We Fed an Island: The True Story of How José Andrés and World Central Kitchen's Chefs Fed Hundreds of Thousands of Hungry Americans after Hurricane Maria and Touched the Hearts of Many More

by José Andrés

FOREWORD BY LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA AND LUIS A. MIRANDA, JR.

The true story of how a group of chefs fed hundreds of thousands of hungry Americans after Hurricane Maria and touched the hearts of many more

Chef José Andrés arrived in Puerto Rico four days after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island. The economy was destroyed and for most people there was no clean water, no food, no power, no gas, and no way to communicate with the outside world.

Andrés addressed the humanitarian crisis the only way he knew how: by feeding people, one hot meal at a time. From serving sancocho with his friend José Enrique at Enrique’s ravaged restaurant in San Juan to eventually cooking 100,000 meals a day at more than a dozen kitchens across the island, Andrés and his team fed hundreds of thousands of people, including with massive paellas made to serve thousands of people alone.. At the same time, they also confronted a crisis with deep roots, as well as the broken and wasteful system that helps keep some of the biggest charities and NGOs in business.

Based on Andrés’s insider’s take as well as on meetings, messages, and conversations he had while in Puerto Rico, We Fed an Island movingly describes how a network of community kitchens activated real change and tells an extraordinary story of hope in the face of disasters both natural and man-made, offering suggestions for how to address a crisis like this in the future. 

Beyond that, a portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to the Chef Relief Network of World Central Kitchen for efforts in Puerto Rico and beyond.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Memoir, History, Politics, Audiobook, Social Justice

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

José Ramón Andrés Puerta, más conocido como José Andrés, es un cocinero español-estadounidense. Desde 2013 tiene también la nacionalidad estadounidense.

Chef/Owner of ThinkFoodGroup, star of the "Made In Spain" television series, and culinary creator and advocate.

Reviews

[Camilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

FIVE STARS FOR HIS STORY. TWO STARS FOR THE BOOK.

José Andrés is a chef, humanitarian, and founder of World Central Kitchen. He arrived within a week of Hurricane Maria devastating the island of Puerto Rico and set about trying to feed everyone he possibly could. Andrés rallies huge support from volunteers and organizes a network of kitchens around the island to provide chicken and rice as well as ham and cheese sandwiches to everyone struggling to live without food, clean water, electricity, and other services and conditions after Maria.

He's passionate and dedicated. There's no doubt about that. And he's openly critical of FEMA, Trump, the Red Cross, and other agencies who stymied his efforts with bureaucratic red tape again and again.

But there are only so many times that I need to read how inedible military MREs (meals-ready-to-eat) are. Actually, once is sufficient. I would have preferred he get on with detailing the food he was able to provide instead of harping on the fact that what was provided by our government was not a good option.

And FEMA is ineffectual. I get it. I didn't need a communication log with how many contracts they held up because of a chain of command, or lack thereof. Or how many times he tried to get access to a meeting, but didn't have the proper credentials.

Also, Trump is uninformed and says asinine things. Yep. Not news to me there either. I actually found myself cringing as Andrés quoted Trump. It's one thing to hear those soundbites on NPR; it's another to see how inarticulate Trump is...in black and white...on the page. Ugh.

I struggled to finish this book which I found so disappointing because I wanted to love it. I wanted to hand my copy to friends with a hearty endorsement and gush, 'you have to read this!' But I found it pure drudgery to keep flipping these pages. However, this doesn't diminish what José Andrés was able to accomplish in Puerto Rico, or take away from his critique of our current disaster relief procedures. He's amazing and we need more people like him. I just think he needs a ghost writer, or a better editor.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update: This morning (5/15/22) the CBS Sunday Morning program included a segment on the efforts and accomplishments of the the World Central Kitchen in Ukraine, and an interview with Jose Andres. His humble attitude and his genuine concern for the welfare of others is an inspiration to us all.

This is the inspiring and uplifting account of the life saving, humanitarian work accomplished by the World Central Kitchen in Puerto Rico and other areas which have been affected by natural disasters. Jose Andres' ideas and actions show how people can band together and make a positive difference in the world. This is a truly remarkable story and it's well worth reading!

