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{{short description|American author, journalist, and podcast host}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Stephen Dubner
| name = Stephen Dubner
| image = Stephen_J._Dubner_by_Audrey_S._Bernstein_wiki.jpg
| image = Stephen_J._Dubner_by_Audrey_S._Bernstein_wiki.jpg
| image_size = 340px
| image_size =
| caption = Dubner in 2012
| caption = Stephen Dubner in 2012
| birth_name = Stephen Joseph Dubner
| birth_name = Stephen Joseph Dubner
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|8|26}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|8|26}}
| birth_place = [[Duanesburg, New York]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Duanesburg, New York]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| resting_place_coordinates =
⚫
| nationality =
| residence = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| nationality =
| other_names =
⚫
| education = [[Appalachian State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Columbia University]] ([[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]])
⚫
| other_names =
⚫
| alma_mater = [[Appalachian State University]]<br>[[Columbia University]]
| occupation = Journalist
| occupation = Journalist
| employer =
| employer =
| known_for = [[Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything]]
| known_for = {{Plainlist|
⚫
* ''[[Freakonomics]]''
⚫
| boards =
* ''[[SuperFreakonomics]]''
| spouse = {{marriage|Ellen Binder-Dubner|1998}}
* ''[[Think Like a Freak]]''
* ''[[When to Rob a Bank]]''
⚫
* ''[[Freakonomics Radio]]''}}
⚫
| boards =
⚫
| spouse =
{{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Abigail Seymour|end=divorced}}<ref name=1stmarriage>{{Cite book|title=Choosing My Religion:A Memoir of a Family Beyond Belief|last=Dubner|first=Stephen|publisher=William Morrow|year=2006|isbn=978-0061132995|page=176}}</ref>|
{{marriage|Ellen Binder|1998}}<ref name=wed/>}}
| children = 2
| children = 2
| awards = [[Quill Award]] (2005)
⚫
| parents =
| relatives =
| parents =
| website =
| relatives =
| signature =
| website = {{URL|https://freakonomics.com/about}}
| footnotes =
| signature =
| footnotes =
}}
}}

'''Stephen Joseph Dubner''' (born August 26, 1963) is an American author, journalist, and podcast and radio host. He is co-author of the popular ''[[Freakonomics]]'' book series and host of ''[[Freakonomics Radio]]''.
'''Stephen Joseph Dubner''' (born August 26, 1963) is an American author, journalist, and podcast and radio host. He is co-author of the popular ''Freakonomics'' book series: ''[[Freakonomics]]'',<ref name=freakobook>Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (2005) {{ISBN|0-06-089637-X}}</ref> ''[[SuperFreakonomics]]'',<ref name=super/> ''[[Think Like a Freak]]''<ref name=tlaf/> and ''[[When to Rob a Bank]]''.<ref name=rob/> He is the host of ''[[Freakonomics Radio]]''.


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Born in 1963 in [[Duanesburg, New York]] to Solomon Dubner (also known as Paul) and Florence Greenglass (also known as Florence Winters and Veronica Dubner), Dubner grew up as the youngest of eight children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stephenjdubner.com/journalism/033196.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621135958/http://www.stephenjdubner.com/journalism/033196.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2006|title=Choosing My Religion|last=Dubner|first=Stephen|date=March 31, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref> His father, who died in 1973 when Dubner was 10 years old, worked as a copy editor at the [[The Record (Troy)|Troy Record]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/13/style/weddings-ellen-binder-stephen-dubner.html|title=Weddings: Ellen Binder, Stephen Dubner|date=1998-09-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Dubner grew up in a devout [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] household, his parents having converted from Judaism to Catholicism before his birth. As an adult, Dubner himself converted to Judaism, an experience he chronicles in his first book, ''[https://www.amazon.com/Turbulent-Souls-Catholic-Return-Jewish/dp/B000HXDKAM Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family]''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return To His Jewish Family|last=Dubner|first=Stephen|publisher=William Morrow|year=1998|isbn=978-0688151805|location=|pages=}}</ref>
Born in 1963 in [[Duanesburg, New York]], to Solomon Dubner (also known as Paul) and Florence Greenglass (also known as Florence Winters and Veronica Dubner), Dubner grew up as the youngest of eight children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stephenjdubner.com/journalism/033196.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621135958/http://www.stephenjdubner.com/journalism/033196.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2006|title=Choosing My Religion|last=Dubner|first=Stephen|date=March 31, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref> His father, who died in 1973 when Dubner was 10 years old, worked as a copy editor at ''[[The Record (Troy)|The Record]]'' in [[Troy, New York]].<ref name=wed>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/13/style/weddings-ellen-binder-stephen-dubner.html|title=Weddings: Ellen Binder, Stephen Dubner|date=1998-09-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Dubner grew up in a devout [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] household, his parents having converted from [[Judaism]] to [[Catholicism]] before his birth. As an adult, Dubner himself converted back to Judaism, an experience he chronicles in his first book, ''Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family''.<ref name=turb>{{Cite book|title=Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return To His Jewish Family|last=Dubner|first=Stephen|publisher=William Morrow|year=1998|isbn=978-0688151805}}</ref>


