Citizenship | Literature
Select novels, short stories, and nonfiction on contemporary life.
What began as a bold experiment in grassroots service produced future ambassadors to help guide U.S. diplomacy through seven decades of global upheaval.
Read, Listen, Watch
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I almost forgot I’d started a podcast called Backstory, inspired by heavy traffic to a book review published in 2015. At the time I recorded two more reviews and never got around to sharing. Here’s my new audio, with an updated show name: Backstory with Ben East.
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Turns out I do have a podcast.
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Rather than do a shrug emoji and move on, I embraced the notoriety, made a quick audio file, and added to the page.
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I like that Jimmy Carter wanted Imagine sung at his funeral.
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“Be obsessed. Obsession is a very good thing.”
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Go Big, Write Big, said nobody ever.
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One last time I’ll flick the switch to light the tree and warm my home with that iridescent glow, more a mood and vibe than actual color associated with words.
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I met him in Accra when the Carter Center visited Ghana for an update on its Guinea Worm eradication program. He was humble, polite, and eager to hear from the embassy briefers.
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December was a productive month and a needed revitalization of my purpose as a writer. I hope others are finding similar wind at their backs, and that it will continue to blow us into and through the new year.
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Self-interest and party over country has sucked the prospect of moral authority from all political leanings.
Ben East Books 