Amanda Petrusich

Amanda Petrusich is an American music journalist and staff writer at The New Yorker known for her insightful coverage of music culture and history. She has authored three influential books exploring different aspects of music, including works on Nick Drake, American roots music, and rare record collecting. A graduate of the College of William & Mary and Columbia University, Petrusich has established herself as a respected voice in music criticism. Her writing regularly appears in The New Yorker and she previously contributed to Pitchfork and The Oxford American. In 2016, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in recognition of her work. Her 2014 book "Do Not Sell at Any Price" demonstrated her immersive approach to music journalism, documenting the subculture of 78rpm record collectors while learning to become one herself. In addition to her writing career, Petrusich serves as a professor at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she teaches music and cultural criticism. Her work consistently examines the intersection of music, culture, and human behavior, with particular attention to how people form deep emotional connections to music. Born around 1980 to public school teacher parents in New York, Petrusich brings both academic rigor and personal passion to her analysis of musical traditions and contemporary developments.

Readers value Petrusich's detailed research and personal immersion in her subjects, particularly in "Do Not Sell at Any Price." Multiple reviewers note her ability to capture the obsessive nature of record collecting while maintaining journalistic distance. Liked: - Clear, engaging writing style that balances academic analysis with accessibility - First-hand participation in the communities she writes about - Depth of musical knowledge and historical context - Personal anecdotes that complement rather than overshadow reporting Disliked: - Some readers found portions of "Do Not Sell" too focused on her personal journey - Occasional technical jargon that casual music fans found difficult to follow - Price collectors felt certain segments oversimplified their community Ratings: Goodreads: "Do Not Sell at Any Price" - 3.9/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: "Do Not Sell at Any Price" - 4.4/5 (50+ reviews) One reader on Goodreads wrote: "She gets into the mindset of collectors without romanticizing or judging." Another noted: "Her writing makes obscure musical history accessible without dumbing it down."

Do Not Sell At Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78rpm Records (2014) A detailed exploration of the subculture of 78rpm record collectors, combining historical research with first-hand reporting as the author immerses herself in the world of rare record collecting.

It Still Moves: Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the Next American Music (2008) An examination of American roots music and its evolution, tracing the development and transformation of folk traditions through research and road trips across the American South.

Pink Moon (2007) A focused study of Nick Drake's 1972 album Pink Moon, analyzing both the album's creation and its lasting influence as part of the 33 1/3 book series.

Greil Marcus writes extensively about American music's cultural impact through deep historical analysis. His work "Mystery Train" and "Lipstick Traces" connect folk, punk, and blues music to broader social movements and underground cultures.

Ann Powers examines popular music through cultural criticism and personal narrative, with expertise in gender and identity. She has covered decades of American music history through books like "Good Booty" and brings both academic and journalistic perspectives to her analysis.

Alex Ross connects classical music to contemporary culture through detailed historical research and cultural analysis. His work "The Rest is Noise" traces the evolution of 20th-century music while making complex musical concepts accessible to general readers.

Peter Guralnick documents American roots music through biography and cultural history, with focus on blues, country, and early rock and roll. His biographies of Elvis Presley and Sam Cooke combine deep research with an understanding of the cultural moments that shaped these artists.

Simon Reynolds explores underground music movements and their cultural significance through historical documentation. His books like "Rip It Up and Start Again" and "Retromania" examine post-punk, electronic music, and how past musical movements influence present culture.