Min Jin Lee is an accomplished American Korean writer, known for her deeply moving and insightful novels that explore her cultural background. She has written two fiction novels, with her debut work, "Free Food for Millionaires," published in 2007, becoming a national bestseller and receiving critical acclaim. Her second novel, "Pachinko," published in 2017, was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, a New York Times 10 Best Books of 2017, and a Top 10 Books of the Year for BBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the New York Public Library.
"Pachinko" has been translated into 25 languages and has been a selection for "Now Read This," the joint book club of PBS NewsHour and The New York Times. It was also on over 75 best books of the year lists, including NPR, PBS, and CNN. Min Jin Lee's writing has been featured in various prestigious publications, including The New Yorker, NPR's Selected Shorts, One Story, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, Conde Nast Traveler, The Times of London, and Wall Street Journal.
Min Jin Lee has received numerous awards and accolades for her writing, including fiction fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard. She was also named as an Adweek Creative 100 for being one of the "10 Writers and Editors Who are Changing the National Conversation" and a Frederick Douglass 200. In 2018, she received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Monmouth College. From 2019-2022, she will serve as a Writer-in-Residence at Amherst College.
Min Jin Lee has also contributed to a variety of different publications and outlets, sharing her thoughts on writing, politics, film, and literature. She has spoken at numerous prestigious and well-regarded universities, including Columbia University, Stanford, Harvard Law School, Yale University, and Ewha University. Min Jin Lee's dedication to her craft is evident in her advocacy for writing and her commitment to sharing her insights and perspectives with others. She is a true inspiration for aspiring writers and a valuable voice in contemporary literature.