Greg Grandin

Greg Grandin is an American professor, historian, and author of several important books about Latin American, US and global history. He is a professor of history at New York University and is the author of over ten books. His work has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Chinese, and has been widely discussed by academics, authors, journalists and policymakers.

Grandin is best known for his 2005 book, The Blood of Guatemala: A History of Race and Nation, which won the 2006 Bancroft Prize in history. Grandin draws upon archival and detention centers to examine the history of race, indigenous peoples and imperialism in Guatemala. He also considers the role of the United States in reinforcing structural inequalities throughout Latin America. The book has been widely praised by critics and academics alike, with the International Studies Association declaring it the best book published in 2005 on the historical development of Latin America.

Grandin's other works include Empire's Workshop: Latin America, the United States and the Rise of the New Imperialism, which looks at US policy from the 1980s onwards. In this book, Grandin examines the United States’ use of proxy forces, economic pressure and ideological justification for intervening in Latin American countries. He also discusses the role of US policymakers and institutions in promoting market-driven forms of nation-building, free trade, and neoliberalism. As former US president Jimmy Carter said about the book, “It is time for those of us in the US to face up to the harsh, hidden history of our relations with the peoples of Latin America. Greg Grandin’s brilliant book is no less than an honest and vivid chronicle of imperialism and militarism in the hemisphere.”

Grandin’s most recent book is Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City, which chronicles the story of Ford's attempt to build an industrial utopia in the Amazon. In this epic narrative, Grandin explores the history of the city and how Ford Model T production is linked to changes in Brazil and the wider world. The book has been recognized internationally, winning the Lionel Gelber Prize for best non-fiction book on international relations in 2019.

Grandin is also the author of Kissinger’s Shadow: The Long Reach of America's Most Controversial Statesman, about Henry Kissinger and his lasting influence on US foreign policy. Grandin’s other books consider the history of US policy in Cuba, apartheid in South Africa, Central American liberation theologies, the culture of US empire, the US war in Iraq, and more.

Grandin has been invited to speak at the United Nations, Georgetown University, Harvard University, the Royal Society of London, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, amongst others. He has written for The New York Times, New Republic, The Nation, and other publications, and has appeared on CNN, BBC, MSNBC, and NPR. He is regularly invited to give lectures at universities and conferences around the world.

Grandin’s scholarship and writing has been widely acclaimed by historians and scholars. His books have been hailed for providing “meticulous, unsparing and well-informed” accounts of US foreign policy and global history. His commitment to bringing to light neglected histories and constructing “a more difficult kind of knowledge” that challenges conventional narratives has made him one of the most respected authors in his field.