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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for the poor, especially regarding health care and living conditions, is a major theme represented throughout Mountains Beyond Mountains. Doctor Paul Farmer can be described as both a realist and an idealist. While he strives to cure the world, an unattainable goal for just one man, he knows that there will always be someone in need, and that he himself cannot cure the entire world. This does not stop Farmer from trying, however. Farmer exhausts himself with a seemingly never ending to-do list as well as working late hours. He eventually learns from his work that curing an individual patient is just the beginning. Farmer struggles with the reality that often times the wealthy turn their backs on the poor, rather than helping them. However, Farmer believes that it only takes one cured patient in order for the effort to all be worth it. Doctor Paul Farmer embodies the true meaning of being a humanitarian.
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
Farmer could have easily stopped his charitable work after founding Zanmi Lasante; instead he has devoted almost his entire life to enhancing the welfare of the less fortunate. The Haitian proverb “beyond mountains, there are mountains” means that as one conflict is resolved, another one arises. Paul Farmer was confronted with many “mountains” in which he had to climb. The Haitian proverb that has inspired the title of the book can be compared to Farmer’s desire to cure the world. As soon as he has climbed the mountain of curing one patient, there is another mountain that he must climb in curing another patient. Insight into Farmer’s childhood could explain why Farmer decided to live the life that he does. However it could be argued that Farmer’s upbringing had nothing to do with his fate or personality. Farmer grew up in a large family. He lived with his mother and father and his five other siblings. All of Farmer’s siblings grew up to live in houses and hold jobs ranging from electrician to motivational speaker. Throughout his childhood, his family would relocate several times and do whatever necessary to make ends meet, even if it meant living in a bus or on a boat. During times the time when Farmer’s father did not have a paying job, Farmer and his two younger brothers had to pitch in by picking citrus, which didn’t last long. During this time, however, Farmer came in contact with Haitians for the first time. Confused about what they were saying, Farmer questioned the Haitians to his father who explained that they were speaking Creole and briefly described the epic poverty that their country faces. Although Farmer’s upbringing may not be solely responsible for the life that he leads today, it did however prep him for a traveling lifestyle. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder is a story about one man’s quest to cure the world. This story exemplifies the meaning of humanity. This book correlates with many topics within the field of human services. One of the main themes of the book is about enhancing the wellbeing of the less fortunate. This is also a topic within the field of human services. Human services strive to enhance the welfare of those in need in many different aspects.
for the poor, especially regarding health care and living conditions, is a major theme represented throughout Mountains Beyond Mountains. Doctor Paul Farmer can be described as both a realist and an idealist. While he strives to cure the world, an unattainable goal for just one man, he knows that there will always be someone in need, and that he himself cannot cure the entire world. This does not stop Farmer from trying, however. Farmer exhausts himself with a seemingly never ending to-do list as well as working late hours. He eventually learns from his work that curing an individual patient is just the beginning. Farmer struggles with the reality that often times the wealthy turn their backs on the poor, rather than helping them. However, Farmer believes that it only takes one cured patient in order for the effort to all be worth it. Doctor Paul Farmer embodies the true meaning of being a humanitarian.
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
Farmer could have easily stopped his charitable work after founding Zanmi Lasante; instead he has devoted almost his entire life to enhancing the welfare of the less fortunate. The Haitian proverb “beyond mountains, there are mountains” means that as one conflict is resolved, another one arises. Paul Farmer was confronted with many “mountains” in which he had to climb. The Haitian proverb that has inspired the title of the book can be compared to Farmer’s desire to cure the world. As soon as he has climbed the mountain of curing one patient, there is another mountain that he must climb in curing another patient. Insight into Farmer’s childhood could explain why Farmer decided to live the life that he does. However it could be argued that Farmer’s upbringing had nothing to do with his fate or personality. Farmer grew up in a large family. He lived with his mother and father and his five other siblings. All of Farmer’s siblings grew up to live in houses and hold jobs ranging from electrician to motivational speaker. Throughout his childhood, his family would relocate several times and do whatever necessary to make ends meet, even if it meant living in a bus or on a boat. During times the time when Farmer’s father did not have a paying job, Farmer and his two younger brothers had to pitch in by picking citrus, which didn’t last long. During this time, however, Farmer came in contact with Haitians for the first time. Confused about what they were saying, Farmer questioned the Haitians to his father who explained that they were speaking Creole and briefly described the epic poverty that their country faces. Although Farmer’s upbringing may not be solely responsible for the life that he leads today, it did however prep him for a traveling lifestyle. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder is a story about one man’s quest to cure the world. This story exemplifies the meaning of humanity. This book correlates with many topics within the field of human services. One of the main themes of the book is about enhancing the wellbeing of the less fortunate. This is also a topic within the field of human services. Human services strive to enhance the welfare of those in need in many different aspects.