Where Have All the Cowboys Gone: Are Literary Men in Crisis?
In this special episode, hosts Medaya Ocher, Kate Wolf, and Eric Newman discuss the “crisis” du jour in American publishing: the erosion of male literary stars and their readers across the landscape of contemporary fiction.
By LARB Radio HourSeptember 12, 2025
:quality(75)/https%3A%2F%2Fassets.lareviewofbooks.org%2Fuploads%2FRH_Literary%20Men.png)
Listen to the episode
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone: Are Literary Men in Crisis?
00:00/00:00
Did you know LARB is a reader-supported nonprofit?
LARB publishes daily without a paywall as part of our mission to make rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts freely accessible to the public. Help us continue this work with your tax-deductible donation today!
Subscribe on Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud
Do you love listening to the LARB Radio Hour? Support the production of this weekly podcast on books, art, and culture. Donate today.
In this special episode, hosts Medaya Ocher, Kate Wolf, and Eric Newman discuss the “crisis” du jour in American publishing: the erosion of male literary stars and their readers across the landscape of contemporary fiction. Is this even happening—and if so, why? Tackling cultural anxieties about the waning centrality of the straight, white male author alongside spurious statistics and questions about the material realities of publishing in the 21st century, the hosts break down the forces they see lurking behind the discourse
LARB Contributor
The LARB Radio Hour is hosted by Eric Newman, Medaya Ocher, and Kate Wolf.
Did you know LARB is a reader-supported nonprofit?
LARB publishes daily without a paywall as part of our mission to make rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts freely accessible to the public. Help us continue this work with your tax-deductible donation today!