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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Such a fascinating read - I learned a LOT I never knew about Haiti (politics, culture, history, poverty) and about Dr. Paul Farmer and his mission to end TB around the world.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Look, Dr Paul Farmer's work is obviously incredible. His story makes us all feel inadequate, because none of us are doing nearly as much as he to improve the lives of humanity. If I were to judge this book by Farmer's actions, then this is a five-star read. No brainer.
But that is not how we judge books. Instead, it gets a three-star rating from me because Tracy Kidder's prose is repetitive and tedious. The version of Dr Farmer on page 50 is the same one as the one on page 200. Not that every person or character needs to be developed over the course of a story — and this is a real-life person we are talking about — but I just feel that I didn't get very much out of the book beyond what's already state in the title after the colon. It tells the reader that this is a book about 'a man who would cure the world', and the book then spends the next 300 pages to tell you just that. I've seen medical science and public health done in a much better manner, and this is clearly not it.
But that is not how we judge books. Instead, it gets a three-star rating from me because Tracy Kidder's prose is repetitive and tedious. The version of Dr Farmer on page 50 is the same one as the one on page 200. Not that every person or character needs to be developed over the course of a story — and this is a real-life person we are talking about — but I just feel that I didn't get very much out of the book beyond what's already state in the title after the colon. It tells the reader that this is a book about 'a man who would cure the world', and the book then spends the next 300 pages to tell you just that. I've seen medical science and public health done in a much better manner, and this is clearly not it.
This is a great true story, well written, and inspiring. Paul Farmer and his colleagues are true heros.
One for the ages. SO inspiring, although in my quest to learn even more about Dr. Paul Farmer I learned he passed this year of sudden heart attack at age 62. The world is less for it.
People like Paul Farmer exhaust me because realistically no matter what I do I will never be able to make even a hundredth of the impact he has made on the world. Through this book we get to be alongside and see how he does it and why he valued his work with Partners in Health. His childhood was incredibly unique with the many adventures his father took them on and after college he went to work in Haiti before medical school. After med school he returned to Haiti to continue to serve the population where he founded Partners in Health. The model was successful and he was able to spread the concept to Peru, Cuba, and Russia, modifying the philosophy to match the community he was working with. It’s a beautiful story with beautiful people. Heartbreaking at times, as tuberculosis is a treatable disease yet treatment is unattainable for so many of the people who need it the most. The pharmaceutical industry is truly a beast in itself. Within the first few chapters I learned that a visit at PIH costs 80 cents (with many loopholes for those who cannot afford it) and I already felt inspired to donate, although at no point did the book ask for this, but learning how the charity was run and the incredible difference it makes to so many made me want to partake in the effort.
This is a memorable book about a man who wants to cure the world. He can't, of course, but he doesn't let that stop him from trying. I suspect some of the science is probably out of date by now (i.e. regarding various diseases that are antibiotic-resistant) but it's a moving story.