'Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears'

The Academy Awards remain a popular ceremony with global audiences, who tune in for the night when Hollywood hands out golden statuettes to “the best” in the industry. But in its almost century-long history, the annual ceremony has seen its share of controversies, upsets, shocking moments, and calls for change. Looking ahead to Oscars 2025, what do this year’s nominees tell us about the Academy? What are some of the new rules in place? And what do audiences really want to see at the Oscars? Join us for a conversation with writer Michael Schulman about his latest book, “Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears,” and this year’s Academy Awards. 

Schulman is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he has contributed since 2006, primarily about arts and culture. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and other publications. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep,” and the book “Oscar Wars,” which the Wall Street Journal called “the best book about Hollywood’s biggest night.” He lives in New York City.