Monte Burke is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Saban: The Making of a Coach. He is also the author of Lords of the Fly, which was named one of the best books of the year by Field & Stream and Outdoor Life and was described by the Wall Street Journal as “wonderful…a lush, panoramic book,” 4TH And Goal, which won an Axiom Award for biography, and Sowbelly, which was named one of the best books of the year by Sports Illustrated and Amazon, and was chosen for Barnes & Noble’s “Discover Great New Writers” program. He is also the co-editor of Leaper, which was named one of the best books of the year by the (London) Times.

His latest book is Rivers Always Reach the Sea (“A delight.” –The Atlantic), a collection of angling essays and profiles.

And coming in January 2026: Men of Troy: The Epic Afternoons, Wild Nights, and Enduring Legacy of Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans.

After a 14-year stint as a reporter, staff writer and editor at Forbes, Burke is now a contributing editor at the magazine. He is also a contributing editor at Garden & Gun and The Drake. He has also written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Outside, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Field & Stream and Golf Digest.

Burke grew up in New Hampshire, Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia and Alabama, and graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. in Religion. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughters.