When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Abdulrahman Zeitoun chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. After the storm, he traveled the flooded streets in a canoe, passing on supplies and helping those he could. A week later, Zeitoun abruptly disappeared.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER - From the bestselling author of The Circle - The true story of one family, caught between America's two biggest policy disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina.

"Eggers' tone is pitch-perfect--suspense blended with just enough information to stoke reader outrage and what is likely to be a typical response: How could this happen in America? ... It's the stuff of great narrative nonfiction." --The New York Times Book Review

Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun run a house-painting business in New Orleans. In August of 2005, as Hurricane Katrina approaches, Kathy evacuates with their four young children, leaving Zeitoun to watch over the business. In the days following the storm he travels the city by canoe, feeding abandoned animals and helping elderly neighbors. Then, on September 6th, police officers armed with M-16s arrest Zeitoun in his home. Told with eloquence and compassion, Zeitoun is a riveting account of one family's unthinkable struggle with forces beyond wind and water.