Dan Zevin

Dan Gets a Minivan

Dan Zevin grew up in suburban New Jersey, the son of a gynecologist father and a mother whom he credits with imbuing him with humor. In school, Dan’s lone academic skill was in writing book reports. His passion was Rolling Stone, which led to an internship there while he majored in journalism at New York University. Zevin moved on to teaching journalism classes and writing about the finer points of athletic equipment for a men’s health magazine. On assignment to review fitness-walking videos, he instead submitted a parody review to Spy, the satirical magazine of late-1980s New York. When it was published, Zevin committed to writing humor.

From Dan Gets a Minivan:

“Most men drift through life in a fog, waiting for some moment of clarity to give them purpose and meaning. I should know; I used to be one of them. But then something changed.”

After college he moved to Boston with his girlfriend (now wife), Megan Tingley. He became a humor columnist for Boston-area newspapers and wrote for Details and Maxim. Through his former editor at Rolling Stone, Zevin sent the manuscript for his first book to an agent, who gave it to another agent, who became his agent.

Beginning with Entry-Level Life (1998), Zevin has written four books that trace his transition from post-college blues to functional working adult to enthusiastic Costco shopper.

In his 2013 memoir Dan Gets a Minivan, Zevin chronicles his evolution from free-and-easy career guy to stay-at-home father. In addition to his books, Zevin has taught humor writing at Sarah Lawrence College and Fordham University, and is a popular comic correspondent for NPR. In 2013, he won the Thurber Prize for Humor.

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The Day I Turned Uncool: Confessions of a Reluctant Grown-Up. Comic tales about Dan’s experiences, such as a disturbing new interest in lawn care, as he moves from his twenties to his thirties.

Kir Royale Champagne Cocktail

On date night, the author and his wife drink champagne cocktails in an intimate French restaurant they used to frequent before having kids, and reflect on the only thing they really need after so many years of marriage: a flat screen TV.

1 part crème de cassis

5 parts Champagne

1 maraschino cherry

Pour crème de cassis into a glass and gently pour champagne on top. Garnish with cherry. Serves 1.