Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival (Paperback)

Touted as a prototype for a twenty first century newsman, Anderson Cooper is undeniably one of the writers who sure deserve the applauses. In the year 2004-2005 two natural calamities- Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina helped him metamorphose into a media icon.

This book is the writer's memoir and is every bit interesting for anyone who wishes to learn more about the anchor. He narrates about the tragic events that ensue during the Indian Ocean tsunami and hurricane Katrina. The author claims to have a close connection with tragedy and death, having seen two close deaths in the family. He believes that personal tragedies have a major role to play in his opting for war and calamity coverage. The book mentions nothing about his personal life but the fact that he has seen more chaos and conflict than a lot of other people is no hidden secret. Be it the tsunami in Sri Lanka to the war in Iraq or the famine in Niger and the catastrophic hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Mississippi; the content provides the reader a first hand glimpse of the devastation. It not only covers the physical destruction but also the mental turmoil that one is exposed to, in times of crisis. All this and more is very well presented in the memoir.

The least interesting part of the book is apparently about his move to CNN. It may seem ironical as many of us identify with this author who is also a very well known anchor who strives to make news so believable. The book is a must read, more so if you have loved the anchor on CNN and even if you have not but would like to get an unbiased and 'in the face' preview about the devastating calamities. I have found this to be a very useful book and look forward to reading his articles as well.

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