The New Odyssey

The Story of Europe's Refugee Crisis

By: Patrick Kingsley

Narrated by: Thomas Judd

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

In the humane tradition of Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers comes a searing account of the international refugee crisis.

On the day of his son's 14th birthday, Hashem al-Souki lay somewhere in the Mediterranean, crammed in a wooden dinghy. His family was relatively safe - at least for the time being - in Egypt, where they had only just settled after fleeing their war-torn Damascus home three years prior. Traversing these unforgiving waters and the treacherous terrain that would follow was worth the slim chance of securing a safe home for his children in Sweden. If he failed, at least he would fail alone.

Hashem's story is tragically common, as desperate victims continue to embark on deadly journeys in search of freedom. Tracking the harrowing experiences of these brave refugees, The New Odyssey finally illuminates the shadowy networks that have facilitated the largest forced exodus since the end of World War II.

The Guardian's first-ever migration correspondent, Patrick Kingsley has traveled through 17 countries to put an indelible face on this overwhelming disaster. Embedding himself alongside the refugees, Kingsley reenacts their flight with hundreds of people across the choppy Mediterranean in the hopes of better understanding who helps or hinders their path to salvation. From the starving migrants who push through sandstorms with children strapped to their backs to the exploitive criminals who prey on them, from the smugglers who dangerously stretch the limits of their cargo space to the volunteers who uproot their own lives to hand out water bottles, what emerges is a kaleidoscope of humanity in the wake of tragedy. By simultaneously tracing the narrative of Hashem, who endured the trek not once but twice, Kingsley memorably creates a compassionate, visceral portrait of the mass migration in both its epic scope and its heartbreaking specificity.

Exposing the realities of this modern-day odyssey as well as the moral shortcomings evident in our own indifference, the result is a crucial call to arms and an unprecedented exploration of a world we too often choose not to know.

©2017 Patrick Kingsley (P)2017 Random House Audio

Class requirement

Even though this book was required to read by my university I really enjoyed it. I knew very little about refugees and this book was able to bring much clarity to the sad situation.

Good insight into the refugee crises

As one who has been helping in varies forms with the refugee crises, I appreciate this fuller view in this book. Definitely a good read to help people see they are in fact human beings, often struggling like many of us, to make a home for their family or friends.

Amazing book.

Amazing book. Everyone should listen to this book to better understand the crisis that war cause and to better understand what Syrians are going through.

Follows a family

Very detailed accounts of several refugee's journeys. I expected more discussion of the problems facing refugees. It was included by the reporting of what happened to them. Reader is left to have a greater understanding of the plight, but little to no discussion of fixing any issues.