A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves

"Jason DeParle tells a multigenerational migration saga by focusing on one Filipino family. DeParle first met Tita and Emet Comodas in the late 1980s when he was reporting on slum life in Manila. Emet migrates to Saudi Arabia to work as a pool keeper, and eventually all five of his children also leave home to work overseas. DeParle documents the ongoing cycle of sacrifice and success over decades. “The fact that so many people are willing to leave their families and take such risks and be apart for such a length of time is just another measure of their poverty and desperation,” he told All Things Considered. The current discourse on immigration in the U.S. makes this book a must-read – and DeParle’s nuanced history and beautiful narrative make this gripping, satisfying read difficult to put down – no matter your political persuasion."