Alexandra Petri

Alexandra Petri is an American humorist, columnist, and author renowned for her satirical commentary on politics, culture, and current events. Born on March 15, 1988, in Wisconsin, Petri grew up in Washington, D.C., and graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in English and a secondary field in Classics. She began her writing career as an intern at The Washington Post in 2010 and quickly became the youngest person to have a column in the paper. Her work has also appeared in McSweeney’s, The New Yorker, and other publications .

Petri's writing is characterized by its sharp wit and insightful observations. She is the author of several books, including A Field Guide to Awkward Silences (2015), Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why (2020), and Alexandra Petri's U.S. History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) (2023), which won the 2025 Thurber Prize for American Humor. In May 2025, she joined The Atlantic as a staff writer, bringing her unique voice and perspective to a broader audience .

Some of Petri's notable quotes reflect her humorous and often self-deprecating outlook on life. She once said, "My goal is to be weirder than everybody else and hope that no one stops me. So far, no one has." Another memorable quote is, "Worst case scenario, nothing I do has any value or purpose, but if I can make someone laugh, I'm at least as useful as a piece of quiche would be" . These remarks encapsulate her approach to writing and life—embracing the absurdity and finding joy in the process.