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When the Dust Settles

The gripping behind-the-scenes memoir from the UK's top disaster planner - A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

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When the Dust Settles

By: Lucy Easthope
Narrated by: Lucy Easthope
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About this listen

 The thrilling, edge-of-your-seat true story of a life lived on the frontline of the world's worst disasters.

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.

When the Dust Settles takes us behind the police tape to government briefing rooms and scenes of chaos, looking back at the many losses and loves of a remarkable life and career. It tells us how we can all build back after disaster.

AS FEATURED ON THE HIGH PERFORMANCE PODCAST AND FULL DISCLOSURE WITH JAMES O'BRIEN
'A marvellous book' - Rev Richard Coles
'Amazing book by an amazing woman' - James O'Brien
'Riveting' - Telegraph
'Enthralling' - Observer
'Gripping' - Sunday Times
'An antidote to despair' - Daily Mirror©2022 Lucy Easthope Disaster Relief Politicians Politics & Activism Social Sciences Women Natural Disaster Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

Never less than reassuringly humane... She shows and tells and, vitally, cares.
An unlikely superhero... this gripping memoir is full of compassion. A remarkable insight into the decisions involved in disaster planning.
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.
The disasters recalled here often read like short stories, each of them filled with high drama, surreal twists and mysteries to be solved.
'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'
An essential, uplifting read, brimming with humanity, humility and humour.
An entirely unique vision of the human experience
Candid, unsettling and darkly funny
Poignant, funny, analytical and profoundly humane
Dauntless and forthright
Deeply humane, occasionally unsettling, and strangely uplifting
A book of horror and hope, written with rare humanity.
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.
Her sensitive and profoundly moral book explores how human beings can preserve their resilience and live with loss.
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.'
An inspiring memoir. Easthope advises, supports and helps to rebuild lives.
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.
All stars
Most relevant
I thought this might be too gruesome when I first started to listen. I shed a few tears along the way. But ultimately it was a fascinating and hopeful true story. I enjoyed the contrast between Lucy’s personal life and it’s ups and downs and the international event and disasters that we have mainly heard of but not been directly affected by. I would recommend to any teenager or adult - really a useful insight into what life may bring you.

Optimism in disaster

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This is one of the best books I’ve read. Lucy is the most inspiring women with a job most of us didn’t know existed. I was gripped from the start and although the subject matter is difficult to hear about at times, she talks with humour and empathy and passion. It is such an interesting book. I can not recommend it enough.

Shocking and stunning

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Such a thought provoking and moving read. if ever a person was born for their vocation, it was Lucy Easthope.

WoW.

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I love my job but this book makes me want to go and retrain, a fascinating and insightful book. Well written although sometimes frustrating when she jumps backwards.

Fascinating book

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This is the area of disaster that we don't see. The aftermath when everyone else has gone home. The consequences of the actions of those who are responsible for looking after us when disasters happen and the often failure caused by politics and not people first. Lucy is compassionate and learns from every incident. If only she was listened too more often. This is a fascinating insight into life, death and survival.

Fascinating Insight

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