When the Dust Settles

When a plane crashes, a bomb explodes, a city floods or a pandemic begins, Lucy Easthope's phone starts to ring.

“An extraordinary memoir about raw humanity in the face of disaster. Easthope writes beautifully about the importance of the small things in these huge, defining moments and proves that, when the dust settles, with care and compassion we can rebuild from the ashes. This is an essential, uplifting read, brimming with humanity, humility and humour .A book of horror and hope, written with rare humanity.A riveting no-nonsense memoir that pulls back the curtains on your worst fears and shows you that someone, somewhere, will always truly care.Outstanding... a graphic but deeply humane account of what drew her to take on such work, and how she steels herself to tackle the worst of human scenarios. - The BooksellerIn her fascinating memoir, which also covers the work she's done throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, she shares her experiences of the frontline - Evening StandardIn this inspiring and unflinching memoir [Lucy Easthope] recounts a life spent confronting other people's trauma and helping them to move forward. - WaterstonesEasthope shows us how perfection and imperfection are woven together. Everything is flawed. Yet there is also hope despite the flaws. It is through the cracks, and through the dogged dedication of disaster experts like Easthope, who has been an adviser on nearly every major disaster for the last twenty years, that the light comes in. - Rachel Kelly'Easthope, whether she knows it or not, is that rare thing, a genuine philosopher thinking through what she is actually doing in the mitigation of human suffering, grief and isolation. This book is more searching as an analysis of human needs and nature than a good many technical volumes on the subject.' - New Statesman”

Never less than reassuringly humane... She shows and tells and, vitally, cares. Telegraph
An unlikely superhero... this gripping memoir is full of compassion. A remarkable insight into the decisions involved in disaster planning. Sunday Times
Easthope, whether she knows it or not, is that rare thing, a genuine philosopher thinking through what she is actually doing in the mitigation of human suffering. New Statesman
The disasters recalled here often read like short stories, each of them filled with high drama, surreal twists and mysteries to be solved. Guardian
'A remarkable account...This should be a dark and depressing read; that it isn't, that it is ultimately hopeful and uplifting, is down to the utter human decency that the author represents' Mail on Sunday
An essential, uplifting read, brimming with humanity, humility and humour. Sue Black
An entirely unique vision of the human experience Irish Times
Candid, unsettling and darkly funny Sunday Post
Poignant, funny, analytical and profoundly humane Perspective Magazine
Dauntless and forthright TLS
Deeply humane, occasionally unsettling, and strangely uplifting Irish Business Post
A book of horror and hope, written with rare humanity. John Sutherland
When the Dust Settles taught me is that all experiences are of value... Easthope shows us how perfection and imperfection are woven together. Everything is flawed. Yet there is also hope despite the flaws. Rachel Kelly
Her sensitive and profoundly moral book explores how human beings can preserve their resilience and live with loss. New Statesman
Rewrites your perceptions of the disasters and wars of our lifetime with vivid details and vignettes... laced with humanity and decency. A literary memento which honours the messy truth of life.' The Critic
An inspiring memoir. Easthope advises, supports and helps to rebuild lives. Yorkshire Post
A riveting no-nonsense memoir that pulls back the curtains on your worst fears and shows you that someone, somewhere, will always truly care. Jenny Colgan
Outstanding... a graphic but deeply humane account of what drew her to take on such work, and how she steels herself to tackle the worst of human scenarios. The Bookseller

Lucy Easthope is the UK's leading authority on recovering from disaster. She has been an advisor for nearly every major disaster of the past two decades, including the 2004 tsunami, 9/11, the Salisbury poisonings, Grenfell, the Covid-19 pandemic and most recently the war in Ukraine. She challenges others to think differently about what comes next after tragic events, and how to plan for future ones. Lucy grew up in Liverpool and has a degree in law, a PhD in medicine and a Masters in risk, crisis and disaster management. She is a Professor in Practice of Risk and Hazard at the University of Durham, a Fellow in Mass Fatalities and Pandemics at the University of Bath and a Research Associate at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Massey University, New Zealand.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE TELEGRAPH AND THE NEW STATESMAN "A marvellous book" Rev Richard Coles "Gripping... filled with compassion." Sunday Times "Remarkable... hopeful and uplifting." Mail on Sunday "An antidote to despair" Daily Mirror "Enthralling... vivid and humane" Observer "Exemplary" New Statesman When a plane crashes, a bomb explodes, a city floods or a pandemic begins, Lucy Easthope's phone starts to ring. Lucy is a world-leading authority on recovering from disaster. She holds governments to account, supports survivors and helps communities to rebuild. She has been at the centre of the most seismic events of the last few decades, advising on everything from the 2004 tsunami and the 7/7 bombings to the Grenfell fire and the war in Ukraine. Lucy's job is to pick up the pieces and get us ready for what comes next.Lucy takes us behind the police tape to scenes of chaos, and into government briefing rooms where confusion can reign. She also looks back at the many losses and loves of her life and career, and tells us how we can all build back after disaster. When the Dust Settles lifts us up, showing that humanity, hope and humour can - and must - be found on the darkest days.

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