I finished reading Anderson Cooper's book Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival and it was truly riveting. I frequently watch his show on CNN and have pondered over the kind of life journalists of his ilk lead. Anderson compares himself to a shark which has to keep moving to survive. He interweaves his experiences in different corners of the planet with insights into his personal life and the tragedies that probably made him the man he is. The Talk about war, death, disease and destruction in the world he sees, the pain and suffering of the victims in those regions along side his own personal tragedies and losses opens a window into his soul. Suffering knows no language, race, colour or religion. The seething pain, tears, hunger and blood are all the same.
The author launched his career with a fake press id and a borrowed camera. His profession took him to several places including Burma, Srilanka, Somalia, Bosnia- Herzegovina and Niger.He has seen the trail left behind by destruction in its myriad forms, be it Kathrina, Tsunami, famines or civil wars. The book does not go to the root of any problem or offer solutions. It is like a photograph which in addition to the colours, took a snap of the pain and suffering too.
Good book, worth your time and money.