The Resume

(February 7, 1932- )
Born in Ocean City, New Jersey
Journalist for the New York Times and Esquire
Wrote the books 'The Bridge: The Building of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge' (1964), 'The Kingdom and the Power' (1969), 'Fame and Obscurity' (1970), 'Honor Thy Father' (1971), 'Thy Neighbor's Wife' (1981), 'Unto the Sons' (1992) and 'A Writer's Life' (2006)

Why he might be annoying:

He said he majored in journalism because it 'seemed like the easiest thing to do.'
He makes notes for his books on shirt boards (those cardboard inserts from dry-cleaned shirts).
After profiling the Bonanno crime family in 'Honor Thy Father,' he predicted -- rather pematurely -- that the Mafia was dying out.
As part of his research for 'Thy Neighbor's Wife,' a study of the sexual revolution in America, he had an affair with a friend's wife at a nudist resort and managed a massage parlor.
After 'New York' magazine profiled him during this period he complained, 'It looked as if I were having an erotic experience on an expense account, calling it research.'

Why he might not be annoying:

Tom Wolfe hailed him as the founder of the 'New Journalism.'
In its 70th anniversary issue (2003), the editors of 'Esquire' declared Talese's profile 'Frank Sinatra Has a Cold' to be the best story ever published in the magazine.
The film rights for 'Thy Neighbor's Wife' sold for $2.5 million, setting a record that lasted for a decade.
His wife said about his 'research' techniques, 'No matter how bizarre it all was, I never felt deserted or unloved by him.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 44]
• I am an Adulterer
• I Attended University of Alabama
• I Went to a Psychiatrist
• Look at Me, I've Been Caught Eating
• Newspaper Journalists/Editors/Publishers
• Playboy Interview Subjects [1980s] (Ranked: 1980)
• Playboy's 55 Most Important People in Sex [2008] (Ranked: 51)
• Profiles 33251-33500 (Ranked: 33486)
• Residents/Vacationers of the Hamptons
• Terrier Owners
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying