What the Eyes Don't See

A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City

By: Mona Hanna-Attisha

Narrated by: Mona Hanna-Attisha

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times Notable Book

The dramatic story of the Flint water crisis, by a relentless physician who stood up to power.

“Stirring...[a] blueprint for all those who believe...that ‘the world...should be full of people raising their voices.’” (The New York Times)

“Revealing, with the gripping intrigue of a Grisham thriller.” (O: The Oprah Magazine)

Here is the inspiring story of how Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, alongside a team of researchers, parents, friends, and community leaders, discovered that the children of Flint, Michigan, were being exposed to lead in their tap water - and then battled her own government and a brutal backlash to expose that truth to the world. Paced like a scientific thriller, What the Eyes Don’t See reveals how misguided austerity policies, broken democracy, and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. And at the center of the story is Dr. Mona herself - an immigrant, doctor, scientist, and mother whose family’s activist roots inspired her pursuit of justice. What the Eyes Don’t See is a riveting account of a shameful disaster that became a tale of hope, the story of a city on the ropes that came together to fight for justice, self-determination, and the right to build a better world for their - and all of our - children.

Praise for What the Eyes Don’t See

“It is one thing to point out a problem. It is another thing altogether to step up and work to fix it. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a true American hero.” (Erin Brockovich)

“A clarion call to live a life of purpose.” (The Washington Post)

“Gripping...entertaining... Her book has power precisely because she takes the events she recounts so personally.... Moral outrage present on every page.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Personal and emotional... She vividly describes the effects of lead poisoning on her young patients.... She is at her best when recounting the detective work she undertook after a tip-off about lead levels from a friend.... ‛Flint will not be defined by this crisis,’ vows Ms. Hanna-Attisha.” (The Economist)

“Flint is a public health disaster. But it was Dr. Mona, this caring, tough pediatrician turned detective, who cracked the case.” (Rachel Maddow)

©2018 Mona Hanna-Attisha (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A stirring and personal account.... For all her doggedness, Hanna-Attisha is a goofy, appealing, very human narrator.... Hers is the book I’d recommend to those coming to the issue for the first time; the crisis becomes personalized through the stories of her patients and their parents.” (Parul Sehgal, The New York Times)

“Mona Hanna-Attisha’s account of that urban man-made disaster reads both as a detective story and as an exposé of government corruption.... Her book’s message is that we each have the power to fix things, to make the world safer by opening one another’s eyes to problems. Her book reinforced my belief that the first step to becoming a citizen activist is seeing the world as it should be, not as it is given to you.” (The Seattle Times)

“Essential for all readers who care about children, health, and the environment. This should be required reading for public servants as an incisive cautionary tale, and for pediatricians and youth advocates as a story of heroism in the ranks of people who have the capacity to make a difference.” (Library Journal)

Must Read!

This is just an incredible true story. As someone in the public health field, Dr. Mona is an inspiration. Her perseverance and dedication to the kids of Flint is a reminder why we cannot willfully look the other way when an injustice is occurring. Thank you.

Important Social Commentary

Author shared interesting personal stories to help digest a tough topic. She somehow simplified, without dumbing down, complex political, engineering and social issues.

Highly recommended!

Fantastic book! A must read for anyone and everyone. It gave me a great understanding of the water crises in Flint, Michigan.

Fascinating

The subject I thought would be an arduous recounting that would be difficult to get through, but Dr. Mona told her story, Flint’s story, in such a way, that I didn’t want to put this book down. Sad to know the truth about governmental officials ignoring so many alarms and red flags. This would have never occurred if it was East Grand Rapids or Gross Point. Dr. Mona is a hero! I highly recommend this book.

Informative and inspiring

I learned a lot about the effects of lead poisoning and the trouble with the Flint water crisis. I’m a little embarrassed about how I’ll informed I was before this book

Inspiring!

One person, purpose-focused and working with others, can make a BIG difference. Treat yourself to this great story and be inspired to make your own contribution to a better world.

powerful book!

A real powerful read about the struggle to draw attention to the crisis in Flint Michigan, environmental racism and willful ignorance and denial of responsibility of many of those in power. The book is ultimately empowering in that it shows how injustices need to be addressed through the work of dedicated individuals who feel the responsibility to care for others and larger communities.

story is good.

I can't stand the voice that audible uses for this story. the speaker says her R's with a w.

Scary - Is my water safe?

I really enjoyed this book. Dr Mona has a wonderful voice that is soothing to hear. I loved how she wove Michigan and Iraqi history into the story as well as included her personal stories from her family. I was disappointed and somewhat angry to hear how politics and money was more important than the water conditions. Flint residents are blessed to have Dr Mona and the other professions who understood the importance of advocating for the community. I now wonder, is my water safe! If it could happen in Michigan and DC, it could occur anywhere in America.

Eye opening, relevant book well worth your time

Read or listen to this book. The series of mistakes, corruption and greed that lead to the Flint water crisis is well documented and laid out in this first hand account. The author occasionally takes a while to get to her main points, but this is still well worth your time.

Highly recommended.