Pamela Paul, author of books on parenting, pornography, and marriage, has been named the new editor of the New York Times Book Review, according to an internal memo sent out to Times employees earlier today.
She will replace Sam Tanenhaus, who has edited the section since 2004.
In the memo, Times editor Jill Abramson and managing editor Dean Baquet praised Tanenhaus for updating what is now the last free-standing newspaper book review in the United States by adding podcasts and video interviews, but added, “It is now Pamela's turn to take the Book Review in new directions.
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“Her versatility as an editor and writer has strengthened the Book Review and many other sections, including the Magazine, Education Life and Sunday Styles, where she originated the biweekly ‘Studied’ column,” the editors continue. ”Her weekly Q. and A. with authors, ‘By the Book,’ has been a wonderful new addition to the Review, and she has assigned a galaxy of great writers including Martin Amis, Colson Whitehead and Meg Wolitzer, among others. “
Tanenhaus has been a prolific political writer, often for other publications. In a recent article in The New Republic, he traced how the Republican Party had become “the party of white people,” an account that brought him much ire from conservatives.
In the memo, Abramson and Baquet note that “we were jealous of some of those smart political stories Sam was writing elsewhere. So, beginning in May, he will be a writer at large and take a Richard Hofstadter-like approach to reporting on the ideological and historical roots—and emerging character — of today's roiling political movements.”
Paul’s three books include The Starter Marriage, a work of social science examining marriages that only last a couple of years; Pornofied, which examines people are affected by pornography; and Parenting Inc., a look at how raising children has turned into a billion-dollar industry.
The full memo is below:
Sam Tanenhaus wrote a brilliant and now famous memo that catapulted him into the job of editor of The New York Times Book Review back in 2004. It was a fiery, passionate blueprint that brought pages and pages of fresh ideas and new vision for what is now the last free-standing newspaper book review in the United States. From his first covers (on Bob Dylan and Henry James, to name two) Sam had readers watching, talking and arguing over his every move. Working alongside the section's many skilled veterans, Sam also recruited stellar new talent, including his successor, Pamela Paul, the features editor at the Book Review, whom he hired as children's book editor in 2011.
It's now Pamela's turn to take the Book Review in new directions. Her versatility as an editor and writer has strengthened the Book Review and many other sections, including the Magazine, Education Life and Sunday Styles, where she originated the biweekly "Studied" column. Her weekly Q. and A. with authors, "By the Book," has been a wonderful new addition to the Review, and she has assigned a galaxy of great writers including Martin Amis, Colson Whitehead and Meg Wolitzer, among others. Pamela has also written for The Atlantic, Time, Vogue and The Economist, and she is the author of three books. .
In a superb run of nine years, Sam invented our popular book podcasts and did video interviews with authors ranging from John Updike to Henry Kissinger. He invited poets to lunch to celebrate the Review's poetry issue. He still has readers arguing over the Review's poll to determine the best work of American fiction published in the past 25 years. Meanwhile, Sam's byline has appeared widely in The Times and he has managed to write political pieces for other magazines and journals. He also edited our Week in Review section during the 2008 election. Bill Keller had the right description for Sam: "He's our public intellectual." .
Well, we were jealous of some of those smart political stories Sam was writing elsewhere. So, beginning in May, he will be a writer at large and take a Richard Hofstadter-like approach to reporting on the ideological and historical roots--and emerging character — of today's roiling political movements. He will report to Rebecca Corbett. .
We are both thankful to Sam and excited to inaugurate the Pamela Paul era of the Book Review.
