📖 Overview
Dan Kois is a culture writer, editor, and author based in Arlington, Virginia. He currently serves as an editor and writer for Slate Magazine, where he covers books, theater, film, and family life.
His book "How to Be a Family" (2019) chronicles his year-long experiment living with his family in four different countries, exploring diverse parenting styles and family dynamics across cultures. His 2022 work "Vintage Contemporaries" marks his debut as a novelist, following the story of a young woman navigating New York City's publishing world in the 1990s.
As a founding editor of Slate's book review section, Kois has been influential in contemporary literary criticism. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and other major publications, often focusing on the intersection of culture, family life, and modern society.
Prior to his career in journalism and writing, Kois worked in the publishing industry in New York City, an experience that has informed his literary work and criticism. His essays and cultural commentary frequently examine the complexities of modern parenting, entertainment, and American social life.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Kois's personal, conversational writing style in "How to Be a Family," citing his honesty about parental challenges and cultural observations. Several reviews on Goodreads mention connecting with his self-deprecating humor and candid family moments.
Readers praise his journalism and cultural criticism at Slate for clear analysis and accessibility. His book reviews receive particular attention for balancing critique with context.
Common criticisms include:
- Some found "How to Be a Family" self-indulgent and privileged in perspective
- Reviews note the family travel premise feels manufactured for book content
- Several readers wanted deeper cultural insights beyond surface observations
Ratings across platforms:
"How to Be a Family"
- Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings)
- Amazon: 4.2/5 (100+ ratings)
"Vintage Contemporaries" (2023)
- Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,000+ ratings)
- Amazon: 4.1/5 (150+ ratings)
Most critical reviews come from readers expecting more profound cultural analysis rather than personal narrative.
📚 Books by Dan Kois
The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America (2018)
A detailed history of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" featuring interviews with actors, directors, and creators involved with the play's development and productions.
How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together (2019) A memoir documenting the author's year living with his family in New Zealand, Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Kansas, exploring different approaches to family life.
Vintage Contemporaries (2022) A novel set in 1990s New York following Em, a young woman working in publishing while navigating friendships, career aspirations, and city life.
How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together (2019) A memoir documenting the author's year living with his family in New Zealand, Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Kansas, exploring different approaches to family life.
Vintage Contemporaries (2022) A novel set in 1990s New York following Em, a young woman working in publishing while navigating friendships, career aspirations, and city life.
👥 Similar authors
Rainbow Rowell - Her novels explore relationships and cultural moments of the 1990s and 2000s, particularly in workplace and creative settings. Her work "Attachments" shares similar themes with Kois's "Vintage Contemporaries" regarding young professionals finding their way in changing industries.
Michael Chabon - His work frequently examines Jewish identity and family dynamics in contemporary American life. His blend of literary and cultural commentary mirrors Kois's approach to writing about family and society.
Pamela Paul - As a New York Times Book Review editor and author, she writes about parenting, culture, and modern family life. Her book "100 Things We've Lost to the Internet" reflects similar interests in how society and family life evolve.
Gary Shteyngart - His novels and memoirs combine cultural criticism with personal narrative, often focusing on immigrant experiences and American society. His work "Little Failure" shares thematic elements with Kois's examination of family dynamics and cultural identity.
Curtis Sittenfeld - She writes about social dynamics and professional life in contemporary America, often focusing on cultural institutions and relationship networks. Her novel "Prep" explores similar themes of finding one's place in established institutions that appear in Kois's work.
Michael Chabon - His work frequently examines Jewish identity and family dynamics in contemporary American life. His blend of literary and cultural commentary mirrors Kois's approach to writing about family and society.
Pamela Paul - As a New York Times Book Review editor and author, she writes about parenting, culture, and modern family life. Her book "100 Things We've Lost to the Internet" reflects similar interests in how society and family life evolve.
Gary Shteyngart - His novels and memoirs combine cultural criticism with personal narrative, often focusing on immigrant experiences and American society. His work "Little Failure" shares thematic elements with Kois's examination of family dynamics and cultural identity.
Curtis Sittenfeld - She writes about social dynamics and professional life in contemporary America, often focusing on cultural institutions and relationship networks. Her novel "Prep" explores similar themes of finding one's place in established institutions that appear in Kois's work.