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Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World
Tracy Kidder's critically acclaimed adult nonfiction work, Mountains Beyond Mountains has been adapted for young people by Michael French. In this young adult edition, readers are introduced to Dr. Paul Farmer, a Harvard-educated doctor with a self-proclaimed mission to transform healthcare on a global scale. Farmer focuses his attention on some of the world's most impoverished people and uses unconventional ways in which to provide healthcare, to achieve real results and save lives.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2013
148 people are currently reading
978 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. French
27 books120 followers#1 Amazon best selling author Michael French graduated from Stanford University and Northwestern University. He is a businessman and author who divides his time between Santa Barbara, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is an avid high-altitude mountain trekker, as well as a collector of first editions of twentieth-century fiction.
He has published twenty-four books, including fiction, young adult fiction, biographies, and art criticism. His novel, Abingdon’s, was a bestseller and a Literary Guild Alternate Selection. His young adult novel, Pursuit, was awarded the California Young Reader Medal.
The Reconstruction of Wilson Ryder was published January 2013.
Mountains Beyond Mountains was published April 2013.
Once Upon a Lie was published March 2016.
He has published twenty-four books, including fiction, young adult fiction, biographies, and art criticism. His novel, Abingdon’s, was a bestseller and a Literary Guild Alternate Selection. His young adult novel, Pursuit, was awarded the California Young Reader Medal.
The Reconstruction of Wilson Ryder was published January 2013.
Mountains Beyond Mountains was published April 2013.
Once Upon a Lie was published March 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
May 16, 2014
I deliberately chose to read the "Adapted for Young People" version not because I dislike Tracy Kidder (on the contrary, I generally really enjoy his books) but because I knew this was a subject that would cause me to gnash my teeth, stomp my tiny feet, and rage and rage. Also, I was fully prepared for the idea that I wouldn't necessarily like Dr. Paul Farmer.
That's two to me.
Being broke is tough. Being poor when everyone you know is just as poor, and illiterate, and ill, as well as hungry, that's not merely tough, that's deadly. Paul Farmer met Haitian farmworkers while he was a student and Duke. By the time he'd completed his medical and anthropology training at Harvard he was already firmly established as the primary caregiver for the inhabitants of the central plateau of Haiti. Since then he has done astounding work in multi-drug resistant TB treatment and AIDs treatment among the poorest peoples in the world. He's developed widely repeated drug protocols as well as a much-copied healthcare clinic. Everyone should have such a caring and creative doctor.
And yes, sometimes he is annoying because he has eidetic memory, and only needs to sleep four hours a night, and he is banging his head against stupid bureaucracy, and poor logic, and the worst kind of social injustice, every single day.
He is, I think, a kind of living saint, a man who has thrown himself entirely and completely into looking after the sick, the poor, the imprisoned. And the authors make it clear that this is hard, hard work. Good on him. He should make us all feel uncomfortable and guilty, because no matter how much good we might do with our lives, we aren't doing as much good as he is.
Library copy.
That's two to me.
Being broke is tough. Being poor when everyone you know is just as poor, and illiterate, and ill, as well as hungry, that's not merely tough, that's deadly. Paul Farmer met Haitian farmworkers while he was a student and Duke. By the time he'd completed his medical and anthropology training at Harvard he was already firmly established as the primary caregiver for the inhabitants of the central plateau of Haiti. Since then he has done astounding work in multi-drug resistant TB treatment and AIDs treatment among the poorest peoples in the world. He's developed widely repeated drug protocols as well as a much-copied healthcare clinic. Everyone should have such a caring and creative doctor.
And yes, sometimes he is annoying because he has eidetic memory, and only needs to sleep four hours a night, and he is banging his head against stupid bureaucracy, and poor logic, and the worst kind of social injustice, every single day.
He is, I think, a kind of living saint, a man who has thrown himself entirely and completely into looking after the sick, the poor, the imprisoned. And the authors make it clear that this is hard, hard work. Good on him. He should make us all feel uncomfortable and guilty, because no matter how much good we might do with our lives, we aren't doing as much good as he is.
