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

Impact screening and discussion at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, NC, December 6, 2022. Onstage with Lana Garland (far right), Judge Pat Evans and Dennis Garrett of Love & Respect, talking about issues of gentrification, law enforcement misconduct and why violence is rising in vulnerable communities.
Julian Rubinstein, Terrance Roberts and Prof. Hillary Potter after the Denver premiere of THE HOLLY, November 10, 2022.
Anti-violence activist Terrance Roberts in Denver, from 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 the winner of the 2022 Colorado Book Award and the 2022 High Plains Book Award and a New York Times Editors’ Choice. His documentary, also called The Holly, won multiple awards at film festivals in 2022 and will be released in theaters in February 2023. 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.

The Holly Documentary

“Engrossing”—New York Times

“Riveting”—Denver Post

“I was completely blown away,”—Academy Award-winner Adam McKay

Now streaming on Prime, iTunes, Hulu and Starz

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The Holly

A New York Times Editors’ Choice

Winner, 2022 Colorado Book Award

Winner, 2022 High Plains Book Award

“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

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Ballad of the Whiskey Robber

A New York Times “Editors' Choice”

Finalist, Edgar Allan Poe Award, Best Fact Crime

“Studs Terkel Eat Your Heart Out”—Boldtype

Film rights purchased by Johnny Depp

Ballad of the Whiskey Robber →

Whiskey Robber Cabaret

Finalist, 2007 Audie Award, Best Audio Book

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:

Whiskey Robber Cabaret →

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.

Articles →