Fixable Stephen J. Dubner | from Design Matters
Dec 8, 2025
Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning journalist and co-creator of Freakonomics, shares insights on curiosity as a fundamental force in life and creativity. He discusses his roots and the impact of his upbringing on his writing. Dubner reflects on the balance between fame and anonymity, the role of social media in shaping conversations, and how he transformed a fictional idea into a memoir. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling grounded in data and advocates for authenticity in writing. The talk ends with hopes for enriching dialogue through his new TV project.
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First Publication Sparked A Career
- Stephen J. Dubner's first byline was a poem, "The Possum," published in Highlights when he was eleven.
- A fourth-grade teacher's confidence sparked his lifelong writing path.
Shy Farmboy Turned Writer
- Dubner grew up as the youngest of eight on a farm and faced a quirky birthday silence ritual.
- He was painfully shy and preferred long stretches of solitude even as an adult.
Family Religion Led To Reporting
- Dubner investigated his parents' conversions from Judaism to Catholicism, starting from a New York Times Magazine piece.
- That reporting grew into his first book, Turbulent Souls, and led him back toward Judaism.
