The Heymans’ rich and timely memoir recounts the three years they spent in Canada, where Bruce Heyman served as U.S. ambassador from 2014 to 2017 and his partner, Vicki, led cross-border conversations and programs related to the arts, social innovation, and youth engagement as a cultural envoy. Focused on representing American interests, the Heymans learned that to do so effectively meant representing the shared interests of citizens on both sides of the national divide, and they undertook extensive trips across Canada, meeting with a wide-range of citizens—including government leaders, farmers, artists, and entrepreneurs—to work out ways to protect shared values. Their book and their lives are an inspiring testament to the power and value of diplomacy in a world where rants and tweets increasingly substitute for meaningful engagement.
