Every Last Tie

"Deeds of inhumanity challenge us to discover our own deeper humanity. David Kaczynski has done so, both in his life and in this very moving memoir he has written about his family."  - Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking

"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

"An extraordinarily deep, moving, thoughtful, and profound memoir. This brother's story is a generous shattering journey. This author truly has an 'open and fearless heart.' And the book ends with a turn that turns the personal into the profoundly political, with an afterword by psychiatrist James Knoll who writes about mental illness, mental illness policy, and violence with incredible insight and compassion, including his own responsibilities after the Sandy Hook massacre. A powerful book for our times."  - Cathy N. Davidson, Distinguished Professor and Director, The Futures Initiative, The Graduate Center, CUNY

"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

"In telling the story of his family, David Kaczynski writes of the possibility of compassion for one's siblings, without excusing their dark and horrible deeds." - Don Follis, News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana)

"In this deeply felt, gracefully written memoir, David tells the story of his older brother, a genius who went to Harvard at 16 but exhibited signs of serious mental illness that David recognized even as a boy. Along with its compelling personal story, Every Last Tie makes a poignant case against the death penalty, and for greater resources for the mentally ill." - Marjorie Preston, Shore News Today