Nothing So Broken - by Chris Richards (Paperback)

About the Book

Larry Richards, 21, was drafted to Vietnam in 1967. Steven Bott, 21, awoke from a coma in 1990, his life shattered. Their struggles shaped Chris Richards, who years later must face his own crisis and find hope in their broken lives.

Book Synopsis

In the spring of 1967, Larry Richards was drafted into the Vietnam War. The conflict was intensifying. Casualties were rising. Twelve months of snipers, ambushes, and Agent Orange awaited. He was 21 years old.

In the fall of 1990, Steven Bott was finishing up a day at work when the unthinkable happened. Several weeks later he woke up in a hospital bed with no memory, physically and cognitively crippled. He was 21 years old.

These stories are connected through Chris Richards, Larry's oldest son and Steven's close childhood friend. The immense challenges that followed both men would haunt Chris, shaping his life. It wouldn't be until many years later, when faced with his own crisis, that he would be able to look past his fears and grief and find inspiration within their broken lives.

Recommended by US Review of Books

Literary Titan gold award

Review Quotes

Recommended by US Review of Books: This book is a powerful testimony about love and perseverance. Throughout the narractive, Richards' relationship with his father deepens, and so does his understanding of his father's personality and silences. Other stories within the book remind its audience about the significance of determination. This example is best set by the author's friend, Steven, who works tirelessly to overcome his own nearly debilitating injuries in order to throw the first pitch at a Red Sox game. This section offers a key, memorable mantra: "Simply put, follow through is the physical manifestation of intention." Inspiring and necessary, this memoir will give all who receive it a new look at life, love, and hope. It is definitely a must-read, one that will guide individuals through the darkest of times.

Chris Richards's Nothing So Broken is a heartfelt memoir that weaves together family, friendship, and the long shadows cast by war. It's told through a lens that shifts between generations, the Vietnam experiences of Richards's father, and the tangled, messy journey of growing up in small-town America. The book captures what it means to inherit pain without ever being in the war yourself. It's not just a story about Vietnam or divorce or youth; it's about how those things mix together to shape who we become. Richards writes with a storyteller's rhythm, turning memory into something vivid and cinematic, but also deeply personal. The writing feels alive, sharp and tender at once. The way Richards talks about fathers and sons, love and loss, is both funny and painful. .... His language is simple, but it hits deep, no fluff, just truth.... Everyone is human, flawed, and trying their best. That's what makes the book work. The emotional range, grief, humor, confusion, hope, feels real because life feels like that. He captures that strange middle ground between heartbreak and gratitude, and it made me feel like I knew these people, like I'd grown up right next door. If you've ever wondered what it's like to live with the echo of someone else's war or if you just like stories about complicated families and growing up, this one's for you. I'd recommend Nothing So Broken to anyone who appreciates honest, character-driven stories that don't sugarcoat real life. - Literary Titan