This was a well-written and informative piece of nonfiction covering many topics that I am interested in, such as outbreak investigation, medical anthropology, social commentary, and the aftereffects of colonialism. Since I am an epidemiologist who is interested in outbreaks, social determinants of health, and health equity, I was sold on this book along with the following description:
“This book seeks to explore how economic and social forces, which might reasonably be glossed as history shape both epidemics and the lived experiences of them.”

This book was a part memoir from the eyes of a doctor (and founder of healthcare nonprofit Partners in Health) in the field during multiple Ebola outbreaks in West Africa. It also brought in the important and well-researched historical background on the social determinants of health affecting these outbreaks. Some parts of this book read a bit like a textbook, and I had to reread them a few times.

Overall, this was an interesting read that has taught me a lot about the Ebola outbreaks in West Africa, and the history of colonialism's aftereffects in that region that are still trickling into many of the infrastructures present today.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the gifted e-book in exchange for an honest opinion!

A very wise, well written and timely book, not only because of the current pandemic. Paul Farmer is an exceptional man, and it's worth listening to what he has to say.

The book provides not only a fascinating description of the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa but also answers to the question: "how the heck this happened". I think it's thanks to his anthropological background that he can describe the history of this turbulent region with such empathy and understanding. The only other medical author that I can compare him to is my favourite Atul Gawande. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of
This book via netgalley!

Nothing is scarier than real life. A first hand account of the devastating human cost of the Ebola pandemic Recounted by the mentee of Dr Fauci. A plea for more to be done in the current Covid-19 pandemic. And a dire warning that Ebola isn’t completely extinct. Will our past help deal with our current, and also enable us to prevent a future one.. Medical .pandemic that is. if not, individuals will continue to struggle to breath...

I swear, every time I read a book about Ebola, I learn even more than I thought I could. I've said it before that my dream job would be to work for the CDC, especially in the Level 4 containment. But, alas, a pipe dream. This book gives a history of Sierra Leone and the ongoing war. It tells us about Ebola and how it torn the country up, even further. It has a LOT of information about the disease, as well as the blood diamond controversy. I really did learn something, and I wasn't necessarily expecting that.



In addition to some education, there are things happening in this book that aren't talked about, and need to be. Then there is the whole "we're in a current pandemic" and we can take lessons from what the author goes into.



Overall, this is a powerful book. Read it.



5/5 Stars

There is a story in my family about my sister asking Mom a question while she was fixing dinner. Mom told her to go ask our Dad. “I don’t want to know that much,” responded my sister.

I fear many readers will have this reaction to Fevers, Feuds and Diamonds by Paul Farmer. Only the nerdiest of global health geeks (like me) will stick with it to the end. The fact is, global health is complicated, and it is complex. What happens when the focus of an epidemic is containment? What if care were given priority over containment? How does history impact health, both in the short term and the long term? What is the impact of disease on an individual? A family? A rural village? An urban center? This is one of the few books that tries to look at an epidemic from so many different perspectives. It can feel a mile wide and an inch deep.

Today the world is focused on Covid-19, and there is a closing section in this book on it. I would have liked to hear more from Dr. Farmer about lessons from Ebola that we should be applying to managing the novel corona virus, even though that advice would likely fall on deaf ears in the current administration.

This is such a timely book as we afflicted by the global COVID-19 pandemic and have the crucial post-COVID-19 recovery ahead of us. Anyone familiar with Professor Farmer’s work would appreciate his humble and profoundly holistic approach to health, with rigorous clinical guidance. This is yet another book that is much recommended for healthcare professionals and policy makers alike.

I would put two major values on this book, 1) Professor Farmer not only gives a glimpse into the challenges of clinical management of Ebola outbreaks, but goes into the underlying details about the anthropological aspects that still play a major role in mitigating such healthcare crises in many parts of the developing world; and 2) the similar challenges, issues, disparities that would be crucial to consider as we globally embark in the journey of a post-COVID-19 recovery.

This is definitely a scholarly literature and although written for a broader audience, I think it can have a larger impact for readers engaged in the healthcare sector. I highly recommend students and early career researchers to read this book as well as other great books from Professor Farmer.

Important messages bogged down in detail

Although I appreciate the importance of the material covered, I did not enjoy this book. I found that the messages got lost in all the detail. I also was not fond of the writing style which I found overly literary.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

Living in a country that was destroyed by Ebola - this was a fascinating look at the disease and how West Africa was impacted.

Just when I thought I couldn't respect and look up to Paul Farmer any more, he floors me with this. So much more than just a first hand account of the Ebola outbreaks, he dives deep into the social, economic, and militaristic history of the region. It's rare that authors provide such a wide scope all while keeping in mind the vastly unknown, unnamed, poor , neglected, and abused at the center of conflict and contagion. His passion and compassion are every present. A must read as the world reels from COVID-19.

Paul Farmer’s latest is interesting and informative. But, for me, during the coronavirus, it was both anxiety producing and the narrative was a bit too “ in the weeds”. I did not finish this one at this time. But, will likely try again in the future.