Press Release | The Academy Announces the 2023 Dillon Book Award Winner

Washington, D.C. – The American Academy of Diplomacy is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2023 Douglas Dillon Book Award for a Book of Distinction on the Practice of American Diplomacy is Our Man In Tokyo: An American Ambassador and the Countdown to Pearl Harbor by Steve Kemper, published by Mariner Books.

In Our Man in Tokyo, Steve Kemper offers the readers a fascinating account of diplomatic history between Japan and the US in the run-up to World War II, as well as a case study of how Joseph A. Grew, one of America’s most experienced and skilled diplomats of his time, dealt with a situation that over his nine-year mission in Japan (1932-1941) went gradually out of control. It is a tribute to the profession of diplomacy, which masterfully captures how an effective ambassador works on the ground. It is also a well-told story, which keeps the readers cheering on the wellmeaning efforts of Grew and others around him despite knowing how the story ends. Finally, Kemper's book highlights more than a few important lessons for the current age, making it a must read for practitioners, students and the general public alike.

The Academy has celebrated distinguished writing about US diplomatic efforts and achievements with its annual Douglas Dillon Book award since 1995. The 2023 Book Award will be formally presented on November 9, 2023 at the Academy’s Annual Awards luncheon and ceremony at the US Department of State.

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