Los Angeles Times Book Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 34 (2013) Winner
Alan H. Weisman
アラン・ワイズマン
Alan H. Weisman
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1947-03-24 （Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Massachusetts, U.S. (current residence) → Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Career
- Occupations
- author, professor, journalist
- Active Years
- 1970-
- Affiliations
- University of Arizona (Laureate Professor in Journalism and Latin American Studies), Prescott College (taught writing and journalism), Williams College (taught writing), Homelands Productions (produces radio documentaries)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | Medill School of Journalism (修士過程) | Literature (B.A.) / Journalism (M.S./M.A.) | Bachelor's / Master's | — | United States |
Northwestern University
Medill School of Journalism (修士過程)
/ Literature (B.A.) / Journalism (M.S./M.A.)
Degree:
Bachelor's / Master's
Country:
United States
Holds a bachelor's degree in literature and a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Social Inventions Award | Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World | — | Global Ideas Bank | winner |
| 2007 | National Book Critics Circle Award | The World Without Us | Nonfiction | National Book Critics Circle | finalist |
| 2007 | Time magazine Best Books of the Year (Nonfiction) | The World Without Us | — | Time | Best Books of the Year (Nonfiction #1) |
| 2013 | Paris Book Festival Prize for nonfiction | Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? | — | Paris Book Festival | winner |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Science and technology) | Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? | Science and technology | Los Angeles Times | winner |
| 2014 | Nautilus Gold Book Award | Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? | — | Nautilus Awards | winner |
| 2014 | Population Institute Global Media Award (best book) | Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? | — | Population Institute | winner |
| — | Wenjin Prize | — | — | National Library of China | recipient |
| — | Los Angeles Press Club Award (Best Feature Story) | — | — | Los Angeles Press Club | recipient |
| — | Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Citation | — | — | Robert F. Kennedy Center | recipient |
| — | Premio Nacional de Jornalismo Radiofonico | — | — | Brazilian government | recipient |
Social Inventions Award
1998
Work:
Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World
Organization:
Global Ideas Bank
Result:
winner
National Book Critics Circle Award
2007
Work:
The World Without Us
Category:
Nonfiction
Organization:
National Book Critics Circle
Result:
finalist
Time magazine Best Books of the Year (Nonfiction)
2007
Work:
The World Without Us
Organization:
Time
Result:
Best Books of the Year (Nonfiction #1)
Paris Book Festival Prize for nonfiction
2013
Work:
Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
Organization:
Paris Book Festival
Result:
winner
Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Science and technology)
2014
Work:
Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
Category:
Science and technology
Organization:
Los Angeles Times
Result:
winner
Nautilus Gold Book Award
2014
Work:
Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
Organization:
Nautilus Awards
Result:
winner
Population Institute Global Media Award (best book)
2014
Work:
Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
Organization:
Population Institute
Result:
winner
Wenjin Prize
Organization:
National Library of China
Result:
recipient
Los Angeles Press Club Award (Best Feature Story)
Organization:
Los Angeles Press Club
Result:
recipient
Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Citation
Organization:
Robert F. Kennedy Center
Result:
recipient
Premio Nacional de Jornalismo Radiofonico
Organization:
Brazilian government
Result:
recipient
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
LA Frontera: The United States Border With Mexico
1986 Nonfiction (reportage)A reportage on the U.S.–Mexico border region, covering immigration, economic and social issues through on-the-ground reporting.
borderimmigrationsocial issues
Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World
1998 Nonfiction (reportage/environment)A reportage chronicling the Colombian community of Gaviotas, exploring sustainable technologies and community-building practices.
sustainabilitycommunityenvironmental technology
An Echo In My Blood: The Search for My Family's Hidden Past
1999 Nonfiction (family history, investigation)A personal investigation into the author's family history, tracing hidden pasts through research and narrative.
family historymemoryinvestigation
The World Without Us
2007 Nonfiction (environmental/science)An exploration of what would happen to Earth if humans suddenly disappeared, examining ecological recovery and the fate of human-made structures.
human-nature relationshipecological recoveryremnants of civilization
Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
2013 Nonfiction (environmental / population)An international report and analysis of population, resources, and sustainability, examining how demographic trends affect environment and society.
population issuessustainabilityresource management
Bibliography
- LA Frontera: The United States Border With Mexico
- Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World
- An Echo In My Blood: The Search for My Family's Hidden Past
- The World Without Us
- Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- field-based reportage styleexpository and vivid prose combining scientific facts with narrative
- Recurring Motifs
- human-nature relationshipremnants of civilizationcommunity and sustainability
Legacy
Weisman is internationally recognized as a reportage writer who probes the interaction between environment and human society. Works like The World Without Us and Countdown have influenced environmental discourse and public debate, earning multiple awards and nominations.
In Popular Culture
- Television appearances (The Daily Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, etc.)
Quotes
-
"Birds aren't the only thing that can sing on this planet."
Source: Personal remark cited in biographical sources (see Wikipedia 'Personal life')
Trivia
- Appeared on The Daily Show on August 21, 2007.
- Appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher on March 14, 2014.
- Served as a Fulbright Scholar in Colombia.
- Lives in Massachusetts; his wife Beckie Kravetz is a sculptor and mask maker.