NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY:Los Angeles Times • San Francisco Chronicle •Chicago Tribune • The Christian Science Monitor • Publishers WeeklyIn Strength in What Remains, Tracy Kidder gives us the story of one man’s inspiring American journey and of the ordinary people who helped him, providing brilliant testament to the power of second chances. Deo arrives in the United States from … him, providing brilliant testament to the power of second chances. Deo arrives in the United States from Burundi in search of a new life. Having survived a civil war and genocide, he lands at JFK airport with two hundred dollars, no English, and no contacts. He ekes out a precarious existence delivering groceries, living in Central Park, and learning English by reading dictionaries in bookstores. Then Deo begins to meet the strangers who will change his life, pointing him eventually in the direction of Columbia University, medical school, and a life devoted to healing. Kidder breaks new ground in telling this unforgettable story as he travels with Deo back over a turbulent life and shows us what it means to be fully human.
BONUS: This edition contains a Strength in What Remains discussion guide.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Named one of the Top 10 Nonfiction Books of the year by Time • Named one of the year’s “10 Terrific Reads” by O: The Oprah Magazine
“Extraordinarily stirring . . . a miracle of human courage.”—The Washington Post
“Absorbing . . . a story about survival, about perseverance and sometimes uncanny luck in the face of hell on earth. . . . It is just as notably about profound human kindness.”—The New York Times
“Important and beautiful . . . This book is one you won’t forget.”—Portland Oregonian
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This book shows how much of a difference kindness and generosity–even of the simplest kind–can make in another person’s life and then, through them, in a community’s life.
The psychological impact of the horrors of the civil war from which he fled were impossible for him to forget. After reading the book, they are difficult for me to forget, as well. There were seemingly random New Yorkers who assisted him and their generosity is inspirational and worthy of applause. So is his determination. But we are reminded …
It will certainly change the way you look at the homeless and remind so many of us of how lucky we are.
We are a family of seven and we lived in Africa for thirteen years while my husband worked for The Agency for International Development. We left before some of these tragic events occurred, but I read every book that I can about these situations. This is an interesting book and I recommended it for a book club read. I wanted to know …
Optimism and perseverance prevail despite unthinkable sadness. Wonderful!
Really well written moving story. Eye-opening view of a country I had never heard of –the poverty and the violence and seeing it all from the POV of a political refugee, and the challenges finding opportunity for immigrants in the US
One of my all time favorite books
Amazing true story. The story outweighs the writing. But still, very good and informative.