Paul Goodman

Born in New York, Paul Goodman grew up in poverty, his father having left his mother for another woman before his birth. Goodman graduated City College of New York in 1931 and promptly applied himself to writing and teaching drama. After being fired from multiple teaching positions because of his bisexuality, Goodman spent years struggling to support his family. His book Growing Up Absurd (1960) touched on the growing disaffection of American youth at the time and brought him into public awareness. He was one of the Group of Seven who founded the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy. He also wrote a book on urban planning titled Communitas (1947), with his renowned architect brother Percival Goodman.