Honestly, most people who pick up Tracy Kidder’s Strength in What Remains book expect a standard "triumph over adversity" story. You know the type. A person survives a tragedy, moves to America, and finds the proverbial pot of gold. But this isn't that. It’s much messier. It’s a narrative that forces you to stare directly at the 1994 genocide in Burundi and Rwanda through the eyes of Deogratias "Deo" Niyizonkiza.
He arrived at JFK Airport with $200 and no English.
He slept in Central Park.
He survived a massacre.
Kidder, a Pulitzer Prize winner, doesn't just chronicle a journey; he dissects the very nature of memory and trauma. Reading it feels like a heavy conversation with a friend who has seen too much but refuses to stop moving. It’s about the staggering resilience of the human spirit, sure, but it’s also a biting critique of how the world looks away when things get ugly.
The Raw Reality of Deo’s Flight from Burundi
The first half of the Strength in What Remains book is an absolute gut-punch. Deo was a third-year medical student when the violence erupted. In the West, we often lump the Burundian civil war and the Rwandan genocide together, but Kidder keeps the focus tight on Deo’s specific geography. We see the terrifying speed of it. One minute you’re a student; the next, you’re stepping over corpses of people you shared tea with.
Deo's escape wasn't some calculated tactical maneuver. It was pure, frantic survival. He spent months hiding in the bush, witnessing horrors that would break most people's minds. When he finally makes it to New York, the contrast is jarring. He’s safe, technically, but he’s a ghost. He’s delivering groceries to wealthy Manhattanites who have no idea that the young man at their door has seen the end of the world.
It’s a weirdly isolating experience for the reader. You feel Deo’s invisibility. He’s surrounded by millions of people in NYC, yet he’s never been more alone.
Why the Narrative Shift Matters
About halfway through, the book changes. It stops being a linear survival story and starts looking at Deo’s life years later. This is where Kidder’s expertise as a nonfiction writer really shines. He travels back to Burundi with Deo. This isn't a "closure" trip—closure is a myth in these kinds of stories. Instead, it’s a confrontation.
Deo struggles with "the sickness of memory." In his culture, there’s a concept related to gusimbura, essentially re-living or re-awakening the trauma. Kidder doesn't shy away from the fact that Deo is still haunted. He has nightmares. He has triggers. Even after he gets into Columbia University—which is a miracle in itself—the past is always right there, under the surface. It makes you realize that survival isn't a destination. It's an ongoing, daily labor.
💡 You might also like: Easy recipes dinner for two: Why you are probably overcomplicating date night
The "Good People" Who Stepped Up
If there’s one thing that keeps the Strength in What Remains book from being entirely bleak, it’s the network of "unlikely angels" Deo meets in New York. There’s Sharon McKenna, a nun who helps him get his feet under him. There’s the Wolf family, who basically take him in and help him navigate the labyrinth of American higher education.
It’s a reminder that while systems fail people, individuals sometimes don't.
But Kidder is careful. He doesn't turn these people into "white saviors." They are flawed, curious, and sometimes overwhelmed by Deo’s history. The relationship between Deo and the Wolfs is particularly interesting because it’s built on a strange kind of mutual respect. They didn't just give him a handout; they gave him a platform to reclaim his life.
The Medical Mission: Village Health Works
The book eventually leads to the founding of Village Health Works in Kigutu, Burundi. This is where Deo’s story turns from individual survival to community healing. He didn't just want to be a doctor in America; he wanted to go back to the place that tried to kill him and build a clinic.
- He returned to the very hills where he hid from killers.
- He convinced local people—some of whom may have been on opposing sides of the conflict—to work together.
- He focused on "social medicine," a term popularized by Dr. Paul Farmer (who actually makes an appearance in the book).
This part of the story is crucial because it addresses the systemic causes of the violence. It wasn't just ethnic hatred; it was poverty, lack of education, and zero healthcare. By building the clinic, Deo wasn't just treating malaria; he was treating the broken social fabric of his country. It’s probably the most practical application of "strength" you’ll ever read about.
Addressing the Misconceptions
People often think this is a "feel-good" book. It isn't. It’s a "feel-everything" book.
