[2] Yust began his career as a writer for the Philadelphia Evening Ledger in 1917 and later worked for newspapers in New Orleans, Louisiana, and for other publications.

Three years later, upon writing a review of the new 14th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, Yust came to the attention of its president, William Cox.

The following year Yust began to work for the encyclopaedia and became its associate editor in 1932.

He was the father of Jane Yust Rivera and filmmaker Larry Yust, who made a 20-minute film, in 1969, for Encyclopædia Britannica Films, of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery", later, Trick Baby (1972), and Homebodies (1974).

[3][4] Yust died in Evanston, Illinois, at the age of 65 after suffering a heart attack.