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Daniel J. Boorstin

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Author

The Resume

    (October 1, 1914-February 28, 2004)
    Born in Atlanta, Georgia
    Historian
    Wrote 'The Americans: The Colonial Experience' (1958), 'The Americans: The National Experience' (1965), 'The Americans: The Democratic Experience' (1973), 'Democracy and Its Discontents' (1974), 'The Discoverers' (1983), 'The Creators' (1992) and 'The Seekers' (1998)
    Librarian of Congress (1975-87)
    Won the Pulitzer Prize for history (1974)

Why he might be annoying:

    He joined the Communist Party (1938-39).
    He named names for the House Un-American Activities Committee (1953).
    He ticked off black leaders when he called black studies programs 'racist trash.'
    He wore dweebish bow ties.

Why he might not be annoying:

    As Librarian of Congress, he avoided doing personal work on government time by writing his books between 4:30 and 9 AM.
    He made the Library of Congress much more accessible to the public.
    He defined a celebrity as 'a person who is known for his well-knowness.'
    He said of Ruth Frankel, his wife of 63 years and editor, 'Without her, I think my works would have been twice as long and half as readable.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 29 Votes: 31.03% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 118 Votes: 60.17% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 38 Votes: 84.21% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 93 Votes: 72.04% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying