The Art of Becoming a Citizen: A Memoir

by Gail Godwin

From the 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.”
Gail Godwin first heard these words in November 1960, one of a crush of reporters eagerly awaiting the first postelection meeting between Kennedy and Nixon. Hearing an uncanny echo in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Godwin embarks on a project to reflect on that long-ago moment and offset a mounting pressure of dread about the looming election ahead.
In looking back at her life as a young woman-her travels abroad, early marriage, friendships with Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving-juxtaposed with the lead-up to the recent election, she discovers an understory that surprises her. She asks herself, “What, at this late date, did I still want to become?” With urgency and a yearning so many now feel, Godwin's blend of history and memoir is both inspirational and rousing, encouraging readers to engage in their own reflection on the art and meaning of being a citizen.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Politics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published June 9, 2026

About the author

Gail Kathleen Godwin is an American novelist and short story writer. She has published one non-fiction work, two collections of short stories, and eleven novels, three of which have been nominated for the National Book Award and five of which have made the New York Times Bestseller List.

Godwin's body of work has garnered many honors, including three National Book Award nominations, a Guggenheim Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts grants for both fiction and libretto writing, and the Award in Literature from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Five of her novels have been on the New York Times best seller list.
Godwin lives and writes in Woodstock, New York.

Reviews

[Mary Northrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in short chapters, this memoir pivots between Godwin's life in her 20s (in the 1960s) as she finds her way toward becoming a writer and her life in 2024 in the midst of upsetting political developments.

[Stephanie Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me. About halfway through I still couldn’t figure out where this was going or why it was written.

[Erin Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art of Becoming a Citizen: A Memoir
by Gail Godwin

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC.

The Art of Becoming a Citizen is less a traditional memoir and more a reflective conversation across time. Gail Godwin moves between her early experiences as a journalist, particularly around the 1960 election, and the present political climate, using both as a way to examine what it means to participate, observe, and belong.

What stands out most is the perspective. Godwin writes with the weight of experience, not urgency, and that gives the book a steadier, more thoughtful tone than many contemporary political reflections. The connections between past and present are handled with care, and while the parallels are clear, they are not forced.

The writing itself is strong, as expected. There is a quiet confidence to it, especially when she reflects on her life as a writer and the people she encountered along the way. The inclusion of literary figures and personal history adds depth without overwhelming the central theme.

At times, the pacing slows, particularly when shifting between timelines, but it fits the nature of the book. This is not meant to be fast or reactive. It is meant to be considered.

A thoughtful and well written reflection on citizenship, memory, and the role of the individual in larger systems.
4 stars.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gail Godwin turns an old newspaper assignment into the doorway to a much larger meditation on becoming a person and a citizen. *The Art of Becoming a Citizen* moves between her experience covering the 1960 Kennedy Nixon election, her years abroad, friendships with writers such as Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving, and her reflections during the lead up to the 2024 election. That movement across time is central to the book’s form, allowing memory and contemporary observation to illuminate one another rather than remain separate narratives. Godwin’s tone is notably personal and searching, particularly as she asks what she still wants to become late in life. The result is not simply political memoir, but an exploration of attention, responsibility, writing, aging, and participation in public life. Readers drawn to literary memoir will find an intimate retrospective, while those interested in American history and citizenship will find a personal perspective on how public events become woven into an individual life.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Gallery for an advance copy. I'm not sure the purpose of this book. Is it about the author's early writing life? The nightmare of Trump being elected, twice? The flashbacks were all over the place, and the author repeated herself more than once. I love Gail Godwin's work, but this needed an editor.

[Eva Muress · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stands out most is the perspective. Godwin writes with the weight of experience, not urgency, and that gives the book a steadier, more thoughtful tone than many contemporary political reflections. The connections between past and present are handled with care, and while the parallels are clear, they are not forced.

[Carol Dimitriou · Rating 4 out of 5]

In between writing about her past, the author contemplates the dreaded possible election of Trump as President. The possibility is frightening and impossible to believe, but she is a realist. His first presidency undid years of progress in our country, and cost us the respect of the world. His reelection only brought more damage. We must hope for better times in the future.

[Noah G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so beautiful, I love your book!

[Mary]

I tried and as much as I have liked other work by Godwin, including her memoir about her fall, I couldn’t stick with this one. Too scattered. Maybe it is my own attention span this morning!

[Grace Seabrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and well written, this was such a strong read!