Hmm, well, I have some news. I turned in my book.
I’ve been writing it for four years, researching it for six, and reporting elements of it for decades. Over the last six months I’ve been able to focus exclusively on getting to one complete draft of my thesis, that political violence in the troubled countries I have covered for decades is a precursor and warning of the political violence that can happen in this country.
It has always been my contention that a murder in Manila can tell us a great deal about the vigilante impulses surging through the United States. My manuscript alternates between case studies of militias and vigilantes around the US with similar reporting from Asia and Latin America.
I have rejected a Eurocentric account of political violence and right-wing populism in today’s world. Too many Americans are only considering this issue through the lens of Britain or Hungary. These overly familiar frames blind us to much larger waves of democratization and anti-liberal nationalism competing around the globe. Viktor Orban gets a lot of attention, but Narendra Modi of India has 1.35 billion more constituents.
The draft I turned in—my fifth—will not be the last draft, as I will incorporate feedback from my agent and Random House.
It has been said that a book is never done, only abandoned. But I don’t want to abandon my baby, just yet. I only want to set it down for a while while, while I sneak off to Portugal tonight.
I’ll be reporting on drug decriminalization in Lisbon. Then I’m going to celebrate turning in my manuscript by ripping around the Douro Valley on two wheels. See you in November.
BONUS POINTS: The hot new jargon for the people I write about is AGAAVE (“anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism”).
Congrats Patrick! I know you still have a ways to go from draft to publication, but I'm already excited for the day when I can get a signed copy!
Congratulations! The book sounds super interesting and I’m psyched to read it.