Evan Osnos, the 2014 winner of the National Book Award for nonfiction, and Anand Gopal, a 2014 nonfiction finalist, participated in the Readings and Conversation event hosted by NPR’s John Ydstie ’74.
Osnos wrote “Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China.” The book documents China’s Gilded Age and the personal stories of people trying to negotiate it.
Gopal wrote “No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War Through Afghan Eyes,” which traces the effect of the war on three Afghan lives: a housewife turned senator, a Taliban commander and a U.S.-backed warlord.
Both journalists shared what it was like to report on events occurring in difficult, and in some cases dangerous, environments. And yet, more often than not they found surprising connections with the individuals they profiled.
It was a fitting event to celebrate 10 years of award-winning authors coming to campus. Concordia is one of two colleges that host National Book Award authors each year, and the longest to do so.
Gopal described what it was like to be embedded with the Taliban for a few weeks. For safety, he carried a letter from Taliban leaders confirming he was a journalist, not a spy.
“That still sounds a little frightening to me,” said Ydstie, the event host.
Osnos jumped in, saying the bravest thing he did was eat cold dumplings. “In China, it’s the people who are talking to you that are taking the gamble,” he said. “You’re naive if you’re not aware of that.”
Despite the challenges and difficulties, however, both writers encouraged audience members to explore places that seem different. Osnos observed this is something Concordia students are already encouraged to do.
“The more you know and experience, the less threatening these places become,” he said. “They are noble places and you can go there.”