James Traub: podcast appearances and interviews

James Traub is an American journalist and author born in 1954. He has contributed to a variety of notable publications including The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic Monthly, National Review, Spy, and Foreign Affairs. Since 1998, he has been a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine. His writing primarily focuses on politics and international affairs; he has authored profiles of political figures such as Barack Obama, Al Gore, and John McCain. Traub also wrote a book about Kofi Annan and the United Nations. His work often explores New York City, which is the subject of several of his books. His 1990 book, Too Good to Be True, examined the rise and fall of Wedtech, a Bronx manufacturing company involved in fraud and corruption during the Reagan administration. His 2004 book, The Devil's Playground, looked at the history and redevelopment of Times Square. Traub has also written extensively on education issues; his 1994 book, City On A Hill, is a profile of the City College of New York, based on his 18 months on campus. Additionally, he authored Better By Design, a study of school reform approaches, and has written articles on the No Child Left Behind Act and school choice. His career includes teaching at Maulana Azad College in India, as well as experience as a reporter for the New York Post and a senior editor at the Saturday Review.