WRITER

Lawrence Wright

1947 - Today

Photo of Lawrence Wright

Icon of person Lawrence Wright

Lawrence Wright (born August 2, 1947) is an American writer and journalist, who is a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine, and fellow at the Center for Law and Security at the New York University School of Law. Wright is best known as the author of the 2006 nonfiction book Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Wright is also known for his work with documentarian Alex Gibney who directed film versions of Wright's one man show My Trip to Al-Qaeda and his book Going Clear. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Lawrence Wright has received more than 726,497 page views. His biography is available in 16 different languages on Wikipedia. Lawrence Wright is the 6,726th most popular writer (down from 5,759th in 2019), the 13,635th most popular biography from United States (down from 10,764th in 2019) and the 995th most popular American Writer.

Memorability Metrics

  • 730k

    Page Views (PV)

  • 38.69

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 16

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 1.85

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 3.41

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Notable Works

Clean and decent
Bathing customs, Bathrooms, Baths
The Looming Tower
Current Events, September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001, Qaida (Organization)
National Book Award FinalistA Time, Newsweek, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and New York Times Book Review Best Book of the YearA gripping narrative that spans five decades, The Looming Tower explains in unprecedented detail the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Lawrence Wright re-creates firsthand the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from incompetent and idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. He follows FBI counterterrorism chief John O'Neill as he uncovers the emerging danger from al-Qaeda in the 1990s and struggles to track this new threat. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, The Looming Tower is the definitive history of the long road to September 11.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Rinehart Book of Short Stories
Short stories, Nouvelles, American Horror tales
[The fall of the House of Usher](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL41078W) / Edgar Allan Poe [Young Goodman Brown](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL455569W) / Nathaniel Hawthorne Mademoiselle Fifi / Guy De Maupassant The Sire de Malétroit's door / Robert Louis Stevenson The kiss / Anton Chekhov The man who would be king / Rudyard Kipling The open boat / Stephen Crane The lagoon / Joseph Conrad Mother / Sherwood Anderson The rocking-horse winner / D.H. Lawrence [Clay](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18179205W) / James Joyce Her first ball / Katherine Mansfield The Devil and Daniel Webster / Stephen Vincent Benét The colonel's lady / Somerset Maugham Flight / John Steinbeck -- Spotted horses / William Faulkner The catbird seat / James Thurber Petrified man / Eudora Welty
Stories to be Read with the Door Locked
Detective and mystery stories, Short stories, Detective and mystery fiction
Hijack / Robert L. Fish -- Tomorrow and tomorrow / Adobe James -- Funeral in another town / Jerry Jacobson -- A case for quiet / William Jeffrey -- A good head for murder / Charles W. Runyon -- The invisible cat / Betty Ren Wright -- [Royal Jelly](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20504271W) / Roald Dahl -- Light verse / Isaac Asimov -- The distributor / Richard Matheson -- How Henry J. Littlefinger licked the hippies' scheme to take over the country by tossing pot in postage stamp glue / John Keefauver -- The leak / Jacques Futrelle -- All the sounds of fear / Harlan Ellison -- Little foxes sleep warm / Waldo Carlton Wright -- The graft is green / Harold Q. Masur. View by the moonlight / Pat McGerr -- There hangs death! / John D. MacDonald -- Lincoln's doctor's son's dog / Warner Law -- Coyote street / Gary Brandner -- Zombique / Joseph Payne Brennan -- The pattern / Bill Pronzini -- Pipe dream / Alan Dean Foster -- Shottle bop / Theodore Sturgeon -- The magnum / Jack Ritchie -- Voices in the dust / Gerald Kersh -- The odor of melting / Edward D. Hoch -- The sound of murder / William P. McGivern -- The income tax mystery / Michael Gilbert -- Watch for it / Joseph N. Gores -- The affair of the twisted scarf / Rex Stout.
Fifty Best American Short Stories
The Best [American] Short Stories [click to find all works in series], Best American Series ®, Short Stories
