Dan Brown
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this captivating episode, bestselling author Dan Brown shares his 8-year journey creating "The Secret of Secrets," his latest Robert Langdon thriller exploring human consciousness. Brown delves into his evolution from believing consciousness is locally created by the brain to embracing the radical idea that consciousness might be non-local—received rather than generated. (05:30) The conversation reveals his meticulous research process, writing habits that begin at 4 AM, and how personal loss shaped his exploration of life after death.
- Core Theme: The paradigm shift from local to non-local consciousness and its implications for understanding death, human behavior, and our place in the universe.
Speakers
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is the bestselling author of the Robert Langdon thriller series, including The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, The Lost Symbol, Inferno, and Origin. His novels have sold 250 million copies worldwide and several have been adapted into major feature films starring Tom Hanks. Brown's latest book, "The Secret of Secrets," released in September 2025, returns to the Robert Langdon character exploring human consciousness and represents his most ambitious work to date, requiring eight years of research and writing.
Key Takeaways
Write What You Want to Know, Not What You Know
Brown advocates for choosing topics that fascinate you rather than sticking to familiar territory. (92:20) His passion for learning about AI, consciousness, and cryptography came through in his writing because he was genuinely excited about discovering these subjects. This approach transforms the research and writing process from work into an exploration of curiosity, making the final product more engaging for readers who can sense the author's genuine enthusiasm for the material.
Establish Unbreakable Daily Writing Habits
Brown wakes at 4 AM every day without an alarm and goes straight to work, harnessing his brain's natural creative state from REM sleep. (43:38) He discovered that checking news or email first disrupts this creative flow. At the end of each session, he writes the opening paragraph of the next chapter to ensure smooth transitions and eliminate startup friction the following day. This system of preparation and consistency has been crucial to completing complex, research-heavy novels.
Create Smooth Story Flow with Strategic Chapter Structure
Brown employs a "get in late, get out early" philosophy for chapters, entering scenes as late as possible and leaving before they overstay their welcome. (45:58) This creates constant forward momentum and leaves readers craving more. His short chapters serve multiple purposes: they accommodate shorter attention spans, provide natural stopping points that paradoxically encourage continued reading, and create a sense of rapid progress through the story.
Use Villains to Define and Elevate Heroes
Brown always writes the villain first because "the villain defines the hero." (34:47) He's particularly drawn to characters who "do the wrong thing for the right reason"—antagonists with noble motivations whose methods are questionable. This creates moral complexity that challenges readers to consider difficult ethical questions, such as whether saving humanity justifies eliminating half the population. These morally ambiguous villains force heroes to be truly heroic rather than simply coasting on their laurels.
Research Becomes Storytelling Gold When Done Strategically
Brown's research process involves extensive reading before contacting specialists, ensuring he can ask informed questions that elicit personal experiences and beliefs rather than textbook answers. (35:31) He emphasizes that research shouldn't become procrastination—at some point, you know enough to write the scene. His rule: use real locations, real science, and real experiments as the foundation, then build fictional scenarios on top of this authentic base to create believable thrillers.
Statistics & Facts
- Dan Brown's novels have sold 250 million copies worldwide, with The Da Vinci Code becoming one of the most successful thrillers of all time. (00:00)
- The Secret of Secrets took eight years to write, making it Brown's most ambitious and time-consuming project, with him working seven days a week, often eight hours a day. (09:15)
- When filming The Da Vinci Code at the Louvre, the production cost approximately $1 million per day, with filming occurring after hours from 8 PM to 5 AM. (79:30)
