Waiting for the Monsoon

By the New York Times’s legendary war correspondent, written while battling terminal brain cancer: a life-affirming memoir of high adventure, deep wisdom, and finding true happiness amid the unlikeliest circumstances

“This is, by far, the most enlightening and inspiring book on facing death—and on discovering the beauty of life.” —Lynsey Addario, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist

For thirty years, Rod Nordland shadowed death. As one of his generations preeminent war correspondents, he reported in over 150 countries, many of which were in violent upheaval, and was no stranger to witnessing tragedy. But in summer 2019, during the height of India’s erratic monsoon season, Nordland was suddenly faced with a tragedy of his own: he collapsed in the middle of a morning jog, was rushed to the hospital, and diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor.

After decades chasing conflicts across the globe, Nordland, now confined to a hospital bed, found the strength to face more personal conflicts. He reconnected with his estranged children and became closer with them than he ever thought possible. He repaired a friendship with a best friend that had been broken for twenty years. The arrogance and certitude that dominated his every action was replaced by a lucid sense of humility and generosity that persisted even after he left the hospital. Norland’s tragedy became, in his own words, “a gift that has enriched my life.”

Waiting for the Monsoon is the exemplary story of confronting death with both eyes open, and of the human capacity to persevere even in the most difficult of times. With tremendous clarity, grace, and courage, Nordland has delivered a powerful final assignment, revealing how facing the unknown can transform experience and change our relationship to the world around us.

This unforgettable memoir is a testament to a life lived on the edge—and the clarity that comes when facing the end.

From the Front Lines: Decades of high-stakes reporting from over 150 countries, witnessing history from the battlefields of Bosnia to the streets of Baghdad. Facing a Diagnosis with Courage: The raw, unflinching account of receiving a terminal diagnosis in a New Delhi hospital and Nordland’s determination to approach his final assignment with clarity and grace. Reconciliation and Redemption: How a hospital bed became the place to heal old wounds, reconnecting with estranged children and repairing a friendship that had been broken for twenty years. A Second Life: Discover why Nordland came to see his illness not as a tragedy, but as “a gift that has enriched my life,” replacing arrogance with humility and regret with profound gratitude.