Arnie Bernstein

Arnie Bernstein is a nonfiction writer based in Chicago. He is the author of Swastika Nation: Fritz Kuhn and The Rise and Fall of the German-American Bund, Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing and three books on Chicago history.

He was honored for his work by the Illinois State Library and was awarded a Notable Book award from the State Library of Michigan; Bernstein was also named to the New City “Lit 50” for his advocacy work on behalf of authors. Grants and awards included honors from the Puffin Foundation and Warner Brothers Comedy Writing Workshop.

Bernstein works as a writing and book coach, ghostwriter, editor, journalist, and writing teacher. Speaking engagements include presentations at DePaul University, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Columbia College-Chicago, and many other schools and universities; speaker and panelist for the Chicago History Museum, the Illinois State Library, the Gene Siskel Film Center, The New York Museum of Jewish Heritage, as well as numerous other public venues, libraries, and online conferences. Interviews include The New York Times, The Times of Israel, and Washington Post; BBC Radio, public radio in the United States, Ireland, and Australia, podcasts and documentaries, including the PBS series “American Experience.”

Bernstein writes all of his first drafts using a rotation of three manual typewriters: an Olympia-SM9, a Royal Quiet DeLuxe, and a Smith-Corona Skyriter. He fervently believes in the philosophy of the great Jewish sage, Groucho Marx: “I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go into the library and read a good book.”

Visit his website at www.arniebernstein.com or email him at [email protected]