Dave Eggers

American writer, editor, and publisher · United States · On the map · Writers · Born 1970 · age 56

Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. His 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.

Dave Eggers is read about 681 times a day, in 29 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 8 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 122 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2024Newbery MedalAward2017Carl Sandburg Literary AwardAward2013“It's not that I'm not social. I'm social enough. But the tools you guys create actually manufacture unnaturally extreme social needs.”In their wordsMercer, to Mae; p. 134Read the whole statement

“It was selfish and nothing more. The same way a child doesn't want to share her favorite toy. I understand that secrecy is part of, well, an aberrant behavior system.”In their wordsMae, to Bailey; p. 303Read the whole statement

“What would transparency be if we could delete anything we felt was embarrassing in some way? You know we don't delete.”In their wordsEamon Bailey, to Mae; p. 372Read the whole statement

“When everything is known, everything acceptable will be accepted.”In their wordsEamon Bailey, to Mae; pp. 372-372Read the whole statement

“Openness is all, she thought. Truth was its own reward.”In their wordsp. 449Read the whole statement

“Don't you see that's just one of the consequences of all this? There will be more Mercers. So many more. So many people who do't want to be found but who will be.”In their wordsKalden/Ty, to Mae; p. 486Read the whole statement

2009American Book AwardsAwardLiterarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary CommunityAwardPrix Médicis étrangerAward2008TED PrizeAward2007Heinz AwardAward1970Born12 March 1970

People around Dave

Also in Deutsch Français

Media & music

Photos 3

Eggers worked with Sudan refugee Valentino Achak Deng to tell a fictionalized account of Achak's life story.

Eggers in October 2008

In their own words 4

Dave Eggers

4 statements, newest first

If there's a locked door, I start to make up all kinds of stories about what might be behind it. I feel like it's some kind of secret, and it leads to me making up lies.
2013 · Mae, to Bailey; p. 299, Own words
I understand that we're obligated, as humans, to share what we see and know.
2013 · Mae and Bailey; p. 304, Own words
You and yours at the Circle, you're gonna save all the souls. You're gonna get everyone in one place, you're gonna teach them all the same things.
2013 · Man, to Mae and Francis; pp. 398-399, Own words

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Awards

Newbery Medal2024

Carl Sandburg Literary Award2017

Prix Médicis étranger2009

Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community2009

American Book Awards2009

TED Prize2008

Heinz Award2007

About this person

Eggers is also the founder of several literary and philanthropic ventures, including the literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the literacy project 826 Valencia, and the human rights non-profit organisation Voice of Witness. Additionally, he founded ScholarMatch, a program that connects donors with students needing funds for college tuition. His writing has appeared in publications including The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine.

Country

United States