Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner is an American author and essayist. The daughter of two beatnik scientists, Kushner began her Bachelor’s degree in political economy at the University of California aged 16, and then moved to San Francisco and worked in nightclubs. After an MFA at Columbia, studying under Jonathan Franzen, Rachel Kushner published her first book, Telex from Cuba, in 2008, and has since published four novels, a short story collection, and a book of essays describing diverse subjects including her participation in an illegal motorbike race across Mexico and California. She has twice been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and won the Prix Médicis for her 2018 book The Mars Room. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Rachel Kushner discuss the evolution of their friendship over email, Don DeLillo's cool sideburns, and aspiring to manifest the life lessons of Dolly Parton. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices