Strength in What Remains

By: Tracy Kidder

Narrated by: Tracy Kidder

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.©2009 Tracy Kidder; (P)2009 Random House

Good book but...

This was a great story.
I am a huge fan of Traci Kidder and of his previous book...BUT...he was painful to listen to.
Nasal voice in an un-emotional mono-tonal drone...a pity....

Moving and unforgettable

An incredible book about a man who endures trauma and tragedy and goes on to make the world a better place. Tracy Kidder, the author, narrates the book, which makes it an even more moving and authentic experience, I think, than reading it in print.

My Favorite of Kidder's Books

This is Tracy Kidder's true life story about one Burundi named Deogratias (or Deo). Deo was a medical student in Burundi forced to leave his home during the genocida civil war. He made his way to New York where Kidder begins Deo's story.

The story of his beginning life in New York City is heart rending, but the chapters on the genocide are particularly frightening. Every skill Kidder has at hand is focused on this informative, enlightening story. The reader learns about communication, immigration, war, and many aspects of the human condition.

The compassion that Kidder has for his subject is clear. His characterizations are rich. Kidder does a wonderful job of reading his own book. I am going to buy copies for my friends this holidays.

Mr. Kidder, thank you for opening our eyes to Deo's plight and the horrors many face even in our own country.

good parts.

struggle to finish this book but it was a ok read with good parts in it.

Good, but not Great

Strength in What Remains" tells the admirable, indeed inspiring, story of one man's miraculous escape from the Rwadan/Burundan genocide of 1994, and his subsequent life in the United States. If it were fiction, it would be found in either the adventure, or the fantasy, section of any bookstore. Because it is so well-written, it has the feel of literature. Yet, I'm not as high on this book as are many others, for two reasons.

While the outer details of the life of Deo, a medical student in Burundi, are meticulously detailed, I never had a sense of his inner life, his interior construction; hence, he comes across as one-dimensional, as impressive as that dimension is. Then, the last third of the book, in which Deo, now a Columbia University graduate, makes a return journey to Rwanda and Burundi, accompanied by the author, is, quite frankly, boring, and adds nothing to the narrative in chief. Other readers have noted this also.

Quite a bit of the book is devoted to the many generous and dedicated Americans who helped Deo establish himself and thrive in the US. Their unselfish efforts on his behalf are as inspiring a tale as is Deo's escape from the genocide in Rwanda and Burundi, and they made me proud to be an American.

The author did an okay job of reading his book. I did not find his voice annoying, as one reviewer did. It was acceptable, but I think that the book would have gained from a professional reader.