Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster by Jonathan M. Katz Summary

1. "The Big Truck That Went By" reveals how $16B in Haiti aid prioritized stability over sustainable recovery.
2. Jonathan M. Katz documents how foreign-led relief efforts eroded Haitian agency after the 2010 earthquake.
3. UN peacekeepers introduced cholera to Haiti post-quake, killing thousands while denying responsibility for years.
4. International donors bypassed Haitian institutions, repeating colonial-era patterns of disempowerment during reconstruction.
5. The "blan bubble" sheltered foreign aid workers from Haiti's post-disaster realities, distorting priorities.
6. Temporary medical missions replaced lasting healthcare infrastructure Haiti needed most after the quake.
7. Less than 1% of earthquake relief funds reached Haitian government hands.
8. Reconstruction contracts favored foreign firms over local labor, deepening economic dependency.
9. Katz ties Haiti's aid failures to a century of US military interventions.
10. Disaster capitalism turned earthquake recovery into profit opportunities for foreign corporations.
11. The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission left $1B in approved projects unfunded before dissolving.
12. Post-quake aid ignored agricultural development to push low-wage garment industry jobs.

About the Author

Jonathan Myerson Katz is the acclaimed author of The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster, a seminal work of narrative nonfiction that exposes the failures of international aid and disaster response. An award-winning journalist and foreign correspondent, Katz draws on his firsthand experience as the Associated Press bureau chief in Haiti during the catastrophic 2010 earthquake, where he provided critical reporting and uncovered the UN’s role in a deadly cholera outbreak. His expertise in global affairs, conflict, and post-colonial history is reflected in his penetrating analysis of humanitarian crises.

Katz’s work has earned the Cornelius Ryan Award, the J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award, and the Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism. He is also the author of Gangsters of Capitalism, which traces America’s imperial history through the life of Marine General Smedley Butler.

A frequent commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR, Katz shares incisive political analysis in his newsletter, The Racket. The Big Truck That Went By remains a definitive account of modern disaster capitalism, praised for its rigor and narrative force.

FAQs About This Book

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.

Why is this book relevant in 2025?

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.

What are the main criticisms of the book?

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.

What iconic quotes or scenes define the book?

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.

How can readers apply the book’s lessons to modern aid efforts?

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.