David Chrisinger
Award-Winning Author and Educator Exploring How Stories Shape Public Life
David Chrisinger is Executive Director of the Harris Writing Workshop at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. His books and essays explore how storytelling shapes public life, examining war, trauma, and the power of personal narratives to influence policy and democratic debate. Read more
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Reviews
I have struggled my whole career with understanding the reader and their needs. Not until this book did I find a comprehensive and straightforward framework to think about the reader more holistically as I navigate my relationship with them during my writing process.
Brakeyshia R. Samms, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
As a professional staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives, I use the lessons from this insightful book to write memos that break down complex topics and to craft speeches that highlight the importance of policy solutions for a broader audience.
Graham Harwood, House Oversight Committee, U.S. Congress
As a Management Analyst focused on state and federal legislation, I write memos that inform my director on a wide range of policy topics that impact, or could potentially impact, Arapahoe County. Consistently, I return to the frameworks within the worn covers of my copy of David’s 2nd Edition of Public Policy Writing That Matters.
Nico Johnson, Arapahoe County Government, Colorado
The most challenging responsibility fora public policy professional is not developing a point of view, but rather getting someone in power to agree with you and take action. Professor Chrisinger taught me the power of persuasion to effectively advocate for my position and build trust with policymakers on both sides of the aisle.
Molly Smith, IFF, Community Development Financial Institution
Chrisinger’s use of “Ernie,” rather than Pyle, creates an intimate connection between readers and subject. With other writers that approach might seem presumptuous and also outrage purist writing teachers, but given the familiar tone of Pyle’s columns, in this instance, it works.
Claude R. Marx, The Common Reader
Displaying Pyle’s detailed snapshots of victory, levity, fatigue, death, and grief . . . The compelling story of ‘America’s most beloved war correspondent,’ who lost his life recording soldiers’ real experiences.
Review, Kirkus
In this intriguing and admiring biography, Chrisinger retraces war correspondent Ernie Pyle’s steps through the European and Pacific theaters of WWII . . . Chrisinger’s deep admiration for his subject comes through, as does his belief in the power of storytelling as a force for good . . . A fascinating portrait of a reporter who gave everything to get the story.
Review, Publisher's Weekly
When it comes to Pyle and the war, the book is very good. The reporter was a prolific letter-writer, and Mr. Chrisinger draws heavily and judiciously from Pyle’s correspondence with two close friends and with his wife.
Ben Yagoda, Wall Street Journal
Chrisinger teases out the exquisite, often painful balancing act Pyle had to perform as a war correspondent . . . An excellent reassessment of a singular American journalist.
Booklist, (starred review)
A prescient and engrossing story, Chrisinger intricately weaves moments of memoir and hard journalism with incredibly granular and well-rendered studies of Pyle’s life, the parts of war he witnessed, and the people he met, knew, and loved.
Rachel Kambury, Wrath-Bearing Tree
