Anne Helen Petersen

Anne Helen Petersen is a cultural critic and journalist whose 2019 BuzzFeed article on millennial burnout sparked a global conversation about work, rest, and modern life. That viral piece evolved into her book Can't Even (2020), which examines how burnout became endemic to an entire generation. Her follow-up, Out of Office (2021), co-authored with Charlie Warzel, deepens this exploration by investigating what it means to disconnect in an always-on world.

Petersen's work has established her as a key voice in understanding contemporary culture and its pressures. She hosts the Culture Study newsletter, which reaches over 184,000 subscribers monthly and continues her investigation into how cultural forces shape our daily lives, relationships, and sense of self. Her writing combines rigorous reporting with accessible analysis, making complex cultural trends understandable to broad audiences.

Based in Missoula, Montana, Petersen is available through the Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau. She brings both journalistic expertise and genuine insight to discussions about burnout, work culture, digital life, and the ways cultural narratives influence how we live. Her presentations draw on extensive research and real-world reporting to offer audiences both understanding and practical perspective on the forces shaping modern life.