Douglas Brinkley Catches Heat For Calling Jodi Kantor’s Book ‘Chick Nonfiction’

by James Crugnale | 8:31 am, February 20th, 2012

» 18 comments

As if! In a recent New York Times review of Jodi Kantor’s The Obamas, Douglas Brinkley cattily referred to the book as “chick nonfiction.”

“This book,” Brinley wrote, “is not about politics, it’s about marriage.”

Brinkley’s use of the term “chick nonfiction” touched a nerve as many writers considered it a sexist slight to Kantor. “That alleged lack of respect—and to call a book ‘chick nonfiction’ is to call it unserious—extends not only to the woman who is the author, but also to the woman who is the subject,” noted The Scroll’s Marc Tracy.

“My suspicion is that if a male reporter had written a detailed, well-researched, revealing book about the First Marriage, it would have been praised as a serious work of journalism,” Jennifer Weiner told Tracy. “However, when the old, pernicious double standards still apply, if it’s a lady doing the investigation, the personal can never be political … it can only be gossip, and the writer, however skilled a reporter, is still merely a chick.”

Former Mediaite editor Rachel Sklar lambasted Brinkley in an enraged series of tweets:

The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein also shot back at Brinkley, saying “Jodi Kantor’s The Obamas is among the very best books on this White House. It’s a serious, thoughtful book on the modern presidency in general. So no, I’m not going to call it ‘chick nonfiction.’”

Douglas Brinkley, Jodi Kantor, The Obamas

Anonymous

After this dies down I think that Brinkley will sever his ties to the NY Times, if it is one thing the Times does not like it is a negative image of its reviews being considered biased by readers, in the News side it is a damned if you do and damned if you don’t attitude and correctly so but a biased book or music or movie or theater or cultural review piece? not here, people expect something that has some legitimate bases for positive or negative review.

BYE BYE Brinkley and have a nice career elsewhere.
Gloves Clyde Donahue

Okay, Doug. Now review the dreck that comes from Bob Woodward.

By the way, modern chicks prefer to be called “tomatoes” or “dolls”.
Anonymous

I think this book is probably geared towards women. I just think that if I could be more careful with my words within 140 or less on twitter so could he. I guess he figures he could be a trendsetter on twitter by being all controversial.
Anonymous

A book about Obama’s marriage and gossip is in fact “chick non fiction”. The PC police is out again.
Anonymous

Tell me again, which party is full of sexist pigs?
Anonymous

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Anonymous

Brinkley is probably right about the book, but he’s always been, in some sense, a nasty little lib. He’s probably still embarrassed in most circles about his pathetic Kerry book during the campaign in ’04. I’d prefer he just went away, but since he won’t, I hope he publicly speaks…less.
Zigeunerweisen

Uhh, the guy is catching heat from a couple of tweets from someone that used to work for this site? I’m sure that “140 characters or less” has REALLY got Mr. Brinkley scared.
Anonymous

And ladies of the night.

Or perhaps that will get you slapped.
Anonymous

Now tell me who actually baked for the bake sale. Do tell.
Anonymous

I agree with him. A book about marriage is something that will appeal mostly to women. I bet 90% of men won’t even touch the book because men don’t care about reading about marriage and feelings, and all that. He’s right, it is “chick nonfiction” because it is a book geared toward women.
Anonymous

I am sure that if this contoversy helps Jodi Kantor sell some more books, Ms. Kantor will somehow find it in her heart to forgive Mr. Brinkley. She may even ask for an opportunity to debate him on CNN, MSNBC, FOX NEWS, Bloomberg Television and Current TV!
Anonymous

Liberals have been going all out to discredit Kantor since the book was even announced. Speak anything other than adoration for Obama earns instant character assassination by the far left.
Anonymous

this some some stupid experiment they are trying to do, to show the effect of affirmative action or some shit! who cares really!
Anonymous

this is stupid, I dont think it was sexist! Chick-fiction? why dont directors get mad when they call movies “chick-flicks then?” GTFO! lame!
Anonymous

wow, you had to make it about liberals vs cons huh? there must be something really wrong in your mind, that doesn’t let you see things with out the polarity glasses of partisanship!
Anonymous

”Chick” is the kind of excrement this little puss-cock would be expected to spew. And the filthy residue of a great newspaper that is the current New York Times is precisely the kind of “institution” that would pay him to spew it.
Anonymous

What is your stupid point, with your copy and past of this tedious item?
And where is your proof it is from the Berkeley College Republicans?