Description
Book SynopsisEmotional, moving, and powerful,
Every Last Tie is the highly personal memoir of David Kaczynski—brother of Ted Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber—in which he discusses his family, comes to terms with his brother's crimes, and meditates on the possibilities for reconciliation and maintaining family bonds.
Trade Review"Compelling and quietly dramatic, the author's story, which is followed by a brief afterword by psychiatrist James Knoll, seeks not to excuse his brother but rather to humanize him. As Knoll suggests, understanding the mentally ill 'with an open heart' is an activity in which not only affected family members, but also the whole of society must engage for the good of all. Powerfully provocative reading." * Kirkus Reviews *
"David Kaczynski’s reflective and resolutely unsensational memoir reveals how difficult it was to accept even the possibility that his older brother, Theodore, might be a terrorist." -- Scott McLemee * Inside Higher Ed *
"In
Every Last Tie, Mr. Kaczynski gives a compelling personal account of his relations with his brother and the anguish he experienced upon realizing that Ted was one of the most wanted terrorists in America." -- Edward Jay Epstein * Wall Street Journal *
"This slim, intriguing book is the story of a family whose two sons lead different lives. David Kaczynski's voice is quietly thoughtful, and his writing is lovely; he ranges from family anecdote to psychological puzzle to philosophical musing while retaining an even tone.
Every Last Tie is both a straightforward story and a complex consideration of an extremely difficult one." -- Julia Jenkins * Shelf Awareness *
"[R]emarkable for its slenderness, humility and tact. ... Kaczynski devotes a thoughtful, affectionate chapter to each member of his immediate family." -- Susan Choi * Washington Post *
"
Every Last Tie is extraordinarily insightful—but also instructive. By analyzing his own capacity for causing pain, David brings his brother close enough to learn something from him." -- Malcolm Harris * The New Republic *
"[T]he perspective on these events is obviously somewhat different when offered directly from a family member, not filtered through the eyes of a reporter. ... [Kaczynski] succeeds at the most difficult task of a book like this, writing about his brother’s victims with sensitivity and restraint." -- Michelle Dean * The Guardian *
"The book is an admirable attempt to examine Ted’s early life, offering us glimpses of a more psychological humanity. Most important, David reveals the roots of Ted’s affinity for nature and his increasing alienation from a world that he saw as driven by technological advancement and a digital revolution. ... [M]any of the recollections are revealingly intimate instances of a precocious but troubled boy." -- Nathan Smith * Pacific Standard *
"We already knew that the younger Kaczynski was a compassionate and ethical man–he turned in his brother, but only after he thought that the death penalty was off the table. This memoir reinforces what it took for him to lead authorities to Ted, and offers ways for the rest of us to move forward with empathy." -- Kel Munger * Lit/Rant *
Table of ContentsPreface xi
1. Missing Parts 1
2. Life Force 31
3. Ghost within Me 61
4. North Star 81
Afterword / Dr. James L. Knoll IV, MD 105
Acknowledgments 137
Index 139
