Julian Rubinstein | A collection of the published work of award-winning writer, journalist and producer Julian Rubinstein.

Anti-gang activist Terrance Roberts in Denver, from forthcoming book, The Holly
Julian Rubinstein at the Burj el-Barajneh Palestinian camp in Beirut.
Julian Rubinstein and Attila Ambrus in Budapest, Feb 1, 2012, the day after Attila’s release from prison.
Performing “Ballad of the Whiskey Robber” at the Miami Book Fair
On Media Bistro Panel (far right) with Tom Zoellner, Shari Goldhagen, Sebastian Junger and David Margolick
Julian Rubinstein and Timothy Garton Ash at the Festival of Philosophy, Brussels
From “The Journalist and the Shrink”

Biography

Julian Rubinstein is an award-winning journalist, educator, author and documentary filmmaker. His new non-fiction book, The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun and the Struggle to Save an American Neighborhood, was published in 2021 and named a New York Times Editors’ Choice. His documentary, also called The Holly, premiered at Telluride Mountainfilm in May 2022 and won the Audience Choice award for best documentary. His first book, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. His magazine work has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated and others. He is Visiting Professor of the Practice in Documentary Journalism at the University of Denver. For more, click here.

Operation Easter

“Five Most Entertaining Stories of the Year”
—Longform.org

Read Julian’s story about the world of illegal egg collectors from The New Yorker.

Ballad of the Whiskey Robber

The Holly

A New York Times Editors’ Choice

“A shattering piece of investigative journalism involving street gangs, race relations and law enforcement.”—Booklist, Best Books of 2021 pick

“Should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the extent to which this country’s criminal justice system is currently broken.”—Shondaland

“If you want to understand the origins of the violence ravaging many urban areas and the challenges faced by one man trying to stop it, read The Holly.”—Christian Science Monitor

More →

Whiskey Robber Cabaret

The acclaimed radio cabaret recording starring Eric Bogosian, Demetri Martin, Jonathan Ames, Gary Shteyngart, Arthur Phillips, Darin Strauss, and Jonathan Spottiswoode.

Music by Julian Rubinstein, One Ring Zero.

Listen to Jonathan Ames as the radio reporter who discovers Attila's identity:

Articles

From John McEnroe to the Hells Angels to the UK's Egg Bandits, a collection of award-winning magazine journalism from the pages of The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone and others.

The Journalist & The Shrink

A first person film about my father and me. Written, directed and produced by Julian Rubinstein, in progress.