Contents: Survivors / Elsie Singmaster -- Lost Phoebe / Theodore Dreiser -- Golden honeymoon / Ring W. Lardner -- I'm a fool / Sherwood Anderson -- My old man / Ernest Hemingway -- Telephone call / Dorothy Parker -- Double birthday / Willa Cather -- Faithful wife / Morley Callaghan -- Little wife / William March -- Babylon revisited / F. Scott Fitzgerald-- How beautiful with shoes / Wilbur Daniel Steele -- Resurrection of a life / William Saroyan -- Only the dead know Brooklyn / Thomas Wolfe -- Life in the day of a writer / Tess Slesinger -- Iron City / Lovell Thompson -- Christ in concrete / Pietro Di Donato -- Chrysanthemums / John Steinbeck -- Bright and morning star / Richard Wright -- Hand upon the waters / William Faulkner -- Net / Robert M. Coates -- Nothing ever breaks except the heart / Kay Boyle -- Search through the streets of the city / Irwin Shaw -- Who lived and died believing / Nancy Hale -- Peach stone / Paul Horgan -- Dawn of remembered spring / Jesse Stuart -- Catbird seat / James Thurber -- Of this time, of that place / Lionel Trilling -- Wind and the snow of winter / Walter Van Tilburg Clark -- Enormous radio / John Cheever -- Children are bored on Sunday / Jean Stafford -- NRACP / George P. Elliott -- In Greenwich there are many gravelled walks / Hortense Calisher -- Other foot / Ray Bradbury -- Three players of a summer game / Tennessee Williams -- Mother's tale / James Agee -- Magic barrel / Bernard Malamud -- Circle in the fire / Flannery O'Connor -- First flower / Augusta Wallace Lyons -- Contest for Aaron Gold / Philip Roth -- One ordinary day, with peanuts / Shirley Jackson -- To the wilderness I wander / Frank Butler -- Ledge / Lawrence Sargent Hall -- This morning, this evening, so soon / James Baldwin -- Tell me a riddle / Tillie Olsen -- Old army game / George Garrett -- Pigeon feathers / John Updike -- Sound of a drunken drummer / H.W. Blattner -- Keyhole eye / John Stewart Carter -- Long day's dying / William Eastlake -- Upon the sweeping flood / Joyce Carol Oates.
100 Malicious Little Mysteries
American Detective and mystery stories, Fiction, mystery & detective, general
Charmingly insidious and satisfyingly devious, these 100 baffling little mysteries—selected by such prominent authors as Isaac Asimov—are just the thing to suit your most malevolent mood. These tales come from the pen of many well-known writers in the field, including Michael Gilbert, Edward Wellen, Edward D. Hack, Bill Bronzini, Lawrence Treat, and Francis Nevins, Jr. Whether it’s “The Unfriendly Neighbor,” or a “Class Reunion,” “A Recipe for Revenge,” or “An Exercise in Insurance,” these stories are sure to keep you up all night, puzzling over their possible solutions. Each one has its own particular and irresistible appeal: an unexpected twist, a delectable puzzle, a devastating revelation, or perhaps even a refreshing display of pernicious spit Six words / Lew Gillis Little things / Isaac Asimov Matter of life and death / Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg Perfect pigeon / Carroll Mayers Cop who loved flowers / Henry Slesar Trick or treat / Judith Garner Twice around the block / Lawrence Treat Easy score / Al Nussbaum Good Lord will provide / Lawrence Treat and Charles M. Plotz Boomerang / Harold Q. Masur Way it's supposed to be / Elsin Ann Graffam Thank you, Mr. Thurston / Ed Dumonte Funeral music / Francis M. Nevins, Jr. Murder will out / Edward Wellen Insignificant crime / Maxine O'Callaghan Stray bullet / Gary Brandner Night out with the boys / Elsin Ann Graffam Office party / Mary Bradford Comes the dawn / Michael Kurland Acting job / Richard Deming Last smile / Henry Slesar Grief counselor / Julie Smith Best place / A.F. Oreshnik Dead end / Alvin S. Fick Pure Rotten / John Lutz Grounds for divorce / James Holding Inside out / Barry N. Malzberg Bell / Isak Romun Box / Isak Romun Physician and the opium fiend / R.L. Stevens Over the borderline / Jeff Sweet It could happen to you / John Lutz Class reunion / Charles Boeckman Way it is now / Elaine Slater Hot rock / James McKimmey Puff of orange smoke / Lael J. Littke Chicken player / Joe L. Hensley Nothing but bad news / Henry Slesar Quick and the dead / Helen McCloy Exercise in insurance / James Holding Old heap / Alvin S. Fick As the wheel turns / Jane Speed Knit one, purl two... / Thomasina Weber Paternal instinct / Al Nussbaum What kind of person are you? / Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg Shatter proof / Jack Ritchie Out of order / Carl Henry Rathjen Handy man / Marion M. Markham Nightmare / Elaine Slater Recipe for revenge / Jane Speed Sweet fever / Bill Pronzini Magnum / Jack Ritchie Two postludes / Isak Romun Deal in diamonds / Edward D. Hoch Last Day of Shooting / Dion Henderson Blisters in May / Jack Ritchie Collector / Patricia A. Mathews House call / Elsin Ann Graffam Adventure of the blind alley / Edward Wellen Unfriendly neighbor / Al Nussbaum Feline felony / Lael J. Littke Don't I know you? / Henry Slesar Meet Mr. Murder / Morris Hershman Co-Incidence / Edward D. Hoch Alma / Al Nussbaum Grand exit / Leo R. Ellis Hunting ground / A.F. Oreshnik Big trip / Elsin Ann Graffam Dutch / William F. Nolan Loaded quest / Thomasina Weber Hand in glove / James Holding Slantwise scales of justice / Phyllis Ann Karr Child on a journey / Fred S. Tobey Witches in the closet / Anne Chamberlain Setup / Jack Ritchie Very rare disease / Henry Slesar Two small vials / Elsin Ann Graffam Sweet remembrance / Betty Ren Wright Dip in the poole / Bill Pronzini Doctor's orders / John F. Suter Mrs. Twiller takes a trip / Lael J. Littke Such a lovely day / Penelope Wallace Matinee / Ruth Wissmann Big mouth / Robert Edmond Alter Weathered board / Alvin S. Fick Lot 721/XY258 / R.L. Stevens Thirteen / Edward D. Hoch Operative 375 / Gary Brandner He'll kill you / Richard Deming Caveat Emptor / Kay Nolte Smith Facsimile shop / Bill Pronzini and Jeffrey Wallman Corner of the cellar / Michael Gilbert Every fifth man / Edward D. Hoch Pro / Robert H. Curtis Nobody, that's who / William F. Nolan Pigeon / William F. Nolan Prisoner / Edward Wellen Sooey pill / Elaine Slater Backing up / Barry N. Malzberg Wide O— / Elsin Ann Graffam
Clean and decent
Bathing customs, Bathrooms, Baths
The End of October
American literature, Fiction, medical, Fiction, thrillers, general
Christmas Carol
Children's fiction, Toy and movable books, Christmas, fiction
A retelling of the story about a miser whose life is changed by Christmas.
Twins
Twins, Psychology, Nature and nurture
Recent studies of twins have shaken the field of psychology to its foundation, revolutionizing our understanding of our own personalities. Because identical twins separated at birth share all the same genes, yet live separate lives, they offer a unique opportunity to test theories about the roles played by nature and nurture in shaping who we are. Twins directly challenges many long-held beliefs. For instance, a series of groundbreaking studies of twins has shown that our genes play a much stronger role in shaping our identities than previously thought. Today, scientists can actually estimate what proportion of our intelligence, our personality, and our behavior is determined by inherited tendencies. Even our political orientation and our religious commitment, it turns out, are largely governed by our genes. Twins is filled with astounding stories of identical twins who have lived entirely separate lives but have an incredible amount in common: their hobbies, their mannerisms, their taste in music, food, and clothes, their experiences in marriage and divorce, their careers, their sexuality, even the names they've given their children.
The Looming Tower
Current Events, September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001, Qaida (Organization)
National Book Award FinalistA Time, Newsweek, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and New York Times Book Review Best Book of the YearA gripping narrative that spans five decades, The Looming Tower explains in unprecedented detail the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Lawrence Wright re-creates firsthand the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from incompetent and idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. He follows FBI counterterrorism chief John O'Neill as he uncovers the emerging danger from al-Qaeda in the 1990s and struggles to track this new threat. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, The Looming Tower is the definitive history of the long road to September 11.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Fifty Best American Short Stories
The Best [American] Short Stories [click to find all works in series], Best American Series ®, Short Stories
Contents: Survivors / Elsie Singmaster -- Lost Phoebe / Theodore Dreiser -- Golden honeymoon / Ring W. Lardner -- I'm a fool / Sherwood Anderson -- My old man / Ernest Hemingway -- Telephone call / Dorothy Parker -- Double birthday / Willa Cather -- Faithful wife / Morley Callaghan -- Little wife / William March -- Babylon revisited / F. Scott Fitzgerald-- How beautiful with shoes / Wilbur Daniel Steele -- Resurrection of a life / William Saroyan -- Only the dead know Brooklyn / Thomas Wolfe -- Life in the day of a writer / Tess Slesinger -- Iron City / Lovell Thompson -- Christ in concrete / Pietro Di Donato -- Chrysanthemums / John Steinbeck -- Bright and morning star / Richard Wright -- Hand upon the waters / William Faulkner -- Net / Robert M. Coates -- Nothing ever breaks except the heart / Kay Boyle -- Search through the streets of the city / Irwin Shaw -- Who lived and died believing / Nancy Hale -- Peach stone / Paul Horgan -- Dawn of remembered spring / Jesse Stuart -- Catbird seat / James Thurber -- Of this time, of that place / Lionel Trilling -- Wind and the snow of winter / Walter Van Tilburg Clark -- Enormous radio / John Cheever -- Children are bored on Sunday / Jean Stafford -- NRACP / George P. Elliott -- In Greenwich there are many gravelled walks / Hortense Calisher -- Other foot / Ray Bradbury -- Three players of a summer game / Tennessee Williams -- Mother's tale / James Agee -- Magic barrel / Bernard Malamud -- Circle in the fire / Flannery O'Connor -- First flower / Augusta Wallace Lyons -- Contest for Aaron Gold / Philip Roth -- One ordinary day, with peanuts / Shirley Jackson -- To the wilderness I wander / Frank Butler -- Ledge / Lawrence Sargent Hall -- This morning, this evening, so soon / James Baldwin -- Tell me a riddle / Tillie Olsen -- Old army game / George Garrett -- Pigeon feathers / John Updike -- Sound of a drunken drummer / H.W. Blattner -- Keyhole eye / John Stewart Carter -- Long day's dying / William Eastlake -- Upon the sweeping flood / Joyce Carol Oates.

