In terms of today’s kids, I think it’s a wild a diverse generation, and you’re right we should be careful not to paint with too broad a brush, but my sense is that they may be less naive than kids raised in the 1950s, but that they are, in their own way, just as idealistic as the children of the 1960s. I think it’s important to remember that idealism and rage or anger often go hand in hand. Compared to my generation (Gen X, growing up in the 90s) young people today are far less apathetic, much more politically engaged, more determined to make change, and more vocal about their disappointment in the world they have inherited and their hopes and expectations for the future.
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I agree with you that both the podcast and the book are incredibly timely, but I also think that you’ve documented an important slice of American history in a very approachable way. Just sayin’. 
You mentioned early on in this discussion that you’ve got a couple of projects in the works - “a potential film/TV adaptation of the book, and also a film adaptation of a short story I wrote for Apple TV.”
Have you sold the adaptation yet, or is it still in progress? What else can you tell us about what you’re working on? Do you think there’s another book in your future?
I know you narrated the audiobook version of your book. What was that process like? We you approached by Tantor Media about it, or was it part of the contract for the book? How did recording it differ from doing your podcast?
Have you been on tour for the book, or are there plans to be on tour for it?
I have not yet sold the option for the book, though it is in progress. And I certainly hope to write another book soon! I have a couple ideas, and I’m trying to sort through what feels urgent enough to spend the next year writing it.
In terms of the audiobook, the publication itself was part of the contract with Norton. My narrating it for Tantor was a separate question, but they wanted me to do it so it could connect to the audience for Mother Country Radicals.
Recording that audiobook took about two weeks. It’s kind of a fun process, reading your own book aloud, but it’s also painstaking—you have to retake lines and paragraphs over and over—and it can be exhausting. But I’m proud of the audiobook. I think it brings together the writing of the book with some of the immediacy and intimacy we got from the voices in the podcast.
And yes, I’m on book tour right now. I just had two events in Chicago, and one at the WBUR festival in Boston. Upcoming dates in the next 2 weeks:
June 15 at Book Soup in LA
June 17 at Booksmith in San Francisco
June 18 at Powell’s in Portland
Thank you for sharing so much about your work, Zayd, it’s been a true pleasure having you here. Before we wrap up, is there anything we didn’t discuss that you hoped would come up? Anything you’d like to add?
You are so on with your feelings. I have a granddaughter that is so intone to the times. She is well informed, certainly not naive, as her G-Mom was at her age. She works for a non profit spreading kindness wherever she goes. Needless to say I am proud of the woman she is becoming. I’d like to think it is partly because of the love and good parenting from her mother. I’m proud of the both of them.
I will do so Kim. Thank you for bringing Zayd to the forum. Not only did I enjoy the book, but I also learned so much more here. I am anxious to listen to his podcast.
Zayd, Thank you for being so open and responsive. I have throughly enjoyed this conversation. I still live outside of Chicago, at least part of the year, and look forward to any future events you may have. Good luck on the tour.
Thanks to all of you. Really enjoyed the discussion, and appreciate your close and careful reads of my book. Excited to continue the conversation in other forms.