Susan Orlean
Susan Orlean  
Podcast: City Arts & Lectures
Published On: Sun Nov 09 2025
Description: This week, our guest is Susan Orlean, the author of The Orchid Thief, The Library Book, and On Animals. Whether exploring the eccentric world of orchid collectors, untangling the mystery of a devastating fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, or examining animal-human relationships, she brings humor, curiosity, and humanity to all the stories she writes.Her new book, Joyride, is a collection of essays that highlights her fascination with the remarkable details of everyday life.On October 6, 2025, Susan Orlean joined us at the KQED studios to speak with Steven Winn about storytelling, obsession, and what continues to inspire her writing after more than three decades chronicling the world’s oddities for The New Yorker.