Library copy.
September 12, 2023
Anyone who knows me, knows this is not my sort of book, but when I heard about Paul Farmer, I was so intrigued I just had to overcome my natural aversion to all things medical. Fortunately, this is the “Adapted for Young People” version which is still rather technical for my tastes but obviously less technical than the original. I doubt I would have gotten through that.
Paul Farmer was extraordinary, the type of doctor you would want to have, utterly devoted to his patients, especially poor patients, most of all to those living in Haiti where he co-founded Partners In Health (PIH) in 1987. I was saddened to read that he died last year at age 62; no reason was given but he died at home in his own bed. If I was to venture a guess, I would bet that it was something simple to do with his own health that he did not attend to. He lived a fast-paced life and suffered many accidental injuries as he traveled. He was one of those folks who took care of everyone but himself.
This is an amazing book. Farmer was not a saint; he had his flaws. He seems to have had a bit of temper and he neglected his family and yet everyone loved him. His deep and genuine care for the poor, his willingness to give his all and his devotion to quality health care for everyone especially for the poorest of the poor won him admirers wherever he went. He hated the inequities in the system and the world and saw them all as he traveled everywhere. He devoted his entire life in a tireless fight for quality health care for the poor. An inspiring read.
Paul Farmer was extraordinary, the type of doctor you would want to have, utterly devoted to his patients, especially poor patients, most of all to those living in Haiti where he co-founded Partners In Health (PIH) in 1987. I was saddened to read that he died last year at age 62; no reason was given but he died at home in his own bed. If I was to venture a guess, I would bet that it was something simple to do with his own health that he did not attend to. He lived a fast-paced life and suffered many accidental injuries as he traveled. He was one of those folks who took care of everyone but himself.
This is an amazing book. Farmer was not a saint; he had his flaws. He seems to have had a bit of temper and he neglected his family and yet everyone loved him. His deep and genuine care for the poor, his willingness to give his all and his devotion to quality health care for everyone especially for the poorest of the poor won him admirers wherever he went. He hated the inequities in the system and the world and saw them all as he traveled everywhere. He devoted his entire life in a tireless fight for quality health care for the poor. An inspiring read.
May 4, 2013
Mountains beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World is one of my favorite books, so when I saw they had created an edition "Adapted for Young People" I bought it for our library's teen collection & was eager to read it and see how it compared to the original. I didn't do a side-by-side reading or anything but I definitely remember certain favorite bits that were cut out--such as the part about Paul Farmer's love of People magazine. One on hand, I think details like that might be some of the most appealing to young readers. On the other hand, I'm also pretty sure that a lot of the more complicated medical, political, & historical information was cut. As is, there's enough to give "young readers" a good taste of what an inspirational figure Paul Farmer is without getting too tangled up in details of Haitian history... of course, I personally think most young readers would benefit from getting the fuller picture from the adult version, but this was a quick read that overall captured the essence of the original story. Hurrah!
April 9, 2013
Amazing in the respect of what one man can do to change the lives of so many.
January 4, 2025
I wish I’d read the unabridged version — but regardless, this book really makes you think about what you want to (and can!) accomplish in life for the betterment of the world. Can only dream to be as selfless as Paul Farmer…
November 8, 2018
The inspiring and magical story of Dr. Paul Farmer, angel in Haiti. I don’t regret reading the young reader edition, because it is still 250+ pages, and I’m here for the high-level inspiring story, moreso than the details, and my daughter was able to inhale it before me.
“If there is a lesson in this book, that may be it - not that everyone should go out and cure the world, but that all of our lives are richer for having a purpose, for pursuing something larger than ourselves.” (p5)
The child edition does get frustrating when the topic moves to complex human relationships such as with his parents or Ophelia. I also wish for more depth on the medical debate behind MDR treatment: is it really just big Pharma greed?
“Farmer wasn’t put on earth to make anyone feel comfortable, except for those lucky enough to be his patients” (p198). Loving the debates of liberation theology.
