Los Angeles Review of Books
The Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB) is a nonprofit literary review organization founded in 2011 by Tom Lutz in response to the widespread reduction of book review sections in newspapers.[1][2] Dedicated to promoting rigorous, incisive, and accessible writing on literature, culture, politics, and the arts, LARB operates as a 501(c)(3) entity sustained primarily through reader donations, memberships, and grants.[1][3] LARB publishes daily online content including essays, reviews, and interviews, alongside a quarterly print journal that incorporates fiction, poetry, and visual art.[1] It has expanded into multimedia formats such as podcasts and hosts programs like the LARB Publishing Workshop, launched in 2017, to train emerging writers and editors.[1][4] These initiatives underscore its role in fostering independent literary criticism and community engagement in an era of contracting traditional media.[1] While celebrated for revitalizing long-form expert analysis—earning descriptions as a "pillar of West Coast literary culture" from outlets like The New Yorker—LARB's output reflects the broader tendencies in literary institutions toward left-leaning perspectives, though it maintains a stated commitment to intellectual independence.[1] Occasional editorial decisions, such as commissioning or retracting pieces amid public disputes, have drawn scrutiny but have not overshadowed its contributions to national and international book discourse.[5]History
Founding and Origins
The Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB) was established in 2011 by Tom Lutz in response to the widespread elimination of book review sections and supplements in newspapers, which threatened the viability of literary criticism.[1] This decline, driven by shrinking print media budgets, motivated Lutz to create a dedicated platform for rigorous book reviews, essays, and interviews to sustain intellectual engagement with literature.[6][2] Lutz, an author and former academic administrator, launched LARB as primarily an online publication from his home in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, aiming to provide accessible yet expert-driven content that reflected the city's diverse intellectual landscape.[2][7] The initiative sought to challenge the New York-centric dominance in publishing by promoting West Coast voices and ensuring ongoing exposure for authors amid reduced traditional coverage.[2] Early operations relied on volunteer contributors and seed funding from Hollywood patrons, including members of the Disney family and producer Matthew Weiner, despite initial derision from East Coast literary circles who viewed the Los Angeles-based effort as provincial.[2] LARB's founding emphasized daily digital output to fill the void left by legacy media, laying the groundwork for its expansion into print quarterlies starting in 2013.[1]Early Growth and Challenges
The Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB) launched in April 2011 as an online platform founded by Tom Lutz, a UC Riverside professor and nonfiction author, to address the decline of newspaper book review sections, particularly following the Los Angeles Times' reduction of its literary coverage.[6] Operating initially in beta mode on a free Tumblr site, LARB posted 5 to 7 pieces weekly, including essays, reviews, and interviews, supported by a volunteer network of approximately 250 contributing editors such as Chris Abani and Marlene Zuk.[6] Contributors often worked pro bono or for minimal honorariums, enabling rapid content accumulation—over 1,300 in-depth reviews, essays, and interviews by 2013—while a full website with audio, video, and expanded features went live by December 2011.[8][6] Early growth included attracting hundreds of thousands of readers, with about 40% from overseas, establishing LARB as a counterpoint to New York-centric literary discourse.[2] Milestones encompassed the debut of the LARB Radio Hour in 2013, which expanded into podcast and broadcast formats, and the first print edition of the LARB Quarterly Journal in May 2013, marking a shift toward multimedia and tangible formats.[9][10] Seed funding from UC Riverside, the Rosenthal Family Foundation, and other donors supported these developments, alongside plans for revenue through advertising, affiliate sales, and subscriptions.[6] Challenges arose from its all-volunteer "Amish barn-raising" structure, with no initial paid staff and a steep learning curve in website management, social media, labor laws, and event production.[9] Lutz noted underestimating the financial and psychological demands of launch, amid skepticism from East Coast publishers who dismissed longform online content's viability.[2][9] Achieving nonprofit status in December 2013 provided tax-exempt structure for grants and contributions, but early sustainability hinged on diversifying income to compensate writers and editors amid a contracting media landscape.[11][9]Expansion and Key Milestones
The Los Angeles Review of Books expanded into print media with the debut of its quarterly journal in May 2013, marking a significant milestone in its transition from an online-only platform to a hybrid publication model that included long-form literary and cultural reviews alongside fiction, poetry, and art.[10] This launch addressed the decline of traditional newspaper book sections by offering a dedicated print outlet, with the Fall 2013 issue serving as the inaugural quarterly edition.[12] In 2016, LARB established the LARB Publishing Workshop in partnership with the University of Southern California, aimed at increasing diversity in the publishing industry by training aspiring professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.[13] This initiative represented a key expansion into educational programming, responding to documented underrepresentation in editorial roles. The workshop's formal launch followed in 2017, evolving into ongoing courses that have trained hundreds of participants.[1] Further growth included the development of writing workshops led by award-winning authors, enhancing LARB's role in literary education and community engagement.[1] By 2021, marking its tenth anniversary, LARB had solidified its position as a prominent nonprofit literary institution, publishing daily online content while maintaining the quarterly print journal and hosting events such as the LITLIT literary festival and Luminary Dinners.[2] These developments underscored sustained expansion amid challenges in the literary review sector.[1]Organizational Structure and Operations
Editorial Leadership
The Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB) was founded by Tom Lutz in 2010 as an online blog responding to the decline of traditional book review sections in newspapers, with Lutz serving as its inaugural editor-in-chief and guiding its transition to a nonprofit organization in 2011.[14][9] Lutz, a literary critic and author, oversaw editorial operations for the first decade, expanding the publication to include print quarterlies, podcasts, and digital content while maintaining a focus on long-form literary criticism.[15] He stepped down as editor-in-chief around 2020 but remains publisher and a member of the board of directors.[14] Leadership transitioned to Boris Dralyuk as editor-in-chief from 2020 to 2023, during which the publication continued emphasizing rigorous essays on literature and culture.[14] Dralyuk, previously executive editor, was followed briefly by Michelle Chihara in 2023 before Medaya Ocher assumed the role in February 2024.[16] Ocher, who had served as managing editor and senior editor at LARB from 2014 to 2021, was selected to direct the editorial vision, prioritizing "lively and intelligent long-form writing."[16][17] Under Ocher, the editorial team includes Managing Editor Ellie Eberlee, Senior Editors Rob Latham and Eli Diner, and Copydesk Chief A. J. Urquidi, supported by specialized editors for topics such as China, environment, and queer studies.[14]| Position | Name(s) |
|---|---|
| Editor-in-Chief | Medaya Ocher |
| Managing Editor | Ellie Eberlee |
| Senior Editors | Rob Latham, Eli Diner |
| Copydesk Chief | A. J. Urquidi |
| Editors at Large | Boris Dralyuk, Steph Cha, others (10 total)[14] |