Ed Yong
Ed Yong is a science journalist and author whose work explores biology, animal perception, microbiomes, and public health. He wrote I Contain Multitudes and An Immense World, and his COVID-19 reporting for The Atlantic helped shape public understanding, earning the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting.
Biography & Author's Journey
Ed Yong’s route to authorship began far from the American magazine world he would later shape. Born in Malaysia and raised in Britain from his teens, he studied natural sciences, specializing in zoology, at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He then tried graduate study, but eventually concluded that research itself suited him less than explaining it. Afterward he joined Cancer Research UK, working in health evidence and information. In 2006, while still at the charity, he started Not Exactly Rocket Science as a side project to practice, test his voice, and assemble clips. What began as self-training soon became the foundation of a career. ((https://apnews.com/article/b8f5cb91cdc1b4a15b12cbd4664eabc3?utm_source=openai))
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Community Voices
"There was no bigger story in 2020 than the coronavirus and no one covered it better than The Atlantic's Ed Yong"
— Poynter
"Ed Yong has written a riveting account of the microbes that make the world work"
— Elizabeth Kolbert
"With vivid tales and graceful explanations, Ed Yong reveals how the living things we see around us are wildly complex collectives"
— Carl Zimmer
"Ed Yong is a talented British science writer"
— The New York Times Book Review
"Ed Yong has done something beautiful, and unlikely: he's rendered the unseen world of bacteria thrilling, captivating and highly entertaining"
— Adam Rutherford
"Ed Yong has the collector's keen eye for the unusual, crossed with the journalist's nose for how to tell a beguilingly good story"
— Alexandra Horowitz
"Ed Yong is one of our finest young explainers of science"
— David Quammen
"Ed Yong's brilliant gift for storytelling and precise writing about science make the invisible and tiny both visible and mighty"
— Jeff VanderMeer
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
