Kurt Andersen

Kurt Andersen is a writer. His novel Heyday, a New York Times bestseller, was included on several short lists of the best novels of 2007 (Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, The Onion, New York Public Library) and won the Langum Prize for the year's best work of American historical fiction. His earlier novel, Turn of the Century, was a bestseller and New York Times Notable Book that Times reviewers called "wickedly satirical," "outrageously funny" and "the most un-clichéd novel imaginable," and that The Wall Street Journal called a "smart, funny and excruciatingly deft portrait of our age."

He is also author of Reset, a book-length essay about the history and consequences of the 2008-09 financial crisis and recession, and of The Real Thing, a book of humorous essays. He has written and produced prime-time network television programs and pilots for NBC, ABC and HBO, and co-authored Loose Lips, an off-Broadway theatrical revue that had long runs in New York and Los Angeles.

Andersen began his career in journalism at NBC's Today program and at Time, where he was an award-winning writer on politics and criminal justice and for eight years the magazine's architecture and design critic. Returning to Time in 1993 as editor-at-large, he wrote a weekly column on culture. From 1996 through 1999 he was a staff writer and columnist "The Culture Industry") for The New Yorker, and from 2004 through 2009 wrote a column ("The Imperial City") for New York.

He was also a co-founder of Inside.com, editorial director of Colors magazine, and editor-in-chief of both New York and Spy magazines, the latter of which he co-founded.

He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, and is a member of the boards of trustees of the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the Pratt Institute. He lives with his family in New York City.

Kurt Andersen appears in the following:

The Greene Space

Studio 360 Live with Elizabeth Wurtzel, Eugene Mirman & Tune-Yards

Monday, May 23, 2011

7:00 PM

Join host Kurt Andersen for this live taping of Studio 360 featuring the writer Elizabeth Wurtzel (Prozac Nation), comedian Eugene Mirman and Brooklyn band Tune-Yards. 

The Greene Space

Studio 360 Live: Our Universe Goes Up to 11

Monday, December 13, 2010

7:00 PM

Does the universe have ten dimensions, as superstring theory proposes, or eleven, as M-theory holds? Comedian Reggie Watts and astrophysicist Janna Levin settle it once and for all; Kurt Andersen referees. Join us for a live performance and geeked-out conversation.

Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen: Martha Plimpton, Josh Ritter and Junot Diaz

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Kurt Andersen discusses age, youth, maturity, and when personal feelings about being "grown-up" change.

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The Greene Space

Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen: Live with Josh Ritter, Junot Diaz and Martha Plimpton

Thursday, May 6, 2010

7:00 PM

Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter, novelist Junot Díaz and actor Martha Plimpton join host Kurt Andersen for an evening of music and storytelling in this special live edition of Studio 360.

The Greene Space

Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen: Live from The Greene Space

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

7:00 PM

Studio 360 will take you where no audience has gone before: traveling through time. In this live show hosted by Kurt Andersen, scientists and artists explain why time travel is more than an idle fantasy. And musical sensation Janelle Monae embodies an android with a heart of gold.