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21 Most Intriguing: David Granger
Jeremy Greenfield & Courtney Barnes

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Editor-in-chief, Esquire Magazine

Representing Man at his Best is no small task; imagine the pressures that come with choosing a stylish-yet-understated ensemble that will be scrutinized by many; maintaining a debonair demeanor through countless meetings and press events; and embodying a caricature that men of all demographics want to emulate (and that women of all demographics just plain want).

Imagine this, and you’ll have but the faintest taste of a day in the life of David Granger, editor-in-chief of Esquire magazine—the faintest taste, because his day planner is peppered with meetings with the likes of Bill Clinton (one of the few people he “felt overwhelmed by”), Matt Lauer, Janice Min and a handful of the smartest minds of the modern day. However, it’s a professional life lived gracefully, as Granger celebrated his 10th anniversary as editor this past summer, along with the 25th anniversary of his move to New York City. Plus, his sexy social calendar is always topped off by going home to his wife (whom he met in high school) and his 17-year-old twin daughters.

But no matter—it’s still fun to fanaticize about the intriguing life led by someone of his ilk. Plus, the man oozes culture, be it through his choice of a car (a black Volkswagen Phaeton), his fondness for poetry (quote a few verses of Nick Tosches’ work, and maybe he’ll be yours forever) and his musical taste. He even uses a CD as a bookmark (though he admits that all seven of his iPods are in his daughters’ possession).

But back to that intriguing life. As a tribute to the voyeurs among us, here is a peak into any given day in the life of Granger. (Disclaimer: This is not an actual day in Granger’s planner; rather, it’s an aggregation of recent events.)

5 am: Wake up and get ready for work

“It only takes 45 minutes altogether. Morning prep isn’t that complicated when you don’t have any hair.”

5:45 am: Leave home in Westchester Country for Manhattan office
6:30 am: Arrive in office
6:30 – 7 am: “Read everything I haven’t read”
8 am: Breakfast on the 44th floor of the Hearst Tower with editors to discuss first-quarter 2008 stories

“I love breakfast. One of my favorite things is to have breakfast onthe 44th floor.”

9 am: Quarterly meeting with Hearst President Cathie Black and Hearst editors
11 am: Meeting with business consulting firm Fahrenheit 212 about December’s “Best and Brightest” issue, which will feature “nine incredibly smart people,” including a 29-year-old Harvard economist, a 29-year-old pediatric oncologist/novelist and a scientist working to unlock the secrets of longevity and “living the years you have more youthfully”
12:30 pm: Lunch with Charlie Palmer [chef] to discuss a joint venture
2 pm: 2008 planning meeting
3 pm: Meet with Esquire.com Editor Eric Gillen, followed by Esquire.com advertising standards meeting
4:30 pm: Meeting with Ralph Dunning.