Robert Kurson received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from Harvard Law School. He practiced real estate law before becoming a writer. In 2000, Esquire published his first magazine story My Favorite Teacher, which became a finalist for a National Magazine Award. He won a National Magazine Award in 2006 for a profile in Esquire, which he later turned into a book. His stories have also appeared in Rolling Stone and The New York Times Magazine. He has written several books including Crashing Through, Shadow Divers, and Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship.