From the archives: A conversation with legendary book editor Robert Gottlieb

Diane Rehm: On My Mind

WAMU 88.5

Artists And Thinkers Right Here As Diane Transitions This Podcast To Weekly Episodes That We’ll Be Calling “On My Mind.”, News, Writers, Fans Of The Diane Rehm Show Can Continue To Listen To Its Trademark Conversations With Newsmakers

4.7 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 July 2023

⏱️ 45 minutes

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Summary

Diane wanted to share a special conversation from the archives, an interview with legendary book editor Robert Gottlieb, who died in June at age 92.

Gottlieb worked with many of the best-known writers of the 20th century. On the list of names whose work he made shine was Diane Rehm.

Diane remembers him as a masterful editor who was so kind to her – someone with name recognition in the world of public radio, but no track record as a writer.

Gottlieb became one of Diane’s closest friends and confidantes. She says, “he was a genius,” and she was so lucky to have him by her side.

Robert Gottlieb joined Diane several times as a guest on the Diane Rehm Show over the years. This is their conversation from September 2016 in which he discussed his memoir, “Avid Reader.”

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, this is Allison, producer here at On My Mind.
0:09.7	Today Diane wanted to share a special conversation from the archives.
0:13.6	It's an interview with legendary book editor Robert Gottlieb.
0:16.8	It's a question of reading sympathetically and feeling with the writer and understanding
0:25.0	what the book can be.
0:27.2	Gottlieb worked with many of the best known writers of the 20th century.
0:30.6	On the list of names whose work he made shine was Diane Reem.
0:35.0	Gottlieb died in June at age 92.
0:37.8	Diane remembers him as a masterful editor who was so kind to her a first time unknown writer.
0:43.0	He became one of her closest friends and confidants.
0:45.8	She says, quote, he was a genius and she was so lucky to have him by her side.
0:51.7	Gottlieb joined Diane several times as a guest on the Diane Reem show over the years.
0:55.9	This is their conversation from September 2016.
1:26.9	Thanks for joining us, I'm Diane Reem, a book lover from the start.
1:32.7	Robert Gottlieb has spent his life reading, editing, and writing in the course of his
1:38.9	more than six decade career as Simon and Schuster, Alfred Canop and the New Yorker.
1:45.3	He's played a key role in bringing writers like John LaCarae, Tony Morrison,
1:51.0	and biographer Robert Carroll to set her stage in the world of books.
1:57.0	In the new memory, he talks about how it all came to be, and the many rewards have a literary
2:04.0	life. His new book is titled Abid Reader, and just to make sure you know, Robert Gottlieb
2:12.2	is indeed my own book editor at Canop.
2:16.6	Well, Bob Gottlieb, it's always great to see you.
	...

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