In 1984, Dubner graduated from [[Appalachian State University]] in [[North Carolina]], where he studied in the College of Fine and Applied Arts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://appalachianmagazine.org/videos/id/21|title=Alumni Awards 2012: Stephen J. Dubner '84|website=appalachianmagazine.org|language=en|access-date=2019-01-10}}</ref> There, Dubner played in a rock band, The Right Profile, which later signed with [[Arista Records]] shortly before he decided against a career in music. In 1990, Dubner earned a [[Master of Fine Arts]] in Writing from [[Columbia University]], where he also taught English.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://freakonomics.com/about/|title=About|website=Freakonomics|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref>
Dubner completed his high school education at Duanesburg Central High School in 1980, a year ahead of his graduating class.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foss |first=Sara |date=2011-09-25 |title=Writer Stephen Dubner recalls Duanesburg childhood |url=https://dailygazette.com/2011/09/25/0925_dubner/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=The Daily Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moncure |first=Katherine |title=Is Envy Healthy? |url=https://freakonomics.com/podcast/is-envy-healthy/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Freakonomics |language=en}}</ref> In 1984, he graduated from [[Appalachian State University]] in [[North Carolina]], where he studied in the College of Fine and Applied Arts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://appalachianmagazine.org/videos/id/21|title=Alumni Awards 2012: Stephen J. Dubner '84|website=appalachianmagazine.org|language=en|access-date=2019-01-10}}</ref> There, Dubner played in a rock band, ''The Right Profile'', which later signed with [[Arista Records]] shortly before he decided against a career in music. In 1990, Dubner earned a [[Master of Fine Arts]] degree in writing from [[Columbia University]], where he also taught English.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://freakonomics.com/about/|title=About|website=freakonomics.com|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==

⚫
===Early work===
Dubner's first published work appeared in ''[[Highlights for Children]]'', when he was 11 years old. Since then, his journalism has been published in ''[[The New York Times]]'', ''[[The New Yorker]]'', and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', and has been anthologized in ''[[The Best American Sports Writing]]'', ''The Best American Crime Writing'', and elsewhere.<ref name=":0" />
Dubner's first published work appeared in ''[[Highlights for Children]]'', when he was 11 years old. Since then, his journalism has been published in ''[[The New York Times]]'', ''[[The New Yorker]]'', and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', and has been anthologized in ''[[The Best American Sports Writing]]'', ''The Best American Crime Writing'', and elsewhere.<ref name=":0" />


In 1998, Dubner authored his first full-length book, ''[https://www.amazon.com/Turbulent-Souls-Catholic-Return-Jewish/dp/B000HXDKAM Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family]'', for which Dubner was named a finalist for the [[Koret Jewish Book Award]].<ref name=":1" /> Dubner has since written ''[https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Hero-Worshiper-Stephen-J-Dubner/dp/0061132985 Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper]'', published in 2003, and a children's book, ''[https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Two-Belly-Buttons/dp/B001OMHVFK The Boy With Two Belly Buttons]'', published in 2007.
In 1998, Dubner wrote his first full-length book, ''Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family'',<ref name=turb/> for which he was named a finalist for the [[Koret Jewish Book Award]].<ref name=turb /><ref name=choosing>Republished as ''Choosing My Religion: A Memoir of a Family Beyond Belief'' (2006) {{ISBN|0061132993}}</ref> Dubner has since written ''Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper'',<ref name=confessions>Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper (2003) {{ISBN|0-688-17365-9}}</ref> and a children's book, ''The Boy With Two Belly Buttons''.<ref name=belly>The Boy With Two Belly Buttons (2007) {{ISBN|978-0061134029}}</ref>


