Derek Thompson

Full Name: Derek Kahn Thompson

Date of Birth: May 18, 1986

Place of Birth: McLean, Virginia, USA

Nationality: American

Profession: Journalist, Podcaster, Author

Early Life and Education

Derek Thompson was born in McLean, Virginia, to Robert Thompson and Petra Kahn. During his youth, he participated in theatrical productions at the Folger Shakespeare Theater and the Shakespeare Theater. He attended the Potomac School and later graduated from Northwestern University in 2008 with a triple major in journalism, political science, and legal studies.

Career

Thompson joined The Atlantic in 2009 as a staff writer, covering topics related to economics, technology, and culture. In 2017, he published his first book, Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction, which became a national bestseller and won the American Marketing Association's Leonard L. Berry Marketing Book Award for the best marketing book of 2018. In November 2021, he began hosting the weekly podcast Plain English, part of The Ringer Podcast Network, where he discusses current events and cultural trends. Previously, he hosted the technology and science podcast Crazy/Genius, which was nominated for an iHeartMedia Best Podcast Award in its first year.

Notable Works

Thompson has authored several influential articles, including "A World Without Work," an essay on the future of employment in the age of automation, and a profile of X, the research and development division of Alphabet. His writings often explore the intersection of technology, culture, and economics.

Personal Life

As of 2024, Thompson resides in North Carolina with his wife and daughter.