[Carla Bayha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this book 6 stars for the content, and 3.5 for the editing. It's hard to tell if the final copy will fix some of the flow of the book, since what I read is an advanced review copy. I'm hoping that photos and a timeline will be added, as will of course Lin-Manuel Miranda's foreword. This was part of the Anthony Bourdain imprint, so that may have impacted the final editing.

That said: this is the most IMPORTANT book that I've read this year. It has the chance to change the "past is prologue" in a meaningful way for disaster preparedness and response. As the reality of Hurricane Maria's death toll unfolds, which is proving as much as quadruple that of Katrina, we can choose to:

--give Puerto Rico full representation in our Senate and House
--reject the Armed Forces expensive and almost useless plan of shipping MREs (meal ready equivalents), bottled water (also environmentally catastrophic for islands), and armed soldiers and saying "job well done"
--work more closely with the Wal-marts, Home Depots, and other logistically savvy businesses, both now and during future disasters
--build a new Red Cross replacement that delivers on the broken promises of the bloated old one
--learn from the Chefs for Puerto Rico the importance of real food in times of disaster, and work to build a secular version of what the aging Southern Baptist Convention has done over the past few decades--an organization that will attract younger people to learn how to cook and mobilize for thousands of the needy.
--vote for politicians who support real science.

[Naori · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 really. Amazing story, not necessarily smooth writing. But if you have spent any length of time in Puerto Rico or been a part of any mass humanitarian relief effort, it really emulates the energy of that space. I’m also very impressed that the author is donating 100% of his profits to his relief organization, so for that reason alone I would support anyone reading it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found the work Chef Andres did for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to be inspiring and important, the book was often repetitive and he comes off as kind of arrogant and irritating as a voice in this book. The best chapters were in the first half of the book, and I found the chapter about the history of Puerto Rico to be the most readable and interesting, as it had less of the chef and more of the island ad its core. The book also sheds a necessary and unflattering light on the Red Cross, FEMA, and our global response to natural disaster relief in general, which was eye opening and informative. But the repetitive pages upon pages about ham and cheese sandwiches, and trays of paella, chicken and rice and stew just couldn't keep me interested. While his frustration with the red tape and rules was understandable, the way he wrote about it makes him seem less sympathetic than he should be as the narrator of the events. 2.5 stars rounded up, as the information and the work he did was important and necessary, and hopefully a helpful template for future disaster relief models, but the writing was lacking amd the book could have been edited down by at least 50 pages.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am Puerto Rican who lived on the island during Hurricane María. I also went to José Andrés's headquarters to deliver meals to a community destroyed by the winds and flooding the hurricane caused. This is why this book was so hard to read for me.

Nonetheless, Chef José Andrés spares no punches as he describes the conditions he found on the island when he arrived, the bureaucratic runaround he received from FEMA, his disgust at how the president of the United States handled the tragedy, and the lack of initiative/drive by certain members of the local government.

His message is simple: We must change how we deliver food to those suffering in the aftermath of tragedies such as this one. He drives it home by mentioning how he did it and contrasting it with how FEMA outsources the contracts to inexperienced companies that prepare and ship meals that people cannot even use.

This is a must read for people working in disaster management / relief as well as people wondering how best to serve those affected by natural disasters such as this hurricane.

[Victoria (Latte Nights Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.We Fed an Island is definitely one of my favorite books of 2018. It's written by chef José Andrés, and discusses how he and his nonprofit organization helped feed Puerto Ricans affected by Hurricane Maria.

"A plate of food is much more than food. It sends a message that someone far away cares about you; that you are not on your own."
I started following José Andrés on twitter after seeing his tweets all over my timeline after the hurricane. He was sharing what he was doing in Puerto Rico and raising awareness to the struggle he was having trying to get the appropriate funding.

Before reading the book, I didn't know he had a nonprofit that helped those affected by disaster. I thought helping during Maria was the first natural disaster he assisted in. I also didn't know he was a famous chef until a couple months ago actually.
"I am done with being polite. I am done being politically correct, I am mad as hell because my people's lives are at stake. And we are put one nation. We may be small, but we are huge in dignity and zealous for life."
While reading the book, my blood was boiling. Andrés wants to help, he has a great plan, but he needs the government's help to fund this project. It makes sense that food and water is the most important part of helping individuals after a natural disaster like this, but the government and FEMA are so INFURIATING. They didn't seem to care, didn't want to partner with him. He had a great plan, but they would rather work with for profit organizations that didn't even do anything to help rather than a nonprofit. There's one part where someone from FEMA makes a deal with him, to get FEMA to fund Chefs for Puerto Rico, the other guy gets a cut from the meals. It's so heartless that someone would use a tragedy like this to make money, and lots of it.