“we’re used to being on a victory team, and actually what we are trying to do […] is to make common cause with the losers. […] 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.” (p257)
“If there is a lesson in this book, that may be it - not that everyone should go out and cure the world, but that all of our lives are richer for having a purpose, for pursuing something larger than ourselves.” (p5)
The child edition does get frustrating when the topic moves to complex human relationships such as with his parents or Ophelia. I also wish for more depth on the medical debate behind MDR treatment: is it really just big Pharma greed?
“Farmer wasn’t put on earth to make anyone feel comfortable, except for those lucky enough to be his patients” (p198). Loving the debates of liberation theology.
“we’re used to being on a victory team, and actually what we are trying to do […] is to make common cause with the losers. […] 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.” (p257)
March 4, 2022
The YA adaption of Tracey Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains which describes the work of Dr. Paul Farmer, who died last month.
April 4, 2022
Inspirational book about a man who changed to world. He refused to become hardened or cynical. He kept people as the central focus of his work and at the same time recognized the need to become a player on the global stage to improve healthcare for the poor worldwide. This was a great book, I went with the YA adaptation because it became available more quickly from the library. I recommend it.
July 26, 2025
Love the book, started to read it for a class and fell in love with the writing so I went to go get it myself. While I do wish I had read the more technical version, I’m still grateful to have experienced this one. It introduced me to someone I now have admiration for: Paul Farmer!
As someone who wants to pursue infectious diseases I felt a bit ashamed on how I didn’t know who Paul Farmer was before this, however throughout this book it just showed me the incrediblenees of this man despite how he doesn’t want to be viewed in such a way.
It might be a bit egotistical in some way on how much I related to Paul farmer and his viewpoint on the world. Now no one is perfect but there were instances reading where I was “Why yes? Doesn’t everyone think this way”
Phrases from him just show how great of a person he was that I hope to carry and remember :
“Erasing history, farmer liked to say, served the interest of power”
And
“I don’t care if we lose, I’m gonna try to the the right thing”
Though I respect him heavily as a physician who’s made such a large impact I would hate to be his friend or lover (Sorry!) Yet despite all his care for all is so deeply shown in the book through actions and words.
That said, the book isn’t without flaws. It lacks some objectivity, which makes sense given how highly the author views Farmer. It feels more like a tribute than a biography at times. But that didn’t stop me from being moved. There are other nitpicky things but the book was a pleasurable read (as much as it can be with such hard topics) so I’ll keep it at a high rating.
As someone who wants to pursue infectious diseases I felt a bit ashamed on how I didn’t know who Paul Farmer was before this, however throughout this book it just showed me the incrediblenees of this man despite how he doesn’t want to be viewed in such a way.
It might be a bit egotistical in some way on how much I related to Paul farmer and his viewpoint on the world. Now no one is perfect but there were instances reading where I was “Why yes? Doesn’t everyone think this way”
Phrases from him just show how great of a person he was that I hope to carry and remember :
“Erasing history, farmer liked to say, served the interest of power”
And
“I don’t care if we lose, I’m gonna try to the the right thing”
Though I respect him heavily as a physician who’s made such a large impact I would hate to be his friend or lover (Sorry!) Yet despite all his care for all is so deeply shown in the book through actions and words.
That said, the book isn’t without flaws. It lacks some objectivity, which makes sense given how highly the author views Farmer. It feels more like a tribute than a biography at times. But that didn’t stop me from being moved. There are other nitpicky things but the book was a pleasurable read (as much as it can be with such hard topics) so I’ll keep it at a high rating.
October 19, 2024
An interesting profile of Paul Farmer, whose radical love and respect for the poor led him to open a hospital (and so much more) in rural Haiti. This was the young reader’s edition. I intended to read the full one but this is what the library served up and honestly, I’m glad it wasn’t longer. All the acronyms, travel, fund-raising, and bureaucratic-winding made the second half long and sort of took the air out of the strong testimony of a single-minded life.
