Interesting Times: Writings from a Turbulent Decade

From Strand Bookstore

Spanning a decade that includes the September 11, 2001 attacks and the election of Barack Obama, journalist George Packer brings insight and passion to his accounts of the war on terror, Iraq, political writers, and the 2008 election. Across these varied subjects a few key themes recur: the temtations and dangers of idealism; the moral complexities of war and politics; the American capacity for self-blinding and self-renewal. Whether exploring American policies in the wake of 9/11, tracking a used T-shirt from New York to Uganda, or describing the ambivalent response in Appalachia to Obama, these essays hold a mirror up to these troubled times with a wide-angled perspective. 409p.

From the Publisher

A wide-ranging volume of essays on politics and culture evaluates the past decade's worth of events from the September 11 attacks to the rise of Barack Obama and includes both personal narratives and works of investigative journalism. By the award-winning author of The Assassins' Gate. 25,000 first printing.

Review

Publishers Weekly
"[A]n illuminating time capsule....Packer's vivid scene setting and rich language are punctuated with flashes of mischief and humor....Despite the breadth of his topics, each essay is distinguished by its telling details and depth of its insight."

Review

Kirkus Reviews
"[E]ach essay in this collection [is]...an astute, incisive and provocative examination of a specific issue bearing global parallels. In an era marked by the swift decline of well-researched, long-form journalism, these often heart-wrenching essays bring to life social, political and personal elements of far-flung crises in ways that elude more concise mediums." (starred review)