Throughout the book José Andrés is critical of the government and president's response. He's not afraid to critique how the disaster relief was handled. He did this in a way that was respectful, but made sure to get his point across.
"We didn't want to fight with the bureaucracy or restructure the government. All we wanted to do was to feed the people. But when you start with a simple goal, you learn you can achieve the impossible. You discover, before long, that you can actually feed an island."
It was heartbreaking reading about the devastation, but glad at how José Andrés helped organize. You can see how passionate he is about feeding people that need it. While the government is telling stories about the violence and aggression of people in Puerto Rico, José Andrés tells story after story about all the devastated areas he went to, where communities were helping one another, not being violent like the president and government said they were. It is clear to see that Andrés cares about the people he's helping. Not only does he want to feed them hot food, he's trying to help regrow the economy by sourcing everything locally.
"We could create a network of chefs, like Doctors Without Borders, to help in a crisis. Rather than dumping food aid on an already struggling economy, we would source our supplies locally, wherever possible, and help put the farmers and suppliers back in business."
This was such a good book. I definitely recommend it. My book has so many underlined paragraphs and so many sticky tabs throughout it. I want to share all the great things I found, but then I would basically be sharing the entire book.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time by chef José Andrés. It's a fascinating story of the efforts Jose Andres and a group of chefs from off - island and those also on the island to try and feed Puerto Rico after the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria.

On the whole, it's a very uplifting story, about how these chefs and their volunteers were able to bring food; ham and cheese sandwiches, paella and other meals to the people of San Juan and then expand it to the outlying areas. The amazing thing is that they were able to accomplish this while the government efforts, through FEMA and other organizations, and also the larger NGO's like the Red Cross were unable to accomplish the same successes.

Jose Andres wanted to get down to Puerto Rico as soon as possible and pulled as much money as he could from his own bank accounts to get started. He teamed with friends in Puerto Rico, like restaurateur Jose Enrico and others to start feeding right away. He started small making meals and then expanding successfully for the time he was there. As a chef and with many of his friends and business associates, they were able to cut through the red tape and find sources of food, barter food for gas, use local food trucks and move out into those areas hardest hit to provide food to them. His team also endeavored to get kitchens working in schools, in outlying restaurants and such to ease the workload of the people working out of San Juan.

He does highlight frustrations dealing with the federal government and the local governments, but the majority of the book details their hard work and positive results and ideas for providing support to future disasters. Food and water were their priorities but as they grew they were able to provide other forms of support as well, tarps, medicines, etc.

It's an amazing, fascinating story and even with the frustrations, does make you feel good for their efforts. The story moves along very nicely and is well - written and keeps you turning pages. Excellent book (5 stars)

[Michael Whitehead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book in a bookstore and picked it up because I thought that there was an excellent possibility that my name was in it. The American Red Cross sent me to Puerto Rico to respond to the storm. I arrived on the Saturday after the storm hit and worked at the State/Federal Operations Center in the San Juan Convention Center for 3 weeks.

I was involved in a lot of the events and even was present in some of the scenes that Jose depicted in his book. He named a lot of people from many different organizations, but, for whatever reason, he named very few people from the Red Cross. Spoiler: I didn’t make the book.

I’m sure that Jose Andres is a fine cook and businessman. Despite what he presents in this book, and the long list of his claimed accomplishments, he doesn’t, and still doesn’t, know a lot about emergency management, disaster response and mass care.

I’m not sure how many hurricanes that Jose has worked, but Maria was the 24th hurricane that I have worked. Jose expressed a lot of opinions, and he is entitled to those opinions. He’s even entitled to put those opinions in a book and sell them. But he doesn’t really know much about emergency management, disaster response and mass care.

And he still doesn’t.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I come from an emergency management background, as that was my job in the Air Force, so I was coming from that perspective to this book rather than a foodie who wanted to read a book from a chef. I would like to nominate Chef Andres for the top job of running FEMA after reading this book. FEMA is an unwiedly, bloated government agency that can't find its way even with a map and GPS and a guide person. But this book also solidified my decision not to support the Red Cross whenever they do their disaster campaigns and look to other organizations to support or just a local bank fund to give to.

