Mountains Beyond Mountains

The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World

By: Tracy Kidder

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “[A] masterpiece . . . an astonishing book that will leave you questioning your own life and political views.”—USA Today

“If any one person can be given credit for transforming the medical establishment’s thinking about health care for the destitute, it is Paul Farmer. . . . [Mountains Beyond Mountains] inspires, discomforts, and provokes.”—The New York Times (Best Books of the Year)

In medical school, Paul Farmer found his life’s calling: to cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. Tracy Kidder’s magnificent account shows how one person can make a difference in solving global health problems through a clear-eyed understanding of the interaction of politics, wealth, social systems, and disease. Profound and powerful, Mountains Beyond Mountains takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes people’s minds through his dedication to the philosophy that “the only real nation is humanity.”

WINNER OF THE LETTRE ULYSSES AWARD FOR THE ART OF REPORTAGE

©2003 Tracy Kidder (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Paul Michael captures the book's mix of intensity and elaboration beautifully....Just the right amount of edge-of-your-seat passion....A very good rendition of an important book." —AudioFile

“A true-to-life fairy tale, one that inspires you to believe in happy endings . . . Its stark sense of reality comes as much from the grit between the pages as from the pure gold those pages spin.”—Laura Claridge, Boston Sunday Globe

“Stunning . . . Mountains Beyond Mountains will move you, restore your faith in the ability of one person to make a difference in these increasingly maddening, dispiriting times.”—John Wilkens, The San Diego Union-Tribune

My 12-year-old

My 12-year-old wants to be a doctor. I'm realistic enough to know this may change, but Mountains Beyond Mountains only made him more passionate; although, now he's open to infectious diseases instead of just immunology. He, and I quote, said this is the best book he's ever read or listened to. HUGE praise coming from him, considering he's been an audible fan since the age of two and is a voracious reader. My advice: Buy the book!

Great read.

I enjoyed this book for sure. As someone headed to med school, I found it really inspiring, and I am glad I read it. I did feel like Tracy Kidder went just a little overboard on the glorification of Paul Farmer (mostly well-deserved) which made it feel a little gushy to me at some points.

Thank you this audible covered every world

I am so thankful for this audible book and it was a pleasure listening to and following along with the book.

A good read on TB and development politics

Really interesting read - though for a book mostly set in Haiti, it spends excruciatingly little time on its Haitian characters. And a lot of time glorifying Paul Farmer - but well, he does seem like a great guy, so why not?

Well-written book; Narration is Problematic

This is a good adaptation of a very good book. The narrator's use of accents to mimic people within the story is occasionally problematic.

Outstanding!

What made the experience of listening to Mountains Beyond Mountains the most enjoyable?

This is an outstanding and very inspirational story of one man and the supporting cast that set out modestly, to help provide better medical care to the rural poor in Haiti, and ended up changing the world. I'd never heard of Paul Farmer until a friend recommended this book. After finishing it, I bought the youth version as a birthday gift for my 15 year old daughter. Highly recommended!

A little perception change

This is a great book to introduce how world health is interconnected. It is an informative book built around positive experiences not a guilt trip.

Wonderful read

I'm not a big fan of non fiction but I loved this story and the performance was very well done. Well written story about an amazing physician that we should all emulate

Inspiring! Amazing! Would definitely recommend!

It was a 100 out of five book! The way it portrayed human emotion and really got deep into the experiences of the people was phenomenal! After reading it I feel incredibly inspired to make some difference in the world. We should all strive to be like Paul Farmer. The message becomes even more potent after his death. Rest In Peace Dr. Thank you for all you accomplished.

Our response to AIDS & TB will define our generation

This story about the Dr. Farmer, who did everything from making house calls in Haiti to evaluate the living conditions one family, to raising money internationally for medications and hospitals in 3rd world countries, was entertaining and heartbreaking.
This book changed my view of TB and AIDS and how I can do something for someone. It demonstrates the power of one and the power of many united, to serve the world’s poor, with dignity and respect.
This was written before the Covid pandemic. I imagine new books along that line will be written, which I hope to read.