Piles of Salt: A Life Narrative of Civil War, Refugeeism, and Sociopolitical Transnationalism

Piles of Salt is a biographical glimpse into the life of a man living during the Civil war years in Laos through the 1960’s and 70’s until he is able to immigrate to the safety of the United States. This compelling oral history of a Laotian war refugee and future United States immigrant details his early life as a boy growing up in rural Laos, and chronicles how the child becomes a man and eventually flees his war torn nation. The memoir is told as a first-person narrative, transcribed from interviews with a storyteller who pointedly, and often humorously, recounts his experiences of war, escape, and seeking asylum in the United States. This is an engaging and pleasurable read; highly recommended for those interested in Asia, anthropology, history, ethnography, or those seeking a greater understanding of the plight of our refugee immigrant population and the struggles associated with refugeeism around the world.