Jonathan Weiner (born November 26, 1953) is an American writer of non-fiction books based on his biological observations, focusing particularly on evolution in the Galápagos Islands, genetics, and the environment.
His latest book is Long for This World: The Strange Science of Immortality (Ecco Press, July 2010) a look at the scientific search for the Fountain of Youth.
Weiner was born November 26, 1953, to a Jewish family in New York City, the son of Ponnie (née Mensch) and Jerome Harris Weiner, an engineer and mathematician.[3][4] In 1976, he graduated from Harvard University.[4]
In 1982, he married Deborah Heiligman in a Jewish ceremony in Allentown, Pennsylvania.[4] Heligman is a children's writer whose focus is also nonfiction.[4] They live in New York City with their two sons, Aaron and Benjamin.
Deborah Heiligman's book about Emma Darwin and her relationship with Charles, Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Henry Holt, January 2009)—"for Middle Readers and Young Adults"—won the inaugural YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults from the American young-adult librarians, as the year's best nonfiction book. It was the runner-up among all young-adult books based on literary merit (Printz Award), as well as for the National Book Award.
^Lonsdale, Carol J. & Smith, Harding E. (1994) "15th Annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes WINNER: JONATHAN WEINER `THE BEAK OF THE FINCH' The Beak That Brings Life", Los Angeles Times, November 13, 1994, p. 7G