Lee Gutkind

Lee Gutkind is an American writer, speaker, and founder of the literary journal called Creative Nonfiction.

Gutkind has written or edited more than 30 books, covering a wide range of subjects from motorcycle subculture to child and adolescent mental illness and organ transplantation.

Currently he is Distinguished Writer in Residence at the Consortium for Science Policy and Outcomes and Professor at the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. He had his Bar Mitzvah at Shaare Torah Congregation, an Orthodox congregation in Pittsburgh.

He earned his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968.

He helped found the first MFA program in creative nonfiction at the University of Pittsburgh. He also helped found the first low-residency MFA program in creative nonfiction at Goucher College, and for 11 years was director of the Mid-Atlantic Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference there. He was the director and founder of the "412 Pittsburgh Creative Nonfiction Literary Festival" for four years. He also served as the Virginia G. Piper Distinguished Writer in Residence at Arizona State University in 2007-2008.

Awards and recognition Lee Gutkind's list of honorary achievements include : The Steve Allan Individual Award, by United Mental Health, Inc; Chancellor's Award for Public Service; Meritorious Service Award by American Council on Transplantation; Howard Blakeslee Award by the American Heart Association for "outstanding journalism; Golden Eagle Award by CINE, for the film A Place Just Right; Recipient of National Endowment of the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship. In 2004, Gutkind was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Chatham College.

In a 1997 snipe at Gutkind in the print edition, Vanity Fair called Gutkind "the Godfather" of the genre of creative nonfiction . More than 10 years later, Harper's Magazine was quoted as having stated he was "the leading figure behind the creative nonfiction movement."

List of publications Written 978-1937163068Truckin' with Sam A memoir chronicling several years of Gutkind's experiences traveling across the United States and the world with his son Sam, who appears later in the book as a co-author. State University of New York Press 2010 Almost Human: Making Robots Think Documents four years of observation at the Carnegie-Mellon University Robotics Institute, as they imagine, design, build, and test robots. Some scenes also take place at NASA and in the Atacama Desert in Chile. W. W. Norton 2007 Forever Fat: Essays by the Godfather A memoir. University of Nebraska Press 2004 The Best Seat in Baseball, But You Have to Stand: The Game as Umpires See It A reprint of the original 1973 book from Dial Press. University of Southern Illinois Press 1999 The Veterinarian's Touch: Profiles of Life Among the Animals Various profiles of veterinarians. Owl Books 1998 The Art of Creative Nonfiction: The Literature of Reality A writer's guide to the craft of creative nonfiction. John Wiley & Sons 1996 Creative Nonfiction: How to Live it and Write It A guide to teach young writers how to use creative nonfiction Chicago Review Press 1996 Stuck in Time: The Tragedy of Childhood Mental Illness An examination of the American health care system. Henry Holt and Company 1994 One Children's Place: Inside a Children's Hospital An examination of the American health care system. A Plume Book by Penguin 1992 Many Sleepless Nights: The World of Organ Transplantation An inside look at the world of organ transplantation. W. W. Norton & Co. 1990 The People of Penn's Woods West Essays about rural America. University of Pittsburgh Press 1984 God's Helicopter A novel. Slow Loris Press 1983 The Best Seat in Baseball, But You Have to Stand: The Game As Umpires See It An inside look at the life of major league umpires. Dial Press 1975 Bike Fever: An Examination of the Motorcycle Subculture Lee's first book. Avon Books, Inc. 1973

Edited Title Description Publisher Year ISBNShow Me All Your Scars: True Stories of Living With Mental Illness Introduction by Patrick J. Kennedy, and foreword by Dr. Karen Wolk Feinstein.In Fact Books2016ISBN B01FGPKIO6For the Love of Baseball: A Celebration of the Game That Connects Us AllCo-edited by Andrew Blauner. Introduction by Yogi Berra. 978-0393334555Twelve Breaths a Minute: End of Life Essays Twenty-three original, personal narratives that examine the way we as a society care for the dying. Southern Methodist University Press 2011 Becoming a Doctor: From Student to Specialist, Doctor-Writers Share Their Experiences (CNF description) Physicians recount personal stories from their lives in white coats in this inspired anthology by new and known writers. These original stories reveal the inner lives of the men and women who are often rendered invisible by their white coats. W.W. Norton 2010 The Best Creative Nonfiction, Vol. 3 A third special issue of Creative Nonfiction that features twenty-five essays that originally appeared in alternative publications, blogs, literary journals, and other publications. W.W. Norton 2009 The Best Creative Nonfiction, Vol. 2 A second special issue of Creative Nonfiction that features twenty-nine essays that originally appeared in alternative publications, blogs, literary journals, and other publications. W.W. Norton 2008 Anatomy of Baseball Twenty new and classic essays about the American past time. SMU Press 2008 Keep It Real: Everything You Need to Know About Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction Provides writers with the working parameters of the creative nonfiction genre W.W. Norton 2008 Silence Kills: Speaking Out and Saving Lives Twelve new essays written by physicians, patients, and family members. Explores the communication breakdown in the current American health care system SMU Press 2007 The Best Creative Nonfiction, Vol. 1 A special issue of Creative Nonfiction that features twenty-seven essays that originally appeared in alternative publications, blogs, literary journals, and other publications. W.W. Norton 2007 Hurricanes and Carnivals: Essays by Chicanos, Pochos, Pachucos, Mexicanos, and Expatriates Originally published as Issue 23 of Creative Nonfiction, this book features fifteen essays that push the boundaries between fact and fiction. The University of Arizona Press 2007 Our Roots are Deep with Passion: `Creative Nonfiction` Collects New Essays by Italian American Writers Twenty-one essays written by established and emerging writers that explore the unique intersections of language, tradition, cuisine, and culture that characterize the diverse experience of Americans of Italian heritage. Other Press 2006 Rage & Reconciliation: Inspiring a Health Care Revolution Originally published as issue 21 of Creative Nonfiction, the book includes new essays and an 80- minute CD containing three essays read by professional actors and a panel discussion of the ethical dimensions of the issues raised. Produced in conjunction with Pittsburgh's Jewish Healthcare Foundation, writers tackle health care in America, including problems of patient rights and professional responsibility. SMU Press 2005 In Fact: The Best of Creative Nonfiction Twenty-five essays, all originally appearing in Creative Nonfiction, republished in honor of the journal's tenth anniversary. W.W. Norton 2005 On Nature: Great Writers on the Great Outdoors Twenty original and previously published essays Jeremy P. Tarcher 2002 Healing: 20 Prominent Authors Write About Inspirational Moments of Achieving Health and Gaining Insight Twenty original and previously published essays Jeremy P. Tarcher 2001 Lessons in Persuasion: Creative Nonfiction/Pittsburgh Connections Eighteen essays written by writers with ties to the city of Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh Press 2000 Connecting: Twenty Prominent Authors Write About the Relationships That Shape Our Lives Twenty original and previously published essays Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam 1998 A View from the Divide: Creative Nonfiction on Health and Science Seventeen essays that attempt to demonstrate the many ways in which aspects of the scientific world—from biology, medicine, physics, and astronomy—can be captured and dramatized for a humanities-oriented readership. University of Pittsburgh Press 1998