📖 Overview
Susan Shapiro is an American writer, journalist, and professor based in New York City. She has authored over a dozen books across multiple genres including memoirs, self-help, and fiction.
Her most widely recognized works include "Five Men Who Broke My Heart," "Lighting Up: How I Stopped Smoking, Drinking and Everything Else I Loved in Life Except Sex," and "The Forgiveness Tour: How to Find the Perfect Apology." She regularly contributes to publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine.
As a writing professor, Shapiro has taught at several institutions including The New School, NYU, and Columbia University. Her teaching method, known as "the instant gratification takes too long" approach, has helped numerous students publish their first pieces in major publications.
Beyond her writing and teaching, Shapiro is known for her work exploring themes of addiction recovery, relationships, and Jewish identity. Her book "Unhooked: How to Quit Anything" draws from her personal experiences with addiction and recovery.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Shapiro's honesty and humor in discussing personal struggles, particularly in "Lighting Up" and "Five Men Who Broke My Heart." Many connect with her direct writing style and self-deprecating observations about relationships and addiction recovery.
Liked:
- Raw authenticity in describing personal challenges
- Practical advice for writers and aspiring authors
- Clear, conversational writing voice
- Relatable experiences with dating and relationships
Disliked:
- Some readers find her tone self-absorbed
- Complaints about repetitive themes across books
- Several note her New York-centric perspective feels limiting
- Some memoir sections described as overly dramatic
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- "Lighting Up": 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings)
- "Five Men Who Broke My Heart": 3.5/5 (900+ ratings)
- "The Forgiveness Tour": 4.1/5 (300+ ratings)
Amazon: Average 4.2/5 across titles
NYU Rate My Professors: 4.8/5 as writing instructor
📚 Books by Susan Shapiro
Five Men Who Broke My Heart - A memoir exploring the author's journey to reconnect with five significant ex-boyfriends from her past.
Lighting Up - A memoir detailing the author's process of overcoming multiple addictions with help from a therapist.
Unhooked - An examination of various types of addiction and recovery methods, incorporating interviews with experts and personal experiences.
Speed Shrinking - A novel about a self-help author who consults eight therapists in seven days after her support system disappears.
What's Never Said - A novel centered on a poetry student and her professor, exploring their complex relationship across decades.
The Forgiveness Tour - A memoir investigating the concept of forgiveness through personal experiences and conversations with various experts.
The Byline Bible - A guide for writers on publishing and selling articles, based on the author's teaching experience.
Only as Good as Your Word - A memoir focused on the author's experiences with mentors throughout her writing career.
Overexposed - A memoir about the author's relationship with her family and her path to becoming a photographer.
Lighting Up - A memoir detailing the author's process of overcoming multiple addictions with help from a therapist.
Unhooked - An examination of various types of addiction and recovery methods, incorporating interviews with experts and personal experiences.
Speed Shrinking - A novel about a self-help author who consults eight therapists in seven days after her support system disappears.
What's Never Said - A novel centered on a poetry student and her professor, exploring their complex relationship across decades.
The Forgiveness Tour - A memoir investigating the concept of forgiveness through personal experiences and conversations with various experts.
The Byline Bible - A guide for writers on publishing and selling articles, based on the author's teaching experience.
Only as Good as Your Word - A memoir focused on the author's experiences with mentors throughout her writing career.
Overexposed - A memoir about the author's relationship with her family and her path to becoming a photographer.
👥 Similar authors
Dani Shapiro writes memoirs about family secrets, identity crises, and wrestling with faith. Her work explores similar themes of self-discovery and Jewish identity that appear in Susan Shapiro's writing.
Augusten Burroughs focuses on memoir-style accounts of addiction recovery and dysfunctional relationships. His raw confessional tone and path from substance abuse to sobriety parallels themes in Shapiro's work.
David Sedaris crafts personal essays about family dynamics and life observations through a humorous lens. His self-deprecating style and examination of complicated family relationships echo Shapiro's approach.
Elizabeth Gilbert writes about personal transformation and finding one's path through life changes and challenges. Her focus on mentorship and creative development connects to Shapiro's teaching-centered works.
Mary Karr produces memoirs about coming-of-age experiences and overcoming addiction. Her direct writing style and exploration of recovery themes align with Shapiro's narrative interests.
Augusten Burroughs focuses on memoir-style accounts of addiction recovery and dysfunctional relationships. His raw confessional tone and path from substance abuse to sobriety parallels themes in Shapiro's work.
David Sedaris crafts personal essays about family dynamics and life observations through a humorous lens. His self-deprecating style and examination of complicated family relationships echo Shapiro's approach.
Elizabeth Gilbert writes about personal transformation and finding one's path through life changes and challenges. Her focus on mentorship and creative development connects to Shapiro's teaching-centered works.
Mary Karr produces memoirs about coming-of-age experiences and overcoming addiction. Her direct writing style and exploration of recovery themes align with Shapiro's narrative interests.