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Mountains Beyond Mountains: Healing the World: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer
: Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Kidder tells us about Dr. Paul Farmer, an infectious disease specialist who has been working in Haiti since 1982. Farmer founded an apolitical organization that's the only source of medical care for hundreds of thousands of peasants. For his Herculean efforts, in 1993 he received a Genius Grant from the MacArthur Foundation - and of course he plowed the money right back into his organization.
That Farmer has chosen this path is not so surprising when one considers his unconventional childhood, which included living on a leaky boat and in a bus. As a scholarship student at Duke (anthropology major), he worked in the NC tobacco fields with Haitians. After graduation, he spent a year in Haiti and then went to Harvard Medical School. He's married and has a child, but he sees them infrequently; he rarely sleeps, is a workaholic (duh!), and seems to inspire an uncommon degree of devotion among his coworkers and his patients.
Buy this book, and be aware that part of your money will doubtless find its way back to Haiti. Then send an additional donation to Partners in Health.
You would have to be heartless or stupid not to be moved by this book. In a day and age when our world (def:commerce, media and populations of developed countries) care more about material appearences and the plight of Michael Jackson or Martha Stuart than about the needless death of millions of poor people, Thank God there are people like Dr Farmer, PIH et al. I have had the opportunity to work first hand with medical teams in impoverished parts of South America and know exactly the exhilarations and heartbreaks that Mr Kidder describes in his book. This book caused me some self examination and reminded to always keep patients and families at the heart of my trips instead of selfishly looking for that "good feeling" that comes from helping someone less fortunate. Dr Farmer's courage and dedication will blow you away - how can one man do so much? READ THIS BOOK and if you are moved then don't hestitate helping where it is needed. Try the following:
Partners in Health (Dr Farmer's organization)
American Leprosy Mission (www.leprosy.org)
Healing the Children (www.HTCNE.org)
Shared Hope International (www.sharedhope.org)
On a final note I have shared this book with my college and highschool children who have gone on to share it with their friends - change starts small.
In a world teeming with five billion souls, can one person make a difference? Tracy Kidder's latest book, "Mountains Beyond Mountains," answers that question with a resounding "yes." This is the story of Dr. Paul Farmer, described in the subtitle as "a man who would cure the world." An audacious claim, to be sure, but one that Kidder backs up in the 300-plus pages that follow.
Once again, Kidder has brought all his storytelling ability to bear on a saga that manages to illuminate the basic values we live by. Farmer had an unconventional childhood to say the least, having spent much of it living on a converted bus. In medical school, Farmer found a purpose for his life. The story first unfolds in the country where Farmer made his initial mark, and where his heart remains, Haiti. Kidder--and by extension, the reader--then travels with Farmer as his growing stature leads to his work expanding to Peru, Cuba and Russia. Although treating individual patients will always be a significant part of Farmer's lifework, it's clear that he also has a role to play on the world stage. His leadership and determination are being brought to bear on the frightening spread of MDR tuberculosis (MDR is shorthand for a multi-drug resistant strain of the disease.)
Kidder is a truly outstanding observer and reporter. It's obvious he's managed to win the confidence of Farmer, his family, close associates and others in telling the story. The author is an active observer and participant in the narrative, and while he guides the reader toward certain conclusions, he manages to avoid strident sermonizing or philosophizing. It shows a definite respect for the intelligence of the audience.
Dr. Farmer may be known to some readers--he's a former recipient of a McArthur Foundation "genius grant" and has been interviewed on 60 Minutes. But whether this is an introduction or reintroduction, the man who emerges from these pages has a remarkable depth that has only been known to his intimates until now. All his superhuman qualities are there, along with a few very human traits as well. It will be a stone-hearted reader who isn't moved and angered by the inequalities that Dr. Farmer, through his patients, confronts every day of his life. And only that sort of person could fail to be inspired by the remarkable example of character, courage and commitment that this man lives each day of his life.--William C. Hall
This is a wonderfully written account of some of the most significant health care activities of the past 30 years. The work, the people, and the accomplishments surely rank with our new health care innovations. The book is well written, I laughed, cried, and was moved. Upon completion of the book I let my two teenage duaghters know I am ordering one for each of them so at some point in their lives they will pick up and read and feel this description of work that is based both on the heart and the mind. This is a book to keep on your desk.
focusing on the philosophy and character of Dr. Paul Farmer, the book chronicles the development of Partners In Health and its Haitian counterpart, Zanmi Lasante. often in the face of incredible need, it is difficult to believe that the efforts of an individual can actually make any impact. this is encouraging evidence that the impact can be world changing. in describing the medical successes of PIH in the desitution of Haiti/Peru/Siberia, the narrative balances between hope and despair. the most valuable thing i took away from the reading was hope that there are concrete steps that can be taken in the face of great adversity. the problems that PIH chose to confront have disabled entire countries for decades. instead of accepting defeat, they have proven that poverty does not necessitate shoddy & inept healthcare. Dr. Farmer's unorthodox approach to public health is inspiring, but admittedly unreproducible. i was very moved by the book, and am challenged to consider what i can do to support equity in healthcare.
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