One major misconception is that Deo’s success in America was easy once he was "discovered" by kind people. That’s a total misunderstanding of the text. The psychological toll of being a refugee is portrayed as an almost physical weight. Deo had to learn a whole new way of being. He had to suppress his memories just to pass his exams. He had to navigate a medical system that was lightyears away from the reality of rural Burundi.
📖 Related: How is gum made? The sticky truth about what you are actually chewing
Another mistake is thinking the book is strictly about the genocide. It’s actually more about the aftermath. It’s about what happens when the cameras leave and the headlines fade. What do you do with the "what remains"? How do you build a future on a foundation of bones?
Kidder’s prose is sparse. He doesn't use flowery language because the facts don't need it. The facts are loud enough. He avoids the "inspiration porn" trap by showing Deo’s anger, his frustration, and his moments of deep despair. It makes Deo more human and his achievements significantly more impressive.
Deep-Seated Trauma and the Science of Memory
There's a lot of talk lately about "The Body Keeps the Score," and if you’ve read that, you’ll see the parallels here. Deo’s trauma isn't just in his head; it’s in his startle response, his sleep patterns, and his physical health.
Kidder explores how Deo tries to compartmentalize. In America, he was the brilliant student. In Burundi, he was the survivor. Trying to bridge those two identities is the central conflict of the book’s second half. It’s a nuanced look at the immigrant experience that most people never consider. Most of us see the "successful immigrant" and never ask about the ghosts they brought with them in their luggage.
The Role of Paul Farmer and Partners In Health
For those who follow global health, the connection to Paul Farmer is a big deal. Farmer, who founded Partners In Health, served as a mentor to Deo. Their friendship is a testament to the idea that global health is a moral imperative, not just a career.
If you’ve read Kidder’s other famous work, Mountains Beyond Mountains, you’ll recognize the themes. Both books ask: What does a single person owe the world? Deo’s answer was to take his trauma and turn it into a literal life-saving institution. It’s a high bar, but it’s an incredible case study in how to channel pain into purpose.
Applying the Lessons of the Strength in What Remains Book
If you’re looking for a way to actually use the insights from this book in your own life, it’s not about moving to Africa and building a clinic. It’s about the smaller shifts in perspective.
👉 See also: Curtain Bangs on Fine Hair: Why Yours Probably Look Flat and How to Fix It
Practice Radical Empathy
We encounter people every day whose backstories we can't possibly imagine. The delivery driver, the cashier, the guy sitting next to you on the subway—everyone is carrying something. Deo’s story is an extreme example, but it serves as a reminder to lead with kindness because you truly don't know what someone survived to get to this moment.
Understand the "Persistence of Memory"
Trauma doesn't have an expiration date. If you’re supporting someone through a hard time, don't expect them to "get over it." The goal, as Deo shows us, isn't to forget. It’s to integrate the past into a future that still has room for joy.
Support Community-Led Development
Deo’s clinic worked because it was for the people, by the people. If you’re looking to donate to causes, look for organizations like Village Health Works that prioritize local leadership. Don't just throw money at "savior" projects; invest in people who are rebuilding their own communities from the inside out.
Acknowledge Your Own Resilience
Sometimes we feel like we’re drowning in minor inconveniences. While it’s important not to play "trauma Olympics," looking at Deo’s journey can give you a bit of a reality check. Humans are remarkably durable. If Deo could survive the hills of Burundi and the streets of New York, you can probably handle your current stressors. It’s about finding that "strength in what remains" even when things feel depleted.
Ultimately, the Strength in What Remains book is a masterclass in narrative nonfiction. It refuses to give you easy answers. It doesn't offer a "happily ever after" because life in a post-conflict zone doesn't work that way. Instead, it offers a "happily ever after-ish," where the work is never finished, the memories never truly fade, but the clinic doors stay open.
To dive deeper into this world, the best next step is to research the current work being done by Village Health Works. They’ve expanded significantly since the book was published, and seeing the tangible results of Deo’s vision provides a powerful "epilogue" to the reading experience. You can also look into Tracy Kidder's interviews about the writing process, where he discusses the difficulty of getting Deo to open up about the most painful parts of his past. It adds another layer of appreciation for the trust required to bring this story to the page.