God Grew Tired Of Us: A Memoir

By John Bul Dau, Michael Sweeney, Michael S. Sweeney

Book Overview

"Lost Boy" John Bul Dau's harrowing experience surviving the brutal horrors of Sudanese civil war and his adjustment to life in modern America is chronicled in this inspiring memoir and featured in an award-winning documentary film of the same name. Movingly written, the book traces Dau's journey through hunger, exhaustion, terror, and violence as he fled his homeland, dodging ambushes, massacres and attacks by wild animals. His tortuous, 14-year journey began in 1987, when he was just 13, and took him on a 1,000-mile walk, barefoot, to Ethiopia, back to Sudan, then to a refugee camp in Kenya, where he lived with thousands of other Lost Boys. In 2001, at the age of 27, he immigrated to the United States. With touching humor, Dau recounts the shock of his tribal culture colliding with life in America. He shares the joy of reuniting with his family and the challenges of making a new life for himself while never forgetting the other Lost Boys he left behind.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1426202121
• ISBN13: 9781426202124
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: National Geographic Society
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Lost Boys Story

This is one of about six excellent books that are in print that tells the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. As the Chairman of the Lost Boys Rebuilding Southern Sudan, I have worked with and had the opportunity to hear the stories of many of these facinating young men. "God Grew Tired Of Us" is a story of just one of the 4,000 plus Lost Boys that now live in the United States. Once you have met one of these young men, your...

Uplifting memoir with great perspective

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and really makes you question your own attitude in life. I chose it for a bookclub and everyone said they would not have picked it up and read it on their own and were really glad they did. Can't wait to see the documentary! I think everyone should read this book.

A "must read"...

God Grew Tired of Us is one of the most powerful books I've read. It had my attention from the first page and I didn't want to put it down. John Bul Dau is such an incredible inspiration... you can't read this book and not be profoundly affected by his astonishing determination, leadership and desire to never give up. His description of his experience coming to the U.S. really makes me appreciate what we have. We so often...

So very touching..

This book makes the struggles in my life seem so minute. The torturous childhood this man had would make any normal person die simply to end the pain of everyday life. And yet he has found his way to a better place. As a longtime member of Law Enforcement as well as current Military, I have seen my fair share of misery and poverty. The struggles in our country as bad as they can get and I have seen, do not even compare to...

A tale to rival Anne Frank's; and now a movie!

Wow! I can't believe there isn't more buzz and more sales of this book considering what a powerful life-changing tale John Bul Dau has to tell. As far as a window to what a human soul can endure and a confirmation of faith in the unflappable power of the human spirit to overcome horrid adversity just to survive, Bul Dau's "God Grew Tired of Us: A Memoir," has to rank right up there with "Left to Tell," by Immaculee Ilibagiza...