The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen

The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen, though not specially about the Syrian diaspora, it’s eloquence and exquisite storytelling is relevant to anyone who wants to get deeper into the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation. Irrespective if your focus is on Syria, Myanmar, US, Sub-Sahara Africa.

Perhaps it is all the more powerful that the collection of short stories are not centered around the Syrian narrative. Nguyen distills the long lasting impact of displacement, of being a refugee, growing up as, raised by, fully integrated and identifying as one with clarity. The impact of the Syrian crisis will be felt for generations. Just as the aftershock of the Vietnam War persists still.

Nguyen is a writer, thinker and advocate of a generation. He frequently contributes to The New York Times, The Atlantic and etc. Always illuminating.