Be True: Life in Literature

John reads “A Prayer for Us,” a poem by Crisosto Apache. He also discusses the nation’s 250th anniversary, American ambivalence, his friendship with a U.S. Supreme Court justice, and a lifelong crush. Visit crisostoapache.com for more about the poet featured in this episode. In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses the writing he loves, and some...

John reads poems by the Japanese poet, philosopher, and founder of Sōtō Zen, Eihei Dōgen. He also discusses his struggles with autoimmune disease and stress management, and his interest in meditation. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographe...

John reads the opening of The Odyssey, Homer’s epic poem. He also discusses the power of literature to create community, and why he’s rooting for the success of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, an...

John reads “Invictus,” a poem by William Ernest Henley. He also discusses his need for a team, the limits of heroic individual, the importance of community, and the special courage of Nelson Mandela. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer...

John reads Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.” He also discusses a wistful graduation season, clichéd commencement addresses, the power of confidence, and the secret of his father’s success. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, a...

John reads Emily Dickinson’s poem “The Brain-is wider than the Sky.” He discusses needless fear, his evolution as a writer and person, and what he learned while being interviewed on a recent podcast. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer...

John reads a passage from Michel de Montaigne’s essay “On the Education of Children.” He also champions teachers, defends humanities education, previews a new long essay, and reviews his life’s work. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer...

John reads “The Second Coming,” a poem by William Butler Yeats. He also discusses the challenge of meeting this moment of historic change, fighting America’s decline, and losing unless everyone wins. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer...

John reads a passage of The Souls of Black folk, by W.E.B. DuBois. He discusses the Supreme Court’s vile, racist decision in Louisiana vs. Callais, and the persistence of the color line in America. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer,...

To celebrate spring, John reads “Pomegranate,” a poem by D.H. Lawrence. He also discusses the beauty of...the birds and the bees, the hypocrisy of our species, stupid euphemisms, and The Beach Boys. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer,...

John reads an excerpt from his novella, Thy Brother’s Blood. He also discusses our daily abuse of the environment, the trouble with podcast fiction, Marshall McLuhan, and the return of his dog Luna. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer,...

John reads “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. He also discusses his memories of the centennial of the Statue of Liberty, current conflicts between asylum and militarism, and a morality we can share. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer...

John records his first visit to the Greek capital and watches from abroad as the United States loses its soul. He also reads passages of The Libation Bearers, by Aeschylus, and communes with Socrates. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist, biographer,...

John reads a passage from Atomic Backfires, a new book he helped edit. He discusses childish nuclear politics, war in Iran, good intentions and unintended consequences, and the importance of research. Atomic Backfires: When Nuclear Policies Fail, is available, open-access, at https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edited-volume/6076/Atomic-BackfiresWhen-Nuclear-Policies-Fail . It is also available in har...

John reads the opening of his brand new novella, Thy Brother’s Blood. He also discusses the virtues of resistance, surprising fiction, the challenges of being human, and why it’s good to be uncertain. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist and biographe...

John reads excerpts of his poem “Prophesy II,” from his chapbook Apocrypha. He also discusses poetry in a time of war, the mysticism of the writing process, his literary Catholicism, and David Bowie. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist and biographer...

John discusses his recent visit to Capitol Hill with a group of high school students, the new challenges of being young in the U.S. (and the world) in 2026, and how kids are treated as expendables. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, and he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist and biograph...

John reads Walt Whitman’s poem, “Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night,” a battlefield vignette about the true costs of war, a tragic poem for a dangerous time. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, and he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist and biographer, taught history and literatu...

John reads “Emotions,” a poem by the 12th century Chinese poet Li Qingzhao. He discusses global burnout, the desire for a sense of peace (however temporary), and echoes of Wordsworth and Dickinson. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, and he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist and biograph...

John reads a monologue from Henrik Ibsen’s play “An Enemy of the People.” He discusses partisan corruption, the end of right and truth, and rereading Ibsen as Minneapolis became a battleground. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, and he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist and biographer,...

John reads the lyrics to the Cuban folk song “Guantanamera.” He discusses its composition, the distinguished history of political refugees in the U.S., and why the poet José Marti was a bad bunny. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, and he has published several chapbooks and a novella. He has been a journalist and biographe...

In this short episode, John discusses the always-embattled freedom of the press, as enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the colonial-era trial of John Peter Zenger. John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a lang...

A vision of a post-Trump future posing as an argument for linguistic diversity, educational inclusivity, and the recognition of heritage language communities as a vital national resource. John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language...

What a recently-discovered Hittite tablet says about the past, present, and future of the humanities and the embattled values of humanism for an America that has lost its way. John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language-education a...

To celebrate Halloween, John reads his poem “An Evening with M. Poe,” a dramatic monologue and fictionalized episode in the gory, spooky life of Edgar Allan Poe. John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language-education association. He...