Customer Reviews

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Mountains Beyond Mountains" is absorbing and Paul Farmer to be truly amazing. However, there is something quite troubling about this book. I hate to get racial about things (especially since Caucasians tend to tune out nowadays, when ever an African American does so, refusing to even listen to what's being said, as will be demonstrated, I predict, by the many who will push "No" at the bottom of this review to indicate that it wasn't helpful). But I think that, as a so-called race, Caucasians can read this book and pat themselves on the back for producing a Paul Farmer. Here's why I say this. Clearly, the book portrays Haiti as an extremely poor and oppressed place, where too many of those in power are extremely uncaring about the poor. So bad are conditions there, and so amazing is Paul Farmer that Caucasians can pat themselves on the back for producing someone like him, and, simultaneously let themselves off the hook for maintaining the type of society we have here in the U.S. because, at least in the U.S. the poor aren't faring nearly as badly as they are in Haiti. And look at who is making the biggest difference of all down there: not another Haitian; not another "black person" period, but "one of their own." The other thing that struck me about this book. Kidder is much older than Paul Farmer. Yet throughout the book, he displays an awe of Farmer. Here's why this interests me. I cannot imagine this same writer displaying a similar awe for an African American physician, no matter how talented that physician was. I may be wrong. But in my experience with the vast majority of Caucasians, rare is the African American they don't condescend to. Rare is the African American of any background, whom they don't expect to prove that he or she deserves even the basics of their respect, no matter what the African American's vocation (unless that vocation has something to do with athletics or entertainment). Yet at the same time, rare is the African American who, like Farmer, would be willing to turn conventional wisdom in a scientific field on its head, rather than conform to accepted notions in her or his field in order to prove that he or she deserves the respect of peers. This is why I have such mixed feelings about this book. I admire Farmer and am convinced of his sincerity of mission. But I am conflicted about how he is being used by a publishing and media environment eager to prove that the world would be lost without Caucasians of intelligence and good will.

You may think he is crazy, or a commie, or a dreamer but you have to admire Paul Farmer. I think most likely he is a truly good genius. Alot of WLs (white liberals) talk the talk but his guy walks the walk, about a million miles of it. He is sort of a Mother Theresa + doctor + scientist. Sure he may come off as abrupt or self righteous from time to time but I believe this guy really does care for the downtrodden of the world. If you were inspired by this book as I was consider making a donation to his organization, Partners in Health, which is what I did as soon as I read the last page.
The book itself is somewhat superficial in it's analysis of Farmer. I am concerned about his family, for instance, and his daughter having a long distance dad. I'm not sure how he reconciles this. I guess Gandhi had the same issue. I think Kidder did an OK job though and I would not fault him for his introspection as other reviewers have.
All in all a solid uplifting book that makes you feel good about mankind.

This is Tracy Kidder's chronicle of Paul Farmer's ongoing quest to wake our consciousness to the plagues coming out of third world poverty and to shake us into recognizing the suffering of our fellow humans around the globe. Paul Farmer is a super-hero on the front lines of infectious disease, attacking drug-resistant TB in Haiti, Peru and the prisons of Russia. His global fight for funding for AIDS and TB treatment has gained his organization Partners in Health huge grants from the MacArthur, Gates and Soros foundations. Farmer backs down from no obstacles in his quest to bring health care, one patient at a time, to the poorest and most down-trodden patients on earth.
A natural leader, his influence has drawn nations together in
their fight against poverty, hunger and disease. This is the most important story Tracy Kidder has told. Farmer's constant questioning of why some individuals need so much wealth, when most of the world goes hungry, is not an easy thing to take.
Should be required reading for high school seniors.

Being in the international public health field this books feels very close to home. It explores a sentiment that many fail to understand - the dedication, support, hope and perserverence for the good of humanity. It would inspire anyone to pack there bags and follow the footsteps of Doctor Paul Farmer. It does strongly focus on the curative feature of health systems. However, it paints a realistic picture of the bureaucracy and diplomacy in getting things done. It does invoke the feeling of being overconsumers! There were moments of tears, moments of visions, moment of hope but overall...it is a motivator and an absolute must for anyone working in the development field.

The work of Paul Farmer and the conditions in the world that motivate him are presented in a compelling eye-opening narrative that makes a good read.

