Jim Murphy was born in Newark, New Jersey, on September 25, 1947, to James K. Murphy and Helen (nee Grosso) Murphy. His father was a certified public accountant and his mother was an artist who worked as a bookkeeper. Murphy was not particularly interested in reading as a youngster, but he was athletic and adventurous. Murphy was a nationally ranked high school sprinter and participated on two national champion relay teams. He became interested in literature in high school only after he discovered that there were books adults did not want him to read; this motivated him to find and read those books.

Murphy attended Rutgers University, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in 1970. He then enrolled briefly in graduate school at Radcliffe College in 1970, and he married Elaine A. Kelso, who is a successful business executive, that same year. He landed a job as...