Episode 240: Alex Kotlowitz

Alex Kotlowitz is a journalist whose work has appeared in print, radio, and film. He’s the author of three books, including There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America.

“The truth of the matter is, given what we do, we’re always outsiders. If it’s not by race or class, it’s by gender, religion, politics. It’s just the nature of being a nonfiction writer—going into communities that, at some level, feel unfamiliar. If you’re writing about stuff you already know about, where’s the joy in that? Where’s the sense of discovery? Why bother?”

Thanks to MailChimp and MeUndies for sponsoring this week's episode.
alexkotlowitz.com
Kotlowitz on Longform
[00:00] "Episode 03: Nick Denton, founder of Gawker Media" (Stoner • Apr 2017)
[01:30] There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America (First Anchor Books • 1992)
[01:45] The Other Side of the River: A Story of Two Towns, a Death, and America’s Dilemma (First Anchor Books • 1999)
[01:45] The Interrupters
[02:30] "The Trenchcoat Robbers" (New Yorker • Jul 2002)
[05:00] Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of Three American Families (J. Anthony Lukas • First Vintage Books • 1986)
[14:45] "487: Harper High School, Part One" (This American Life • Feb 2013)
[14:45] "488: Harper High School, Part Two" (This American Life • Feb 2013)
[24:45] "179: Cicero" (This American Life • Mar 2001)
[31:30] In the Lake of the Woods (Tim O’Brien • First Mariner Books • 2006)
[35:30] Never a City So Real: A Walk in Chicago (Crown Journeys • 2004)
[45:15] Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith (Jon Krakauer • First Anchor Books • 2004)

 
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Alex Kotlowitz is a journalist whose work has appeared in print, radio, and film. He’s the author of three books, including There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America.

“The truth of the matter is, given what we do, we’re always outsiders. If it’s not by race or class, it’s by gender, religion, politics. It’s just the nature of being a nonfiction writer—going into communities that, at some level, feel unfamiliar. If you’re writing about stuff you already know about, where’s the joy in that? Where’s the sense of discovery? Why bother?”

Thanks to MailChimp and MeUndies for sponsoring this week's episode.
alexkotlowitz.com
Kotlowitz on Longform
[00:00] "Episode 03: Nick Denton, founder of Gawker Media" (Stoner • Apr 2017)
[01:30] There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America (First Anchor Books • 1992)
[01:45] The Other Side of the River: A Story of Two Towns, a Death, and America’s Dilemma (First Anchor Books • 1999)
[01:45] The Interrupters
[02:30] "The Trenchcoat Robbers" (New Yorker • Jul 2002)
[05:00] Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of Three American Families (J. Anthony Lukas • First Vintage Books • 1986)
[14:45] "487: Harper High School, Part One" (This American Life • Feb 2013)
[14:45] "488: Harper High School, Part Two" (This American Life • Feb 2013)
[24:45] "179: Cicero" (This American Life • Mar 2001)
[31:30] In the Lake of the Woods (Tim O’Brien • First Mariner Books • 2006)
[35:30] Never a City So Real: A Walk in Chicago (Crown Journeys • 2004)
[45:15] Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith (Jon Krakauer • First Anchor Books • 2004)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices