The Art of Becoming a Citizen

From three-time National Book Award nominee and New York Times bestselling author Gail Godwin comes an incandescent reflection on past and present that speaks urgently to our current political moment. “He just had the presidency stolen from him.” November 14, 1960: a crush of reporters eagerly await the first post-election meeting between Kennedy and Nixon when Nixon’s ally Bebe Rebozo speaks these words to the crowd. Among the eyewitnesses is Gail Godwin, reporting for the Miami Herald. Hearing these words echoed in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Godwin embarked on a project to reflect on that moment in 1960, all while dreading the looming 2024 election. Bolstering her reflection with stories from her life that bear witness to her becoming a writer, and a person, Godwin writes, “what, at this late date, did I still want to become?” The Art of Becoming a Citizen offers brilliant storytelling, moving reflections, and surprising insight gleaned from Godwin’s coverage of the 1960 election, her work abroad, and her friendships with Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving spliced with scenes from the last election cycle. Speaking with hope to the urgency and yearning so many of us feel, Godwin’s blend of history and memoir delivers both inspiration and a rousing battle call, encouraging readers to engage in their own reflection on the art and meaning of being a citizen.