David M. Ewalt was born in 1976, but his career would not follow the traditional path of a standard journalist. Instead of covering politics or crime, he chose to immerse himself in the subcultures of gaming and virtual reality, eventually becoming the editor-in-chief of Scientific American by June 2025. His journey began not in a newsroom, but in the intersection of technology and play, where he discovered that the stories of gamers were often more complex and culturally significant than the headlines of the day. Before he ever held the title of editor-in-chief, Ewalt worked as a deputy editor at Forbes magazine, where he wrote numerous in-depth cover stories on technology companies including Oculus VR, Magic Leap, Microsoft, Mojang, SHI International, and Bigelow Aerospace. This period established his reputation as an expert on the intersection of technology and gaming, leading to interviews with major media outlets including The New York Times and National Public Radio, and frequent appearances on the live television program Attack of the Show!.
Rolling The Dice On Dungeons
In 2013, Simon & Schuster published Ewalt's first book, Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It, which transformed a niche hobby into a subject of serious literary and cultural analysis. The book was reviewed by major publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly, and was picked as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year. Ewalt did not simply report on the game; he lived inside the community, spending years with players to understand the psychological and social dynamics that made Dungeons & Dragons a phenomenon. His work highlighted the pioneering role-playing game's impact on generations of players, revealing how a game about dragons and wizards could teach people about leadership, creativity, and human connection. The book was listed as one of Hudson Booksellers' Best Books of 2013, cementing Ewalt's status as a voice that could translate the esoteric into the universally understood.Measuring The World's Most Powerful
In 2009, Ewalt co-created the inaugural Forbes list of The World's Most Powerful People, a project that has since become a global media event. He edited each annual update of the ranking, which has received significant global coverage and attention in the media, and Ewalt has appeared as guest to discuss it on outlets including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox Business Network. The list was not merely a ranking of wealth or celebrity; it was a complex calculation of influence, power, and impact, requiring Ewalt to navigate the delicate balance between objective data and subjective interpretation. His work on the list demonstrated his ability to synthesize vast amounts of information into a narrative that resonated with both business leaders and the general public. This project showcased his unique skill set, blending the analytical rigor of a journalist with the creative flair of a storyteller, allowing him to speak to organizations including Google, Microsoft Research, and Huawei about the nature of power in the modern age.