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  • When the Dust Settles

  • Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster
  • By: Lucy Easthope
  • Narrated by: Lucy Easthope
  • Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (317 ratings)

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When the Dust Settles

By: Lucy Easthope
Narrated by: Lucy Easthope
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Summary

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

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK
PROFILED IN THE NEW YORKER, A TELEGRAPH AND NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR

'Riveting' - Telegraph
'Gripping' - Sunday Times
'Filled with high drama, surreal twists and mysteries to be solved' - Guardian

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
'An antidote to despair' - Daily Mirror
'A marvellous book' - Rev Richard Coles
'Amazing book by an amazing woman' - James O'Brien

©2022 Lucy Easthope (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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What listeners say about When the Dust Settles

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Humbling and Reassuring

Here speaks one of those 'experts' so feared and derided by our government during the pandemic. Years of experience of the most difficult kind, meticulously analysed data and focussed humane attentiveness to human behaviour in and after disasters of all kinds gives Lucy Easthope a unique degree of clarity and understanding. Her expert advice would have helped us avoid many of our most dubious responses to the pandemic as it unfolded. There was nothing intrinsically different about our pandemic from other Covid-type pandemics elsewhere. The one person we needed to help our govt make the many difficult decisions needed from March 2020 onwards was either ignored or listened to with bad grace. I'm so glad to have read this and wish the author continuing success and wide recognition for her enormous contribution to our world.

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A must listen

A really excellent look behind the scenes into the world of emergency planning and response, from an expert in the field.
Both accessible and informative, the book provokes thought and consideration.

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Incredible from start to finish

I finished this within 7 days, what an incredible journey, strangely inspiring despite the very tragic circumstances that are revealed across its pages.

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Compelling and Enlightening

I found this book compelling, enlightening, affirming and devastating. the way Lucy weaves the disasters she responds to with her personal disasters is beautifully done
as a recent graduate in emergency planning, listening to this made me feel a new level of determination and a deeper understanding of the realities of our industry.

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A Must

Everyone should read this book, in fact it should be on the school curriculum.
Beautifully delivered by the author, it was a joy to listen to - even though heartbreaking in many places. The epilogue moves one to tears.

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Great Book, Less Strong Narration/Recording

The content of this book is fascinating, but the author wasn't the strongest choice for the narration unfortunately. Basic things like diction, pace and breath control are more noticeable than with a professional reader, and took me away from the content more than I liked, taking a little more time to get used to. The recording seems a little varied in places too - the voice becoming louder, or softer or sometimes the tone change of the voice noticeably different between chapters. This is something a audiobook director should be more on top off, as it can be distracting. It's a shame this is the case for the audiobook version of this release, because Lucy Easthope's book is a particularly interesting and well written book on an subject most of us know little about, and I would definitely recommend you read it.

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When the Dust Settles

I loved this book. I will recommend it to anyone who listens to me. So personal, beautifully told and informative. Well done Lucy.

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A unexpectedly inspiring book!

The author opens the curtain to a world we only usually see on the surface, events that have shaped the world and devastated communities and families. The stories told in this book are so beautifully written and serve as lessons we can all apply to our every day lives. This book is beautifully spoken and beyond powerful.

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Brilliant - everyone should read it.

I’ve never read/listened to a book like this. It’s hard to explain what it has done for me. Given me hope, made me feel ashamed for my often pessimistic outlook, made me feel validated for my sometimes believing that that is kindness to in the world when all around can see only dark. She addresses it all. Ultimately the book is brilliant because it is about the life of one, truly exceptional woman and so beautifully written. How I always self help books to be but never were. I am heartened that she is on the earth, doing the job she does. If ever it is me who is found after a bomb blast, a plane wreck, an earthquake or tsunami I hope Lucy is involved in some way. I know that whatever is left of me (and those who are left to deal with my loss) will be taken care of. Spoken by Lucy here self, , I could listen to this woman for hours more. Read it, let it remind you of what is good in the world, what really matters and how we all matter to each other. How one tiny thought or gesture about someone other than yourself can make the world of difference.

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Compassion and fortitude in the face of disaster!

Lucy tells a story filled with compassion, determination and fortitude.

The authors voice is soothing, even when covering difficult subjects. Her ability to be funny, at the right times, and even laugh at herself, shines through.

I can picture her bubbly, smiling self as I listen.

Not just an emergency planners book, but of interest and value to every human interested in stories of other humans and their wellbeing.

A wonderful book, filled with a struggle to ensure emergency planning includes a future focused human impact lens.

While listening I often fought to control my emotions. How can one woman make such a difference while dealing with their own personal challenges.

You cannot but admire what Lucy has achieved and lost, fought and become.

Thank goodness she is fighting for us all and for our future recovery from disaster!

She is an expert at it.

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