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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Obviously, Paul Farmer is an incredible man with a fascinating story. But Kidder's writing seemed a little too much like hero-worship for my taste. I am glad I read this book for many reasons: inspiration, better knowledge of the story of Partners in Health, a more cohesive sense of Farmer's ideology and influences.
Would recommend to those in the field of global health. Through Farmer’s story and being there is a challenge to Western, capitalist notions of who deserves healthcare and at what cost. Nice story of someone speaking out passionately in high-up places and actually making waves
I skipped a bit at the end of this book. I was riveted by Farmer’s story and Haiti in the beginning and then had a sharp falling off the cliff decline in interest around the time we started talking about tuberculosis.
This is a great book. It was very thought provoking, difficult and enjoyable to read all at once. The story of Partners in Health is absolutely worth reading, and it made me happy to continue to support their work into the future. Tracy Kidder is an excellent writer, so the story never feels flat or slow.
This is the true account of a doctor and his quest to bring healthcare to Haiti and beyond. Read this book. Be inspired and challenged and do something about that feeling in your gut.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Paul Farmer was a truly remarkable person. Wouldn't we all be so lucky if there were more Paul Farmers in the world. While this book was published 20 years ago it is still interesting and relevant today. My heart breaks for the country of Haiti and I pray they have hope today.
Paul Farmer and his contributions to eradicating health inequalities around the world were not unknown to me. We read his articles in grad school. I went to the talk he gave in a packed lecture hall at Columbia. I even read Infections and Inequalities just for fun. The man is something of a legend in public health spheres for what he has been able to accomplish in terms of advocating for health care for the poor.
Farmer went places no one else wanted to go (Haiti, the slums of Peru, Siberian prisons, and on and on) and conquered diseases that all the experts said were impossible to treat in impoverished parts of the world (multiple drug resistant TB, AIDS). Instead of hiding behind the ideas of "appropriate technology" and "cost effectiveness" when treating the poor, he and his organization (Partners in Health) pushed for real solutions and a radical change in thinking.
So imagine my joy when a package arrived on my doorstep -- a get-well-soon gift from Kristen and Frank in DC (thanks again!) of Mountains Beyond Mountains, a biography of Farmer written by Tracy Kidder. I didn't expect to tear through this book so quickly, but it was absolutely inspiring!
To do research for the book, Kidder spent a good deal of time with Farmer, which becomes evident as he uncovers Farmer's philosophies, motivations, and just generally what makes him tick. I loved that Kidder injected himself into the book, so as to analyze his own (and others) reactions to someone so tireless, dedicated and controversial as Farmer. Instead of making Farmer into a saint, this book gets to the heart of Farmer as a person. And by doing this, turns Mountains Beyond Mountains into a call for action for each one of us.
Farmer went places no one else wanted to go (Haiti, the slums of Peru, Siberian prisons, and on and on) and conquered diseases that all the experts said were impossible to treat in impoverished parts of the world (multiple drug resistant TB, AIDS). Instead of hiding behind the ideas of "appropriate technology" and "cost effectiveness" when treating the poor, he and his organization (Partners in Health) pushed for real solutions and a radical change in thinking.
So imagine my joy when a package arrived on my doorstep -- a get-well-soon gift from Kristen and Frank in DC (thanks again!) of Mountains Beyond Mountains, a biography of Farmer written by Tracy Kidder. I didn't expect to tear through this book so quickly, but it was absolutely inspiring!
To do research for the book, Kidder spent a good deal of time with Farmer, which becomes evident as he uncovers Farmer's philosophies, motivations, and just generally what makes him tick. I loved that Kidder injected himself into the book, so as to analyze his own (and others) reactions to someone so tireless, dedicated and controversial as Farmer. Instead of making Farmer into a saint, this book gets to the heart of Farmer as a person. And by doing this, turns Mountains Beyond Mountains into a call for action for each one of us.
At times preachy and even dull in my opinion, but overall an inspiring book about one doctor's passion for public health and outreach in poor communities, primarily Haiti. one quote i liked a lot: " 'a reluctance to do scut work is why a lot of my peers don't stick with this kind of work.' In public health projects in different locales, theory often outruns practice. Individual patients get forgotten, and what seems like a small problem gets ignored, until it grows large. 'If you focus on individual patients, you can't get sloppy.' "
Reread for Lit & Medicine group. Just a tremendous book; I'm sticking in markers every few pages for the discussion!
(first review:) Kidder is a fantastic writer. And Paul Farmer is, apparently, Jesus. I thought this was a great book, so I don't know why I'm giving it only 3 stars. I think because it made me feel like a lazy worthless ass.
(first review:) Kidder is a fantastic writer. And Paul Farmer is, apparently, Jesus. I thought this was a great book, so I don't know why I'm giving it only 3 stars. I think because it made me feel like a lazy worthless ass.