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Anna Akbari

アンナ・アクバリ

Anna Akbari

Pen Names:

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Iowa, USA
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Iowa (grew up) → Michigan (boarding school) → New York City

Career

Occupations
Author, Entrepreneur, Sociologist
Affiliations
New York University (faculty) , Parsons School of Design (faculty)
Memberships
Gotham Book Prize jury

Education

New York University
Degree: B.A.
Country: United States
The New School
Visual sociology
Degree: Ph.D.
Country: United States
Doctoral work in visual sociology

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Uncovered America's Biggest Catfish

2024 Memoir / Investigative journalism

A memoir and investigative account in which the author describes being catfished and joining with other victims to expose the perpetrator. The book also examines issues of aspirational identity, self-presentation, and ethical questions about the power of professionals in the epilogue.

IdentityOnline deception (catfishing)Self-presentationEthics

The Enneagram at Work: Unlocking the Power of Type to Lead and Succeed (with Jim McPartlin)

2021 Business / Self-help

A practical guide applying the Enneagram personality types to workplace relationships, leadership, and career development.

EnneagramLeadershipWorkplace relationships

Startup Your Life: Hustle and Hack Your Way To Happiness

2016 Self-help / Business

Applies entrepreneurial approaches to personal life, recommending strategies like in-person networking, building emotional intelligence, and finding your "minimum viable product" by clarifying core values.

Entrepreneurship mindsetRelationshipsEmotional intelligence

Bibliography

  • There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Uncovered America's Biggest Catfish
  • The Enneagram at Work: Unlocking the Power of Type to Lead and Succeed (with Jim McPartlin)
  • Startup Your Life: Hustle and Hack Your Way To Happiness

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Sociologically informed explanatory proseInvestigative reporting styleMemoir-like reflective and analytical narration
Recurring Motifs
Self-presentationFashion and powerFormation of identityDeception in the digital age

Legacy

She has popularized the sociology of fashion and self-presentation for general audiences and prompted discussion about online dating fraud and aspirational identity. "There Is No Ethan" received positive critical attention and was widely covered in mainstream media.

In Popular Culture

  • Book reviews and coverage in major media such as The New York Times
  • Contributions and profiles in outlets like Time and Forbes

Quotes

  • "A valiant attempt to hold a manipulator accountable."
    Source: The New York Times review (Katie J. M. Baker) (2024)

Trivia

  • Ran a fashion company called Closet Catharsis (slogan: "Fashion your identity. Empower your life")
  • Founded companies called Splice and Bricoler
  • Served as writing supervisor on Alyson Stoner's 2025 memoir