Remnick was born to a Jewish family[1] in Hackensack, New Jersey, the son of Barbara (Seigel), an art teacher, and Edward C. Remnick, a dentist.[2][3] He was raised in Hillsdale, New Jersey, in a secular Jewish home with, he has said, "a lot of books around."[4] He is also childhood friends with comedian Bill Maher.[5] He attended Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale.[6] It was at Pascack Valley High School that he studied Russian as a language and was inspired to study the politics and culture of the USSR.