Daniel Menaker began his career as a fact checker at The New Yorker, where he became an editor and worked for 26 years. Formerly Editor in Chief of Random House, Menaker is the author of six books. He has also written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper's, and many other publications. He lives in New York City with his wife, the writer Katherine Bouton.

The legendary Irish folk singer, whom Bob Dylan once called the greatest balladeer, died last week at 74. Daniel Menaker has a bloody good cry.