Far from the Tree

Parents, Children and the Search for Identity

By: Andrew Solomon

Narrated by: Andrew Solomon

Length: 40 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

National Book Critics Circle Award, Nonfiction, 2013

From the National Book Award-winning author of the "brave...deeply humane...open-minded, critically informed, and poetic" (The New York Times) The Noonday Demon, comes a game-changer of a book about the impact of extreme personal and cultural difference between parents and children.

A brilliant and utterly original thinker, Andrew Solomon's journey began from his experience of being the gay child of straight parents. He wondered how other families accommodate children who have a variety of differences: families of people who are deaf, who are dwarfs, who have Down syndrome, who have autism, who have schizophrenia, who have multiple severe disabilities, who are prodigies, who commit crimes, who are transgender. Bookended with Solomon's experiences as a son, and then later as a father, this book explores the old adage that says the apple doesn't fall far from the tree; instead some apples fall a couple of orchards away, some on the other side of the world.

In 12 sharply observed and moving chapters, Solomon describes individuals who have been heartbreaking victims of intense prejudice, but also stories of parents who have embraced their childrens' differences and tried to change the world's understanding of their conditions. Solomon's humanity, eloquence, and compassion give a voice to those people who are never heard. A riveting, powerful take on a major social issue, Far from the Tree offers far-reaching conclusions about new families, academia, and the way our culture addresses issues of illness and identity.

©2012 Andrew Solomon (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc

Critic reviews

"In Far from the Tree, Andrew Solomon reminds us that nothing is more powerful in a child's development than the love of a parent. This remarkable new book introduces us to mothers and fathers across America - many in circumstances the rest of us can hardly imagine - who are making their children feel special, no matter what challenges come their way." (President Bill Clinton)

"This is one of the most extraordinary books I have read in recent times - brave, compassionate and astonishingly humane. Solomon approaches one of the oldest questions - how much are we defined by nature versus nurture? - and crafts from it a gripping narrative. Through his stories, told with such masterful delicacy and lucidity, we learn how different we all are, and how achingly similar. I could not put this book down." (Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies)

"An informative and moving book that raises profound issues regarding the nature of love, the value of human life, and the future of humanity." (Kirkus)

Stunned!

I don't know how I am going to go on to my next book. Andrew Solomon's voice, physically and emotionally, has found its way into my soul. If you are reading this review, you know what this book is about (is it dry, you ask?), you know it is very, very long and that some people have said that his narration is flawed.

The book has more than research; it weaves research with case studies that makes the research live and breathe and stay with you far longer than you can imagine (I usually read fiction!). It is very, very long, but I slowed the listening of it down at the very end because I couldn't bear not to be listening to these stories of profound courage. I relished its length.

And Andrew's voice (I am calling him Andrew because he shared his story with me) brings you carefully and warmly into these people's lives while delineating his comprehensive but not boring research. He doesn't compare to Colin Firth but who's comparing? It doesn't matter because once you get the cadence down, he is telling you a startling story and he will capture you. AND he is a beautiful writer.

I am grateful to have been able to listen to this book.

Captivating, Riveting, an Essential book.

This book has changed how I view people, including myself, for the better. With extraordinary empathy and respect, Solomon tells the stories of parents who raise children who are significantly different from themselves. He illuminates the complex challenges faced by both parents and children and describes how people from all walks of life address those challenges, including both successful and less successful outcomes. Differences include Down Syndrome, Dwarfism, children of rape, Deafness, Autism, transgender children, Schizophrenia, precocious children, criminal children, profound disability (I may have forgotten one or two).

This is a LONG book (6 downloads), yet I could not put it down - I kept looking for opportunities to keep listening. I am now grieving the end of the book. Solomon reads the book himself, and the respect and empathy shines through in his telling.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a parent, works with disabled people, or was ever a child.....

An Exceptional Book

Highly recommended​. An outstanding study of the human condition. . . It will expand your world view.

Cannot believe I went this long not reading such an important book

This should be required reading for absolutely everybody. In its way this is nothing short of a masterpiece. There are few days that go by that I’m not reminded how important and relevant this book has been to me. If only I were able to look at everything and everybody with the same empathy and compassion Solomon applies to everyone he describes in this wonderfully fascinating book.

Transfixed and in awe.

Andrew Solomon writes and narrates these chapters straight from the heart. I’ve had this book for years but only read the chapters pertaining to us as a family raising a gay son, who at 14 years old, was devastated by this reality. It helped me then and has helped me now. Completely in awe and in love with this gorgeous love letter to families facing challenges beyond comprehension. Thank you Andrew, thank you so much.

Overall enlightening

Narrator was great. Very interesting facts here. Important to my work as an educator.

Beautifully written & researched

I love Andrew Solomon's narration, writing style, and honesty. He doesn't shy away from hard truths or from all these amazing examples of love. I feel I learned enormous lessons that will take me sometime to process.

Years of interviews in one book.

I bought this book immediately after watching a TED talk the Author did. If you see the talk, it is easy to gauge the tone of the book and Andrew Solomon's exhaustive research and empathy for the people it is about.
This is not an easy read, children suffering incurable mental and physical illnesses and the exhaustive work of there parents sometimes with no hope of any light at the end of the tunnel is what your in for. Be warned

I was interested in this book, because my 2year old son was born with TAPVR, and was in need of immediate emergency by-pass surgery at birth, to the complete surprise of my wife and I. He is a very happy and healthy boy now and will have a complete and full life the same as any healthy child.
Many of the parents at the hospital we go to for his check ups have children that are no where near as lucky. It is with the realization that these are normal people whom have had a tremendous burden and responsibility placed on them and are doing the best they can with love and strength, There greatest worry is whom will help care for my child when I die?

I would not recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant, it will fill you with unneeded worry about the healthy birth of your child, do not buy this book.

Otherwise it is a great book (indeed it could of been many books) Andrew Solomon is a fantastic writer and thankfully he narrates the book himself, a man of amazing empathy, taking on a subject that society would rather did not exist.

Very interesting and insightful.

If you could sum up Far from the Tree in three words, what would they be?

insightful, eye-opening, and thought provoking

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Anyone who struggles with something that holds them back can relate to the stories of people with disabilities/differences. This really makes helps you put your life in perspective.

What about Andrew Solomon’s performance did you like?

He was a little difficult to understand at times but was otherwise great.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I enjoyed listening to it over time.

Gripping

Gripping, comprehensive research on parenting a different child. The author's heartfelt narration made me feel intimately connected to his material.