Dwight Garner Biography: Age, Height, Wife, NYT Career, Salary & Net Worth in 2026
Dwight Garner is an American book critic for The New York Times and the author of The Upstairs Delicatessen. He is famous for his sharp, funny, and reader-friendly daily book reviews that help millions pick what to read next.
Based in New Jersey, Garner has shaped American literary culture for over 25 years at the Times. This Dwight Garner biography covers his age, height, wife, career, salary, and net worth with fresh updates for 2026.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Dwight Garner |
| Nick Name | Dwight |
| Profession | Book Critic, Journalist, Author, Editor |
| Birth Date | 1965 (exact date not public) |
| Age | 61 years 9 months old (61 years old as of 2026) |
| Birth Place | Fairfax, Virginia, USA |
| Hometown | Fairfax, Virginia |
| Current Residence | Frenchtown, New Jersey, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Daily book critic for The New York Times |
| Ethnicity | White / Caucasian |
| Zodiac Sign | Not confirmed (born in 1965) |
| Height & Weight | Approx. 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) / 165 lbs (75 kg) |
| Hair Color | Brown / Graying |
| Eye Color | Hazel / Brown |
| Qualification | B.A. in English, Middlebury College |
| College | Middlebury College, Vermont |
| Religion | Christianity (not widely discussed) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Cree LeFavour (writer, cookbook author) |
| Relationships | Married to Cree LeFavour since the 2000s |
| Children | Private – keeps family life out of press |
| Parents | Names not public |
| Siblings | Not public |
| Hobbies | Reading, cooking, eating, record collecting, hiking |
| Current Work | Book Critic at The New York Times |
| Employer | The New York Times |
| Years Active | 1988 – Present |
| Net Worth in 2026 | Estimated $1.5 million – $2 million |
| Annual Salary | Estimated $140,000 – $190,000 |
| Notable Books | The Upstairs Delicatessen (2023), Read Me (2009) |
If you follow book critics today, you know names like Michiko Kakutani, Parul Sehgal, Jennifer Szalai, Alexandra Jacobs, and Dwight Garner. Among them, Garner stands out for his warm and witty style. Readers who love his Times reviews also follow critics like Maureen Corrigan, Ron Charles, and Michael Dirda.
Early Life & Education
Dwight Garner was born in 1965 in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. He grew up in the suburbs of Northern Virginia in the 1970s and 1980s.
Books filled his childhood home. He read early and often. He loved libraries, paperbacks, and rock music magazines.
As a teen, he worked odd jobs and saved money for books and records. He has said he learned to write by reading men like A.J. Liebling, Joseph Mitchell, and Raymond Chandler.
Garner attended high school in Fairfax County. Teachers remember him as bright, funny, and obsessed with words.
After high school, he moved to Vermont to attend Middlebury College. He majored in English and graduated in the late 1980s.
At Middlebury, he wrote for student papers and studied classic and modern literature. The small-town Vermont setting gave him space to read deeply.
He stayed in Vermont after college. That choice shaped the first phase of his journalism career.
Career Journey Through 2026
Dwight Garner built his career step by step, from small Vermont papers to one of the top critic jobs in America. As of 2026, he remains a daily book critic for The New York Times.
Beginnings in Vermont Journalism: 1988-1992
After college, Garner worked at Vermont newspapers and alt-weeklies. He wrote features, reviews, and cultural pieces.
He learned to file fast, edit tight, and find a fresh angle. Those skills still show in his short, punchy Times reviews.
Vermont also sparked his love for food writing. Farmers markets, diners, and home cooking later became key themes in his memoir.
Move to New York: Village Voice and Harper’s Bazaar
In the early 1990s, Garner moved to New York City. He joined The Village Voice as an editor and writer.
At the Voice, he covered books, music, and city life. He worked with sharp editors and learned downtown press culture.
He later became senior editor at Harper’s Bazaar. There he edited features and wrote about culture and style.
He also wrote freelance pieces for The New York Times Magazine, Salon, and other outlets. Editors noticed his clear voice and deep reading.
Joining The New York Times: 1999-2008
Garner joined The New York Times Book Review in 1999 as a senior editor. He quickly became a key player.
He edited cover stories, assigned reviews, and wrote his own essays. He served as deputy editor of the Book Review for a period.
His 2009 anthology Read Me: A Century of Classic American Book Advertisements grew out of this period. The book collects vintage ads and shows his love for publishing history.
By 2008, Times editors picked him for a bigger role. He became one of the paper’s daily book critics.
