Gene Weingarten

Gene Weingarten is an American journalist and humor writer who has won two Pulitzer Prizes for Feature Writing. He is best known for his long-running column "Below the Beltway" in The Washington Post Magazine and for crafting deeply reported, narrative journalism pieces. As a writer for The Washington Post since 1990, Weingarten gained recognition for several notable feature articles, including "The Great Zucchini" about a children's entertainer and "Fatal Distraction," a piece about parents who accidentally leave children in hot cars. The latter story won him his second Pulitzer Prize in 2010. His books include "The Hypochondriac's Guide to Life. And Death," "Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs," and "One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America." The last title emerged from his examination of events occurring on a single randomly chosen day in American history. Weingarten's writing style combines detailed reporting with elements of humor and pathos, particularly when exploring everyday situations and characters that might otherwise go unnoticed. He currently writes long-form features and columns while continuing to contribute to various publications and media outlets.

Readers appreciate Weingarten's humor writing and journalistic depth, particularly in his long-form pieces for The Washington Post. His book "One Day" drew praise for its detailed reporting and ability to find compelling stories in ordinary moments. Many readers noted his skill at balancing serious topics with wit. Common criticisms include his occasional tendency toward self-indulgence and what some readers call a "smug" tone. His 2021 book "Me Talk Pretty One More Day" received backlash for passages about cultural attitudes that some readers found insensitive. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - One Day: 3.9/5 (3,400+ ratings) - Old Dogs: 4.4/5 (800+ ratings) - The Fiddler in the Subway: 4.2/5 (900+ ratings) Amazon: - One Day: 4.3/5 - Old Dogs: 4.7/5 Reader reviews frequently mention his "sharp observational skills" and "masterful narrative pacing," while critics point to "meandering tangents" and "self-satisfied commentary."

I'm with Stupid: One Man's Quest to Stop Screwing Up (2004) A collection of humor columns from The Washington Post examining the author's personal missteps and domestic life.

Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs (2008) A photographic essay book featuring stories about senior dogs and their relationships with their owners.

The Fiddler in the Subway (2010) A compilation of long-form journalism pieces, including the Pulitzer-winning story about violinist Joshua Bell performing in a DC Metro station.

Me & Dog (2014) A children's picture book that explores the relationship between a boy and his dog through a secular lens.

One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America (2019) An examination of various events and human stories that occurred on a randomly selected day in American history: December 28, 1986.

The Great Courses: The Art of Column Writing (2020) A teaching guide and lecture series about journalism and column writing techniques.