Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy: A Memoir by Christopher R. HillMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don't read many non-fiction books about my work. I like fictionalized accounts about the State Department and diplomacy because I enjoy seeing how much they get right or wrong. It's always funny to read an outsider's impression of your life. I'll admit that I bought Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy by Christopher R. Hill because I've met him (around Chapter 16). Ok, I didn't just meet him. I spent several days with him while he was on official business in Chengdu, China. Organizing his visit and going to meetings with him was like being the roadie for a true rock star. I'm kind of sad he didn't even mention me as I'm sure I had a lasting impact on his life. Certainly eating Sichuan food so spicy to be deemed "inedible" is as memorable as negotiations with North Korea.
Chris Hill is an impressive guy with a sense of humor. Plus, he's nice. Those are not qualities you find in every senior government official. Maybe one. Maybe two. But all three? Chris Hill is a unicorn. His book didn't disappoint me either. This is not a dry, wonky read. It's engaging and accessible to the non-diplomat. You get a real sense of what life is like for those of us on the frontlines and a peek behind the curtain of diplomacy.
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