Shalom Auslander

Shalom Auslander (born 1970) is an American novelist, memoirist, and essayist. He grew up in an Haredi Jewish neighborhood in Monsey, New York, where he describes himself as having been "raised like a veal", a reference to his strict religious upbringing. His writing style is notable for its Jewish perspective, existentialist themes, and black humor. His non-fiction often draws comparisons to David Sedaris, while his fiction has drawn comparisons to Franz Kafka, Samuel Beckett, and Groucho Marx. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages, and are published around the world.