Kevin Hazzard (Author of No One's Coming) | Ep. 230

In Episode 230, Sarah chats with Kevin Hazzard about his new book, No One's Coming, the true story of the daring mission to rescue two Americans infected with Ebola during the 2014 West African outbreak. They discuss the unlikely team behind the unprecedented operation, the challenges of telling a real-life story with the pacing of a thriller, and what Kevin learned about the ordinary people who stepped up when no one else could. Plus, Kevin shares his book recommendations.

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• Books by Kevin Hazzard: No One's Coming, American Sirens, and A Thousand Naked Strangers
• How Kevin first came across this remarkable true story — and how he knew he had to write it
• Why the Phoenix Air team agreed to take on an unprecedented and incredibly dangerous mission
• The challenge of getting people to speak candidly about such a high-pressure, high-stakes operation
• The qualities Kevin saw in the people who said "yes" when everyone else was saying "no"
• Kevin answers the question: Would he have agreed to go on this ebola mission?
• If he plans to stay in the world of medical nonfiction for future books

Kevin's Book Recommendations

Two OLD Books He Loves

• Apeirogon by Colum McCann (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:45] 
• The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:07] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The Tiger by John Vaillant (2010) [40:17]
  • Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry (2019) [42:59] 
  • Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett (1952) [43:03] 

Two NEW Books He Loves

• In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means To Be A Man by Tom Junod (Mar 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:11] 
• Black Dahlia by William Mann (Jan 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:57] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2012) [44:16]
  • Black Dahlia, Red Rose by Piu Eatwell (2017) [45:56] 
  • I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (2018) [46:27] 

One Book He DIDN'T Love

• The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:44] 

One NEW RELEASE He's Excited About

• High Road by Hank Idsinga (Apr 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:39] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Homicide by David Simon (1991) [48:52]