What Is the What

What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng
First edition cover
AuthorDave Eggers
Cover artistRachell Sumpter
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction, memoir
PublisherMcSweeney's
Publication date
October 25, 2006
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages475 pp
ISBN1-932416-64-1
OCLC75428313
813/.6 22
LC ClassPS3605.G48 W43 2006

What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng is a 2006 novel written by Dave Eggers. It is based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese child refugee who immigrated to the United States under the Lost Boys of Sudan program. It was a finalist for the National Book Award.