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The Art of Becoming a Citizen: A Memoir
From 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.”
November 14, 1960: a crush of reporters eagerly await the first post-election meeting between Kennedy and Nixon when Nixon's ally Bebe Rebozo speaks these words to the crowd. Among the eyewitnesses is Gail Godwin, reporting for the Miami Herald. Hearing these words echoed in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Godwin embarked on a project to reflect on that moment in 1960, all while dreading the looming 2024 election. Bolstering her reflection with stories from her life that bear witness to her becoming a writer, and a person, Godwin writes, “what, at this late date, did I still want to become?”
The Art of Becoming a Citizen offers brilliant storytelling, moving reflections, and surprising insight gleaned from Godwin's coverage of the 1960 election, her work abroad, and her friendships with Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving spliced with scenes from the last election cycle. Speaking with hope to the urgency and yearning so many of us feel, Godwin's blend of history and memoir delivers both inspiration and a rousing battle call, encouraging readers to engage in their own reflection on the art and meaning of being a citizen.
“He just had the presidency stolen from him.”
November 14, 1960: a crush of reporters eagerly await the first post-election meeting between Kennedy and Nixon when Nixon's ally Bebe Rebozo speaks these words to the crowd. Among the eyewitnesses is Gail Godwin, reporting for the Miami Herald. Hearing these words echoed in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Godwin embarked on a project to reflect on that moment in 1960, all while dreading the looming 2024 election. Bolstering her reflection with stories from her life that bear witness to her becoming a writer, and a person, Godwin writes, “what, at this late date, did I still want to become?”
The Art of Becoming a Citizen offers brilliant storytelling, moving reflections, and surprising insight gleaned from Godwin's coverage of the 1960 election, her work abroad, and her friendships with Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving spliced with scenes from the last election cycle. Speaking with hope to the urgency and yearning so many of us feel, Godwin's blend of history and memoir delivers both inspiration and a rousing battle call, encouraging readers to engage in their own reflection on the art and meaning of being a citizen.
- GenresMemoirNonfictionPolitics
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Gail Godwin
44 books429 followersGail 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 14, 2026
This was a DNF for me. About halfway through I still couldn’t figure out where this was going or why it was written.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
August 29, 2026
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.
June 24, 2026
This is so beautiful, I love your book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews