If Benjamin Hall's previous book was all about how he survived a rocket attack in Ukraine and how he made it home to his family, this follow up is all about what happens next. Recovery, he gradually learns, was the easy part.

The hard part is learning to accept the new normal.

As he navigates a world no longer designed for him, Hall reflects on the tenacity of the human spirit and what he's learned about himself, his family, and others who, like him, refuse to give up. While for the most part Hall experiences "Post Traumatic Optimism" where he refuses to let his circumstances defeat him, he doesn't shy away from his lowest points either. I was outraged on his behalf when hotels he was staying at twice (twice!) failed to give him an accessible room, forcing him to crawl just to take a shower.

As many memoirs end when the "crisis" ends, it was eye-opening to see the behind the scenes of what getting on with one's life actually means. I enjoyed Hall's personal stories more than his interviews, but I'm sure he can't help himself as he is a journalist at heart. The audiobook is narrated by the author and he did a wonderful job. It felt like a friend telling me about his life.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.