When the Dust Settles: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. 'A marvellous book' -- Rev Richard Coles

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I think what 'When the Dust Settles' taught me is that all experiences are of value, even major disasters of the sort that Easthope has experienced over her extraordinary career.

Easthope, who grew up in Liverpool, says it was witnessing the impact of the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 that set her on her career path, said Jasper Rees in The Daily Telegraph. Sir Michael Caine knows a thing or two about gangs: whether that’s joining one as a kid, or playing them in movies for over 50 years.When The Dust Settles, Lucy Easthope ( paperback March 23) ₩18,000 A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*'It does for disaster what Rachel Clarke's Dear Life has done for palliative medicine and Adam Kay's This Is Going To Hurt for obstetrics. The people of Japan believe that everyone has an ikigai - a reason for being; the thing that gets you out of bed each morning. She explains without hyperbole what happens in the aftermath, describing how the authorities respond and how victims and their relatives are cared for. When the Dust Settles lifts us up, showing that humanity, hope and humour can – and must – be found on the darkest days. Having spent a career with the ambulance service, latterly as a Tactical Commander I was heavily involved in emergency planning, exercises and real life major events so found this book so interesting in its familiarity and it's accuracy .

In this candid memoir she introduces us to victims and their families, but also takes us into the government briefing rooms and bunkers, where confusion can reign supreme. Now, at last, the acclaimed clinicians are sharing their methods in this eye-opening and empowering book. Her tone was perfect, she was unafraid to be "naughty", but she was firm in her convictions she really knows her stuff. She is eloquent and down to earth yet does one of the most extraordinary jobs, of which many of us may be unaware.

But somehow I still felt that this book didn't quite connect the dots between what she has learned over her years in disaster recovery and what an ordinary person might/can do when faced with a horrible situation. It is emotionally grueling at times, yet the author’s calm resolve will help you to deal with death and uncertainty.