NOVEMBER 2019 - AudioFile
With a heavy Spanish accent, chef José Andrés gives an authentic and sincere narration of this fascinating account of his grassroots, on-the ground experience beginning days after Puerto Rico’s ravaging by the deadly Hurricane Maria. The humanitarian chef accomplished the impossible by circumnavigating the bureaucratic efforts of the Red Cross and FEMA to instead effectively and efficiently feed hundreds of thousands of islanders and volunteers. His experiences could serve as a template for other emergency relief efforts. While one might think Andrés was the only logical narrator choice, this chronicle of his important work might have been better served by an experienced audiobook narrator. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 07/09/2018
This lovely, energizing story from Michelin-starred chef Andrés and his frequent cookbook coauthor Wolffe (Made in Spain) provides an antidote to passivity and cynicism. Having done food relief work in Haiti in 2010, Andrés was ready to help feed the people of Puerto Rico after the island was ravaged by Hurricane Maria seven year later. Andrés tells how his nonprofit organization thrived despite the fumbling incompetence of government agencies and nonprofits—and an American president who “seemed to have no idea what his role was.” In a matter of days, Andrés and his volunteers had expanded an operation run by his friend Jose Enrique, a San Juan chef, making sandwiches, paellas, and stew (Andres has contempt for the idea that disaster victims deserve only lousy food). In between fighting with red tape–tangled FEMA officials and dealing with the Red Cross’s lack of organization, Andres quickly scaled up an operation with 20,000 volunteers that produced three million meals. “We solved the problems as they popped up,” Andres writes, “as chefs do.” This is a powerful story of the impact a well-meaning group can have on the world. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
José Andrés’s work to build a massive relief operation from the ground up after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico was nothing short of miraculous—and a powerful reminder that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to help one another in times of need.” — President Bill Clinton
“In the days and weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, José Andrés seemed to always be in constant motion. . . but it’s only in the pages of this book that the scale of their contribution becomes clear. What an amazing story!” — Anderson Cooper
“When disaster hit Puerto Rico, José Andrés didn’t wait . . . His big heart and boundless energy could not be restrained by red tape. People were hungry, and José is a chef. Chefs feed people. . . He is a leader, an innovator, and a true hero.” — Anthony Bourdain
“We know personally of the incredible commitment, ingenuity, and solutions that José brings to our world and the impact this book can have in actually making changes and improving the way we deal with natural disasters. We feel privileged to call him our friend.” — Gloria and Emilio Estefan
“A manifesto asking governments and nonprofit groups to rethink the way they feed people after a natural disaster…as close to a page-turner as current-affairs nonfiction gets.” — Washington Post
Washington Post
A manifesto asking governments and nonprofit groups to rethink the way they feed people after a natural disaster…as close to a page-turner as current-affairs nonfiction gets.
Gloria and Emilio Estefan
We know personally of the incredible commitment, ingenuity, and solutions that José brings to our world and the impact this book can have in actually making changes and improving the way we deal with natural disasters. We feel privileged to call him our friend.
President Bill Clinton
José Andrés’s work to build a massive relief operation from the ground up after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico was nothing short of miraculous—and a powerful reminder that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to help one another in times of need.
Anthony Bourdain
When disaster hit Puerto Rico, José Andrés didn’t wait . . . His big heart and boundless energy could not be restrained by red tape. People were hungry, and José is a chef. Chefs feed people. . . He is a leader, an innovator, and a true hero.
Anderson Cooper
In the days and weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, José Andrés seemed to always be in constant motion. . . but it’s only in the pages of this book that the scale of their contribution becomes clear. What an amazing story!
Washington Post
A manifesto asking governments and nonprofit groups to rethink the way they feed people after a natural disaster…as close to a page-turner as current-affairs nonfiction gets.
Laurene Powell Jobs
I witnessed José’s genius and generosity of spirit firsthand when I visited Puerto Rico . . . This tribute captures the integrity, passion and vigor he employs in pursuit of justice for all. A must-read for those who seek to be compassionate changemakers.
Bon Appetit Magazine Editors
A candid manifesto, brimming with righteous anger and holding to account those who should have fed the island, and didn’t.
NOVEMBER 2019 - AudioFile
With a heavy Spanish accent, chef José Andrés gives an authentic and sincere narration of this fascinating account of his grassroots, on-the ground experience beginning days after Puerto Rico’s ravaging by the deadly Hurricane Maria. The humanitarian chef accomplished the impossible by circumnavigating the bureaucratic efforts of the Red Cross and FEMA to instead effectively and efficiently feed hundreds of thousands of islanders and volunteers. His experiences could serve as a template for other emergency relief efforts. While one might think Andrés was the only logical narrator choice, this chronicle of his important work might have been better served by an experienced audiobook narrator. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2018-07-02
After Hurricane Maria's destruction of Puerto Rico, a renowned chef and an army of volunteers raced to feed the islanders when others could not.Chef, humanitarian, and founder and chairman of World Central Kitchen, Andrés (Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen, 2008, etc.) arrived in Puerto Rico four days after Maria flattened the island to find Puerto Ricans struggling to live without food, clean water, electricity, and a host of other services and conditions. He set out to help the one way he knew how: feeding everyone he possibly could. What started out as a temporary situation lasted for weeks and cost millions of dollars as Andrés and his huge crew of volunteers, working in a coordinated network of kitchens, cranked out vast vats full of chicken and rice and thousands of ham and cheese sandwiches on a daily basis. In this inspirational story of humanitarian aid, co-authored by previous collaborator Wolffe (The Message: The Reselling of President Obama, 2013, etc.), Andrés openly shares his frustration and disappointment with FEMA, Donald Trump, numerous agencies in the U.S. government, and even widely recognized aid groups such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. Over and over, the author was met with bureaucratic red tape that delayed funding for food products; eventually, he used his own money to purchase supplies. Andrés knew that the most important issue was getting nutritious and tasty food (rather than the military's ready-to-eat meals, which are barely edible) and water to those in need. Throughout the book, the author's passion to help people is palpable, as is the sense of hope that helped him achieve an almost impossible goal. His actions should be the basis for future work by FEMA and other humanitarian agencies: Provide good food and water to those in need and worry about the money much later.A passionate and courageous story that should be required reading for anyone involved in disaster response.
