'The Boat' interlaces the lived experiences of individuals from disparate corners of the world, delving into their struggles, hopes, and humanity. From a Colombian teenager caught in the labyrinth of violence to a Vietnamese refugee faced with agonizing choices on the perilous sea, Nam Le weaves a tapestry of narratives that showcase the breadth of the human condition. An aging New York painter, a boy on the threshold of manhood in a small Australian town, and others complete this collection, forming a compendium of stories that traverse geographical and emotional landscapes, laying bare the intimate impact of cultural heritage, memory, and identity.