Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis join David Rubenstein at the Library of Congress for America’s Book Club on C-SPAN. The conversation explores the military experience and writing partnership behind 2034, 2054 and 2084, along with the personal experiences that shape Ackerman’s fiction.
C-SPAN · America’s Book Club
Video published October 18, 2026
Writing the Future of War
Ackerman and Stavridis discuss how they work together to imagine future conflicts while keeping individual characters at the center of the story. Their collaboration brings military experience into conversation with questions about technology, geopolitics and the choices people make under pressure.
Military Service and the Writing Life
Ackerman reflects on the transition from military service to writing, his daily routine and the importance of reading for aspiring writers. The discussion also turns to comradeship, fatherhood and the responsibilities that remain after a person leaves the military.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube.
Companion Video: America’s Book Club Treasures
In this companion segment from C-SPAN’s America’s Book Club, Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis explore historical artifacts from the Library of Congress collections.