It was telling that Chef Andres and his team/non-profit had experience in disaster relief (especially on islands) and had a what he, Chef Andres himself, described as a more "libertarian" response to feeding Puerto Ricans and that it was surprising to him that the conservatives back in Washington, DC didn't see that and support him. It showed that nobody gave a damn about Puerto Rico and that the government needs to overhaul it's disaster management and response, starting with FEMA.

Highly recommend.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it takes a little while to get underway, once Andrés starts talking about the incredible operation he put together in Puerto Rico to not only feed residents after Hurricane Maria, but to help them connect and work together, it's an incredible story of the power of the people. Blisteringly critical of Trump and his administration -- rightfully so -- Andrés details the continuing failure of the government to assist its own citizens in a time of crisis. A fascinating read.

[Joshunda Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me longer than I expected to finish this book, but not because of any flaws with the book, per se. Jose Andres, via his long-time collaborator, tells a riveting and important on the ground narrative about what it took to feed Americans in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria last year when FEMA was not doing an adequate enough job.
There's lots of great data -- anecdotal and otherwise -- to support why it's more humane to feed those who are in the thick of crisis hearty food like sancocho, paella or even sandwiches with a savory twist, say, over something that Andres refers to in the book as "plastic" food -- canned meat, or MREs.
I appreciated, as a reader, the sincerity with which Andres tries to keep himself from being the center of attention as the central manager of World Central Kitchen, which has been at the heart of serving many thousands of meals to those in dire need of it at least since the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. It's difficult to gauge how much of this is too much in the work, because there's no one really to compare him to. (It's heartbreaking this year to see Anthony Bourdain's name in the corner of the cover of the galley; I don't know if it will appear on the hardcover of the actual book itself -- but he thanks his friend Bourdain at the end, as he does Lin Manuel Miranda -- for lending a tweet to the cause among many other things.) I wanted to give this book five stars because of how meaningful and heroic Andres actions are and how important he is. The story itself is also epic, meaningful and important.
I think what I missed most here were the voices of those who were fed -- and not their voices as conveyed to us from the distance of someone busy doing the work that the government didn't do, but more of the voices of those who witnessed him on the Island that he fed assessing his meaning to them to help gauge how history will regard him; not just how we'll regard him on the U.S. mainland (as celebrity) or how he and his collaborator regard him (a guy who saw a need he knew how to fill and quickly) which is likely the same.
There's no doubt, given that he fell ill but kept working, that he continued to serve meals and coordinate the delivery of them in spite of a host of bureaucratic obstacles and political adversities, that We Fed An Island is an invaluable guidebook and story. Its main insight or takeaway, however, aside from the gripping narrative and fascinating logistical story that makes up most of its pages, is that organizations like World Central Kitchen should be working in concert with organizations like FEMA to have a more significant impact when another crisis like Hurricane Maria strikes again.
What the missing voices here would undoubtedly add would be a portrait of the reason no such coordination has existed so far and why it's not likely to exist anytime soon. That's not the work of memoir, in any event. It's a nice vision to have, and you can appreciate why Andres would have it, given his expertise and now, this additional insight he has. But as soon as you read the line about what needs to happen next, you know it's not likely to happen in this lifetime because it didn't happen after Katrina for African Americans, it didn't happen in Puerto Rico because our current President was entirely clear that they were Americans but they are also brown people connected in his mind to the African Diaspora. That's another book, and that's the promise of another tale entirely, I'm sure.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a five star due to lack of proper editing. This timely and important book by José Andrés, a true mensch lays out his experiences while bringing food to a devastated Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Included is a history of the relationship between the island and the United States, how it became a territory without the benefit of State status. But what a kind man, using his belief that food connects all people and that the preparation and distribution provides more that just a warm belly, but a connection that is vital for humanity.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an immense amount of respect for José Andrés and the incredible work he describes in the book. I learned a lot about FEMA and the Red Cross, and disaster relief in general, that really made me think about the contrast between Andrés' operation and more bureaucratic solutions. For me, the flow of the book was a little disjointed, and some of the content was a bit repetitive at times. However, the story he tells is incredibly compelling, especially some of the personal anecdotes he shares. You can tell how much Andrés believes in the work he does.

