We had the honor of meeting Gerry Howard, Class of 1972—one of publishing’s most beloved and influential editors. Gerry reflected on his time at Cornell, where he luckily made the switch to an English major, continued a lifelong love of reading, and enjoyed a social life that included a lot of music. A LOT.

He shares stories from his legendary career, including what it’s like to edit literary giants like David Foster Wallace, Don DeLillo, Hanya Yanagihara, and Roger Ebert. Known for his generosity, humor, and discerning eye, Gerry received the Maxwell E. Perkins Award and the 2022 BIO Editorial Excellence Award for his outstanding work.

Gerry also gives us a peek at the biography he’s currently writing on famed editor Malcolm Cowley—and takes us back to the time he drove 45 minutes through a blizzard with just one contact lens...wondering why?

This is a conversation for anyone who loves books, stories, and the editors who help bring them to life. He's FUN!

Huge thanks to Bryna Pomp for this introduction!

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University