Ann Godoff Dies at 76

Before founding Penguin Press in 2003, Ann Godoff was the president and editor-in-chief of the Random House Trade Publishing Group. Her departure from Random House in 2003, amid corporate restructuring, sparked debates about the future of literary publishing. Less than two weeks after leaving Random House, Godoff accepted an offer to launch a new imprint at Penguin. She brought a core group of about 40 authors with her, including Ron Chernow and Michael Pollan, forming a remarkable foundation for the new venture, Penguin Press. Godoff's first list of books in the spring of 2004 included Steve Coll's "Ghost Wars," which won a Pulitzer Prize, and Ron Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton," which has sold over a million copies and was adapted into the hit musical. Under her leadership, Penguin Press has published five Pulitzer Prize winners. Throughout her career, Godoff was known for turning well-written, serious books into commercial successes. At Random House in the 1990s, she edited massive bestsellers like John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and Caleb Carr's "The Alienist." Her eclectic career path before publishing included studying film at NYU under Martin Scorsese, selling used cars, and working as a line producer for Dr. Joyce Brothers' television show. Godoff often said her time selling cars prepared her for publishing better than any formal education. Godoff had a lasting relationship with author Michael Pollan, editing all ten of his books, including "A World Appears," published just before her death. Two other books she edited were also released in her final weeks: Gisèle Pelicot's "A Hymn to Life" and California Governor Gavin Newsom's "Young Man in a Hurry." She died on February 24, 2026, from complications of bone cancer. The president and publisher of Penguin Press, Scott Moyers, described her impact on American book culture as "incalculable."