===''Freakonomics'' book series===
===Books ===
Dubner met [[Steven Levitt]], a professor of economics at the [[University of Chicago]], when his editor asked him to write a profile on Levitt for [[The New York Times Magazine|''The'' ''New York Times Magazine'']]. At the time, Dubner was writing a book on the psychology of money and didn't have much interest in meeting the young economist from Chicago. Likewise, Levitt had little interest in the profile, but agreed to a two-hour interview because his Mom liked [[The New York Times Magazine|''The'' ''New York Times Magazine'']].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/15/freakonomics-10-years-on-stephen-dubner-steven-levitt-interview|title=Freakonomics 10 years on: Stephen J Dubner and Steven D Levitt on what they got right and wrong|last=Dean|first=Michelle|date=2015-05-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-01-10|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Upon meeting Levitt, Dubner extended the two-hour interview to three days.
Dubner met [[Steven Levitt]], a professor of economics at the [[University of Chicago]], when his editor asked him to write a profile on Levitt for [[The New York Times Magazine|''The'' ''New York Times Magazine'']]. At the time, Dubner was writing a book on the psychology of money and didn't have much interest in meeting the young economist from Chicago. Likewise, Levitt had little interest in the profile, but agreed to a two-hour interview because his mom liked ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/15/freakonomics-10-years-on-stephen-dubner-steven-levitt-interview|title=Freakonomics 10 years on: Stephen J Dubner and Steven D Levitt on what they got right and wrong|last=Dean|first=Michelle|date=2015-05-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-01-10|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Upon meeting Levitt, Dubner extended the two-hour interview to three days.


After publication of [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/magazine/probability-that-real-estate-agent-cheating-you-other-riddles-modern-life.html?sq=levitt+probability+dubner&scp=2&st=cse Dubner’s 2003 ''Times Magazine'' article], Dubner and Levitt were asked to write a book, which cemented their partnership. In 2005, William Morrow published [[Freakonomics|''Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything'']], a book about cheating teachers, bizarre baby names, self-dealing Realtors, and crack-selling mama's boys.<ref name=":0" /> ''Freakonomics'' would go on to be translated into 40 languages and sell 5 million copies worldwide.<ref name=":0" />
After publication of Dubner's 2003 ''Times Magazine'' article,<ref name=riddles>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/magazine/probability-that-real-estate-agent-cheating-you-other-riddles-modern-life.html|title=The Probability That a Real-Estate Agent Is Cheating You (and Other Riddles of Modern Life)|first=Stephen|last=Dubner|year=2003|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Dubner and Levitt were asked to co-write a book, which cemented their partnership. In 2005, [[William Morrow and Company]] published ''[[Freakonomics]]'',<ref name=freakobook/> a book about cheating teachers, bizarre baby-names, self-dealing [[realtor]]s, and crack-selling mama's boys.<ref name=":0" /> ''Freakonomics'' would go on to be translated into 40 languages and sell 5 million copies worldwide.<ref name=":0" />


Dubner and Levitt co-authored three other books: [[SuperFreakonomics]] (2009), [[Think Like a Freak]] (2014), and [[When to Rob a Bank]] (2015). Throughout their authorship, Dubner and Levitt use economics to explore real-world phenomena, answer perplexing questions, and offer unconventional analysis.
Dubner and Levitt have co-authored three other books: ''[[SuperFreakonomics]]'',<ref name=super>SuperFreakonomics (2009) {{ISBN|0-060-88957-8}}</ref> ''[[Think Like a Freak]]'',<ref name=tlaf>''Think Like a Freak: The Authors of'' Freakonomics ''Offer to Retrain Your Brain'' (2014) {{ISBN|0-062-21833-6}}</ref> and ''[[When to Rob a Bank]]''.<ref name=rob>When to Rob a Bank (2015) {{ISBN|0-062-38532-1}}</ref> Throughout their work, Dubner and Levitt use economics to explore real-world phenomena, answer perplexing questions, and offer unconventional analysis.


Dubner has a chapter giving advice in [[Tim Ferriss]]' book ''[[Tools of Titans]]''.<ref>Tools of the Titans {{oclc|1120516758}}</ref>
⚫
=== ''Freakonomics Radio'' ===
⚫
In 2010, Dubner launched a weekly podcast, ''[[Freakonomics Radio]]'', which gets 15 million global monthly downloads as of 2018.<ref name=":0" /> On March 5, 2020, Dubner appeared on the [[Joe Rogan Experience]] Podcast.