[Leah K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this man is brilliant. I think what he did for Puerto Rico was amazing. Mr. Andres has my utmost respect. With that being said, this book was in need of some better editing. And it was repetitive. There's only so many ways you can make it clear that you fed people while Trump and FEMA messed up, majorly. Interesting story, maybe just not 250 page interesting.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in March 2020 we had all sorts of estimates of how bad COVID would be in the States saying 100K would be on the low end if we were able to mobilize quickly and 1 million on the high end if we did nothing. Almost a year later we are at 500K dead.

Realizing this while reading We Fed an Island puts into sharp relief how good leadership can push through bureaucracy to make things happen in an emergency; when every moment counts. Chef Jose Andres pushed himself into the process and pushed out all thought of paperwork and licensing to get what was needed done for Puerto Rico post Hurricane Maria. Relying on years of personal connections, expertise, and a ability to MacGyver his way out of jams, Andres led the charge to feed 1,000 people each day, doubling and expanding as often as he could until he, his three person team, a ton of volunteers were able to make a little more than 3 million hot meals.

We Fed An Island goes over the colonial mentality, the hubris, and some of the issues that created friction with the more process following agencies. But Andres focused on the indomitable and good natured human spirit that belied the stereotypes of the poor. Amazing things happen when you share a meal with a stranger. Amazing things happen when you honor the dignity of the other person and their expertise. We do not have a scarcity issue when it comes to food, we have a distribution problem. This has become something of a blueprint for future emergencies; revitalizing local economies to help rebuild the local population instead of bidding out to the lowest (and possibly most inexperienced) vendor.

[Wendelle]

This book shows how Chef Andres harnessed activation, determination, and creative solution-making to feed people in disaster relief, through service from the ground-up and a singleminded goal to make and deliver as many meals as possible. As Chef Andres relates, food is the primary priority; food empowers people to now do other things, such as volunteer in food delivery and rebuilding of communities. Furthermore, food has social meaning; food gathering reinstates the feeling of community. He makes the point that air-dropped meals provide the nutrients but fail to provide the comfort and relief of cooked meals reflective of local cuisine. Chef Andres documents how his organizations of kitchens helped to enable a rapid response of food delivery that sidesteps apathy, government neglect, redtape and bureaucratic inertia. He also talks about the various people who stepped up to help him deliver aid

[Jori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlights the utter ineptitude of our own government to provide the most needed relief after Maria, and at the same time, Andres' ability to cut through the bullshit to feed people delicious, nourishing food. While Trump was visiting the island to brag about himself, Andres was mobilizing restaurant chefs, school chefs, and everyday citizens who understand the link between food & our humanity. To think that FEMA is still dropping a waste of disgusting, inedible MREs in disaster zones, while Andres has created a proven model for cooking massive-scale, yet real, food, with love.
Unthinkable that seven of these generous lives were recently taken by Netanyahu's attacks in Gaza.

[Alix Quenneville · Rating 5 out of 5]

First hand account of what it was like on the ground after hurricane Maria. I appreciate the authors criticism of the NGOs involved and the trump administration’s inaction. If disaster management or emergency preparedness interests you, then this is a must read.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jose Andres went to Puerto Rico immediately after the devastating Hurricane Maria struck. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he knew he wanted to help somehow. Andres did what he does so well, cook and once started he couldn't stop and he developed the model for which his World Central Kitchen non-profit is based.

It is an interesting and fascinating story, but also one of frustration. Andres, I believe can be a bit acerbic and he wasn't afraid to comment about the failures he saw in Puerto Rico.

He believes strongly in what he is doing and says:

“Too often,” he said, “charity is about the redemption of the giver, not the liberation of the receiver.” I do believe that food relief should help liberate the receiver, and that far too often, it has been defined and delivered to redeem the giver. We need to build a new model of disaster relief and food aid that understands the needs and desires of the receiver, and we need to do that right now.

I really loved reading this book, while recognizing that it might not be for everyone.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chef José Andrés arrived in Puerto Rico four days after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island. He organized his friends and fellow chefs to the important work of feeding those stranded, homeless and helpless.

Why I started this book: Eager to read a good news story about Hurricane Maria.

