Russell Shorto
Encyclopedia
Russell Shorto is an American
author
, historian
and journalist
, best known for his book on the Dutch origins
of New York City
, The Island at the Center of the World. His most recent work, published in October 2008, is Descartes' Bones, which traces the wanderings of the literal skull and bones of René Descartes
through three and a half centuries, and the metaphorical remains of the French philosopher in the modern world.
Born in Johnstown
, Pennsylvania
on February 8, 1959, Shorto is a 1981 graduate of George Washington University
. He is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine
and is the Director of The John Adams Institute in Amsterdam
, where he has lived since November 2007.
On September 8, 2009 Shorto received a Dutch knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau
for strengthening the relationship between the Netherlands and the United States through his publications and as Director of the John Adams Institute.
Interviews
Videos
Other
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, best known for his book on the Dutch origins
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, The Island at the Center of the World. His most recent work, published in October 2008, is Descartes' Bones, which traces the wanderings of the literal skull and bones of René Descartes
René Descartes
René Descartes ; was a French philosopher and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the 'Father of Modern Philosophy', and much subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day...
through three and a half centuries, and the metaphorical remains of the French philosopher in the modern world.
Born in Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on February 8, 1959, Shorto is a 1981 graduate of George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. He is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
and is the Director of The John Adams Institute in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where he has lived since November 2007.
On September 8, 2009 Shorto received a Dutch knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
for strengthening the relationship between the Netherlands and the United States through his publications and as Director of the John Adams Institute.
Books
- Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reaon ISBN 978-0-385-51753-9 (New York, Random House, October 14, 2008). book's website
- The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America ISBN 0-385-50349-0 (New York, Doubleday, 2004). book's website
- Saints and Madmen: How Pioneering Psychiatrists Are Creating a New Science of the Soul ISBN 0-8050-5902-4 (New York, Henry Holt & Company, 1999).
- Gospel Truth: The New Image of Jesus Emerging from Science and History, and Why It Matters ISBN 1-57322-056-6 (New York, Riverhead Books, 1997).
Articles
- Going Dutch, The New York Times Magazine, New York, May 3, 2009.
- Descartes' Bones on the Huffington Post, October 31, 2008
- No Babies?, The New York Times Magazine (cover story), New York, June 29, 2008.
- Keeping the Faith, The New York Times Magazine, New York, April 8, 2007.
- Contra-Contraception, The New York Times Magazine, New York, May 7, 2006.
- This Very, Very Old House, New York Times Magazine, March 5, 2006.
- All Political Ideas Are Local, New York Times Magazine, October 2, 2005.
- What's Their Real Problem with Gay Marriage? (It's the Gay Part), New York Times Magazine, June 19, 2005.
- Shangri-La-Di-Da, GQ, May 2005.
- Faith at Work, New York Times Magazine, cover story, October 21, 2004.
- The Industry Standard, New York Times Magazine, October 3, 2004.
- The Future of the Past, The New York Times, September 12, 2004.
- My Life on Darts, GQ, March 2004.
- Al Franken, Seriously, New York Times Magazine, cover story, March 21, 2004.
- The Streets Where History Lives, The New York Times, Op-Ed, February 9, 2004.
- A Short-Order Revolutionary, New York Times Magazine, January 11, 2004.
- The Un-Pilgrims, The New York Times, Op-Ed, November 27, 2003.
- Genetic Family Values, The New York Times Magazine, New York, 12 December 2004, p. 73-74.
- Most Wanted, The New York Times Magazine, New York, August 25, 2002.
- McLaughlin? Is That a Jewish Name?, The New York Times Magazine, New York, March 24, 2002.
External links
Reviews- "Relics of the Modern Mind", review of Descartes' Bones, by Lisa Jardine in NatureNature (journal)Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
- "Body of Knowledge", review of Descartes' Bones, by Gary Rosen in The New York Times, November 2, 2008
Interviews
- "Faith, Reason, and Descartes", on NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
- "How Descartes Lost His Skull", on Bloomberg News
- "Descartes’ Bones", on the Leonard Lopate Show
Videos
- "Descartes' Bones", 4-minute intro about Descartes' Bones
- "Descartes' Bones", 40-min author talk at Authors@Google
Other