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Writers

Lawrence Wright

History Health

The Plague Year

The mistakes and the struggles behind America’s coronavirus tragedy.

Lawrence Wright New Yorker Dec 2020 2h Permalink

Best Article Politics

America’s Future Is Texas

What a state can teach us about a nation.

Lawrence Wright New Yorker Jul 2017 1h15min Permalink

Best Article Religion

The First Church of Rednecks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer

In the ’50s and ’60s, the Reverend Will Campbell marched with MLK Jr. and worked to desegregate the University of Mississippi. Later, broke, he took a job as Waylon Jennings’ roadie and occasional spiritual guru. Afterward, his ministry grew even stranger and more itinerant.

Lawrence Wright Rolling Stone Dec 1990 Permalink

Arts

The Life and Death of Richard Brautigan

"His friends remembered when Richard became famous. It was the year the hippies came to San Francisco. Richard had published one novel, A Confederate General from Big Sur, but it had sold miserably 743 copies and his publisher, Grove Press, had dropped its option on Trout Fishing in America."

Lawrence Wright Rolling Stone Apr 1985 30min Permalink

Crime

Five Hostages

Feeling abandoned by America, families fight to save their children from ISIS.

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Lawrence Wright on the Longform Podcast

Lawrence Wright New Yorker Jul 2015 1h25min Permalink

Arts Politics World Movies & TV

Captured on Film

On dissident filmmakers in Syria.

Lawrence Wright New Yorker May 2006 30min Permalink

Best Article Religion

Lives of the Saints

Mormonism’s past and present.

Lawrence Wright New Yorker Jan 2002 50min Permalink

Best Article Crime

The Man Behind Bin Laden

A profile of Ayman al-Zawahri, the Egyptian doctor who became Bin Laden’s #2 and has now taken over Al-Qaeda.

Lawrence Wright New Yorker Sep 2002 Permalink

World

The Double Game

The unintended consequences of American funding in Pakistan.

Lawrence Wright New Yorker May 2011 15min Permalink

Best Article World

The Kingdom of Silence

The story of three months spent training reporters in Saudi Arabia, where the press is far from free. “I suspected that behind the closed gates of Saudi society there was a social revolution in the making. With some guidance, I thought, these journalists could help inspire change.”

Lawrence Wright New Yorker Jan 2004 Permalink

Best Article Religion

The Apostate

During his 35 years as a member of the Church of Scientology, Oscar-winning writer and director Paul Haggis went “all the way to the top.” The story of why he left, and what happened once he did.

Lawrence Wright New Yorker Jan 2012 1h40min Permalink