S1E42 - Pamela Paul - The Creative Act of…Reading
We met with columnist, journalist, editor and author Pamela Paul for a conversation about her life of words. We spoke of her career at the New York Times, and surveyed the topics of her columns and eight books. At the outset, it seemed that our conversation would focus on writing. Paul has written extensively on numerous thought-provoking and controversial topics, and she is equally eloquent speaking extemporaneously, especially on consumer culture or on a topic from a recent column or a book she happens to be reading. As we delved into her book “How to Raise a Reader,” the questions from our audience began to flow in. By the end, we found ourselves in a deep reflection on the writer’s creative counterpart - the reader. The hour flew by, and left us with a renewed inspiration to pick up a book. Join us.
Biography
Pamela Paul is a columnist for The New York Times Times. She was previously the editor of The New York Times Book Review for nine years and oversaw all book coverage at the Times, where she hosted the weekly Book Review podcast. She is the author of eight books including 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet (named a best book of 2021 by The Chicago Tribune), My Life with Bob; How to Raise a Reader; By the Book; Parenting, Inc.; Pornified (a best book of 2005 by The San Francisco Chronicle); The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matrimony (a best book of 2002 by The Washington Post); and Rectangle Time, a book for children.
Prior to joining The New York Times, she was a contributor to Time and a London- and New York-based correspondent for The Economist. She was a columnist for The New York Times Sunday Styles section and for Worth magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Vogue. She has lived in Thailand, France and the U.K., and currently lives in New York.
Conversation recorded on July 14, 2023.