Why I finished it: Inspiring and frustrating. This book is about the best and the worst of circumstances, reactions and the business of helping people. I enjoyed the insight into disaster recovery, non-profits and the FEMA but the book needed an editor.

[Andee DeVore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from being an amazing story about how one person can make a huge impact, this is, at its core, a case study of how bureaucratic red tape often gets in the way of saving lives. It is tragic and shameful how personal interests and politics negatively influence efficiency and effectiveness in humanitarian aid. The disaster response system is broken, and FEMA's inability to feed Puerto Ricans in the wake of Hurricane Maria is a stunning example of that fact. It is infuriating how much reliance is placed on private citizens to step in and do the work. Ultimately, I am inspired by Chef Andrés hard work, perseverance, humanity, and courage. He saw a problem, made the decision to do what he could to help, and didn't stop when obstacles came into his path.

[Akon · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was hella inspiring.. even for one as cynical of the aid industry in general as i. it shows that there are more efficient modes of aiding those in need- by centralizing their needs, relying on the locals knowledge, their economy and their knowledge... and by individuals responding without the need for bureaucracy. too often these words are bandied about and not really applied to the situation on the ground. we have much to learn... and unfortunately so does the aid industry.

[Jo Ann Rhodehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chef Andres is a renowned chef and man with an enormous heart and determination for action. He accomplished more connecting with The People than a ‘full-of-himself’ paper towel-throwing-no-heart president and his BS MRE red tape loaded administration. Thank you for sharing what you saw with your own eyes, experienced and learned dealing with bureaucrats and “charities”.

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring and uplifting story of responding to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico after the Hurricane Maria hit the island. Andrés' sincerity and passion to help the people of Puerto Rico is genuine.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book inspiring! As some of the other reviews state...it isn’t the best writing ever, but the story itself is five stars. Jose and his team are amazing humans who took immediate action in a time of need when the US government essentially abandoned Puerto Rico.

[Kate H · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story, writing does impact my rating (but Jose co-taught one of my college courses and is a rad person)

[Zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its amazing what chef Andrès was able to accomplish without clear leadership from the government. It’s really sad all the hoopshe had to jump through to feed as many american people as he did. I always wondered what was going on one the news machine forgot about Puerto Rico. What a sad but inspirational book!

[Yaaresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's be honest, the man is a logistics savant and a stellar chef, not a professional writer. This is a five star story, but the writing (and editing) are not finely polished. And, in this case anyway, I'm fine with that because I'd rather get the story in a timely manner from the person who knows it best than read some slicker second-hand version. Could it have used one more pass through an editor? Sure. But I've definitely read worse writing from people who claim that as their primary profession and who took years to write their books.

This book is both inspiring and infuriating. It shows how to respond to disasters and offer real relief that quickly has a positive effect on communities and the local economy. On the other hand, it shows how the "professional" emergency response organizations -- both governmental and NGO -- are not only tone deaf, but tend to make things harder for everyone. And it shows the dirty open secret of how so many people connected to those agencies are using them to line their own pockets.

We all know how what a clusterf*ck the government's response to Hurricane Maria was. What I wanted to know was how, logistically, Chef Jose managed to crank out over three million meals there with questionable access to potable water and electricity. This book tells how: lots of horsetrading, hard work, sweat, and some pure luck. Chef Jose gives credit where credit is due, and he calls people and agencies out when they deserve that, too. I don't think anyone is surprised that FEMA's top levels are a bunch of clueless desk jockeys (we saw that even pre-Katrina). I'm sure the Red Cross isn't too happy with him either, but it's about damn time and not undeserved.

I'm still amazed at the number of people who don't comprehend that Puerto Ricans are American citizens. Boggles the mind.

[Laurie]

This is an amazing story of wonderful chefs and volunteers who fed vast amounts of people after a terrible disaster, with virtually no help from the U.S. government. Unfortunately I just could not finish the book because it is just so downright negative and sickening. Sickening that our country let Puerto Rico down so badly. I get that the negativity needed to be shared, but reading it on every page left me feeling completely hopeless and guilty. I’m grateful that there are still so many people out there who care for others and want to help, but I also can’t help but wonder what the hell is going on in this self-centered country. This book makes me feel even more angry and depressed about the current administration than I already did, which I didn’t think was possible!