What is *The Big Truck That Went By* about?

*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.

Who should read *The Big Truck That Went By*?

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.

Is *The Big Truck That Went By* worth reading?

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.

Who is Jonathan M. Katz?

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*.

What critiques does the book offer about international aid?

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.

How does the book analyze Bill Clinton’s role in Haiti’s recovery?

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.

What caused the cholera epidemic after the earthquake?

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.

How does *The Big Truck That Went By* compare to other books on humanitarian crises?

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.

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Big Truck That Went By

Jonathan M. Katz

4.12 (1849 Reviews)

Politics Society History

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When a massive earthquake devastated Haiti, AP reporter Jonathan Katz witnessed how international aid became a second disaster. Jon Lee Anderson called it "THE book" on Haiti's reconstruction failure - revealing why billions in relief created more problems than solutions.

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Whether in Haiti for decades or hours, in slums or five-star accommodations, survival depended solely on the strength of the structures around you when the fault gave way.

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

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@Pitiful

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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1.5K Ratings4.7

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Big Truck That Went By

Jonathan M. Katz

4.12 (1849 Reviews)

Politics Society History

Обзор

Ключевые Выводы

Автор

Часто Задаваемые Вопросы

Исследуйте Свой Способ Обучения

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Почувствуйте книгу через голос автора

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Превратите знания в увлекательные, богатые примерами идеи

Карточки10 идей

Захватите ключевые идеи мгновенно для быстрого обучения

Развлекательно24мин

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Whether in Haiti for decades or hours, in slums or five-star accommodations, survival depended solely on the strength of the structures around you when the fault gave way.

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Ключевые выводы

When the Earth Shattered: Haiti's Forgotten Catastrophe

00:00

On January 12, 2010, the ground beneath Port-au-Prince convulsed with terrifying force. "Tu panse se yon gwo machin ki pase?" my Haitian colleague Evens asked as we stumbled from my collapsing house. "You think it was a big truck going by?" The question seemed absurd-this was clearly an earthquake-but revealed how unprepared Haiti was for a disaster that would claim over 200,000 lives. With no major tremors in living memory, many initially mistook the shaking for a passing vehicle. That night, hundreds of thousands gathered silently at the crumbled National Palace, its collapsed dome symbolizing the fall of Haiti's central institution. The earthquake had been a great leveler-destroying government ministries and luxury hotels alongside modest homes. Whether in Haiti for decades or hours, in slums or five-star accommodations, survival depended solely on the strength of the structures around you when the fault gave way. Despite an unprecedented $5.2 billion in emergency relief and $10 billion pledged for reconstruction, Haiti remained broken years later. Nearly a million remained homeless, political riots erupted, and a devastating cholera epidemic emerged-likely caused by the very UN peacekeepers sent to help. How could such massive humanitarian efforts lead to such profound failure?

A Nation Built on Fault Lines

America's Promise: "You Will Not Be Forgotten"

The Broken Aid Machine

The Governor: Clinton's Vision for Haiti

The Deadly Gift: Cholera's Arrival

Haiti's Unfinished Recovery

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Похожее

Ключевые выводы

When the Earth Shattered: Haiti's Forgotten Catastrophe

A Nation Built on Fault Lines

America's Promise: "You Will Not Be Forgotten"

The Broken Aid Machine

The Governor: Clinton's Vision for Haiti

The Deadly Gift: Cholera's Arrival

Haiti's Unfinished Recovery

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Похожее

Ключевые выводы

When the Earth Shattered: Haiti's Forgotten Catastrophe

A Nation Built on Fault Lines

America's Promise: "You Will Not Be Forgotten"

The Broken Aid Machine

The Governor: Clinton's Vision for Haiti

The Deadly Gift: Cholera's Arrival

Haiti's Unfinished Recovery