The Big Truck that Went By by Jonathan M. Katz Summary

The Big Truck That Went By chronicles the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, exposing systemic failures in the $16.3 billion international aid response. Journalist Jonathan M. Katz combines firsthand reporting with sharp analysis to reveal how well-intentioned efforts trapped Haiti in cycles of poverty, prioritized donor interests over local needs, and left the country more vulnerable to future disasters.

This book is essential for readers interested in humanitarian aid, global development, or modern Caribbean history. Policymakers, nonprofit workers, and students will gain critical insights into how aid structures often perpetuate dependency, while general audiences appreciate its gripping narrative of disaster, politics, and resilience.

Yes. Winner of the Overseas Press Club’s Cornelius Ryan Award and shortlisted for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award, the book is praised as “the most important written work to emerge from the rubble” (Miami Herald). It balances rigorous investigative journalism with vivid storytelling about Haiti’s struggle for recovery.

Jonathan M. Katz is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press bureau chief in Haiti. As the only full-time U.S. correspondent during the 2010 earthquake, he broke major stories, including the UN’s cover-up of its role in a post-quake cholera epidemic. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Foreign Policy.

Katz argues that aid often prioritizes donor visibility over sustainable change, bypassing local governments and creating chaotic short-term projects. He highlights how 99% of U.S. earthquake relief funds flowed back to American contractors, while Haitian-led initiatives were sidelined—a pattern reinforcing poverty and disempowerment.

As co-chair of Haiti’s reconstruction commission, Clinton promoted export-oriented industrial parks and luxury hotels, which Katz argues catered to foreign investors rather than addressing housing or infrastructure needs. The book critiques Clinton’s “disaster capitalism” approach for deepening economic inequality.

Katz uncovered that UN peacekeepers introduced cholera through improper waste disposal at their base. Despite overwhelming evidence, the UN denied responsibility for years, exacerbating an outbreak that killed 10,000+ Haitians. This scandal underscores the book’s theme of accountability in aid operations.

Unlike academic analyses, Katz blends investigative rigor with narrative-driven journalism, offering a ground-level perspective akin to Evicted by Matthew Desmond. It contrasts with Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo by focusing on systemic failures rather than opposing aid outright.

With climate disasters increasing, the book’s lessons about aid inefficiency remain urgent. Katz’s critique of “savior complexes” and his call for locally led solutions align with today’s emphasis on decolonizing aid and funding grassroots organizations.

Some policymakers argue Katz underestimates logistical challenges in crisis zones. However, critics widely praise his accountability-focused reporting, particularly his exposure of the UN’s cholera denialism and the Clinton Foundation’s missteps.

The title refers to Haitians’ sarcastic nickname for aid convoys that “went by” without stopping. One pivotal scene describes Katz witnessing a celebrity aid worker’s empty pledges while homeless earthquake survivors received no help—symbolizing the disconnect between intentions and impact.

Katz advocates for “smarter aid”:

• Direct funding to Haitian institutions
• Transparency in spending
• Long-term partnerships over fly-in projects

These principles resonate with current movements to shift power to local leaders in global health and climate resilience.