⚫
===Radio ===
⚫
Dubner also hosts ''Freakonomics Radio Live!'' (formerly ''[[Tell Me Something I Don't Know (game show)|Tell Me Something I Don’t Know)]]'', a game show version of the podcast in which contestants share incredible, little known facts in front of a live audience.
⚫
In 2010, Dubner launched a weekly podcast, ''[[Freakonomics Radio]]'', which was getting 15 million global monthly downloads as of 2018.<ref name=":0" /> On March 5, 2020, Dubner appeared on the ''[[Joe Rogan Experience]]'' podcast.


⚫
Dubner also hosts ''Freakonomics Radio Live!'' (formerly ''[[Tell Me Something I Don't Know (game show)|Tell Me Something I Don’t Know)]]'', a game-show version of the podcast in which contestants share incredible, little-known facts in front of a live audience.
⚫
== Personal life ==
⚫
Dubner currently resides in [[New York City]] with his wife, documentary photographer Ellen Binder,<ref name=nyt1/> their two children, and their dog. In a 2017 [[The New York Times|''New York Times'']] profile, Dubner described his ideal Sunday as one in which he walks his dog in Central Park early in the early morning, watches an [[FC Barcelona]] game with his son, and spends the afternoon cooking dinner with his daughter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/10/nyregion/how-stephen-j-dubner-of-freakonomics-and-tell-me-something-i-dont-know-spends-his-sundays.html|title=How Stephen J. Dubner, of ‘Freakonomics’ and ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know,’ Spends His Sundays|last=Gorce|first=Tammy La|date=2017-11-10|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


Other shows include:
==Books==
* ''Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family'' (1998) {{ISBN|0-380-72930-X}})
** Republished as ''Choosing My Religion: a Memoir of a Family Beyond Belief'' (2006) {{ISBN|0061132993}})
* ''Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper'' (2003) ({{ISBN|0-688-17365-9}})
* ''[[Freakonomics|Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything]]'', co-author with [[Steven Levitt]] (2005) ({{ISBN|0-06-089637-X}})
* ''The Boy With Two Belly Buttons'', (2007) ({{ISBN|978-0061134029}})
* ''[[SuperFreakonomics|SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance]]'', co-author with Steven Levitt (2009) ({{ISBN|0-060-88957-8}})
* ''[[Think Like a Freak|Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain]]'', co-author with Steven Levitt (2014) ({{ISBN|0-062-21833-6}})
* ''[[When to Rob a Bank: ...And 131 More Warped Suggestions and Well-Intended Rants]]'', co-author with Steven Levitt (2015) ({{ISBN|0-062-38532-1}})


⚫
* ''[[Tell Me Something I Don't Know (game show)|Tell Me Something I Don't Know]]'' is a game-show podcast that Dubner created in partnership with ''The New York Times'' in 2016 and that is now part of ''Freakonomics Radio''
==Radio and other media==
⚫
* ''Footy for Two''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://freakonomics.com/footyfortwo/|title=Freakonomics}}</ref> is a podcast produced by Stephen Dubner and his son, Solomon Dubner, in which Solomon educates his father on the politics, personalities, and news of international football.
⚫
* ''[[Freakonomics (film)|Freakonomics: The Movie]]'' (2010)
* ''No Stupid Questions''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freakonomics.com/nsq/|title = No Stupid Questions Archives}}</ref> is podcast that is part of ''Freakonomics Radio,'' where Dubner and [[Angela Duckworth]] ask each other questions about a range of subjects.
⚫
* ''[[Freakonomics Radio]]''
⚫
* [[Tell Me Something I Don't Know (game show)|"Tell Me Something I Don't Know"]] is a game show podcast that Dubner created in partnership with the New York Times in 2016 and is now part of ''Freakonomics Radio''
⚫
* [http://freakonomics.com/footyfortwo/ "Footy for Two"] is a podcast produced by Stephen Dubner and his son, Solomon Dubner, in which Solomon educates his father on the politics, personalities, and news of international football


⚫
A film called ''[[Freakonomics (film)|Freakonomics: The Movie]]'' was released in 2010.<ref name=imdb>{{IMDb name}}</ref>
⚫
==Awards==

