Vybarr Cregan-Reid
Professor Vybarr Cregan-Reid is an award-winning teacher, writer and academic. He is a Professor of Creative Non-Fiction at York St John University, where he also runs Creative Writing, Media & Film. Previously, he worked for the University of Kent in the School of English and the Medical School.
Twitter: @vybarr
Biography
Author of the FT and Daily Mail Best Science Book of 2018.
Professor Vybarr Cregan-Reid is an award-winning teacher, writer and academic. He is a Professor of Creative Non-Fiction at York St John University, where he also runs Creative Writing, Media & Film. Previously, he worked for the University of Kent in the School of English and the Medical School.
His next book is WE ARE WHAT WE READ, a memoir-manifesto that follows his life within (and without) books against a backdrop of cuts to arts funding:
“The boldest, clearest, most beautifully written articulation I have yet read of the life-changing properties of literature and why we disdain and downgrade its study at our peril. We Are What We Read should be a set text for the next Education Secretary and required reading for anyone who doubts the transformative potential of arts and humanities subjects.”
Caroline Sanderson, associate editor, The Bookseller
He is also the author of FOOTNOTES: HOW RUNNING MADE US HUMAN, published by Penguin Random House in 2015 to great critical acclaim. His most recent book PRIMATE CHANGE: HOW THE WORLD IS REMAKING US (Cassell) looks at what modern life is doing to the inside and the outside of our bodies.
He is a popular speaker at festivals and events on the topics of running, freedom, philosophy and what it means to be human. He lives in York where he likes rowing, buying records and being outside. His latest book WE ARE WHAT WE READ was published by Biteback in July 2024.
Listen to Vybarr Cregan-Reid on BBC's Open Book talking about the literature of running here. Or his series for the BBC World Service here.
Books
His latest book, WE ARE WHAT WE READ, was published by Biteback in July 2024.
‘A wonderful book, I endorse it with my whole heart’ - Miriam Margolyes
‘The boldest, clearest, most beautifully written articulation I have yet read of the life-changing properties of literature and why we disdain and downgrade its study at our peril. We Are What We Read should be a set text for the next Education Secretary and required reading for anyone who doubts the transformative potential of arts and humanities subjects.’ - Caroline Sanderson, associate editor, The Bookseller
