George Packer Boeken

"From the award-winning author of The Unwinding--the vividly told saga of the ambition, idealism, and hubris of one of the most legendary and complicated figures in recent American history, set amid the rise and fall of U.S. power from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Richard Holbrooke was brilliant, wholly self-absorbed, and possessed of almost inhuman energy and appetites. Admired and detested, he was the force behind the Dayton Accords that ended the Balkan wars, America's greatest diplomatic achievement in the post-Cold War era. His power lay in an utter belief in himself and his idea of a muscular, generous foreign policy. From his days as a young adviser in Vietnam to his last efforts to end the war in Afghanistan, Holbrooke embodied the postwar American impulse to take the lead on the global stage. But his sharp elbows and tireless self-promotion ensured that he never rose to the highest levels in government that he so desperately coveted. His story is thus the story of America during its era of supremacy: its strength, drive, and sense of possibility, as well as its penchant for overreach and heedless self-confidence. In Our Man, drawn from Holbrooke's diaries and papers, we are given a nonfiction narrative that is both intimate and epic in its revelatory portrait of this extraordinary and deeply flawed man, and the elite spheres of society and government he inhabited"--Jacket

The narrative explores the deepening crisis in American democracy, highlighting the stark divides created by significant economic changes over the past thirty years. George Packer skillfully intertwines various stories to illustrate the fragmentation of the social contract, portraying a nation grappling with the challenges faced by both winners and losers in this evolving landscape. His detailed observations and ability to connect complex narratives provide a compelling examination of contemporary America and its search for new directions.

Just over a decade into the new millennium, America is beset by a sense of crisis. The seismic shifts that occurred in the space of a generation have created a country of winners and losers, leaving the social contract in pieces. In The Unwinding, George Packer narrates the story of America over the past three decades, bringing to the task his empathy with people facing difficult challenges, his sharp eye for detail and a gift for weaving together engaging narratives...The Unwinding moves deftly back and forth through the lives of half a dozen characters, including Dean Price, the son of tobacco farmers who becomes an evangelist for a new economy in the rural South; Tammy Thomas, a factory worker in the industrial Midwest trying to survive the collapse of her city; Jeff Connaughton, a Washington careerist; and Peter Thiel, a Silicon Valley billionaire. The narrative alternates these intimately told stories with biographical sketches of the era's leading public figures, from Oprah Winfrey to Steve Jobs, capturing the year-by-year flow of events...The Unwinding portrays a superpower coming apart at the seams, its elites and institutions no longer working, leaving ordinary people to improvise their own schemes for salvation.

The Assassins' Gate recounts how the United States set about changing the history of the Middle East and became ensnared in a guerrilla war in Iraq. The consequences of that policy are shown in the author's vivid reporting on the ground in Iraq, where he made several tours on assignment for The New Yorker.

Paints a picture of the last thirty years of life in America by following several citizens, including the son of tobacco farmers in the rural south, a Washington insider who denies his idealism for riches, and a Silicon Valley billionaire.

"Portions of this work originally appeared in The Atlantic and The New Yorker"--Copyright page.

Set against the backdrop of West Africa, this compelling narrative follows an American's immersive experience in the region. The author provides a rich, detailed account that explores cultural encounters, personal growth, and the complexities of life in a foreign land. With vivid storytelling and keen observations, the book captures both the beauty and challenges of adapting to a new environment, making it a profound exploration of identity and belonging.

The narrative delves into the author's family's politically active past, examining how their experiences reflect the evolution of American liberalism. Through a blend of journalism and storytelling, the book offers insights into the challenges and triumphs of liberal ideals, while contemplating their relevance and potential future in contemporary society. The exploration is both personal and political, providing a unique perspective on the interplay between individual history and broader political movements.

The 2013 National Book Award Winner A New York Times Bestseller Throughout his career as a journalist, George Packer has always been attuned to the voices and stories of individuals caught up in the big ideas and events of contemporary history. Interesting Times unites brilliant investigative pieces such as "Betrayed," about Iraqi interpreters, with personal essays and detailed narratives of travels through war zones and failed states. Spanning a decade that includes the September 11, 2001 attacks and the election of Barack Obama, 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 temptations 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 September 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 our own troubled times and showcase Packer's unmistakable perspective, which is at once both wide-angled and humane.

Set against the backdrop of post-Saddam Iraq, the narrative explores the experiences of a small group of young Iraqis who supported the U.S. invasion, risking their lives in the process. Through the lens of a chance encounter in January 2007, the characters reveal their hopes and fears amidst the complex realities of their nation's upheaval. This drama delves into the diverse religious and ethnic perspectives of Iraqis, highlighting the dichotomy between those who embraced change and the broader societal challenges they face.