My sister insisted I read this book when I told her that I had been reading a lot of narrative non-fiction. I'm not sure if that is even a real category of writing, but I think it describes it pretty well... This is a book about Haiti and about the American doctor who believes it is his job to ease the suffering of their poor. I don't know if I'm really summarizing Dr. Paul Farmer's beliefs that well, but it takes him the entire book to fully explain his point of view. Suffice it to say that Dr. Farmer spends almost every waking minute treating patients, corresponding with others in order to help them treat or understand patients in other poverty-stricken parts of the world, fundraising, travelling to speaking engagements (again, to educate others on how to do what he is doing), travelling to other countries to treat patients, or writing books. This is a man with a well-defined purpose in his life, and that is to do everything in his power (and some things outside his power) to improve the health of the poor.
This book is very interesting and inspiring. I recommend that you read it and then give some money to his foundation, Partners in Health.
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