Mountains Beyond Mountains Summary
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder is a biography of Doctor Paul Farmer. Kidder follows Farmer around the globe in his quest to cure the world of infectious diseases. Kidder represents Farmer’s life in such an essence-capturing way that allows the reader to fully understand Farmer and his desire to help those in need. Kidder’s work also inspires the reader to ask questions about one’s own life and experiences in “doing the right thing.” Kidder observes a truly world-changing man and utilizes his observations to compose an inspiring story about the significance of humanity. Tracy Kidder follows Doctor Paul Farmer around the back roads of Haiti, where most of Farmer’s time is spent in his quest for social justice for the poor. Equality
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Humanitarian is defined in the dictionary as a person who seeks to promote human welfare. Paul Farmer goes above and beyond this definition. His presence illuminates a light for those living in such gloomy and miserable conditions. Zanmi Lasante is a clinic located in the poorest part of Haiti. The clinic was founded by Doctor Paul Farmer and is described by Kidder as a miracle: “I may as well say that from the moment I saw Zanmi Lasante, out there in the little village of Cange, in what seemed to me like the end of the earth, in what was in fact one of the poorest parts of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, I felt I’d encounter a miracle” (20). Doctor Farmer not only founded a clinic in Haiti, but his clinic also offers free health care to women, children, the seriously ill, and those who cannot afford healthcare. Haitians would travel long distances and ask for Doctor Paul Farmer by name. Farmer would expend every ounce of his energy and effort into treating as many patients as he could. When a patient diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) had died in the care of Zanmi Lasante, Farmer organized a series of staff meetings in order to correct their medical system for treating TB. They established a system that not only provided medicine, but also a cash stipend for food. The new system also included check-up visits to ensure that patients were still continuing to take their medications. Paul
Humanitarian is defined in the dictionary as a person who seeks to promote human welfare. Paul Farmer goes above and beyond this definition. His presence illuminates a light for those living in such gloomy and miserable conditions. Zanmi Lasante is a clinic located in the poorest part of Haiti. The clinic was founded by Doctor Paul Farmer and is described by Kidder as a miracle: “I may as well say that from the moment I saw Zanmi Lasante, out there in the little village of Cange, in what seemed to me like the end of the earth, in what was in fact one of the poorest parts of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, I felt I’d encounter a miracle” (20). Doctor Farmer not only founded a clinic in Haiti, but his clinic also offers free health care to women, children, the seriously ill, and those who cannot afford healthcare. Haitians would travel long distances and ask for Doctor Paul Farmer by name. Farmer would expend every ounce of his energy and effort into treating as many patients as he could. When a patient diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) had died in the care of Zanmi Lasante, Farmer organized a series of staff meetings in order to correct their medical system for treating TB. They established a system that not only provided medicine, but also a cash stipend for food. The new system also included check-up visits to ensure that patients were still continuing to take their medications. Paul