X-Book

When the Dust Settles

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Added to cart

Continue shopping or head to checkout

View cart
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

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

Critics Review

Never less than reassuringly humane... She shows and tells and, vitally, cares.
Telegraph
An unlikely superhero... this gripping memoir is full of compassion. A remarkable insight into the decisions involved in disaster planning.
Sunday Times
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.
New Statesman
The disasters recalled here often read like short stories, each of them filled with high drama, surreal twists and mysteries to be solved.
Guardian
'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'
Mail on Sunday
An essential, uplifting read, brimming with humanity, humility and humour.
Sue Black
An entirely unique vision of the human experience
Irish Times
Candid, unsettling and darkly funny
Sunday Post
Poignant, funny, analytical and profoundly humane
Perspective Magazine
Dauntless and forthright
TLS
Deeply humane, occasionally unsettling, and strangely uplifting
Irish Business Post
A book of horror and hope, written with rare humanity.
John Sutherland
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.
Rachel Kelly
Her sensitive and profoundly moral book explores how human beings can preserve their resilience and live with loss.
New Statesman
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.'
The Critic
An inspiring memoir. Easthope advises, supports and helps to rebuild lives.
Yorkshire Post
A riveting no-nonsense memoir that pulls back the curtains on your worst fears and shows you that someone, somewhere, will always truly care.
Jenny Colgan
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

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 4.5
Author Lucy Easthope
Narrator Lucy Easthope
Duration 7 hours and 49 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781529358278
Format x-book®
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Genre Autobiography: historical, political and military, Disaster control and fire protection law, Economic and financial crises and disasters, Social impact of disasters
Availability AU, GB, IE, US
Rating
5.0 (2 reviews)
Narration
4.5 (2 reviews)

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.