What draws an award-winning writer to the darkest corners of human behaviour? Patrick Radden-Keefe is a New York Times bestselling author and staff writer at The New Yorker. He is known for his acclaimed books, including Empire of Pain and Say Nothing - the latter was adapted into a BAFTA and Emmy-nominated drama series.
Radden Keefe’s latest book, London Falling, investigates the life and untimely death of Zac Brettler, a North London teenager drawn into the criminal underworld. In this conversation, Patrick reflects on why he is so fascinated by “the bad guys”, how the extraordinary story behind London Falling unfolded and his unconventional writing process.
Patrick also talks about the years of rejection that preceded his success and how it has shaped him. I hope you enjoy this conversation with one of the world’s finest narrative journalists (oh, and Patrick). JUST KIDDING.
✨ IN THIS EPISODE:
03:25 Why He Writes Bad Guys
05:12 London Falling Origin Story
08:01 Reinvention and Secret Lives
10:06 Holocaust Legacy and Lying
14:58 Carrying Grief and First Failure
31:47 Parents Read First Drafts
33:13 Family Themes And Fixations
34:22 Chasing The New Yorker Dream
36:49 Rejection Resentment And Drive
41:14 What To Leave Out
43:28 Research Outline
48:13 Screenplays That Never Get Made
50:51 Growth Outside Comfort Zone
💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
I tend to look at people, even people who do pretty monstrous things, as human beings... The question for me is always, how did they get there? And usually they got there by degrees.
I'd like to think that the sense of who you are as a person isn't contingent on the dopamine hit of people telling you you've done a good job.
🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:
London Falling is out now: www.patrickraddenkeefe.com
Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content
Elizabeth’s Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com
📚 WANT MORE?
Jon Ronson - another journalistic hero of mine, Jon talked about his love of storytelling, what being bullied at school taught him and why truth-telling is vital: swap.fm/l/3Uwm2GCNCBpHQVZc6dwr
Malcolm Gladwell - on being mediocre at running, failing to be a friend and whether prejudice can ever be a force for good: swap.fm/l/CxIsEyNtJcyXROPZQCvh
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