Kurt Andersen
Encyclopedia
Kurt Andersen is an American novelist who is also host of the Peabody
-winning public radio program Studio 360
, a co-production between Public Radio International
and WNYC
. In 1986 with E. Graydon Carter he co-founded Spy magazine, which they sold in 1991; it continued publishing until 1998. Previously he was a writer and columnist for New York Magazine, ("The Imperial City"), and The New Yorker
("The Culture Industry") and Time ("Spectator"), where he wrote on a wide variety of subjects, including the controversial Los Angeles
coroner
Thomas Noguchi
. In 1999 he co-founded with Michael Hirschorn and Deanna Brown an online media news web site called Inside.com, which they sold to Primedia
; Primedia closed the site in October 2001.
In 1996, Bill Reilly
fired Andersen after two and a half years from his position as editor-in-chief at New York
, citing the publication's financial results. Andersen attributed the firing to his refusal to kill a story about a rivalry between investment bankers Felix Rohatyn
and Steven Rattner
that had upset Henry Kravis
, a member of the firm's ownership group.
Andersen was born in Omaha, Nebraska
and now lives in Brooklyn
, New York
with his wife Anne Kreamer and his two daughters, Kate and Lucy.
(Random House
, 1999), which was a national bestseller and New York Times Notable Book of the year, and the New York Times bestseller Heyday
(Random House, 2007), which won the Langum Prize for the best American historical fiction of 2007. He has also published a book of humorous essays, The Real Thing (Doubleday, 1980; Holt, 1982; Bison Press, 2008), about quintessentialism. His latest book is an essay called RESET: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America (Random House, 2009).
Along with Carter and George Kalogerakis he assembled a history and greatest-hits anthology of Spy called Spy: The Funny Years, published in 2006 by Miramax Books
.
In addition, he has co-authored two humor books, Tools of Power (Viking, 1980), a parody of self-help
books on becoming successful, and Loose Lips (Simon & Schuster
, 1995), an anthology of edited transcripts of real-life conversations involving celebrated people, and has contributed to many other books, such as Minus Equal Plus (Harry N. Abrams) and Mirth of a Nation
(Perennial, 2000).
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
-winning public radio program Studio 360
Studio 360
Studio 360 is an American weekly public radio program about media, the arts and culture hosted by novelist Kurt Andersen and produced by PRI Public Radio International and WNYC in New York City. The program's stated goal is to "Get inside the creative mind" and uses arts and culture as a lens to...
, a co-production between Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
and WNYC
WNYC
WNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
. In 1986 with E. Graydon Carter he co-founded Spy magazine, which they sold in 1991; it continued publishing until 1998. Previously he was a writer and columnist for New York Magazine, ("The Imperial City"), and The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
("The Culture Industry") and Time ("Spectator"), where he wrote on a wide variety of subjects, including the controversial Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
Thomas Noguchi
Thomas Noguchi
is a former Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for the County of Los Angeles, who served in that position from 1967 to 1982. Known as the "coroner to the stars", he determined the cause of death in many high profile cases. He is most famous for performing autopsies on Marilyn Monroe, Robert F...
. In 1999 he co-founded with Michael Hirschorn and Deanna Brown an online media news web site called Inside.com, which they sold to Primedia
Primedia
PRIMEDIA Inc. is privately held American media company fully owned by TPG Capital.Consumer Source Inc. is the sole operating division of PRIMEDIA and helps millions of consumers find apartments, houses for rent, and new homes for sale through its Internet, mobile, and print products...
; Primedia closed the site in October 2001.
In 1996, Bill Reilly
Bill Reilly
William Francis Reilly was an American publishing and media executive who was the founder and former chairman of Primedia...
fired Andersen after two and a half years from his position as editor-in-chief at New York
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
, citing the publication's financial results. Andersen attributed the firing to his refusal to kill a story about a rivalry between investment bankers Felix Rohatyn
Felix Rohatyn
Felix George Rohatyn is an American investment banker known for his role in preventing the bankruptcy of New York City in the 1970s, who also served as United States Ambassador to France. He was a long term advisor to the U.S...
and Steven Rattner
Steven Rattner
Steven Lawrence Rattner is an American financier who served as the lead auto advisor in the United States Treasury Department under President Barack Obama...
that had upset Henry Kravis
Henry Kravis
Henry R. Kravis is an American businessman and private equity investor. He is the co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a private equity firm with over $62 billion in assets as of 2011. He has an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion as of September 2011, ranked by Forbes as the 88th richest...
, a member of the firm's ownership group.
Andersen was born in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
and now lives in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with his wife Anne Kreamer and his two daughters, Kate and Lucy.
Literary works
Andersen is the author of two novels, Turn of the CenturyTurn of the Century
For the roller coasters formerly known as Turn of the Century, see The Demon and The Demon Turn of the Century is a bestselling novel by Kurt Andersen published in 1999....
(Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
, 1999), which was a national bestseller and New York Times Notable Book of the year, and the New York Times bestseller Heyday
Heyday (novel)
Heyday, by Kurt Andersen, is an historical novel. It was published in early 2007 by Random House.The protagonist, Ben Knowles, is from a London manufacturing family. In 1848 he experiences the disorders in Paris and then resolves to move to the United States, the 'New World,' "craving vulgarity...
(Random House, 2007), which won the Langum Prize for the best American historical fiction of 2007. He has also published a book of humorous essays, The Real Thing (Doubleday, 1980; Holt, 1982; Bison Press, 2008), about quintessentialism. His latest book is an essay called RESET: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America (Random House, 2009).
Along with Carter and George Kalogerakis he assembled a history and greatest-hits anthology of Spy called Spy: The Funny Years, published in 2006 by Miramax Books
Miramax Books
Miramax Books was a publishing imprint started by Bob and Harvey Weinstein of Miramax Films and was known for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It published the memoirs of many major celebrities, including David Boies, Madeline Albright, Rudolph Giuliani, Tim Russert, and others...
.
In addition, he has co-authored two humor books, Tools of Power (Viking, 1980), a parody of self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
books on becoming successful, and Loose Lips (Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, 1995), an anthology of edited transcripts of real-life conversations involving celebrated people, and has contributed to many other books, such as Minus Equal Plus (Harry N. Abrams) and Mirth of a Nation
Mirth of a Nation
Mirth of a Nation is a humor anthology edited by Michael J. Rosen.* Mirth of a Nation ISBN 0-06-095321-7* More Mirth of a Nation ISBN 0-06-095322-5* May Contain Nuts ISBN 0-06-051626-7-External links:* * *...
(Perennial, 2000).
External links
- Kurt Andersen's website
- Studio 360
- Rake magazine interview
- Kurt Andersen's New York Magazine Archive
- Video (with mp3 available) of conversation with Anderson and Will WilkinsonWill WilkinsonWill Wilkinson is a Canadian American libertarian writer. Until August 2010, he was a research fellow at the Cato Institute where he worked on a variety of issues including Social Security reform and, most notably, the policy implications of happiness research. He is currently working on a paper...
on Bloggingheads.tvBloggingheads.tvBloggingheads.tv is a political, world events, philosophy, and science video blog discussion site in which the participants take part in an active back and forth conversation via webcam which is then broadcast online to viewers...