Alex Berenson: Author, Age, Wife, Books, Covid, and Net Worth
Alex Berenson – Biography
Alex Berenson is an American author, columnist, and former investigative reporter for The New York Times. Known for his sharp investigative work and bestselling novels, Berenson gained widespread attention with his controversial 2019 non-fiction book, Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence. He is also celebrated for his gripping John Wells espionage thriller series.
Education
Berenson graduated from Yale University in 1994 with a dual bachelor’s degree in history and economics.
Alex Berenson Age and Birthday
Born on January 6, 1973, in New York, Alex is 52 years old as of 2025. He celebrates his birthday every year on January 6.
Nationality and Ethnicity
Berenson is American by nationality and was born and raised in New York. He is of Jewish heritage.
Alex Berenson Height
He stands at an estimated height of 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Further physical measurements are currently unavailable.
Family Background
Alex is the son of Harvey S. Berenson, a managing director specializing in property tax consultancy at Schonbraun McCann Group in New York, and Ellen V. Berenson, an antiques dealer. Information about his siblings, if any, remains private at this time.
Wife and Personal Life
Berenson is married to Dr. Jacqueline Anne Basha, an emergency room psychiatrist at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Hospital, who also runs a private practice. The couple wed in May 2009 in New York, in a ceremony officiated by Rabbi Barton A. Shallat. Dr. Basha is a graduate of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she also earned her medical degree.
Alex Berenson Divorce
There is no publicly confirmed information indicating that Alex Berenson has divorced his wife, Dr. Jacqueline Anne Basha. As of the most recent reliable reports, the couple remains married. They wed in 2009 and maintain a relatively private personal life.
Alex Berenson The New York Times
Alex joined The New York Times in 1999, covering a range of beats from the pharmaceutical industry to national disasters like Hurricane Katrina. In 2003 and 2004, he reported from Iraq, experiences that inspired his first novel, The Faithful Spy, which earned him the prestigious Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America.
He left the Times in 2010 to focus on fiction writing full-time.
Books and Publications
Non-Fiction:
The Number (2003)
Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence (2019)
Fiction:
Berenson is the author of twelve novels in the John Wells series, a popular collection of espionage thrillers known for their authenticity and high-stakes storytelling.
Alex Berenson Books in Order
Alex Berenson is widely known for his John Wells series, a bestselling spy thriller collection. Here is the series in chronological order:
The Faithful Spy (2006)
The Ghost War (2008)
The Silent Man (2009)
The Midnight House (2010)
The Secret Soldier (2011)
The Shadow Patrol (2012)
The Night Ranger (2013)
The Counterfeit Agent (2014)
Twelve Days (2015)
The Wolves (2016)
The Prisoner (2017)
The Deceivers (2018)
He has also authored several nonfiction books, most notably Tell Your Children and Pandemia.
Controversy Around Tell Your Children
Tell Your Children sparked significant debate upon its release. In the book, Berenson links cannabis use to mental illness and violence, drawing criticism from many in the medical and scientific communities. Experts have challenged his conclusions for allegedly conflating correlation with causation and selectively citing research. Nonetheless, some readers and reviewers have found value in his anecdotal approach and willingness to explore uncomfortable questions.
Alex Berenson New Book 2023
Berenson’s most recent work, published in 2023, was a new installment in the John Wells series titled The Power Couple. (Note: Please confirm the title if you are referring to a different work or seeking a nonfiction release. As of the last update, no major nonfiction work was published by him in 2023 beyond expanded essays and online articles.)
The Midnight House – Alex Berenson
The Midnight House (2010), book four in the series, shifts focus to a mysterious covert interrogation facility used during the War on Terror. When members of the interrogation team start dying, John Wells investigates a conspiracy that leads him down a dark path. The novel examines the moral cost of counterterrorism.
Silent Man – Alex Berenson
The Silent Man (2009) is the third book in the John Wells series. In this installment, a nuclear weapon falls into the hands of extremists who plot a catastrophic attack on the United States. John Wells must stop the disaster while grappling with personal and professional dilemmas. The novel blends political intrigue with high-octane suspense.
The Faithful Spy – Alex Berenson
The Faithful Spy (2006) is the first novel in the John Wells series. It introduces Wells, a CIA operative who has spent years undercover inside al-Qaeda. When he returns to the U.S., no one is sure where his loyalties lie. The book won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and set the tone for Berenson’s action-packed, morally complex thrillers.
The Ghost War – Alex Berenson
The Ghost War (2008) is the second novel in the series. In this geopolitical thriller, John Wells investigates growing instability in China and uncovers a secret that could trigger global war. The book is praised for its realism, pacing, and insight into international espionage.
Pandemic – Alex Berenson
Pandemia (2021) is one of Berenson’s most polarizing nonfiction books. In it, he argues that the global response to COVID-19 was driven by hysteria, poor science, and authoritarian overreach. It expands on themes he introduced in his self-published Unreported Truths pamphlets and criticizes lockdowns, masking, and vaccine mandates.
Alex Berenson Books
Alex Berenson has written both fiction and nonfiction. His novels primarily explore espionage, terrorism, and intelligence operations, while his nonfiction books tackle controversial topics like marijuana use and public health policy.
Notable Fiction:
John Wells series (12 books)
Notable Nonfiction:
The Number: How the Drive for Quarterly Earnings Corrupted Wall Street and Corporate America (2003)
Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence (2019)
Unreported Truths about COVID-19 and Lockdowns (Series, 2020–2021)
Pandemia: How Coronavirus Hysteria Took Over Our Government, Rights, and Lives (2021)
Alex Berenson COVID
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Berenson became a vocal critic of lockdowns, mask mandates, and mRNA vaccines. His commentary—particularly on Twitter—was frequently labeled as misinformation by public health officials and led to his temporary ban from the platform. He self-published a series titled Unreported Truths about COVID-19 and Lockdowns, which was both heavily criticized and championed, depending on the audience. He later sued Twitter, and the case was settled in 2022.
Salary and Net Worth
As an accomplished author and former journalist, Berenson is estimated to earn an annual income between $170,000 and $230,000, with a net worth estimated at around $8 million.