Among WRITERS

Among writers, Lawrence Wright ranks 6,726 out of 7,302Before him are Sibylle Berg, Pınar Selek, Emma Donoghue, James Gleick, Ángeles Caso, and Judith Miller. After him are Robert Rodat, Éliette Abécassis, Mark Z. Danielewski, Ken Levine, Robert Hunter, and Marina Nemat.

Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1947, Lawrence Wright ranks 837Before him are Kailash Purryag, Zoltán Melis, Deidre Hall, Marit Nybakk, Keith Devlin, and Carlos Ezquerra. After him are Andrew Parrott, David Hare, Carol Moseley Braun, Steve Heighway, Bruce Rioch, and Jon Corzine.

Others Born in 1947

Go to all Rankings

In United States

Among people born in United States, Lawrence Wright ranks 13,635 out of 20,380Before him are Richie Guerin (1932), Richard Kelly (1975), Nick Wechsler (1978), Monique Gabrielle (1962), Ramblin' Jack Elliott (1931), and Marion Barry (1936). After him are Tom Ridge (1945), Hurley Haywood (1948), Autumn Reeser (1980), Amber Liu (1992), Joseph B. Foraker (1846), and Bill Clements (1917).

Among WRITERS In United States

Among writers born in United States, Lawrence Wright ranks 995Before him are Alice Stone Blackwell (1857), John Seigenthaler (1927), Sarah J. Maas (1986), Kage Baker (1952), James Gleick (1954), and Judith Miller (1948). After him are Robert Rodat (1953), Mark Z. Danielewski (1966), Ken Levine (1966), Robert Hunter (1941), Katherine Schwarzenegger (1989), and Virginia Hamilton (1936).