About the Author

ALLEN RUCKER was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and has an MA in Communication from Stanford University, an MA in American Culture from the University of Michigan and a BA in English from Washington University, St. Louis. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller, "The Sopranos: A Family History," as well as two books with comedian Martin Mull, "The History of White People In America" and "A Paler Shade of White." His next book, "The Sopranos Family Cookbook," comes out in September, 2002. As a TV writer-producer, he co-founded the experimental video group, TVTV, and has written numerous network and cable specials and documentaries, including "The History of White People In America," "Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope" (Emmy nominee), "CBS: The First Fifty Years," "Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular," "Big Guns Talk," a history of the Western, and TNT's "Family Values: The Mob & The Movies." He is also the head writer of the official Sopranos website. Mr. Rucker is the recipient of the duPont-Columbia Journalism Award, the Writers Guild Annual Award, and two CableACE Awards, among others. "The History of White People In America" was honored by the Museum of Television & Radio at their 2001 Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Mr. Rucker also teaches in the USC School of Cinema-TV. He lives in LA and is married, with two children.