January 3, 2026
*libby listen* 4.97✨
This book deserves 5 stars because the subject, Paul Farmer, was a gift to this earth. It was written almost 15 years ago but still holds true in so many ways. Influenced by “everything is tuberculosis” to read it, I’m glad I did. One can’t help but compare and admire if all had the ability of self action and relationship focus as Paul Farmer how differently our world would look. Inspires a lot of self reflection.
This book deserves 5 stars because the subject, Paul Farmer, was a gift to this earth. It was written almost 15 years ago but still holds true in so many ways. Influenced by “everything is tuberculosis” to read it, I’m glad I did. One can’t help but compare and admire if all had the ability of self action and relationship focus as Paul Farmer how differently our world would look. Inspires a lot of self reflection.
January 2, 2026
This detailed exploration of the global public health crisis and the tragedy of Haiti in particular was heartbreaking and informative. Tracy Kidder narrates the problems through the life and work of Paul Farmer, a passionate (obsessed?), visionary doctor. The book ends in 2002, well before the 2010 earthquake, which would give enough material for a sequal.
August 26, 2021
The review is more of the persona than of the writing, since the book leaves me liking Farmer less than I did before, though the impact of his work is the same. I feel like a much less insightful Orwell when he was writing about Gandhi - too much saintliness already. So much sanctimonious endorsement of exploitative “good cause” practices - saying you can’t be too sympathetic too your staff cause you’ll be less sympathetic to your clients, refusing to pay people for the extra hours they work. Add to that the standard gradiose nonsense - the hyper-confident change maker who needs constant validation but doesn’t return the favor, and of course the CLASSIC “I can’t care more for my wife and kid than for my patients”. Man, if you can’t, then you need to consider not having kids, not pawn off the labor of parenting on your wife. No, save yourself some time and read the infinitely superior and much shorter Orwell essay. It’s right here: https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-... . I’m going to wash my face, I feel gross.
December 15, 2013
Primarily about Paul Farmer and Partners in Health (PIH), this book looks at inequalities in medical treatment for the poor, focusing on the work of PIH to treat tuberculosis (and HIV/AIDS) in Haiti, Peru, and later Russia. Farmer, Jim Kim (a Korean who grew up in Muscatine, IA) and Ophelia Dahl (daughter of Roald Dahl) started PIH as young medical students just as Paul was beginning his work in the central plateau of Haiti.
Although this book is primarily about health care, I shelved it on Third World Schools because it also mentions the issues of access to education and clean drinking water that come up in other books I've read on that shelf such as The Price of Stones: Building a School for My Village.
holiday #bookaday
Although this book is primarily about health care, I shelved it on Third World Schools because it also mentions the issues of access to education and clean drinking water that come up in other books I've read on that shelf such as The Price of Stones: Building a School for My Village.
holiday #bookaday
June 22, 2015
It turns out I have actually read one of Dr. Farmer's books and really enjoyed it. This book was a nice lens to sort of look back on the other one and think about the story of the man who ultimately has done so much work to help combat TB. His dedication to the poor comes through very clearly in this book, but now also in the other, even though it wasn't so explicit there. While he does a lot of work for the poor, if every one of us did a little, we could seriously help alleviate the exhaustion and tireless work that other people put in for us. We have an obligation to others, and it's nice to read of one man who really gets that.
April 30, 2018
An audiobook borrowed electronically from our library & listened to ("read") on my iPhone. Fascinating, challenging, inspiring, eye-opening insights into the amazing & dedicated work of Dr. Paul Farmer and his NGO, Partners in Health (PIH) based in the central highlands of Haiti. What an impact his persistence, determination, dedication, and hard work & partnerships have had on the poor and their health in numerous places in the world.
August 18, 2018
This novel was such an education for me; as one who knows woefully little about public health policy, I was truly shocked by the conditions and care of the poor in Haiti. Dr. Paul Farmer’s quest for equality and dignity for his patients was incredibly inspiring; though it may seem daunting, no matter our motivation, there are “mountains beyond mountains” to climb and conquer. Bring this book with you.
April 20, 2018
f you've ever questioned if one person can make a difference in the world, this book will give some insight. It describes a journey of a Harvard graduate doctor who devoted his life to treating the poor in Haiti and dedicated his life to making changes in the field of infectious diseases around the world. This read is for anyone who is looking for inspiration.