⚫
* Finalist for the [[Koret Jewish Book Award]], for ''Turbulent Souls''
⚫
===Awards and honors===
⚫
* Finalist for the [[Koret Jewish Book Award]], for ''Turbulent Souls''<ref name=turb/>
* [[Quill Award]], for ''Freakonomics''
* [[Quill Award]], for ''Freakonomics''
* Short-listed for [[Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award]]
* Short-listed for [[Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award]]

⚫
== Personal life ==
⚫
As of June 2023, Dubner resides in [[New York City]] with his wife, documentary photographer Ellen Binder,<ref name=wed/> their two children, and their dog. In a 2017 [[The New York Times|''New York Times'']] profile, Dubner described his ideal Sunday as one in which he walks his dog in [[Central Park]] early in the morning, watches an [[FC Barcelona]] game with his son, and spends the afternoon cooking dinner with his daughter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/10/nyregion/how-stephen-j-dubner-of-freakonomics-and-tell-me-something-i-dont-know-spends-his-sundays.html|title=How Stephen J. Dubner, of 'Freakonomics' and 'Tell Me Something I Don't Know,' Spends His Sundays|last=Gorce|first=Tammy La|date=2017-11-10|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=nyt1>{{Cite news| work= Weddings| title= Ellen Binder, Stephen Dubner | url= https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/13/style/weddings-ellen-binder-stephen-dubner.html?pagewanted=print| publisher= [[The New York Times]] | accessdate=2013-08-18| quote= The bridegroom, 35, is a story editor at The New York Times Magazine...He is a son of Veronica Dubner of Homer, N.Y., and the late S. Paul Dubner, who was a copy editor at The Troy Record in Troy, N.Y. The bridegroom's previous marriage ended in divorce.}}</ref>
}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
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[[Category:Appalachian State University alumni]]
[[Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni]]
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[[Category:Jewish American non-fiction writers]]
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[[Category:People from Duanesburg, New York]]
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[[Category:Jewish American writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
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[[Category:21st-century memoirists]]

Latest revision as of 20:18, 16 September 2024

Stephen Dubner
Stephen Dubner in 2012
Born
Stephen Joseph Dubner

(1963-08-26) August 26, 1963 (age 61)
Duanesburg, New York, U.S.
EducationAppalachian State University (BA)
Columbia University (MFA)
OccupationJournalist
Known for
Spouses
  • Abigail Seymour
    ​
    (divorced)​
    [1]
  • Ellen Binder
    ​
    (m. 1998)​
    [2]
Children2
AwardsQuill Award (2005)
Websitefreakonomics.com/about

Stephen Joseph Dubner (born August 26, 1963) is an American author, journalist, and podcast and radio host. He is co-author of the popular Freakonomics book series: Freakonomics,[3] SuperFreakonomics,[4] Think Like a Freak[5] and When to Rob a Bank.[6] He is the host of Freakonomics Radio.

Early life and education

[edit]

Born in 1963 in Duanesburg, New York, to Solomon Dubner (also known as Paul) and Florence Greenglass (also known as Florence Winters and Veronica Dubner), Dubner grew up as the youngest of eight children.[7] His father, who died in 1973 when Dubner was 10 years old, worked as a copy editor at The Record in Troy, New York.[2] Dubner grew up in a devout Roman Catholic household, his parents having converted from Judaism to Catholicism before his birth. As an adult, Dubner himself converted back to Judaism, an experience he chronicles in his first book, Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family.[8]

Dubner completed his high school education at Duanesburg Central High School in 1980, a year ahead of his graduating class.[9][10] In 1984, he graduated from Appalachian State University in North Carolina, where he studied in the College of Fine and Applied Arts.[11] There, Dubner played in a rock band, The Right Profile, which later signed with Arista Records shortly before he decided against a career in music. In 1990, Dubner earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing from Columbia University, where he also taught English.[12]

Career

[edit]

Dubner's first published work appeared in Highlights for Children, when he was 11 years old. Since then, his journalism has been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time, and has been anthologized in The Best American Sports Writing, The Best American Crime Writing, and elsewhere.[12]

In 1998, Dubner wrote his first full-length book, Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family,[8] for which he was named a finalist for the Koret Jewish Book Award.[8][13] Dubner has since written Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper,[14] and a children's book, The Boy With Two Belly Buttons.[15]

Books

[edit]

Dubner met Steven Levitt, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, when his editor asked him to write a profile on Levitt for The New York Times Magazine. At the time, Dubner was writing a book on the psychology of money and didn't have much interest in meeting the young economist from Chicago. Likewise, Levitt had little interest in the profile, but agreed to a two-hour interview because his mom liked The New York Times Magazine.[16] Upon meeting Levitt, Dubner extended the two-hour interview to three days.

