Gilbert Cruz
American book reviewer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gilbert Cruz is an American literary critic and editor. He has served as the editor of The New York Times Book Review since July 2022.
Early life and career
Cruz was born and raised in The Bronx, New York City. He began his journalism career at The Tuscaloosa News in Alabama. He subsequently worked as a writer and editor for prominent national magazines, including Entertainment Weekly and Time, where he covered entertainment and culture.[1]
Work at The New York Times
Cruz joined The New York Times in 2015 as an editor for its television coverage. In January 2018, he was promoted to Culture Editor, leading the newspaper's broad arts and culture reporting.[1]
In July 2022, he was appointed editor of The New York Times Book Review, succeeding Pamela Paul, who moved to an opinion columnist role.[2] Internal announcements highlighted his editorial expertise and pointed to his popular, regularly updated guide, "The Essential Stephen King," as an example of his engagement with both books and readers.[3][4]
Tenure at the Book Review
Upon his appointment, Cruz was tasked with expanding the publication's digital reach to engage with new audiences, particularly in response to the rise of literary communities on platforms like BookTok. Initiatives have included launching mobile-friendly digital content such as short-form poetry analysis.[2][5]
He has also implemented several editorial changes. Responding to earlier criticism that the Book Review had narrowed its focus under his predecessor, Cruz revived coverage of the wider publishing industry and bookselling business.[6][5] Additionally, he discontinued the occasional practice of assigning two separate critics to review the same book, arguing that the approach often confused readers.[7]