However, the reader is not sure if this is a Tracy Kidder journal about a Tracy Kidder life experience or a biography about Paul Farmer. In the two other Kidder books I read and loved (Soul of a New Machine and House), there was no Kidder, just wonderfully interwoven narrative and factual background. In Mountains, Kidder keeps intruding in the first person, and I find it distracting. And, if one is to assume that there was an editorial decision to include Kidder at the expense of something else, WHERE is Farmer's wife Didi and daughter Catherine? We hear about a one-night stopover from Haiti to Russia and a vague reference to summers together in Haiti. If that's all there is, then surely Farmer and Didi must have some feelings about this. I would have much rather seen some of the book devoted to this than Tracy Kidder's fitness level when hiking the central highlands. And without more on that personal side of Farmer, we are left with too much of Kidder's observations and conclusions, and not enough with which to get our own full, emotionally complete portrait. I kept looking in the back for a couple of more chapters.

That criticism aside, Kidder is an author who always deserves attention, and has focused his attention on a truly remarkable man and story. I do recommend this book, and just allow myself the fantasy of being the editor and demanding a bit more Farmer and family and a bit less Kidder.

The book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder has left me with a new found appreciation for people such as Dr. Paul Farmer who put their own lives behind the lives of others. Although lengthy at times the message was still very powerful. I found this book to be a true inspiration. The writer exposed the harsh reality of the conditions in Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia. His graphic descriptions allowed the reader to feel like they had walked in Dr. Farmer's shoes for a short while and were honored to have done so. This book was both insightful and moving.

Let's face it, grade-inflation plagues amazon.com. I mean, really, how many five-star books are there? Well, "Mountains Beyond Mountains" is one. The only regret I have about this book is that when I finished reading it, I sighed as I realized it would probably be a long, long time until I could find a book that was as engrossing and challenging. Here are some recommendations on what to read after you finish with the story of Dr. Paul Farmer. Try and find "Not All of Us Are Saints: A Doctor's Journey with the Poor" by David Hilfiker. Check out "Loaves and Fishes" by the legendary Dorothy Day. Finally, read "All on Fire: William Garrison and the Abolition of Slavery" by Henry Mayer. Enjoy!

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. The per capita income there is around $1 (US) a day. It has the worst health statistics of any nation in the Western hemisphere. Political and social unrest are ripping the country apart. AIDS, tuberculosis, and hunger-related diseases are epidemic. And for some reason--could it be because there's nothing to be gained or feared from Haiti--the world's powers don't seem to care.

Kidder's book tells the story of one man who does care: Dr. Paul Farmer, the founder and energizing spirit of Zanmi Lasante Hospital. Farmer tends to the people of Haiti, and unashamedly begs from those of us who live in wealthy, developed countries to do so. It's astounding what he does with minimal medical supplies. He brings life back to those who have almost lost it. He creates hope.

The standing joke at Zanmi Lasante Hospital is that each patient is required to pay 80 cents for treatment--but children, women, the destitute, anyone who's seriously ill, and anyone who can't afford it, are all exempted.

Think about that. Physical and emotional healing is given out with nothing expected in return. Care is given not because there's something in it for the giver, but because that's simply what ought to be done. It's the decent thing to do. If more of us had come to the same place that Paul Farmer is at, the world's healing would be a reality rather than a distant dream.

Please read this book, roll up your sleeves, and join the effort. Become a healer.

Read this book and be ready to have your assumptions jarred and to think again about what is possible for one man to accomplish.

Our society is based on always going for the win. Dr. Farmer works outside that parameter. He doesn't expect to win. "We want to be on the winning team, but at the risk of turning our backs on the losers, no, it's not worth it. So you fight the long defeat." "I don't care if we lose, I'm gonna try to do the right thing...And then all the victories are gravy, you know?"

"The best thing about Paul Farmer is those hikes." Dr. Paul Farmer walks four hours to do a home visit for one child. He had already cured the child, but the child is part of a system, a family and home. The system also has to be treated for the child to stay well. "You have to believe that small gestures matter, that they do add up."

That to me was the most amazing thing about this book. Farmer travels the world raising money, speading the word of the need for treatment of drug resistant TB, setting up programs in other countries, yet he always comes back to the most important thing of treating one person at a time and improving their individual surroundings.

Farmer doesn't play by the rules, doesn't wait for approval or outside help, he works non-stop and is grateful when help arrives. As other reviewers have suggested, contributions sent to Paul Farmer will be used for the nitty gritty, no high paid executives here.

As an aside, this book is interesting reading currently due to the recent events in Haiti.

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.