“A poignant memoir that doubles as an effective primer on recent Haitian history.”—Kirkus Reviews

"A real achievement..."—President Barack Obama, in a personal letter to the author

"Brilliant book. Highly recommended."—Readers' Favorite, 5-Star Review

The book opens with one of the author's earliest memories in Haiti—his mother waking him from an afternoon nap so they could leave their house before dark and spend the night in a church, seeking refuge from armed gangs that broke into homes in the early 1990s.

Set in both Haiti and the United States, Light Beneath Ashes follows his journey from a childhood shaped by political instability to the difficult decision to leave for the US, and the complexities of adapting to a new world. Years later, with a doctorate in economics and a desire to contribute, he returns to Haiti—not as a tourist or savior, but as a son, researcher, and reluctant witness to the slow unraveling of a country he still calls home.

Blending personal narratives, history, and introspection, Light Beneath Ashes is a deeply personal and emotionally honest account of belonging, return, and the fragile space between hope and disillusionment. It offers a rare insider-outsider lens on post-dictatorship Haiti, both intimate and politically aware. With the precision of a researcher and the heart of someone who never stopped looking back, the author examines the limits of change and what it means to engage with a homeland that both welcomes and resists you.

This is not just a memoir—it is a mirror to the soul of a nation and to the hearts that keep it alive, even from afar.