Fareed Zakaria
A global affairs analyst who translates complex geopolitics into compelling narratives for a mass television and print audience.
Born 1964 (age 62)·Indian-American journalist and author·Birthday: January 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Born in Mumbai, Fareed Zakaria moved to the United States for college, a shift that shaped his perspective as a bridge between East and West. He first made his mark as the managing editor of Foreign Affairs magazine while still in his twenties, displaying a precocious grasp of international relations. His career trajectory took him to Newsweek and Time, where his columns became required reading in policy circles. His true breakthrough came with his CNN Sunday morning program, 'GPS,' which eschewed shouting matches for deep-dive interviews and thoughtful monologues. Zakaria's influence stems from his ability to synthesize vast amounts of information into clear, accessible arguments, making him a trusted guide through an often chaotic world. His books, like 'The Post-American World,' have further cemented his role as a public intellectual who shapes the conversation on America's global role.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Fareed was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Fareed Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Fareed's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hosted CNN's 'Fareed Zakaria GPS,' a globally syndicated foreign affairs program, since 2008.
- Authored the international bestseller 'The Post-American World,' which analyzed the rise of other global powers.
- Served as the editor of Newsweek International, expanding the magazine's global footprint and perspective.
- Appointed a columnist for The Washington Post, where his weekly pieces dissect political and economic trends.
Did You Know?
He earned his Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University under the mentorship of Samuel P. Huntington.
Zakaria was the youngest managing editor in the history of the journal 'Foreign Affairs.'
He was a member of the Yale secret society Scroll and Key during his undergraduate years.
“The future is not a roulette wheel that we sit back and watch. It is a thing that we create.”
