Encore: Author Dave Eggers on Illinois Roots and His Allegory on American Politics

Over the past two decades, author and journalist Dave Eggers has written more than a dozen books — from a critically acclaimed memoir to a dystopian tech saga. 

Eggers is a native of Illinois and went to the journalism school at the University of Illinois in Urbana. He also founded the national tutoring nonprofit 826 Valencia and started the literary magazine and humor website McSweeney’s.

His latest book is The Captain and the Glory, an allegory about the current American political scene.

Brian Mackey spoke with Eggers in December, which is when this interview was first broadcast. As you’re listening, keep in mind that impeachment was in the news and the pandemic was not.