Gordon S. Black PhD

Gordon S Black was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and grew up in Des Moines during the years after World War II. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1964, and received his doctorate in political science from Stanford University in 1970. He has had several careers: an academic and professor at the University of Rochester from 1968 to 1981, an entrepreneur, researcher, and owner of his own consulting firm, The Gordon S. Black Corporation, between 1978 and 1999, the founder, CEO and Chairman of a publically owned firm, Harris Interactive (HPOL), between 1999 and 2004, and a writer since 2007. Dr. Black's work all derives from a passionate belief in the power of democratic choice and the encouragement of hope, and that includes his novels, memoirs, and stories for teenagers and young adults. He is an advocate for the idea of the "Power of One," the ability of a single person, through the force of his or her wisdom, courage and force of character to change the destiny of communities and even countries.

Dr. Black is currently working on four large writing projects; (1) The Democracy Saga, a fictional account of a twenty year period in American politics beginning with 9/11 and extending to about 2020, of which The Strange Patient in Room 119 is the first volume, (2)The Corn series, three memoirs, of which The Corn is Forever is the first, that are reflections on the changes in America during his lifetime, (3) The hope short story series for children 10 to 15 years of age (and their parents and grandparents)of which The Magic Marble and The Sound of Hope are the first two, and (4) Essays on the condition of American Politics and Public Policy, which will first be presented free in his blog, but combined into a book when there are enough written.

Dr. Black is also the co-author with his son Ben of The Politics of American Discontent, which is the basis for many of his ideas about elections in modern America. The book was published when he was polling for Ross Perot and helping him to found the Independence/Reform Party in the United States. That work provides a systematic analysis of the true causes of the fiscal crisis in which the United States now finds itself -- a crisis which he believes will undermine the future of our Country, if the cure is not found.

His writing for children was inspired by his own grandchildren, Adam, Noah, Madeleine, Georgia and Edie, and the stories are intended to be realistic and inspirational at the same time. The stories are motivated by love, fairness, tolerance, and encouragement for those who face large challenges in life.

If you wish to follow Dr. Black's work and progress more closely, please join him on his blog or sign up as a reader on www.indielitworld.com.