“[A] masterpiece . . . an astonishing book that will leave you questioning your own life and political views . . . Kidder opens a window into Farmer’s soul, letting the reader peek in and see what truly makes the good doctor tick.”—Nicholas Thomas, USA TodayIn medical school, Paul Farmer found his life’s calling: to cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to … tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. Tracy Kidder’s magnificent account shows how one person can make a difference in solving global health problems through a clear-eyed understanding of the interaction of politics, wealth, social systems, and disease. Profound and powerful, Mountains Beyond Mountains takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes people’s minds through his dedication to the philosophy that “the only real nation is humanity.”
Praise for Mountains Beyond Mountains
“A true-to-life fairy tale, one that inspires you to believe in happy endings . . . Its stark sense of reality comes as much from the grit between the pages as from the pure gold those pages spin.”—Laura Claridge, Boston Sunday Globe
“Stunning . . . Mountains Beyond Mountains will move you, restore your faith in the ability of one person to make a difference in these increasingly maddening, dispiriting times.”—John Wilkens, The San Diego Union-Tribune
“Easily the most fascinating, most entertaining and, yes, most inspiring work of nonfiction I’ve read this year.”—Charles Matthews, San Jose Mercury News
“It’ll fill you equally with wonder and hope.”—Cathy Burke, People
“In this excellent work, Pulitzer Prize-winner Kidder immerses himself in and beautifully explores the rich drama that exists in the life of Dr. Paul Farmer. . . . Throughout, Kidder captures the almost saintly effect Farmer has on those whom he treats.”—Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
“[A] skilled and graceful exploration of the soul of an astonishing human being.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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Tracy Kidder recounts the work of Dr. Paul Farmer in a manner so engaging it reads like a novel. I could not put this book down and that’s not something that usually happens for me with non-fiction.
It was informative and different but got repetitive and I did not finish it
It was insightful and inspiring, a wonderful combination of personal adventure and universal considerations.
Amazing man
Tracy Kidder captures the tragic situation in Haiti with great insights, and portrays Dr. Paul Farmer as a multi-layered individual with a fascinating history. It inspired me to travel to Haiti as an informed observer, looking with fresh eyes at a complex and compelling culture. The quality of the writing is outstanding.
Tedious
Truly amazing story of what medicine can be. One man who changed the lives of so many people by going his own path. It shows how big pharma/medicine are not driven by patient need but by profit and taking the easy way out.
Truly inspirational account of a very unusual doctor.
Wonderful!!! An amazing story about an amazing man,
An amazing book about an amazing human being and physician. At a time when we treat immigrants as unwanted cargo, it is good for the soul to read about the donors and medical community who were inspired by one man’s endurance and medical brilliance to join him in the care of the poor and forgotten – – and to join him in the fight against old and …
Everyone should read this. Is so educational regarding how disease spreads and the importance of being careful with antibiotics!
Amazing person dedicated to helping the world’s poor. Very humbling story, the world needs more people like Dr. Paul Farmer. Very good read.
One that everyone should read!
Inspiring story!
I’ve been a Tracy Kidder fan since I read “Soul of a New Machine” years ago, but when I read “Mountains Beyond Mountains” I was impressed all over again. Kidder is an excellent writer who is able to tell a story that keeps me reading late into the night. And in this book his subject is an extraordindary humanitarian physician who brought …
Great study of what one man can accomplish, along with a thoughtful evaluation of how we decide how to value a human life.