Quality healthcare for all people

Paul Farmer, a brilliant medical anthropologist has expressed his deep love for people in poverty in Haiti. He has used his medical skills to help the underserved in his beloved Haiti, Russia and Peru. (among other nations)
As a nurse and a medical missionary who has been to Haiti, Dr. Farmer is well-respected. His hospital there for TB and HIV/AIDS patients is well-known and used by our organization. Dr. Farmer's determination to bring high quality health care to all people, regardless of income is a noble quest and one in which he has accomplished great strides. One person has made a difference in this world. He is among my personal heroes.

My favorite story from the book is when Dr. Farmer became frustrated reading a pamphlet from the World Health Organization on how to build a microscope using 3rd world materials. Throwing the pamphlet away in frustration, Dr. Farmer merely helped himself to a lab microscope from Harvard when he next visited the USA.

Dr. Farmer has brought First World medicine to the very edges of the earth. And, as I heard recently quoted, "If you aren't living on the edge, you're taking up too much space."

great inspirational story

This is a book for self-confident people looking for an interesting inspirational story. If you want to change the world, and believe you have the skills and perseverance, reading this book will show you it's possible without bloody revolutions. (On the other hand, if you're not quite sure of yourself, you might not want to look for reassurance in this book -- the story of the saintly maverick Paul Farmer might leave you thinking that your life is a hedonistic pursuit devoid of meaning.) This captivating historical/medical life-story is, however, far from one-sided -- you have access to the author's perceptive comments on the sacrifices and moral dilemmas that accompany a life of search for social justice and service to others. If you leave your ego aside, the book is one of the most amazing life-stories you are likely to read.

It seems quite appropriate to have a book praising social justice and health care for the poor come out in the US at a time of increasing inequalities within the US (and the world as a whole) and increasing disinterest/ignorance of the haves of the plight of the have-nots. Hopefully at this stage most people in the US have overcome their terror of communism and all attempts at social justice (e.g. universal health care, welfare, affirmative action, equal education opportunities) and will not be too quick to judge some interesting examples, such as the American-Cuban comparison of "containment" of HIV-positive people at the start of the AIDS epidemic.

Amazing book, even more amazing man

I generally only read non-fiction and this book certainly qualified. It is a truly inspirational story about a truly inspiring doctor. The book is extremely well written, with just the right amount of details, statistics and background information to keep the lay reader informed and captivated. What one man can accomplish in this world by sticking to his beliefs and working harder than I ever imagined possible is mind-boggling. If you would like to be educated about modern pandemics and inspired by a great man, read this book.