Amy Goodman was born to secular Jewish parents who were active in social action groups. Her father, George Goodman, was an ophthalmologist and a founding member of the Long Island chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Her mother, Dorothy Goodman, a literature teacher and later a social worker, co-founded a local chapter of the SANE/Freeze peace group. One of Goodman's brothers, David Goodman, is also an investigative journalist and has co-authored books with his sister. He is married to Vermont politician Sue Minter. Their maternal grandfather was an Orthodox rabbi.