Jennifer Szalai is the nonfiction book critic at The New York Times. [1] Szalai was born in Canada and attended the University of Toronto, where she studied political science and peace and conflict. She holds a master's degree in international relations from the London School of Economics. [2]
During the 2000s, she was a senior editor for reviews at Harper's Magazine. [3] Her reviews have also appeared in the London Review of Books, [4] The New Yorker, [5] and many more publications.
She started working as the nonfiction critic for the Times in January 2018, [6] after having worked for four years as an editor for The New York Times Book Review. [7] Szalai is one of the three professional critics who write for The New York Times; the other two are Dwight Garner and Parul Sehgal. Her reviews appear on Wednesdays. She is also a frequent contributor to The Book Review Podcast.
Frank Rich referred to Szalai's review of Bob Woodward's book Rage, about the presidency of Donald Trump, as a " Didion-worthy dissection". [8] In February 2023, Szalai wrote a similar review of The Courage to Be Free by Ron DeSantis. [9]
Jennifer Szalai is the nonfiction book critic at The New York Times. [1] Szalai was born in Canada and attended the University of Toronto, where she studied political science and peace and conflict. She holds a master's degree in international relations from the London School of Economics. [2]
During the 2000s, she was a senior editor for reviews at Harper's Magazine. [3] Her reviews have also appeared in the London Review of Books, [4] The New Yorker, [5] and many more publications.
She started working as the nonfiction critic for the Times in January 2018, [6] after having worked for four years as an editor for The New York Times Book Review. [7] Szalai is one of the three professional critics who write for The New York Times; the other two are Dwight Garner and Parul Sehgal. Her reviews appear on Wednesdays. She is also a frequent contributor to The Book Review Podcast.
Frank Rich referred to Szalai's review of Bob Woodward's book Rage, about the presidency of Donald Trump, as a " Didion-worthy dissection". [8] In February 2023, Szalai wrote a similar review of The Courage to Be Free by Ron DeSantis. [9]