David Brooks’ Love Lecture Sparks Controversy
David Brooks, a writer at Atlantic and former New York Times columnist, has ignited a wave of online criticism after announcing a lecture on love. This comes after his divorce from his first wife of many years and his subsequent marriage to a significantly younger former research assistant.
His talk at Yale University, scheduled for Monday night and titled “David Brooks: How to Fall in Love with Someone,” was meant to provoke thought on personal relationships. The event description from the university suggested a serious conversation about love, posing the question, “But what about your love life?”
Critics were quick to highlight the irony in Brooks’ approach, given his personal history. One commentator quipped, “Step 1: Hire a young research assistant while you’re married to the mother of three children,” referencing his marriage to someone 23 years younger than him after leaving his first wife.
Another social media user echoed this sentiment, saying they couldn’t imagine a combination of person and topic they’d find less appealing. Humorously, someone else suggested altering the term “incident” to “world situation,” poking fun at the event’s serious tone.
On the same day, Brooks’ ex-wife Sarah expressed her disapproval of the coverage in an email, criticizing the journalism for its lack of integrity. They shared nearly 30 years together, meeting as students at the University of Chicago. Her real name was Jane Hughes, but she adopted the name Sarah after converting to Judaism years after their marriage.
Brooks has previously credited his first wife for strengthening his ties to Judaism, stating that he was drawn back to the faith as their family life developed. Their divorce was made public in 2013 after they spent 27 years together; neither party has openly discussed the circumstances surrounding the split, citing legal constraints.
Since then, Brooks remarried in 2017 to Anne Snyder, who worked with him early in her career. In his writings and discussions, Brooks detailed a spiritual awakening coinciding with his separation, shifting from atheism to a newfound faith in Christianity.
He was candid about the emotional turmoil he experienced during this period, asserting that he and Snyder’s relationship wasn’t initially an affair, despite the timing. Their bond was largely influenced by shared explorations of faith, as Brooks began attending the church she attended during their separation.
In light of this backstory, his upcoming lecture has stirred quite a debate. The newspaper has reached out to both Brooks and Snyder for remarks on the situation.
