Language English Role Writer Name Joel Achenbach | Children 3 Nationality American | |
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Born Joel Leroy AchenbachDecember 31, 1960Gainesville, Florida Notable works Why Things Are (1991)It Looks Like a President Only Smaller: Trailing Campaign 2000 (2001)Captured by Aliens: The Search for Life and Truth in a Very Large Universe (2003)The Grand Idea: George Washington's Potomac and the Race to the West (2005)A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea: The Race to Kill the BP Oil Gusher (2011) Notable awards Philip J. Klass Award by National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) in 2011 Books A Hole at the Bottom of the Se, The grand idea, Captured By Aliens, Why things are, It Looks Like a President Profiles | ||
Joel achenbach 2011 national book festival
Joel Leroy Achenbach (; born December 31, 1960) is an American staff writer for The Washington Post and the author of seven books, including A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea, The Grand Idea, Captured by Aliens, It Looks Like a President only Smaller, and three compilations of his former syndicated newspaper column "Why Things Are". He is a contributor to many publications, including Slate and National Geographic, where he is a former monthly columnist. Mr. Achenbach has been a commentator on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, and does occasional lectures and other speaking engagements. In addition to his work in the print version of The Washington Post, Achenbach was one of the first Post writers to have a significant presence on the Internet and formerly wrote the popular Post blog, "The Achenblog," which ended in March 2017.
Contents
- Joel achenbach 2011 national book festival
- H2M 2016 Moderated Discussion with Joel Achenbach and Andy Weir
- Background and education
- Style and experience
- Family life
- Selected works
- References
H2M 2016 Moderated Discussion with Joel Achenbach and Andy Weir
Background and education
Achenbach is a native of Gainesville, Florida and graduated from Princeton University in 1982 with a B. A. degree in Politics. Prior to his tenure with The Washington Post in 1990, Achenbach was a staff writer for the Miami Herald from 1982–90, where he worked closely with Pulitzer Prize winners Gene Weingarten and Dave Barry. Achenbach was awarded the Philip J. Klass Award for outstanding contributions in promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding for 2011, by National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS).
Style and experience
Achenbach is known for his versatility and deft humor. As a reporter and an author he has covered topics as diverse as presidential elections, George Washington, the national deficit, the war in Iraq, the search for extraterrestrial life, the space program, and climate change. In addition to scientific and analytical sophistication, Achenbach's work is characterized by a strong appreciation for and sensitivity to the human aspects of his stories.
In the months after the Deepwater Horizon Disaster, Achenbach wrote and contributed to an extensive series of articles for The Washington Post that led to his most recent book, A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea.
Family life
Achenbach lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Mary Stapp, and their three daughters.