Eckstein began his career as a freelance illustrator and writer, contributing to publications such as
New York Newsday,
The Village Voice, and
TimeOut New York. His breakthrough came in 2007 with the publication of
The History of the Snowman by Simon & Schuster. This book established him as the world's leading expert on snowmen and led to numerous television and radio appearances. In 2016, Eckstein published ''Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores'' (Penguin Random House), which became a New York Times bestseller. The book features illustrations and anecdotes from some of the world's most iconic bookstores. This work was followed by a series of successful books, including
The Ultimate Cartoon Book of Book Cartoons and ''The Complete Book of Cat Names (That Your Cat Won't Answer to, Anyways)''. Eckstein's cartoons have appeared in
The New Yorker,
The New York Times,
MAD magazine, ''
Reader's Digest'', and many other publications. He has been nominated twice for Gag Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society. Besides his work as a cartoonist and writer, Eckstein has taught writing and cartooning at institutions such as
New York University,
Pratt Institute, and the
School of Visual Arts. His 2024 book, ''Footnotes from the World's Most Fascinating Museums'', offers an illustrated journey through 75 museums across the United States, Canada, Inspired by the struggles museums faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eckstein's work aims to raise awareness of these institutions while providing an entertaining and educational experience for readers. He has taught at NYU, Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Arts. == Exhibitions and public speaking ==