David Finkel is a highly respected American writer and journalist, renowned for his work in the areas of military fiction, war, nonfiction, and historical novels. He is widely recognized for his courageous reporting from war-torn countries and is best known for his books "Thank You for Your Service" and "The Good Soldiers." In addition to his writing, Finkel is a staff writer at The Washington Post and the leader of the Post's national reporting team.
Finkel has received numerous accolades for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for his explanatory reporting on a series of stories about U.S.-funded democracy efforts in Yemen. He was also named a MacArthur Fellow in 2012. In "The Good Soldiers," Finkel provides a vivid and detailed account of his experiences embedded with the 2nd Battalion in the 16th Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Infantry-Brigade-Combat Team, First Infantry Division, during their deployment in Baghdad in 2007. Through his writing, Finkel offers a unique and personal perspective on the realities of war and its impact on those who serve.
In addition to his work as a journalist and author, Finkel is also an editor and writer for The Washington Post. His latest book, "An American Dreamer: Life in a Divided Country," is set to be published by Random House in February 2024. Finkel's previous book, "Thank You For Your Service," explores the experiences of some of the most injured soldiers from the battalion he wrote about in "The Good Soldiers" and their struggles to recover from the physical, psychological, and moral wounds of war. The book was a critical success, named a top ten book of 2013 by the Washington Post and a notable book of the year by the New York Times. It was also adapted into a feature-length film by DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures. Finkel's many awards and honors include a Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant.