Amy Nutt
Adjunct Instructor
School of Communication
Degrees
BA Smith College (English and Philosophy)
MS M.I.T. (Philosophy)
MS Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Favorite Spot on Campus
Any place where there are trees, especially in the fall, which is when I'm on campus.
Favorite Place in Washington DC
Folger Shakespeare Library and looking up at Claes Oldenburg’s giant typewriter eraser in the National Art Museum’s Sculpture Garden
Book Currently Reading
“Philosopher of the Heart: The Restless Life of Soren Kierkegaard,” by Clare Carlisle
Bio
I was a reporter at Sports Illustrated for nine years, then a projects writer at The Newark Star-Ledger where I won the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing in 2011. (I was a finalist in 2009.)
Most recently, I was a science writer at The Washington Post until 2019, then left to teach and write books full-time. I am the author of three works of nonfiction, two of them NYT bestsellers: “The The Teenage Brain“ and “Becoming Nicole.” I am currently working on a new book, "American Madness," a narrative history of mental illness and mental health treatment in the United States. I collect old typewriters, 1950s Bowman baseball cards (because the miniature paintings are so beautiful -- and I love the sport) and when I have long stretches of free time -- yeah, right -- I like to sculpt clay figures.
The only club of which I am an official member is the Cloud Appreciation Society. (They have a fabulous cloud-of-the-month catalogue!)
