Work History

1995-present: Spent the year 1994-95 in France as part of a career change from business to writing, lecturing and farming

1981-1994: President, Kiser Research Inc. Founded a consulting and brokering business in Washington DC which acquired rights to advanced technologies from the Russia and Eastern bloc countries.

1975-1981: Private consultant to US Department of State and writer on the technology potential of the Soviet bloc countries.

Education

University of Chicago- MBA
Columbia University- MA European History
Goettingen University- German Studies
University of North Carolina- BA History
Languages: German, French, Russian

Publications- Articles

2000-07: “The Algerian Microcosm: Monks, Muslims and the Zeal of Bitterness,” Cistercian Studies Quarterly (38:3) 2003; “From Algeria to Iraq,” Marine Corps Gazette (6/06); “Iraq, Amundson and the Zouaves,” Marine Corps Gazette (8/07)
1975-1994: Numerous publications on Soviet bloc technology potential in Harvard Business Review, Foreign Policy Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.

Publications -Books

2008- Commander of the Faithful:The Life and Times of Emir Abd-el-Kader (Monkfish)
2002- The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love and Terror in Algeria (St. Martin’s Press)
1998- Stefan Zweig, Death of a Modern Man (University of Toulouse)
1989- Communist Entrepreneurs (Franklin Watts)

Associations

Honorary Member, Urals Branch of Russian Academy of Science
Board of Trustees, World Council for Religion and Peace
Director, International Center for Religion and Diplomacy
Board of Directors, Faith and Culture Center, Nashville TN

Praise for Previous Books

The Monks of Tibhirine

(St Martin’s Press, 2002; winner of French Siloe Prize 2006)

  • “His book paints a surprising picture of the bonds of faith between Christians and Muslims, and provides rays of hope for the future.” Dan Morgan, Washington Post
  • “A tragic story thoroughly reported, beautifully rendered with compassion and grit.” Christopher Buckley
  • “I could not put down this excellent book. The book works on so many levels. It touched me deeply.” Imam Feisal Rauf
  • “You exalt the human spirit through your remarkable ability to be impartial… The lessons it teaches have had a profound influence on me as a priest, a catholic and a human being.” Reverend Winthrop Brainerd, Epiphany Parish, Washington DC.
  • “Your book has had a profound impact on my life. Thank you for making the story available in the United States. As a Franciscan Sister, I have a great love for the children of Islam, and if God willed it, I would go live in a Muslim country.” Sister Alexandra Burghardt, Franciscan nun
  • “The book opened my feelings about Islam… For the change of attitude –deep in me—that came from reading your book, I am grateful.”  Craig Eder, chaplain (ret.), St Albans School
  • “A heart wrenching tale…Kiser builds up the drama leading to the monk’s death with the skill of a novelist.” Kirkus

Stefan Zweig: Death of a Modern Man

(University of Toulouse, in translation, 1997)

  • “One must read this small volume which, with tenderness and chagrin, makes us love a great Jewish writer almost despite himself.”  Elie Wiesel
  • “John Kiser’s book is very, very good.” William Warner. Beautiful Swimmers (Pulitzer)

Communist Entrepreneurs

(Franklin Watts, 1988)

  • “John Kiser’s Communist Entrepreneurs should spark a perestroika in our thinking about opportunities for learning from the Eastern Bloc.” Robert Waterman,  Pursuit of Excellence
  • “Kiser challenges the stereotypes of Eastern European socialism.” Robert Mueller, Chairman, Arthur D. Little