Jennifer Howard

Jennifer Howard

Writer, editor, journalist.

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Jennifer Howard is a writer, editor, and journalist and the author of Clutter: An Untidy History. Her features, reviews, essays, and fiction have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education, TLS, LARB, EdSurge, Humanities, Fine Books & Collections, South 85 Journal, the anthology D.C. Noir, and elsewhere. She has been a contributing editor at the Washington Post Book World and a senior reporter covering the humanities, publishing, and libraries at the Chronicle of Higher Education. Jennifer has been the recipient of fellowships from VCCA and the DC Council on the Arts & Humanities. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her family.

Item of Note

Is technology a tool for living or a distraction from it? Two new books for young readers take up that question. I wrote about them for the NYTBR.

Praise for CLUTTER

“A keen assessment of one of society’s secret shames and its little-understood consequences.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Jennifer Howard has written a brilliant and beautiful meditation on the nature of our attachment to things.” —Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author and podcaster

“A fascinating and insightful account of what becomes of the stuff that we accumulate.” —Adam Minter, author of Secondhand

A New York Times Book Review “New and Noteworthy” book

ON SALE NOW

IndieBound | Bookshop | Amazon

Blog

June newsletter: Tapping away

June 5, 2026

My college road trip essay

April 24, 2025

Secret gardens

March 7, 2025

More posts »

Writing

New Kids’ Books Say Put Down the Phone, Pick Up a Field Recorder

The New York Times Book Review

“Because of Winn-Dixie” turns 25

The New York Times Book Review

Teachers Learn the Art of Teaching Civics in a Hot-Button Age

EdSurge

More work »

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About Jen

Jen Howard smiling.

Writer, journalist, editor, gadabout. Book- and nature lover. Washingtonian. LLC. Read more »

Latest Posts

  • June newsletter: Tapping away
  • My college road trip essay
  • Secret gardens
  • Fire, ice, and Feiffer
  • Twelfth Night/J6

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