Read excerpts from Inside a U.S. Embassy. To view the files listed below, you will need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free by clicking here.

Table of Contents (PDF)
Why this book? (PDF)
Profiles (PDF)
Day in the Life (PDF)
Tales From the Field (PDF)

"You don't have to be Secretary of State to enter the intriguing world of international diplomacy. What every American needs to know about the role of U.S. embassies is in this volume. Told from the unique vantage point of diplomatic practitioners, the stories recounted here shed light upon a profession little known to most Americans but deeply important to the safety, freedom and prosperity of us all. These are the stories of the men and women who serve America 's interests -- often under difficult and dangerous conditions -- from the great cities to the most remote corners of the globe."
Madeleine Albright, Former Secretary of State

"Anyone who has been connected to American diplomacy knows how often the question is asked, 'But what do you do in an embassy?' Here is the answer: a heck of a lot. Our citizens and our friends around the world will learn from this lively book just how vital the Foreign Service is to our country's well-being and to the betterment of all peoples."
George P. Shultz, Former Secretary of State

Read more comments, from Senator Joseph Biden, Senator Richard Lugar, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman, Ambassador Thomas Pickering and others.

Reader reviews from Amazon.com.

A review from American Citizens Abroad.

A note from Georgia Law's Legal Career Services Web site

Ever wonder exactly what the Foreign Service is and what goes on inside a U.S. embassy? A U.S. embassy is home to a dynamic team of professionals committed to public service and the value of diplomacy. Inside a U.S. Embassy gives an up-close and personal look into the lives of the diplomats and specialists who make up the U.S. Foreign Service.

Gain a sense of the key role played by each member of an embassy team from Paris to Kabul, from Bogota to Beijing, and places in between. Travel into the rainforests of Thailand with an environmental affairs officer, face rampaging militias with a political officer in East Timor, and join an ambassador on a midnight trip into a Macedonian refugee camp to quell a riot.

A Foreign Service career offers the experience of living in diverse cultures and the challenge of making a difference in the world. Come along inside a U.S. embassy and learn how the Foreign Service works for America.

AFSA home