Surviving Chaos by Harold Phifer

A memoir of anecdotes and long-spun yarns of life from author Harold Phifer, Surviving Chaos: How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar lives up to its title, overflowing with nearly unbelievable stories of struggle, strife, and survival.

From the war-torn streets of Afghanistan during the largest explosion to ever rock that country, to the cruel power struggles of the author’s matriarchal family, this confessional memoir peels back the ugly curtain of experience to distill wisdom and insight for readers willing to take such a recollective dive. The context of the story – riffing and unloading demons to a stranger during a Southeast Asian bender – allows the author to leap freely between his memories, weaving them together as he wills, complete with the occasional tangents one might expect during a drunken ramble.

The brief nature of each vignette keeps the pace of the writing up, but there is some repetition in the sentiments being shared, particularly when it comes to examples of his mother and aunt being unbalanced. There are also some moments of sloppiness – missed commas, misused words, and other basic typos, as well as the occasional sentence that feels flat or unnecessary.

Generally, this is an exotic and enlightening read, with the author’s radiant and resilient personality shining through. Combining straightforward language with lyrical turns of phrase, Surviving Chaos is a compelling, thought-provoking, and original memoir.

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