Mountains

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder

I don't know what took me so long to read this, but I'm glad I finally did. It's yet another example of exquisite nonfiction. It's the story of Paul Farmer, a doctor who makes it his life's mission to provide quality medical care to poor people. Much of his work is done in Haiti, where he built a medical compound with an incredible ethos: the medicine is community based. He hires Haitians, he is tireless about education, and if someone doesn't show up for an appointment, someone will go to the patient's house to check on them (or Dr. Farmer himself might hike a couple hours to check!) Dr. Farmer's specialty is multi drug resistant tuberculosis, and he is renowned in the world of infectious disease for the advances he has made in treating it successfully.
I realize this all sounds.. weird. boring. too medicine-y. But it's not, I swear. Farmer is one of those characters who is so full of life that I kept thinking "His story could write itself." As I continued reading, I realized that was untrue. Kidder does a masterful job of showing what a complex character Paul Farmer can be.
I found this book incredibly inspiring and really, you should read it. I'll even loan you my copy.