Dan Rather has just announced that he’ll be writing a book of essays on “what patriotism looks like.” It’ll be called What Unites Us.
The book will be published by Algonquin and is slated for release this November.
The venerated television journalist ― who is currently 85 years old ― has only grown in popularity in recent years, particularly with his recent commentary on President Donald Trump.
Rather took to Facebook on Thursday to share his thoughts on the essay collection and what he wants it to tell the American people.
“We live in turbulent and disorienting times,” Rather writes.
He says he’s been writing the book in conjunction with the “daily (or even minute by minute) news cycle” and has “tried to step back for a wider perspective.”
“I want to share my sense of the basic tenets that I see as the foundation of the country I hold so dear. It is patriotism, as I define it, not as a divisive cudgel but a common purpose. It is also a patriotism that will not ignore the sins of our nation, but challenge them honestly and head on. So in the book, I will be exploring themes that I see as fundamental to holding together this great experiment in democracy. It is ‘What Unites Us,’ the title I [sic] given to the book.”
Most intriguingly, Rather says he hopes that “some of the spirit we have created here on Facebook” can continue on in his essays. He simply has to finish writing them.
You can read his whole message on Facebook below:
What Unites Us is currently available for pre-order and will be available wherever books are sold on Nov. 7.