Michael Joseph Gross is an American author and journalist known for writing across politics, culture, and science. He is the author of Starstruck (2008) and Stronger (2025), a book on the history and science of muscle. A longtime contributing editor at Vanity Fair, he has appeared on major national broadcasts including CBS Sunday Morning and Morning Edition.
Gross grew up in Illinois and later graduated from Williams College. He went on to study at Princeton Theological Seminary. After working as a political speechwriter, he began writing for newspapers and magazines. In 2008, he published Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame. In it, he examined the emotional and social effects of celebrity. The book included encounters with collectors, journalists, and stars, asking why fame exerts such a powerful hold.
He wrote, “What fans look like to the celebrities themselves—who often seem to be among the most starstruck of us all.”
Gross developed a wide-ranging body of work during his years at Vanity Fair. His topics included religion, crime, business, and national security. He also profiled cultural figures and institutions. One of his most discussed pieces was a profile of Queen Elizabeth II told through her lifelong love of Pembroke Welsh Corgis. “Of all my VF stories,” he noted, “this is one of my favourites: a love story about a breeder of Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs who happened to be the Queen of England.”
His most recent book, Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives (2025), examines the essential role of muscle in health and identity. It blends science, history, and personal narrative to argue for strength training as a vital part of life.
“Even if you’ve never picked up a weight—Stronger is for you,” writes Arnold Schwarzenegger. The book ranges from ancient epics to modern research, covering forgotten stories of Victorian-era women weightlifters and new studies on strength gains in old age.
Photo credit: www.michaeljosephgross.com
Gross grew up in Illinois and later graduated from Williams College. He went on to study at Princeton Theological Seminary. After working as a political speechwriter, he began writing for newspapers and magazines. In 2008, he published Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame. In it, he examined the emotional and social effects of celebrity. The book included encounters with collectors, journalists, and stars, asking why fame exerts such a powerful hold.
He wrote, “What fans look like to the celebrities themselves—who often seem to be among the most starstruck of us all.”
Gross developed a wide-ranging body of work during his years at Vanity Fair. His topics included religion, crime, business, and national security. He also profiled cultural figures and institutions. One of his most discussed pieces was a profile of Queen Elizabeth II told through her lifelong love of Pembroke Welsh Corgis. “Of all my VF stories,” he noted, “this is one of my favourites: a love story about a breeder of Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs who happened to be the Queen of England.”
His most recent book, Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives (2025), examines the essential role of muscle in health and identity. It blends science, history, and personal narrative to argue for strength training as a vital part of life.
“Even if you’ve never picked up a weight—Stronger is for you,” writes Arnold Schwarzenegger. The book ranges from ancient epics to modern research, covering forgotten stories of Victorian-era women weightlifters and new studies on strength gains in old age.
Photo credit: www.michaeljosephgross.com
Livros
- indisponível
fb2epub
Arraste e solte seus arquivos
(não mais do que 5 por vez)