August 18, 2019
It gave me so much good information about Partners In Health, and Paul Farmer. It provided context about the great need that PIH is filling, and makes me believe in them and their cause even more.
August 16, 2022
Incredible story of the work of Paul Farmer who was a pioneer in providing health care in impoverished areas of the world starting with a remote part of Haiti and building a fantastic program capable of providing positive health outcomes to people who otherwise would go without. His expertise and experience both as a Harvard trained and boots on the ground doctor gave him the credibility on a global scale to transform the way the world thinks about providing healthcare in less resourced areas of the world. Through the community health care worker system they established they had positive results with Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS that would compare favorably with any first world country. They also tackled the very difficult cases of multi-drug resistant TB resulting in reshaping the way global healthcare policy is applied in places like Lima Peru, Rwanda, and the prison system of Russia.
His background growing up living on a bus as well as a boat uniquely equipped him to live in conditions that many would not be open to and allowed him to relentless pursue his zeal for helping improve individual patients health in Cange Haiti and elsewhere around the world. His ability to not only serve individual patients but also interact with and influence global health leaders and powerful foundations further expanded the influence and ability to provide care outside of the richest nations of the world.
One thing I noticed is that in his never resting passion for caring for the sick, it seemed that he sometimes did not take care to consider how his drive impacted those around him like family, friends, colleagues, and volunteers and considering caring for patients to take priority over other important relationships around him.
His background growing up living on a bus as well as a boat uniquely equipped him to live in conditions that many would not be open to and allowed him to relentless pursue his zeal for helping improve individual patients health in Cange Haiti and elsewhere around the world. His ability to not only serve individual patients but also interact with and influence global health leaders and powerful foundations further expanded the influence and ability to provide care outside of the richest nations of the world.
One thing I noticed is that in his never resting passion for caring for the sick, it seemed that he sometimes did not take care to consider how his drive impacted those around him like family, friends, colleagues, and volunteers and considering caring for patients to take priority over other important relationships around him.
June 7, 2021
This was the perfect book to read before starting medical school in a few months. The life that Dr. Farmer has led is one that I have always dreamed of leading. A life of driven purpose toward helping people both on a small and large scale- preferential option for the poor. The book was written very well, and I agree that including Kidder's viewpoint added an interesting 'human' dimension.
"Proper medical treatment couldn't be effective without serving a patient's other needs: basic education, habitable housing, clean water, food security, and hope for a better future. (...) Giving people medicine for TB and not giving them food is like washing your hands and drying them in the dirt."
"The Haitian proverb, "Beyond mountains there are mountains", which meant that when you'd solved one problem, you couldn't rest because you had to go on and solve the next."
"Liberation theology meant that the Christian faith carried an obligation to promote social justice, and from its own resourced the Church had a duty to help the poor wherever and whenever possible."
"If one wanted a place to look for God, it should be in the suffering of the poor."
"Of all the world's errors, the most fundamental was the "erasing" of people, the "hiding away" of suffering."
"Proper medical treatment couldn't be effective without serving a patient's other needs: basic education, habitable housing, clean water, food security, and hope for a better future. (...) Giving people medicine for TB and not giving them food is like washing your hands and drying them in the dirt."
"The Haitian proverb, "Beyond mountains there are mountains", which meant that when you'd solved one problem, you couldn't rest because you had to go on and solve the next."
"Liberation theology meant that the Christian faith carried an obligation to promote social justice, and from its own resourced the Church had a duty to help the poor wherever and whenever possible."
"If one wanted a place to look for God, it should be in the suffering of the poor."
"Of all the world's errors, the most fundamental was the "erasing" of people, the "hiding away" of suffering."
January 31, 2024
Early on in Farmer's medical work in Haiti, he was trying to better understand local culture and voodoo beliefs. He asked a TB patient if she believed that an evil spirit caused her TB. Her answer was, "Are you incapable of complexity?" The whole book begs this question of the reader. Should wealthy people receive better health care than poor people? How much is too much money to spend on any individual patient? Is it better to spend a sum curing 500 people with resistant TB or 10,000 people with non-resistant TB? How can we provide adequate healthcare in a population that is starving and without access to clean water?
