Ben Yagoda (born February 22, 1954) is an American writer and educator.

Born in New York City to Louis Yagoda (1909–1990), a labor mediator and arbitrator with the New York State Mediation Board, visiting lecturer at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and a former organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, and Harriet (née Lewis),[1][2] he grew up in New Rochelle, New York.

He entered Yale University to study English in 1971 and graduated in 1976 with a bachelor of arts.

[3] He became a freelance journalist for publications such as The New Leader, The New York Times, Newsweek, and Rolling Stone.

He has published a number of books including About Town: The New Yorker and the World it Made.