This book discusses the work that goes into the aftermath of large-scale disaster events, from recovering remains to reuniting personal effects with a deceased's loved ones, and the various events the author has been witness to over the years.

Fair warning: there are discussions of traumatic events such as bombings, plane crashes, and the burning of flesh. It's not graphic, but some readers, especially if they have been affected by PTSD or a mass trauma event may feel uncomfortable.

It's a riveting work, one that makes a reader want to continue on "just one more page", then another page, then another... until you realize you've hit the end.

The discussions are more focused on the humanizing aspect of the work: how families react after a mass trauma such as a plane crash, the need for coordinating with various governments/agencies/people, and the logistics behind pulling off such large-scale missions.

There are a few moments in the book where the author, an American, does lapse into British terms/slang, but they are brief and occur more past the halfway point in the work. It doesn't necessarily interrupt the overall flow of the narrative, but it does make the reader pause briefly. Since the author's company has locations in the US and the UK, the author may not have even realized he used them so.

Recommended for those who enjoy the works of Caitlin Doughty and Bryan Stevenson.

I'm giving this book 3.5 (if possible) stars. There is definitely an audience for this book but I didn't enjoy the and-then, and-then quality of the writing. I also didn't get much from the author's description of his personal life. I'm writing off my reaction to a difference in taste rather than an indication of the relative merits of this book.

Note: If GR gave half-stars, I'd give this 3.5.

"Personal Effects" is the career memoir of Robert Jensen, head of the world's largest private disaster management company. Kenyon, his company, steps in when the unthinkable has happened: they retrieve human remains and effects, work to sort out their ownership, work with families to return them to next of kin in a way that respects the family's wishes and the deceased's individual beliefs.

While Jensen's work is by nature grim, the book's interest is not in gore. As the author moves from one international tragedy to another, he describes the logistical challenges that made this work necessary and the important communication role he and his colleagues serve. Over and again, he emphasizes the human reason for the specific choices they make, the tremendous respect and care that dictates the level of hyper-organization with which they approach their work.

For those looking for morbid details, for the record--you won't find that here. While the author acknowledges situations in which the deceased's remains have been fragmented (an airplane crash, for example), he doesn't provide or dwell on these details. He notes facts of body condition as needed, but does so as tastefully as possible.

What's iffier: This isn't a critique but simply a matter of personal desire--I wish the author had spent more time on the different disasters and the responses to them. I grasp why the author didn't (his story is more about his entire career, speaking to the unique challenges and lessons of each disaster; wading into every detail wouldn't have served that overarching goal). That said, I would have liked more info on each of these, just for my personal curiosity.

Note: This review is based on an ARC from Netgalley.

Robert Jensen takes us into the world of his life's work in an up-close look into what occurs after mass tragedies. His devotion to his career and his care for those left behind are at the heart of this account. It is not a piece of non-fiction to miss!

Personal Effects: What Recovering the Dead Teaches Me About Caring for the Living - Robert A. Jensen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC!

I was absolutely fascinated by this book. The logistics and mental fortitude needed when handling disasters is mind-boggling.

First, the author was extremely respectful to both living and the dead throughout the book. While he did share stories of disasters he’s worked, he did so with the utmost respect to all the parties. Jensen showed a deep understanding of human emotion and none of this book felt exploitative.

Jensen also had a distinctive voice throughout the book. His opinions about bureaucratic red tape and lack of planning was definitely shared. However, he’s the expert, so it never came off like he was pushing an agenda. He just was very honest about the highs and lows of the job.

One of my qualms was that it was repetitive at times. But I guess when you are dealing with disasters like this, the location and type of disaster may be different but the outcomes are the same. There are still dead people and there are still family members needing to know about the dead. So while the repetition was a tad distracting, it also made sense given the subject.

Overall, this was a humbling book about living and dying. The author really expressed a deep respect for human life and death and what that looks like in different cultures. If you’re looking for a great nonfiction read, check this one out in September!

Book Review for Personal Effects
Full review for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!