This book gave me important insights and challenged by beliefs. Although I didn't always draw the same conclusions as Farmer or PIH, I appreciate their wrestle with complex issues and their tremendous sacrifices to work with the poorest populations.
This book gave me important insights and challenged by beliefs. Although I didn't always draw the same conclusions as Farmer or PIH, I appreciate their wrestle with complex issues and their tremendous sacrifices to work with the poorest populations.
February 25, 2022
Library Review: Audiobook
3.5/5
Paul Farmer is an amazing guy, he is very dedicated to helping the less fortunate without any pretense. He is very culturally sensitive and relatable to his patients. He holds himself to a high standard, but is not condescending to anyone. He does his best and tries to inspire others to change the world as well. I hope to have even an ounce of his drive and good-will. Kidder does a good job relaying Farmer's story, but I was surprised that they got so close-- close enough for Kidder to include excerpts of his feelings and arguments with Farmer. Although I do have to admit that Farmer is so efficient and benevolent that it come off as a little mechanistic (in that it is hard to believe anyone is that good).
3.5/5
Paul Farmer is an amazing guy, he is very dedicated to helping the less fortunate without any pretense. He is very culturally sensitive and relatable to his patients. He holds himself to a high standard, but is not condescending to anyone. He does his best and tries to inspire others to change the world as well. I hope to have even an ounce of his drive and good-will. Kidder does a good job relaying Farmer's story, but I was surprised that they got so close-- close enough for Kidder to include excerpts of his feelings and arguments with Farmer. Although I do have to admit that Farmer is so efficient and benevolent that it come off as a little mechanistic (in that it is hard to believe anyone is that good).
June 12, 2025
As someone who is easily bogged down by my own country’s social, economic, and political climate, I had never given myself the time to explore problems in other countries. As an aspiring doctor, I greatly appreciated the chance to learn more about rampant health issues around the world, and about what it means to truly care for the poor. My greatest complaint about this book is that I wish I had a bit more context concerning political turmoil in Haiti and the effects of Paul Farmer’s work. I think having that additional context would have made his story more powerful. Regardless, seeing the world through Paul Farmer’s life was valuable and I think everyone has something to gain from reading this book.
September 1, 2025
I have always believed that healthcare is a human right, and Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder reinforced that belief through the story of Dr. Paul Farmer. The book shows how Farmer dedicated his life to bringing quality care to the poorest communities, especially in Haiti, and refused to accept inequality as inevitable. His determination, compassion, and refusal to compromise on justice in medicine are deeply inspiring. Reading this book made me reflect on my own values and the responsibility we all share in creating a fairer healthcare system. It is both a biography of a remarkable man and a call to action for anyone who cares about equity and justice.
April 26, 2013
Richie's Picks: MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS: THE QUEST OF DR. PAUL FARMER, A MAN WHO WOULD CURE THE WORLD by Tracy Kidder, adapted for young people by Michael French, Delacorte, April 2013, 288p., ISBN: 978-0-385-74318-1
"We can change the world,
Rearrange the world
It's dying to get better"
-- Graham Nash, "Chicago"
"To an outsider, building a school before there was a medical clinic, or someone to deal with the problems of hunger and homelessness, was illogical, but Farmer and Lafontant understood that the school meant hope and empowerment, One peasant woman explained, 'A lot of us wondered what would have happened if we had known how to write. If we had known how to write, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation now.' To build a school was to unite the practical and the moral, Farmer realized. He would say, 'Clean water and health care and school and food and tin roofs and cement floors, all of these things should constitute a set of basics that people must have as birthrights.'"