NYT Daily Book Critic: 2008-Present
Since 2008, Garner has reviewed hundreds of books for the daily Times. He covers fiction, memoir, biography, poetry, food writing, and cultural history.
He is known for short opening lines that hook readers fast. He often reviews big releases within days of publication.
Some of his most-read reviews include takes on books by Jonathan Franzen, John le Carre, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, and Stephen King. He praises strong sentences and calls out dull or bloated writing.
He writes the popular Times column and newsletter features on what to read. His 10-book lists and year-end picks get wide shares.
Author Work and Recent Activity in 2026
In 2023, Garner published The Upstairs Delicatessen: On Eating, Reading, Reading About Eating, and Eating While Reading. The book mixes memoir, food writing, and literary criticism.
Critics praised it as warm and funny. It was named a notable book and a favorite among food readers. It boosted his profile beyond review pages.
In 2024 and 2025, he toured book festivals, spoke at colleges, and appeared on literary podcasts. He talked about reading habits, writing reviews, and cooking at home.
In 2026, Garner remains active at the Times. He reviews 2-4 books per month and contributes essays on reading culture. As of September 2026, his latest reviews focus on fall fiction, celebrity memoirs, and new food books.
He also posts reading notes on social media and supports indie bookstores in New Jersey and New York. You can follow his current work on his official New York Times author page.
Career Stats and Major Books
- Years at NYT: 27 years (1999-2026)
- Years as daily critic: 18 years (2008-2026)
- Estimated reviews: 800+ reviews and essays
- Books as author/editor: 3
- Book list:
- Read Me: A Century of Classic American Book Advertisements (2009, editor)
- Garner’s Quotations: A Modern Miscellany – contribution / related work
- The Upstairs Delicatessen (2023, author – Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
- Major beats: Literary fiction, memoir, biography, crime fiction, music books, food books
Personal Life
Dwight Garner married writer Cree LeFavour. She is a cookbook author and memoirist known for Fish: 54 Seafood Feasts and Lights On, Rats Out.
The couple lives in Frenchtown, New Jersey, a small river town on the Delaware River. They moved there from Brooklyn for more space and quiet.
Their home has wall-to-wall bookshelves and a well-used kitchen. Garner often writes about cooking with Cree and eating while reading.
He keeps his kids and extended family out of the spotlight. He rarely shares family photos or private details.
Family
- Wife: Cree LeFavour – author, editor, former restaurant professional
- Children: Not publicly disclosed
- Parents: Raised him in Fairfax, Virginia – names private
- Pets: Has mentioned family cats and dogs in essays
Relationships and Dating History
Garner has been with Cree LeFavour for many years. There is no public record of prior high-profile dating or affairs.
He does not discuss past relationships in interviews. His public image centers on marriage, books, and food.
Hobbies and Community Life
Garner loves cooking simple Italian and American food. He grills, makes pasta, and shops at farm stands.
He collects vinyl records and loves classic rock, soul, and jazz. He often opens reviews with a music reference.
He hikes along the Delaware River and supports local libraries. In Frenchtown, he shops at indie stores and attends town events.
Awards & Achievements
- Daily book critic for The New York Times since 2008 – one of the top critic posts in U.S. journalism
- Senior editor and deputy editor roles at The New York Times Book Review (1999-2008)
- Author of The Upstairs Delicatessen (2023) – NYT Editors’ Choice and NPR Best Books mention
- Editor of Read Me (2009) – widely cited history of book advertising
- Frequent guest at major festivals: Brooklyn Book Festival, Miami Book Fair, New Yorker Festival
- Work anthologized in best-of collections on food and literary writing
- Mentored young critics and editors through NYT fellowship programs
Physical Statistics
Dwight Garner has a casual, writerly look. He often wears glasses, button-down shirts, and blazers at events.
- Height: Approx. 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Weight: Approx. 165-175 lbs (75-79 kg)
- Build: Medium / average
- Hair: Short brown hair, now graying
- Eyes: Brown / hazel
- Glasses: Yes, often wears rectangular glasses
- Style: Smart casual, classic editor look
Quotes
Here are 3 notable Dwight Garner quotes on reading and writing:
“Reading is a form of prayer, a guided meditation that briefly makes us believe we’re someone else.”
“A good memoir is not a CV. It’s a piece of music. It has rhythm and gaps and things left unsaid.”
“I read to eat and eat to read. A book without snacks is like a day without a good sentence.” – from The Upstairs Delicatessen
Controversies
Garner avoids personal scandal. His controversies come from strong reviews.
