Synopses & Reviews
On January 12, 2010 a massive earthquake laid waste to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Within three days, Dr. Paul Farmer arrived in the Haitian capital, along with a team of volunteers, to lend his services to the injured.
In this vivid narrative, Farmer describes the incredible suffering--and resilience--that he encountered in Haiti. Having worked in the country for nearly thirty years, he skillfully explores the social issues that made Haiti so vulnerable to the earthquake--the very issues that make it an "unnatural disaster." Complementing his account are stories from other doctors, volunteers, and earthquake survivors.
Haiti After the Earthquake will both inform and inspire readers to stand with the Haitian people against the profound economic and social injustices that formed the fault line for this disaster.
Review
President Bill Clinton
“A gripping recollection of the quake’s ruin, chaos, and despair, and the story of remarkable persistence, hope, and love in the aftermath. Once you’ve seen Haiti through Paul Farmer’s eyes, you’ll never see Haitians, or any of the world’s poorest people, quite the same way again.”
Adam Hochschild
“Profoundly moving....An urgent dispatch from the front by one of our finest warriors for social justice. With eloquence and wisdom, Paul Farmer shows how we cannot fully comprehend one of the great natural disasters of history without understanding the man-made suffering that Americans and others have inflicted on Haiti.” Madison Capital Times, July 14, 2011
“Through the sharing of his experiences and the essays of fellow relief workers and survivors, the book serves as both a first draft of history and a call to action for rebuilding a country devastated by natural and unnatural disasters… Farmer deftly tells the story of his multiple roles - doctor, administrator and diplomat... His writing remains accessible, revealing hope amid criticism and providing touches of humor in a unique personal narrative… "Haiti After the Earthquake" provides a relevant and engaging look into how Farmer sees the world. Readers will empathize with his anger over Haiti's suffering as well as appreciate his insistence that the disaster should open the way for serious development and rebuilding in a country long ignored.” Financial Times, July 16, 2011
“Paul Farmer, doctor and aid worker, offers an inspiring insider’s view of the relief effort.” Foreign Affairs, September/October 2011 “To his discussion of this receding tragedy, Paul Farmer brings passion, medical expertise, and a long and intimate engagement with Haiti. His account of the year following the earthquake works on three levels: personal, practical, and analytic. Farmer's wife is Haitian, and so among the thousands whose lives were in jeopardy were his own relatives and friends. Reflecting these ties, his book is laden with anecdotes and emotion, as is surely appropriate: mass tragedies need to be distilled through detail down to a scale to which one can relate.… By bringing Haiti's appalling tragedy back to the world's attention, Farmer's passionate book should help get those pledges [of assistance] honored.”
Audiofile, August 25, 2011 “The scenes of unimaginable devastation and loss so vividly described can be hard listening, but Farmer's vision for ‘building back better’ and the hope and commitment of his colleagues and friends remain indelible.” Washington Informer, August 24, 2011 “In addition to a deep look at Haiti's history and culture, author Paul Farmer offers a first-hand, personal- and internationally-detailed look at what happened in the days and weeks after the earthquake.”
Review
President Bill Clinton
A gripping recollection of the quakes ruin, chaos, and despair, and the story of remarkable persistence, hope, and love in the aftermath. Once youve seen Haiti through Paul Farmers eyes, youll never see Haitians, or any of the worlds poorest people, quite the same way again.”
Adam Hochschild
Profoundly moving....An urgent dispatch from the front by one of our finest warriors for social justice. With eloquence and wisdom, Paul Farmer shows how we cannot fully comprehend one of the great natural disasters of history without understanding the man-made suffering that Americans and others have inflicted on Haiti.”
Madison Capital Times, July 14, 2011
Through the sharing of his experiences and the essays of fellow relief workers and survivors, the book serves as both a first draft of history and a call to action for rebuilding a country devastated by natural and unnatural disasters
Farmer deftly tells the story of his multiple roles - doctor, administrator and diplomat... His writing remains accessible, revealing hope amid criticism and providing touches of humor in a unique personal narrative
"Haiti After the Earthquake" provides a relevant and engaging look into how Farmer sees the world. Readers will empathize with his anger over Haiti's suffering as well as appreciate his insistence that the disaster should open the way for serious development and rebuilding in a country long ignored.”
Financial Times, July 16, 2011
Paul Farmer, doctor and aid worker, offers an inspiring insiders view of the relief effort.”
Wyclef Jean, September 20, 2011
The book accomplishes a sense of just keeping Haiti fresh in your mind. The disasters not over. Theyre a people that have lost 250 million people, with 500,000 still living in tents. This book is a reminder of that.”
Synopsis
Paul Farmer, the renowned Harvard physician and co-founder of Partners In Health, bears witness to Haiti's devastating earthquake and the ensuing relief and rebuilding efforts
Synopsis
"Paul Farmer, doctor and aid worker, offers an inspiring insider's view of the relief effort." --
Financial Times "The book's greatest strength lies in its depiction of the post-quake chaos In the book's more analytical sections the author's diagnosis of the difficulties of reconstruction is sharp." -- Economist
"A gripping, profoundly moving book, an urgent dispatch from the front by one of our finest warriors for social justice." -- Adam Hochschild
"His honest assessment of what the people trying to help Haiti did well -- and where they failed -- is important for anyone who cares about the country or international aid in general." -- Miami Herald
Synopsis
The acclaimed New York Times and IndieBound bestseller: Farmers passionate book bring(s) Haitis appalling tragedy back to the worlds attention” Foreign Affairs
Synopsis
Paul Farmer, doctor and aid worker, offers an inspiring insiders view of the relief effort.”
Financial Times The books greatest strength lies in its depiction of the post-quake chaos
In the books more analytical sections the authors diagnosis of the difficulties of reconstruction is sharp.” Economist
A gripping, profoundly moving book, an urgent dispatch from the front by one of our finest warriors for social justice.” Adam Hochschild
His honest assessment of what the people trying to help Haiti did welland where they failedis important for anyone who cares about the country or international aid in general.” Miami Herald
About the Author
Paul Farmer is Kolokotrones University Professor at Harvard University and chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is chief of the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, and cofounder of Partners In Health. He also serves as UN Deputy Special Envoy for Haiti under Special Envoy Bill Clinton. Among his numerous awards and honors is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundations genius award.”