Review by Choice Review
The enormous earthquake of 2010 (the big truck), the failure of President Rene Preval to lead Haiti resolutely after Port-au-Prince and much else was reduced to rubble and endless tarpaulin camps for internally displaced Haitians, and the Western Hemisphere's worst outbreak of cholera (brought by Nepalese UN soldiers)--this was Katz's journalistic beat. From the moment the first tremors collapsed his own house around him to his effective investigative reporting from the front lines of disease and misery, Katz served the Associated Press and those who wanted truth from Haiti impeccably. His humane, moving, and fast-paced book is the fundamental book for those who want to know why Haitians still remain at risk, why their government functions poorly, why useful foreign assistance never seems to arrive, why even President Clinton's reconstruction efforts accomplished little, and why Haitians themselves remain jaded about their future. Katz shows how and why many of the relief and development efforts of well-meaning NGOs went awry, how and why US attempts to assist were often misconceived, and why it is essential to mobilize Haitians to uplift Haiti using Haitian know-how and a Haitian appreciation of how best to strengthen Haiti for the long term. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, undergraduate students, graduate students, and research faculty. R. I. Rotberg Harvard University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Former AP correspondent, now editor, Katz was the only American reporter on the ground when the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. In his first book, he details the repercussions of the disaster and the vicissitudes of international aid, providing insight into Haitian history and society. Profiles of former president Rene Preval, Bill Clinton, Sean Penn, and Wyclef Jean emphasize both the gifts and limitations of the people who had the potential to make a significant difference after the earthquake. Katz stresses the value of international aid and the danger of NGOs assuming that Haiti can't govern itself: "It's true that we don't always know what locals will do with that assistance," he notes, "but that's the point. It's up to them." Bloated promises characterized postquake donations: by the end of 2010, $2.43 billion of a promised $16.3 billion had been delivered; 93% of this money stayed with the U.N. or NGOs, and only 1% ($24 million) was given to the Haitian government. Katz debunks the assumption that a disaster leads to social disintegration or rioting and observes how media sensationalism prompted unwise giving. Agent: David M. Larabell, David Black Agency. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A top-notch account of Haiti's recent history, including the January 2010 earthquake, from the only American reporter stationed in the country at the time. Katz broke the story of how the deadly cholera outbreak, which spread in the months after the earthquake, was brought to the region by infected Nepalese U.N. peacekeepers and spread by inadequate sanitation. In his debut, the author chronicles his many investigations during his years living in and writing about Haiti. Unlike coverage by other writers on the island's recent history, Katz's recounting of the earthquake disaster, and the international mobilization that followed, is part of an ongoing story. This account complements those of others who have written of their direct experiences with the aftermath of the earthquake, but Katz's position on the ground when the disaster struck makes this book unique--"it allowed me to understand both sides of the divide, between those who seek to improve how aid is given, and those who have been trying to improve their own lives for so long." His contacts and local knowledge gave him special insight into the way the relief operation developed. Katz shows in detail how well-meaning actor Sean Penn (who lacked expertise) fed media hype about flooding dangers and diphtheria scares, which got in the way of efforts by qualified experts such as epidemiologist Paul Farmer. The author reports how promised aid funds didn't arrive and NGO relief funds were misspent, while Haitians, presumed to be corrupt, were shut out of involvement in relief efforts. He also examines the involvement of the Duvalier clan. An eye-opening, trailblazing expos.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