After publication of Dubner's 2003 Times Magazine article,[17] Dubner and Levitt were asked to co-write a book, which cemented their partnership. In 2005, William Morrow and Company published Freakonomics,[3] a book about cheating teachers, bizarre baby-names, self-dealing realtors, and crack-selling mama's boys.[12] Freakonomics would go on to be translated into 40 languages and sell 5 million copies worldwide.[12]

Dubner and Levitt have co-authored three other books: SuperFreakonomics,[4] Think Like a Freak,[5] and When to Rob a Bank.[6] Throughout their work, Dubner and Levitt use economics to explore real-world phenomena, answer perplexing questions, and offer unconventional analysis.

Dubner has a chapter giving advice in Tim Ferriss' book Tools of Titans.[18]

Radio

[edit]

In 2010, Dubner launched a weekly podcast, Freakonomics Radio, which was getting 15 million global monthly downloads as of 2018.[12] On March 5, 2020, Dubner appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Dubner also hosts Freakonomics Radio Live! (formerly Tell Me Something I Don’t Know), a game-show version of the podcast in which contestants share incredible, little-known facts in front of a live audience.

Other shows include:

  • Tell Me Something I Don't Know is a game-show podcast that Dubner created in partnership with The New York Times in 2016 and that is now part of Freakonomics Radio
  • Footy for Two[19] is a podcast produced by Stephen Dubner and his son, Solomon Dubner, in which Solomon educates his father on the politics, personalities, and news of international football.
  • No Stupid Questions[20] is podcast that is part of Freakonomics Radio, where Dubner and Angela Duckworth ask each other questions about a range of subjects.

A film called Freakonomics: The Movie was released in 2010.[21]

Awards and honors

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Personal life

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As of June 2023, Dubner resides in New York City with his wife, documentary photographer Ellen Binder,[2] their two children, and their dog. In a 2017 New York Times profile, Dubner described his ideal Sunday as one in which he walks his dog in Central Park early in the morning, watches an FC Barcelona game with his son, and spends the afternoon cooking dinner with his daughter.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Dubner, Stephen (2006). Choosing My Religion:A Memoir of a Family Beyond Belief. William Morrow. p. 176. ISBN 978-0061132995.
  2. ^ a b c "Weddings: Ellen Binder, Stephen Dubner". The New York Times. 1998-09-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  3. ^ a b Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (2005) ISBN 0-06-089637-X
  4. ^ a b SuperFreakonomics (2009) ISBN 0-060-88957-8
  5. ^ a b Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain (2014) ISBN 0-062-21833-6
  6. ^ a b When to Rob a Bank (2015) ISBN 0-062-38532-1
  7. ^ Dubner, Stephen (March 31, 1996). "Choosing My Religion". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d Dubner, Stephen (1998). Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return To His Jewish Family. William Morrow. ISBN 978-0688151805.
  9. ^ Foss, Sara (2011-09-25). "Writer Stephen Dubner recalls Duanesburg childhood". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  10. ^ Moncure, Katherine. "Is Envy Healthy?". Freakonomics. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  11. ^ "Alumni Awards 2012: Stephen J. Dubner '84". appalachianmagazine.org. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  12. ^ a b c d e "About". freakonomics.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  13. ^ Republished as Choosing My Religion: A Memoir of a Family Beyond Belief (2006) ISBN 0061132993
  14. ^ Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper (2003) ISBN 0-688-17365-9
  15. ^ The Boy With Two Belly Buttons (2007) ISBN 978-0061134029
  16. ^ Dean, Michelle (2015-05-15). "Freakonomics 10 years on: Stephen J Dubner and Steven D Levitt on what they got right and wrong". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  17. ^ Dubner, Stephen (2003). "The Probability That a Real-Estate Agent Is Cheating You (and Other Riddles of Modern Life)". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Tools of the Titans OCLC 1120516758
  19. ^ "Freakonomics".
  20. ^ "No Stupid Questions Archives".
  21. ^ Stephen J. Dubner at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  22. ^ Gorce, Tammy La (2017-11-10). "How Stephen J. Dubner, of 'Freakonomics' and 'Tell Me Something I Don't Know,' Spends His Sundays". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
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