Ghosts of Tom Joad, A Story of the #99Percent is about growth,
failure and redemption. It is Earl?s story, tracing the rise of the
Working Poor, and the non-working wealthy. Rich in allegory, it is
funny and serious, Holden and Joe Dirt. Along the ride the story
tackles bullying and suicide, first kisses and cunnilingus, and the
protagonist?s struggle to overcome his father?s war that survived
within him.
Born in New York City, Peter Van Buren is a 24-year veteran of
the U.S. Department of State. He spent a year in Iraq. Following
his book, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the
Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People, highly critical of Provincial
Reconstruction Teams in Iraq, the Department of State began
proceedings against him. Through the efforts of the GAP and
the ACLU, Van Buren instead retired from the State Department with
his full benefits of service