Lebowitz was born and raised in Morristown, New Jersey. She had one sister, Ellen. Her parents were Ruth and Harold[12] Lebowitz, who owned Pearl's Upholstered Furniture, a furniture store and upholstery workshop.[12][13][14] She developed a love of reading from an early age, to the point that she would surreptitiously read during class and neglect her homework. Lebowitz describes her "Jewish identity [as] ethnic or cultural or whatever people call it now. But it's not religious."[15] She has been an atheist since age 7.[16] She did not have a bat mitzvah, but did go to Sunday school until 15 and had a confirmation.[15]

Lebowitz was a poor student overall, particularly in algebra, which she failed six times. She has called it "the first thing which they presented to me that I absolutely could not understand at all, and had no interest in understanding".[17][18] She worked at a Carvel ice cream store.[2] Her grades were so poor that her parents enrolled her in The Wilson School[15][19] (now defunct), a private girls' Episcopal school, in Mountain Lakes, where her grades marginally improved but she had difficulty following the rules and was eventually expelled for "nonspecific surliness".[15][20][18] She also was suspended from Morristown High School for sneaking out of pep rallies.[17]

As an adolescent, Lebowitz was deeply affected by James Baldwin: "James Baldwin was the first person I ever saw on television who I heard talk like that—by which I mean, he was the first intellectual I ever heard talk... And I was just flabbergasted. That made me read him."[21] She also enjoyed watching television appearances by Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, though she did not agree with Buckley.[21]

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5602911&forum_id=2#48141418)

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Since the mid-1990s, Lebowitz has been known for her decades-long writer's block.[2] Her last published book was Mr. Chas and Lisa Sue Meet the Pandas (1994), a children's book about giant pandas living in New York City who long to move to Paris. Since that time, Lebowitz has worked on various book projects that have not been completed.

Due to her writer's block, Lebowitz has largely supported herself with television appearances and speaking engagements. She has said, "It's what I wanted my entire life. People asking me my opinion, and people not allowed to interrupt."[38] She tours as a public speaker, represented by the Steven Barclay Agency.[39] In addition, she has made several appearances on Late Night with David Letterman[13] and had a recurring role as Judge Janice Goldberg on the television drama Law & Order from 2001 to 2007.[6] She does still write journalistic pieces; Lebowitz has been employed as a contributing editor and occasional columnist for Vanity Fair since 1997.

Personal life

Lebowitz is open about her personal life and is a lesbian.[67] She has spoken about having difficulty with romantic relationships. In 2016, she said, "I'm the world's greatest daughter. I'm a great relative. I believe I'm a great friend. I'm a horrible girlfriend. I always was."[52]

Lebowitz was a close, longtime friend of Toni Morrison.[26]

Lebowitz is "famously resistant to technology". She has no cellphone, computer, or typewriter.[68][69]

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5602911&forum_id=2#48141440)