Jim Naughton is a former reporter for The New York Times and The Washington Post who writes frequently on religion, higher education, and sports. His work has appeared in Slate, ESPN: The Magazine, and The Washington Post Magazine.

In 1989, his first book, "My Brother Stealing Second" (HarperCollins), a novel about grief and recovery aimed at a teen audience, was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the year's Best Books for Young Adults.

His second book, "Taking to the Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan" (Warner Books), examined the social and commercial forces that made Jordan an icon. It was chosen as a readers' favorite by a teen panel at the New York Public Library.

In 1996, Naughton published "Catholics in Crisis: The Rift Between American Catholics and Their Church" (Penguin), which examined conflicts in American Catholicism by telling the story of one influential parish as it wrestled with issues of authority, sexuality, and the church's commitment to the poor.

Naughton lives in Washington with his wife and two sons.