Downstream from Here: A Foreign Correspondent Discovers Home

by Charles R Eisendrath, Mark Eisendrath (illustrator)

That Troublesome Old Family Place? That's Where Passions Shape a Future...After plum assignments in Washington, London, Paris, and Buenos Aires, TIME magazine correspondent Charles Eisendrath walks away from the glamor. It isn’t that he got it wrong—the career, the stories—it’s the realization that getting it right in terrorism zones can lead to something far worse for his young family. Kidnappings, home bombings, and “disappearances” were all too common.

Taking a leave of absence, he moves his family to a 146-acre farm in Northern Michigan. But this is no retreat. Journalism, he realizes, is, looking in windows at what others do. Eisendrath lunges out the door to a broader life and doesn't look back.

He plants a cherry orchard, invents a grill James Beard calls “brilliantly thought out,” starts a maple syrup company and teaches his sons to hunt and fish. His journalism now takes the form of founding the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists and Wallace House at the University of Michigan, securing a $60 million endowment to ensure permanence.

This memoir captures a life of action covering wars and recovering from a jungle plane crash; analyzing the personalities of brook trout and why a pet octopus seems to help with a son's stammer. In this book, he tethers it all to a farm alive with the past as it helps fashion his family's future.

Ken Auletta of The New Yorker calls it, “An amazing, beautifully written memoir.” Actor Jeff Daniels says, “Prepare to be inspired.”

389 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2025

About the author

Charles R. Eisendrath dropped out of law school to follow his passion for journalism. He was a foreign correspondent for Time Magazine and later founded Wallace House at the University of Michigan, home to the renowned Knight-Wallace Fellowships and the Livingston Awards, often called the "Pulitzer Prize for the young." Eisendrath secured a 60 million dollar endowment to sustain these initiatives. In addition, he founded Grillworks, Inc., where his patented grill helped revive America's love for wood-fired cooking. He and his wife, Julia, divide their time between Ann Arbor and a farm in East Jordan, Michigan.

Reviews

[David I · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Downstream from Here: A Foreign Correspondent Discovers Home,” (Mission Point Press), Charles Eisendrath displays the interests of a renaissance man, the keen eye and curious mind of a seasoned reporter, and the nuanced understanding of history. Seasoned with humor and irreverence, “Downstream from Here” will surprise you and spark your interest in subjects you never considered worth investigating. Writing a memoir shares much with dreaming, and, while it is clear that the chapters, each a story, are linked, how they are linked is richly ambiguous. Writing a memoir also stimulates self-discovery. Reading this memoir will stimulate your own self-discovery and leave you with gratitude for the opportunity to have a had a dialogue with its author.

David I. Joseph, M.D.
Author of “Listening for a Lifetime: The Artful Science of Psychotherapy”

[Leslie Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Memoir Full of Heart, Heritage, and Reinvention

Downstream from Here is a beautifully written and deeply personal memoir that resonated with me on many levels. As someone who enjoys stories of family history and personal journeys, I found Charles Eisendrath’s vignettes about his life—especially those centered around Overland Farm, Michigan, and the outdoors—both grounding and inspiring.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how clearly the value of family shines through. Whether he's writing about parenting, partnership, or the legacy of place, Charles shares his world with honesty, warmth, and a touch of humor. The love and history woven into his reflections create an emotional thread that anyone with a strong sense of home will appreciate.

Another theme that stands out is the power of reinvention. Charles has lived many lives—as a journalist, cherry farmer, investor, inventor—and he embraces each chapter with curiosity and courage. His story is a reminder that life is not a single path but a series of turns that can still lead to meaningful discovery.

The inclusion of illustrations and ephemera throughout the book really brings the narrative to life. These visual touches add richness to his storytelling and make the reading experience feel even more intimate.

If you're looking for a memoir that celebrates family, place, reinvention, and the art of fully living—Downstream from Here is a book you'll want to spend time with. It’s inspiring, memorable, and full of heart.

[William Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Treasure

Selected due mainly to the cover photo and the Michigan setting, this collection of essays from someone I had never heard about was truly a remarkable treasure. It contains so many varied insights into nature, relationships, and the human spirit. Highly recommend.

[Sally Campi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Eisendrath writes with such an engaging style and transports the reader into his fascinating life as a journalist, traveler, explorer, sportsman, philosopher, and above all, family man.

[Jenny]

Eisendrath is a journalist and former UM professor. Invented a type of grill. Survived a plane crash in Costa Rica. Has a cherry orchard in East Jordan and lives in Ann Arbor. Great collection of essays on life, hunting, trees, family, boats, and Michigan. And he is related to every Eisendrath in the U.S. as some family members were able to leave Germany before WWII.