Leave Out the Tragic Parts

A Grandfather's Search for a Boy Lost to Addiction

By: Dave Kindred

Narrated by: Dave Kindred

This extraordinary investigation of the death of the author's grandson yields a powerful memoir of addiction, grief, and the stories we choose to tell our families and ourselves.

Jared Kindred left his home and family at the age of eighteen, choosing to wander across America on freight train cars and live on the street. Addicted to alcohol most of his short life, and withholding the truth from many who loved him, he never found a way to survive. Through this ordeal, Dave Kindred's love for his grandson has never wavered.

Leave Out the Tragic Parts is not merely a reflection on love and addiction and loss. It is a hard-won work of reportage, meticulously reconstructing the life Jared chose for himself--a life that rejected the comforts of civilization in favor of a chance to roam free. Kindred asks painful but important questions about the lies we tell to get along, and what binds families together or allows them to fracture. Jared's story ended in tragedy, but the act of telling it is an act of healing and redemption. This is an important book on how to love your family, from a great writer who has lived its lessons.

©2021 Dave Kindred (P)2021 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The title of Dave Kindred's astonishing book is precisely what he did not do. A world-class reporter used every ounce of his journalistic skills to investigate a story - the life and death of a beloved grandchild - that most of us would find daunting. But Kindred tells the story truly and with love." (David Maraniss, author of A Good American Family: The Red Scare and My Father)

"Dave Kindred's Leave Out the Tragic Parts is a searing, terrifying, and brilliantly written book that, when I began reading one night, I couldn't put down. As a tireless researcher devoted to finding and writing the unflinching truth about his beloved grandson, Kindred brings us into a fascinating, foreign world. In his remarkable journey, he explores and communicates the bafflement, desperation, and pain experienced by anyone who loves a person with addiction, and he reminds us that reading others' stories can lead to understanding, compassion, and healing. Leave Out the Tragic Parts is a godsend for every grandparent, parent, friend, spouse, and child who loves a person with addiction. It is testament to the power of love. I believe that the greatest art can come from the greatest pain and love, and this book is pure art." (David Sheff, New York Times best-selling author of Beautiful Boy)

"Keening was the sound that confronted me on the other end of the line when Dave Kindred called to say his grandson Jared had been found dead of an overdose in a flop house in Philadelphia. The resounding howl of grief, anger, and bewilderment, would not abate until Kindred turned his consummate talents and unflinching gaze on Jared's all-too-brief life and unseemly death. Maybe, just maybe, if he could tell how the beautiful blond boy in a white tuxedo became a 'traveling kid' named Goblin - a wraithlike mess of tats and vodka - who hopped trains for a living, Jared's life would have some meaning and his grandpa would find some peace. Leave Out the Tragic Parts is a rageful lullaby of love and regret and a wonder to behold." (Jane Leavy, New York Times best-selling author of The Big Fella)

Amazing Book!

This book is a must for anyone trying to understand/figure out how to help a young person getting ensnared by addiction. Deeply moving, honest, and eye-opening, this book made me grow as a person.

Frustrating and so real

Having worked with many alcoholic as well as having some in my family, including a nephew who drank himself to death, I am saddened that this writer feels so much guilt over his grandson’s life and death. None of us can live another persons life or choose how another should live. Hindsight is always 20/20 but would anything anyone did or said have made a difference. Is easy to blame the effects of alcohol on the brain in making decisions but many alcoholics have chosen to stop drinking and face life head on, it still remains a decision they make. Alcoholism remains a horrible mental health illness, as does all addiction obviously affecting many more than the addict himself as this story portrays. Unfortunately is becoming so much more prevalent in our current society. Those left behind are left hurting as is true with all loss and death
I truly hope this author is able to assuage his guilt and find peace.

A moving story

This story was well written and moving. I can’t imagine writing something like this as a grandfather about his grandson. The pursuit of getting the details about who his grandson was on the road reveals a love worth listening about.

Careful, this story might soften your heart

A moving tribute to a grandson and an important perspective on addiction. I will be recommending this book to all my reading (and listening ) friends.

All to close to so many I one way or another

Gusty Author and a lovingGrandfather thank you for sharing! In a way it makes me appreciate life so much better than yesterday and it was a great story. Thanks

Beautiful story, beautifully written

Writing about a grandchild who died has to be one of the most difficult assignments. I almost didn’t listen to this book for fear that it would be too raw and emotionally draining. But I am so glad I took it on. It is a beautiful story without being overly sentimental. Wait, of course it’s sentimental, but it’s not exaggerated. It’s not “my perfect grandson.” It’s an honest story about one young man who had endearing attributes as well as crippling addictions. So, yes, the story is raw, but not for the purpose of exploitation, but rather the opposite. Kindred shares the story of his grandson in a way that opens our eyes to a world we knew nothing about. I don’t know how he did it, but Kindred’s dedication to unraveling his grandson’s path—and then sharing that story—is heartwarming proof of genuine love and kindness.

This is my family story, too.

It was difficult to hear this story as it was so familiar - the tattoos that break family members' hearts and the laughter of the drunken adult children as they explain their quick, painful exit plans from life. It is painful, but important to relive each of the hopes and disappointments. This book made me question whether Dave's understanding and patience was the way to make peace with his grandson's life choices. Well done, Dave. I can't seem to get there myself. I am angry. I haven't stopped hoping that my son will come back to us. He's 54.

Trains

I will never look at trains without thinking of this book. Loved every minute of it. It explained alcoholism better then I have ever thought of it. My husband is an alcoholic but now I understand it much better. Thank you and god bless you for writing such a wonderful book. The

Compelling

Wow. This book is beautiful, informative, sad, fascinating, and introspective. I appreciate the way the author approached the topic of the traveling kids, and addiction, and his own failings. I was touched by the story of the grandson he loved but could not save. This is also one of the few author-narrated audiobooks for which the author's narration adds to, not takes away, from the beauty.

Painful and beautiful

This books is painful and beautiful all at once. It skillfully explains how others come to live outside of societal expectations, but their life’s are no less fulfilling because of it.