Citizenship | Literature
Select novels, short stories, and nonfiction on contemporary life.
Ben East’s nonfiction debut recounts how JFK’s bold experiment shaped diplomatic careers and influenced modern American diplomacy.
The figures highlighted here tracked looted antiquities after the invasion of Iraq, re-established diplomacy in Afghanistan after 9/11, and secured village infrastructure while war raged in Vietnam. As hostages in Iran, they maintained diplomatic discipline to bridge a volatile cultural divide. These are individuals of deep courage and conviction, whether integrating a southern U.S. high school or finding comfort in African village beliefs to cope with personal tragedy.
Read, Listen, Watch
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This episode of SoftPower/FulStories, uncharacteristically in-the-moment, offers two hopeful voices paddling calmly, sanely, purposefully, across our current river of despair. The American dream ain’t dead.
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The screenplay will be a pistol report, a gunshot echoing across the naked landscape of America’s mythic past and shattered future. Rebuilt. Enduring.
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Light progresses stingily now: pm stretches a minute a day from Jan 3-27, the sun’s arrival steady at 7:27 each morning from Jan 1-11.
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“Happy New Year.” A simple admonition, a statement of hope and promise, but also of purpose. A happy year won’t just occur. You must make it occur.
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I wanted to reflect on what 2025 meant for me as a newly retired diplomat & RPCV, and and how SoftPower/FulStories contributed to that transition
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A boating excursion on India’s Kavery River brought unexpected sightings and peaceful reflection as we move from the holidays to preparing for the new year
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An author revisits a languishing biographical sketch, finishes it, and wins a Golden Nib in the Virginia Writers Club statewide nonfiction category.
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As the publication date draws near for Profiles in Service, the author puts in hours designing a cover jacket and reading the proof.
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Reviving last year’s tradition of a blog post every day in December. This might get nutty.
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What strikes you as a singular, foremost image to capture the spirit of Peace Corps service and U.S. diplomacy over the last half century?
Ben East Books 