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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1426202121
• ISBN13: 9781426202124
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: National Geographic Society
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 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 life will be changed, and you will fall in love with them. After what they have been through to see their faith in God and their love for mankind it makes one feel guilty of what we have been doing with our lives. Get this book, read it, and pass it on. If this book touches your life, like it has most people that have read it, you will also want to read: They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky; What Is The What; They Journey Of The Lost Boys; Lost Boys No More; and The Lost Boys of Sudan - An American Story of the Refugee Experience. These young men feel that "Education Is Their Father and Mother" and no one can take that away from them. As they work two jobs to cover their expenses, they still find time to get an education. Even with all the struggles that they have here in the United States they have formed the Lost Boys Rebuilding Southern Sudan Foundation, which is rising funds to build schools back in Southern Sudan. Their website is: [...] I know that you will find this book an inspiration and the other books that I have listed too.

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 forget how lucky we are and how it's so silly to get upset at the little things in life that are minor inconveniences to us. Hopefully this book will open your mind and your heart. I strongly encourage you to read it and pass it on.

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 what this man and his fellow brothers endured for years. As I read this book I asked myself to take a long look at my life and see how I can do better or more to help others. I did not want to, but his life makes you see that nothing is so bad being a teenager walking naked in the middle of Africa for hundreds of miles on a journey taking months, only to find his life in even more danger and having to leave again. Lots of people look up to the rich and famous, rock stars, models, actors or even the President as people they would like to meet. John Dau is at the top of my list of whom I would like to meet. Simply for me to tell him that I am sorry. Sorry that while I was a teenager hanging out at the mall eating when and what I wanted with no worries other than my bicycle might be stolen; he was starving, thirsty, dirty, naked, no shoes, no soap. no toothbrush... No family, no knowledge of if his family was even alive. He had NOTHING! While I was relatively safe begging my parents to buy me more of this and more of that all of which was so important to me to have then. Now I would have given up everything to John had I known of the situation. Now I know, and feel ashamed. Thank you John for telling us your story and getting the information out to the world. I will find a way that my help is needed and contribute to help ensure others do not have to go through what you did. John, I am so glad that you did not grow tired of God.

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 and Anne Frank's Hiding Place Diary. After reading this book, you can even rush out to the theater and catch the Oscar deserving "God Grew Tired Of Us," documentary about John, Panther, and Daniel plight of coming to America. The movie and the book are ultimately tales of redemption and hope and how new beginnings in new countries can be a life catalyst. But be warned, the book is not for the faint of heart and placid of wills. It will gently urge you to do something, anything to turn the tide in the Darfur region of Sudan, where genocide on a massive scale has been perpetrated by the current government while the international community largely looks on unaffected and unacting. John's voice though doesn't reach to such global assumptions and is never preachy. It is a simple tale of tragedy on a holocaust-like scale every bit as terrible as Rwanda's civil war. John escapes to Kukuma refugee camp and eventually finds his way with two of his best friends and fellow "lost boys," to a New York Syracuse apartment and the difficult process of transitioning to a new life and new culture begins. Ultimately John fights to hold on to his Dinka culture and I dare you to fight to keep a dry eye when John discovers not only is his mother still alive in Sudan (whom he was separated from at age 13) but reunites with her in a New York airport with dramatic tears and full-on celebration of joy. It is a defining moment that captures in a simple sentence the power of families and the power of the human spirit to survive. There are so many moments of clarity in John's text. He eventually comes to ask the question, "Why did the United States choose to intervene in Kosovo and not in Sudan or Rwanda?" Though this may sound like a bleak tale it is not. John's writing is actually quite laugh out loud humorous as he explains how Panther, Daniel, and John learn how to live in America. Navigating through things we take for granted like how to turn on and off a lightswitch, what the garbage can is for, and how bills build up the more money you make. John eventually sees a way to turn his plight into a national call to action by starting up a "Lost Boys," non-profit movement and finding a way to keep his culture alive, his family alive, while being influenced by the unavoidable Americanization that occurred. I really can't give a strong enough recommendation for John Bul Dau's "God Grew Tired of Us." It is one of the 5 most powerful books (and films too) that I have experienced in my life of 38 short years. I had the privilege to work