Keach Hagey’s The Optimist is a gripping biography of Sam Altman, chronicling his rise from precocious entrepreneur to the enigmatic leader of OpenAI, and exploring the high-stakes race to shape the future of artificial intelligence.

Based on over 200 interviews, the book traces Altman’s journey from his childhood in St. Louis to his early startup success, his leadership at Y Combinator, and his pivotal role in building OpenAI. Hagey captures Altman’s charisma, ambition, and strategic brilliance, portraying him as a visionary who blends techno-utopian ideals with ruthless pragmatism. The narrative dives into the dramatic events surrounding Altman’s brief ousting from OpenAI in 2023 and his swift return, revealing the intense boardroom battles and philosophical clashes behind the scenes. Through vivid anecdotes and sharp analysis, The Optimist offers a nuanced portrait of a man determined to bend reality—and AI—to his will, while grappling with the ethical and existential risks of the technology he champions.