Augusten Burroughs (born Christopher Richter Robison, October 23, 1965) is an American writer best known for his New York Times bestselling memoir Running with Scissors (2002). He is the son of poet and writer Margaret Robison and the younger brother of John Elder Robison.

Burroughs has no formal education beyond elementary school. He worked as a very successful advertising copywriter for over seventeen years. During this time, he struggled with alcohol addiction and nearly drank himself to death in 1999. In a compulsion he did not understand, Burroughs began to write a novel, completing it in just seven days. This novel was published one year later, marking the beginning of his writing career. He remains sober to this day.

Burroughs has contributed to significant magazines and newspapers, such as The New York Times, House & Garden, BlackBook, New York, The Times, Bark, Attitude, Out, and Details. He has been a regular commentator on National Public Radio's Morning Edition.