When the Dust Settles

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 Bookseller

In her fascinating memoir, which also covers the work she's done throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, she shares her experiences of the frontline - Evening Standard

In this inspiring and unflinching memoir [Lucy Easthope] recounts a life spent confronting other people's trauma and helping them to move forward. - Waterstones

Easthope 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