I read an excellent environmental piece earlier this week in the Huffington Post written by Tom Hayden titled "Earth Night." Later, I mentioned it to someone who was too young to know of Tom Hayden, and this led to my talking about how, when I was in high school, I read Jules Feiffer's PICTURES AT A PROSECUTION: DRAWINGS & TEXT FROM THE CHICAGO CONSPIRACY TRIAL (Grove Press, 1971), a book I discovered on the "New Books" shelf at the public library that literally changed my life and introduced me to characters who became heroes to me.
I mention this in the context of reading MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS, because there is no doubt in my mind that when certain adolescents are introduced to this adaptation of Tracy Kidder's book about Dr. Paul Farmer, many a teen will have his or her life inspired and permanently changed by reading about Farmer's passion, hard work, and guts. In Farmer, they will find a hero as I did when I read about Hoffman, Rubin, Hayden, et al. In a manner that the so-called Chicago Seven spoke about the insanity of the war in Vietnam, Paul Farmer is a guy who speaks up and has done a million important things about the insanity of not providing the basics for billions of humans who live in poverty and disease. He doesn't care who he pisses off as long as he can do something else to improve -- and save -- lives of poor people in places like Haiti and Peru and Russia. And he is someone whose perspective and real power comes not from making speeches and overseeing projects, but from doctoring -- patient by patient -- to the poor. When we talk about someone really showing up, we are talking about what Paul Farmer is all about.
Interestingly, this morning's digital headlines tie right into one of the pivotal battles fought by Farmer and his then-comrade in arms and right-hand man Jim Kim, and chronicled in MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS.
(It is exciting to learn in this edition's postscript that Jim Kim who, with Farmer, founded Partners in Health, eventually went on to become the president of Dartmouth College and, a year ago, was successfully nominated by President Obama to become the current president of the World Bank.)
Anyway, that headline this morning was "Drug Makers are Ripping You Off." Yes, many of you are saying that this is old news. But the fight to get affordable generic substitutes for drugs to fight infectious diseases like tuberculosis is everything to an organization like Farmer's, which is constantly and desperately raising money to buy drugs to save countless lives among the poorest of the poor. If you can buy generics at one-tenth the cost of a name-brand drug, then you can save the lives of ten-times as many gravely ill poor people on the same budget. And, if there is anything that I can start doing today to aid Farmer's mission, it will be my jumping into the fray and speaking out for making it easier for generics to be developed.
"A lot of Farmer had rubbed off on Jim. Over the years their philosophical views had become almost identical, including the notion that unrelenting efforts by individuals, if backed with teamwork by organizations and individuals committed to the same goals, could change the international health system. Paul's and Jim's work to lower the per capita cost of health care for the poor was changing the way the world viewed health care; what had once seemed impossible was now possible. As anthropologists, Jim and Paul knew that culture was constantly changing. Practices such as slavery that once had been considered acceptable were no longer morally defensible. Ignoring the poor, Jim and Paul believed, was also morally indefensible, and the world was beginning to recognize that."
"From the bottoms of the ocean
To the mountains to the moon
Won't you please come to Chicago
No one else can take your place"
MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS is a powerful read about truly inspiring, selfless individuals who are changing our world for the better and have brought new thinking to my mind over my last couple of days of reading about them.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"We can change the world,
Rearrange the world
It's dying to get better"
-- Graham Nash, "Chicago"
"To an outsider, building a school before there was a medical clinic, or someone to deal with the problems of hunger and homelessness, was illogical, but Farmer and Lafontant understood that the school meant hope and empowerment, One peasant woman explained, 'A lot of us wondered what would have happened if we had known how to write. If we had known how to write, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation now.' To build a school was to unite the practical and the moral, Farmer realized. He would say, 'Clean water and health care and school and food and tin roofs and cement floors, all of these things should constitute a set of basics that people must have as birthrights.'"
I read an excellent environmental piece earlier this week in the Huffington Post written by Tom Hayden titled "Earth Night." Later, I mentioned it to someone who was too young to know of Tom Hayden, and this led to my talking about how, when I was in high school, I read Jules Feiffer's PICTURES AT A PROSECUTION: DRAWINGS & TEXT FROM THE CHICAGO CONSPIRACY TRIAL (Grove Press, 1971), a book I discovered on the "New Books" shelf at the public library that literally changed my life and introduced me to characters who became heroes to me.
