Golden Bones: An Extraordinary Journey from Hell in Cambodia to a New Life in America

by Sichan Siv

Book Overview

While the United States battled the Communists of North Vietnam in the 1960s and '70s, the neighbouring country of Cambodia was attacked from within by dictator Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge imprisoned, enslaved, and murdered the educated and intellectual members of the population, resulting in the harrowing "killing fields"-rice paddies where the harvest yielded nothing but millions of skulls. Young Sichan Siv-a target since he was a university graduate-was told by his mother to run and "never give up hope " Captured and put to work in a slave labor camp, Siv knew it was only a matter of time before he would be worked to death-or killed. With a daring escape from a logging truck and a desperate run for freedom through the jungle, including falling into a dreaded pungi pit, Siv finally came upon a colorfully dressed farmer who said, "Welcome to Thailand." He spent months teaching English in a refugee camp in Thailand while regaining his strength, eventually Siv was allowed entry into the United States. Upon his arrival in the U.S., Siv kept striving. Eventually rising to become a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Siv returned with great trepidation to the killing fields of Cambodia in 1992 as a senior representative of the U.S. government. It was an emotionally overwhelming visit.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061340685
• ISBN13: 9780061340680
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Compelling saga of human resolve

I just finished reading this book -- it is extraordinary and well worth buying. In many respects this is the ultimate 'self help' guide. It is the kind of book you read when facing adversity in life, or give to a friend when they are looking down. Sichan Siv has faced the worst life has to offer and has made it to the top. Anyone who thinks they can't rebound or pick themselves up from tough times should read Siv's story. The other remarkable message is the opportunities that America gives to everyone, no matter what your background. Siv came to the U.S. as a refugee and soon found himself working in the White House. What other country on the planet offers opportunities like that? Another inspirational message to people of any background, color, education, etc. about what can be accomplished if you keep on trying.

An Amazing and Inspiring Tale of the American Dream

Golden Bones is a true story which will inspire and captivate you from beginning to end. Ambassador Sichan Siv shares his journey from his younger days in Cambodia to the White House to the United Nations. His story reminds us that America is a great country and that with hope and hard work-- dreams do come true. This book intertwines history, Cambodian and American culture with a tale of courage and hope. A must read for all and a story we, as a land of immigrants, can appreciate. His story is the American Dream.

Unfaltering hope, the relentless optimist

I must congratulate the author for creating such a powerful story that will inspire us all for generations to come. It takes an incredible amount of courage to relive those moments in order to tell of them. On behalf of all of us who are fortunate to be able to read of his journey, we thank him for his soulful outpouring and for sharing a piece of history that we might otherwise never have known about. From cultural highlights about Cambodia (arranged marriages, faith, and even pet bears), to the carnage of the Khmer Rouge, to public speaking tips (Z180 delivery), to even getting ripped off in NYC, Sichan has created a memorable book that reminds us that the key to overcoming anything life throws at us is to keep that optimistic spirit alive, and to treat others around you with endless kindness and respect.

From Hell to the White House & United Nations

Golden Bones reads like fiction, until you realize it is a true story. It is history, international politics, intrigue, the White House, United Nations and a love story all rolled into one. I started it on a Friday evening and could not put it down until I finished it on Sunday. What a most fascinating and moving story. The courage and leadership showed by Sichan Siv at such a young age was remarkable, and should be an inspiration to everyone. Fleeing hell and thirteen years later becoming a Presidential aide sounds more like a novel than reality. In addition, I enjoyed learning more about the history and culture of Cambodia. While reading Golden Bones, I was often in tears, and frequently, crying. Ambassador Siv's escape during the 1975-1976 period occurred when I was working in the White House. I saw how difficult his life was, and thought how soft it was for me at that same time. I can't even imagine what it was like to learn that your family had been brutally murdered. The description of his mother and family was wonderful and heart warming. His escape from the Khmer Rouge and the Killing Fields was remarkable and riveting. Sichan Siv's return to Cambodia in 1992 representing the President of the United States must have been one of the most enjoyable and emotional moments of his life. Also, what a thrill to have the Dalai Lama ask for your autograph? After going through hell, Ambassador Siv had so many good things happen to him upon arriving in the United States, but, obviously, meeting Martha Lee Pattillo, his future wife, had to be at the top of the list. His description of their courtship and relationship has the making of a movie, a true love story. One of my regular tennis partners while in the White House was George H. W. Bush, before he became "41," so I also share Sichan Siv's great admiration for him. (Bush, Sr. was our liaison to China and then Director of the C.I.A. in those days). I learned a great deal from Golden Bones, including courage, motivation and leadership, not to mention ABC, (American By Choice), and overall, one must work hard to achieve their objectives. Also, I'll always remember, "No matter what happens, never give up." Golden Bones is an inspiring and uplifting story for people of all ages and walks of life. John G. Carlson

An Amazing, Inspiring Story

Golden Bones is one of the most amazing, inspiring stories that I have ever come across. It is really at least two inspirational stories. The first is Sichan Siv's tale of survival during the murderous reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia--a reign that killed over a fifth of Siv's countrymen and almost his entire family. His dramatic, against-all-odds escape from Cambodia by bicycling across the entire country, somehow escaping detection and outwitting the Khmer Rouge, is an epic in and of itself. The second story--how Siv rose from a penniless refugee in the U.S. to a high-ranking White House official and later a U.S. Ambassador--is an incredible tale in its own right. His rise from working as a New York cab driver plying the streets outside the U.N. to a high-ranking Ambassador representing the U.S. inside the U.N. is one of those "only in America" stories that should make us all proud. The book keeps you on the edge of your seat as it navigates through all of the dramatic twists and turns of Sichan Siv's remarkable life. This book is required reading!