Richard Pollak, 91, Dies; Founder of Influential Media‑Critique Magazine

Remembered for “More” and a Revealing Biography of Bruno Bettelheim

Richard Pollak, who died at the age of 91, was a pivotal figure in American cultural journalism. In the early 1970s he co‑founded More, a magazine that famously “skewered” the pretensions and mishaps of the mainstream press, offering readers a sharp, satirical look at media practices.

Beyond his work with More, Pollak turned his critical eye toward psychology. He authored a meticulously researched biography of the controversial psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim, challenging the therapist’s legacy and exposing contradictions in his theories and personal conduct.

Colleagues and friends remember Pollak as a relentless truth‑seeker, a writer who combined wit with rigorous investigation. His contributions continue to influence contemporary critiques of both journalism and psychoanalysis.