“College athletics are so entrenched and enjoyed by so many people that they will never be discontinued or substantially changed. I know that. I just pity the people caught in that tender trap. And most of all, I pity those kids.”

American journalist, television writer, and author

Susan Orlean is an American journalist, television writer, and bestselling author. She has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1992 and is known for books such as The Orchid Thief and The Library Book. Her work has also appeared in magazines including Vogue, Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Outside. In 2021, she joined the writing team of the HBO comedy series How To with John Wilson, adding television to a career built on reporting and long-form nonfiction.