Strength in What Remains

by Tracy Kidder

Paperback, 304 pages

Published May 4, 2010 by Random House Trade Paperbacks.

ISBN:: 978-0-8129-7761-5
OCLC Number:: 449843760

(6 reviews)

Tracy Kidder, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of the bestsellers The Soul of a New Machine, House, and the enduring classic Mountains Beyond Mountains, has been described by the Baltimore Sun as the "master of the non-fiction narrative." In this new book, Kidder gives us the superb story of a hero for our time. Strength in What Remains is a wonderfully written, inspiring account of one man's remarkable American journey and of the ordinary people who helped him--a brilliant testament to the power of will and of second chances.Deo arrives in America from Burundi in search of a new life. Having survived a civil war and genocide, plagued by horrific dreams, 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 in search of meaning and forgiveness. An extraordinary writer, Tracy Kidder once again shows us what it means to be fully human by telling a story about the heroism inherent in ordinary people, a story about a life based on hope.From the Hardcover edition.

4 editions

Vashbear reviewed Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder

Incredible book that really challenges your thinking on societies

5 stars

I wish every American would read this book.

I recall hearing about the Rawandan genocide in the 90s with the Tootsies and the Hutus ethnic groups (and also in neighboring Burundi). It was something that seemed horrific yet something remote and having little to do with my life in America.

This book is not a history book - it is a true story about one young man who lived through it and miraculously escaped and ended up as in illegal refugee in New York city. It covers multiple stories: - how foreign immigrants are mistreated and despised in America - how a the leaders of some colonial Aftrican country carried out many of the divisions and oppressions practiced earlier in order to maintain power - how unjust societies can "suddenly" erupt into insanity - how a society can try to heal itself - how a few acts of kindness by …

I wish every American would read this book.

It is a reminder that you can never really know what someone has or is going through and have some empathy and reserve some judgement until you know more. Also -- when there is societal pressure to demonize other groups, you should be very suspicious that there is a coordinated effort to demonize.

AliCorbin reviewed Strength in what remains by Tracy Kidder

Review of 'Strength in what remains' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

We started out, briefly, discussing the book. Comparisons were made with last month's book, and between Deo's life in Burundi and his life in NYC. But the discussion veered, fairly quickly, into typical NW liberal angst. A couple of attempts were made to get back on track, but Val kept hijacking the discussion, excitedly blaming all ills in Africa on colonialism (which was at least related to the background of the book) or stating that the best way to prevent future genocides and save the world was to support the teachers in Wisconsin, which struck me as a bit of hyperbole.