This is thinking in public, a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about

front-line theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them.

I'm Albert Moller, your host and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,

Kentucky.

George Packers and acclaimed journalist, an award-winning author, enjoying a distinguished career at publications like The New Yorker and The Atlantic.

A graduate of Yale College, Mr. Packer covered the war in Iraq for the New Yorker from 2003 to 2018.

He presently serves as a staff writer for The Atlantic.

He's won a national book award.

Much of his journalism covers American foreign policy. His biography, Our Man Richard Holbrooke. his of that century and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

He's the author of numerous books,

his latest book Last Best Hope, America in Crisis and Renewal is the topic of our

conversation today.

George Packer, welcome to thinking in public.

Thanks for having me.

You know, your new book, The Last Best Hope, America

and Crisis and Renewal, is in many ways a continuation of the work you've done before.

I think I've read just about all of your major books.

Why this book at this time?

What was the spark that brought this about?

Well, most of my previous works have been long narrative books based on a lot of reporting a lot of research travel talking to a lot of different people

the subject has been America and Americans all the way through.

This time I was trapped by the pandemic.

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