I mention this in the context of reading MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS, because there is no doubt in my mind that when certain adolescents are introduced to this adaptation of Tracy Kidder's book about Dr. Paul Farmer, many a teen will have his or her life inspired and permanently changed by reading about Farmer's passion, hard work, and guts. In Farmer, they will find a hero as I did when I read about Hoffman, Rubin, Hayden, et al. In a manner that the so-called Chicago Seven spoke about the insanity of the war in Vietnam, Paul Farmer is a guy who speaks up and has done a million important things about the insanity of not providing the basics for billions of humans who live in poverty and disease. He doesn't care who he pisses off as long as he can do something else to improve -- and save -- lives of poor people in places like Haiti and Peru and Russia. And he is someone whose perspective and real power comes not from making speeches and overseeing projects, but from doctoring -- patient by patient -- to the poor. When we talk about someone really showing up, we are talking about what Paul Farmer is all about.
Interestingly, this morning's digital headlines tie right into one of the pivotal battles fought by Farmer and his then-comrade in arms and right-hand man Jim Kim, and chronicled in MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS.
(It is exciting to learn in this edition's postscript that Jim Kim who, with Farmer, founded Partners in Health, eventually went on to become the president of Dartmouth College and, a year ago, was successfully nominated by President Obama to become the current president of the World Bank.)
Anyway, that headline this morning was "Drug Makers are Ripping You Off." Yes, many of you are saying that this is old news. But the fight to get affordable generic substitutes for drugs to fight infectious diseases like tuberculosis is everything to an organization like Farmer's, which is constantly and desperately raising money to buy drugs to save countless lives among the poorest of the poor. If you can buy generics at one-tenth the cost of a name-brand drug, then you can save the lives of ten-times as many gravely ill poor people on the same budget. And, if there is anything that I can start doing today to aid Farmer's mission, it will be my jumping into the fray and speaking out for making it easier for generics to be developed.
"A lot of Farmer had rubbed off on Jim. Over the years their philosophical views had become almost identical, including the notion that unrelenting efforts by individuals, if backed with teamwork by organizations and individuals committed to the same goals, could change the international health system. Paul's and Jim's work to lower the per capita cost of health care for the poor was changing the way the world viewed health care; what had once seemed impossible was now possible. As anthropologists, Jim and Paul knew that culture was constantly changing. Practices such as slavery that once had been considered acceptable were no longer morally defensible. Ignoring the poor, Jim and Paul believed, was also morally indefensible, and the world was beginning to recognize that."
"From the bottoms of the ocean
To the mountains to the moon
Won't you please come to Chicago
No one else can take your place"
MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS is a powerful read about truly inspiring, selfless individuals who are changing our world for the better and have brought new thinking to my mind over my last couple of days of reading about them.
Richie Partington, MLIS
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April 13, 2022
3.5. An inspiring story on a truly remarkable man and mission - a true champion for medical anthropology, the importance of adequate and equitable health, and the sacrifices people can make for the better good. I just didn't vibe with the writing style, which might have been lost in the translation.
July 9, 2022
Such an inspiring book about the late Dr. Paul Farmer and loosing yourself in the service of others. Beautifully written, with so much meaning that still applies to today’s world. It saddens me to read this after his death knowing how much he’s accomplished and what all he still may have done if he’d had more time. The world needs more Paul Farmers, and this book teaches us how.
February 17, 2023
Very interesting
Having spent 15 years working in Haiti, I have personally seen the hardships these people face daily. The lack of basic needs, water, food, health care, jobs. They live a life of living from day to day, with little help. They suffer losses beyond belief. Daily tragedy, and yet they are alive another day, only to face the same problems again tomorrow.
Rock on!
Having spent 15 years working in Haiti, I have personally seen the hardships these people face daily. The lack of basic needs, water, food, health care, jobs. They live a life of living from day to day, with little help. They suffer losses beyond belief. Daily tragedy, and yet they are alive another day, only to face the same problems again tomorrow.
Rock on!
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