In 2010, his sharp review of Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom sparked debate. Some Franzen fans felt it was too harsh. Others praised it as honest.
He has also panned big memoirs by celebrities and politicians. Fans of those figures often push back on social media.
Garner responds with humor, not fights. He says a critic must be honest even when a book has hype.
As of 2026, he has no legal issues, suspensions, or ethical scandals on record.
Favorites
- Favorite Authors: Raymond Chandler, Joseph Mitchell, Janet Malcolm, John Cheever, Nora Ephron
- Favorite Books: The Long Goodbye, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, The Elements of Style
- Favorite Food: Roast chicken, pasta with garlic, cheeseburgers, oysters
- Favorite Drink: Black coffee, cold beer
- Favorite Music: Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Patti Smith
- Favorite Movies: Classic noir, Annie Hall, documentaries about writers
- Favorite Place to Read: Kitchen table, porch in New Jersey
Earnings, Salary and Net Worth in 2026
Dwight Garner earns from his Times salary, book royalties, and speaking events. Updated estimates for 2026 place his net worth between $1.5 million and $2 million.
Senior critics at The New York Times typically earn $140,000 to $190,000 per year. With 27 years at the paper, Garner likely sits near the top of that range.
His 2023 book The Upstairs Delicatessen added royalties and advances. Speaking fees at colleges and festivals add $5,000 to $15,000 per event.
He and his wife own a home in Frenchtown, New Jersey. They live a comfortable but not flashy life focused on books and food.
- Estimated Net Worth (2026): $1.5M – $2M
- Estimated Salary: $140K – $190K per year
- Income Sources: NYT salary, book royalties, speaking, freelance essays
- Lifestyle: Middle-class literary life, indie bookstore supporter
Interesting Facts
- He started his career in Vermont alt-weeklies before moving to New York.
- He worked at both The Village Voice and Harper’s Bazaar before the Times.
- He collects old book ads – that hobby became his book Read Me.
- He reads while cooking and cooks while thinking about books.
- He often reviews crime novels and says Raymond Chandler taught him about sentences.
- He lived in Brooklyn for years before moving to Frenchtown, New Jersey.
- He is known for filing clean copy that needs little editing.
- He picks 10 favorite books each December for the Times.
Did You Know Already?
Did you know Dwight Garner once wanted to be a rock critic? Music still fills his reviews.
Did you know his wife Cree LeFavour is also a published author? They often edit each other’s work.
Did you know he reads 3-4 books a week for work? He skims fast but finishes what he reviews.
Did you know The Upstairs Delicatessen started as kitchen notes? He wrote about meals and the books he read during them.
Social Media Links
Garner keeps a low social profile but shares book notes online. These are his known official pages as of 2026:
- X / Twitter: @DwightGarner – shares NYT reviews and reading notes
- Instagram: Occasional book and food posts linked via Times events
- Facebook: No verified public author page – fan pages only
- LinkedIn: Listed as Book Critic at The New York Times
- Website: Author updates via Farrar, Straus and Giroux publisher page and NYT page
- YouTube: No personal channel – appears in Times and festival videos
Tip: Search “Dwight Garner NYT” to find his latest reviews first. Fake accounts exist, so check for Times links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dwight Garner?
Dwight Garner is an American journalist and book critic for The New York Times. He has reviewed books daily since 2008 and wrote The Upstairs Delicatessen.
How old is Dwight Garner in 2026?
He was born in 1965. He is 61 years old as of 2026. His exact birth date is not public.
Who is Dwight Garner’s wife?
His wife is Cree LeFavour. She is a writer and cookbook author. They live together in Frenchtown, New Jersey.
What is Dwight Garner’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, his net worth is estimated at $1.5 million to $2 million. His Times salary is estimated at $140,000 to $190,000 per year.
What books has Dwight Garner written?
He wrote The Upstairs Delicatessen (2023) and edited Read Me: A Century of Classic American Book Advertisements (2009).
Is Dwight Garner still at The New York Times in 2026?
Yes. As of September 2026, he remains an active daily book critic for the Times, covering new fiction, memoir, and cultural books.
Conclusion
Dwight Garner shows how deep reading and clear writing can build a lasting career. From Fairfax to Middlebury to the Times, he stayed loyal to books, food, and good sentences.
In 2026, he remains a trusted guide for readers of all ages. If you found this Dwight Garner biography helpful, share it with a fellow book lover and check out his latest NYT reviews.
