'To Repair the World' is a collection of commencement addresses and speeches by Dr. Paul Farmer, emphasizing the responsibility of individuals—particularly future professionals and leaders—to work towards social justice, global health equity, and the alleviation of poverty. Farmer draws from his medical and humanitarian experience, advocating for a compassionate and pragmatic approach to addressing systemic inequities. Through stories and lessons from his global health work, he inspires readers to combine knowledge, empathy, and action in service of repairing the world.
Education is a privilege that comes with the duty to serve those less fortunate and fight systemic injustices.
Combining compassion with practical action is essential to effectively address health disparities and social inequalities.
A small group of committed individuals can drive substantial change, and each person has the power and responsibility to contribute meaningfully.
The book was published in: 2013
AI Rating (from 0 to 100): 92
Farmer urges new graduates to use their education and privilege to confront and work against injustice. He encourages them to find ways, big or small, to contribute to the global effort to repair the world, emphasizing that change starts with individual action.
Farmer recounts the foundation and growth of PIH in response to the lack of healthcare access in Haiti. Through relentless advocacy, deep engagement with the community, and innovative health delivery models, PIH exemplifies how persistent, compassionate action can transform public health in impoverished settings.
Farmer stresses that feeling sympathy for the suffering of others is not enough; one must act in solidarity with them. This means working directly with and for marginalized communities, not just for their benefit but alongside them as partners.
Faced with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, Farmer and his colleagues refused to accept inadequate care as inevitable for the poor. By challenging international norms and providing world-class treatment, they demonstrated that quality healthcare is both a moral imperative and entirely feasible in resource-limited settings.
Farmer introduces the concept of 'structural violence'—social structures causing harm or disadvantage to individuals. He illustrates his commitment to dismantling these structures through systemic interventions, community advocacy, and offering tangible solutions rooted in justice.
After the Rwandan genocide, Farmer was deeply involved in rebuilding health systems. He shares how investing in health care, education, and economic development helped not only rebuild a country but mend the wounds of trauma and loss.
by Tracy Kidder
AI Rating: 97
AI Review: This biography follows Paul Farmer’s journey and work in Haiti, illustrating his relentless commitment to global health and equity. It provides a compelling, personal view of Farmer’s mission and methods, highlighting both successes and challenges. Highly recommended for those inspired by Farmer’s speeches.
View Insightsby Anne Fadiman
AI Rating: 94
AI Review: Exploring the cultural clash between a Hmong refugee family and the American medical system, this book offers profound insights into cross-cultural medicine, empathy, and the moral complexities of healthcare. It emphasizes understanding, communication, and respect when serving marginalized populations.
View Insightsby Paul Farmer
AI Rating: 96
AI Review: Farmer's own work presents deeper analysis into global health inequities, focusing on human rights and the ways in which poverty and political structures create illness. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand or act on global health and justice.
View Insightsby Atul Gawande
AI Rating: 91
AI Review: Gawande explores what it means to improve performance in medicine and public health through stories and observations from his surgical career. He shares lessons on moral responsibility and resourcefulness that complement Farmer’s message about doing good in the world.
View Insightsby T.R. Reid
AI Rating: 90
AI Review: Reid investigates how different countries deliver health care and what the US can learn from their successes and failures. It’s an engaging, accessible read that deepens understanding of health systems and the necessity for equity in healthcare.
View Insightsby Paul Kalanithi
AI Rating: 92
AI Review: Neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi’s memoir confronts mortality and the search for meaning in service to others. His reflections on life, death, and the human side of medicine are deeply moving and resonate with Farmer’s call to compassionate care.
View Insightsby White, Farmer, et al (editors)
AI Rating: 88
AI Review: This collection features global voices, including Farmer’s, on activism, justice, and building a better future. It’s an inspiring guide for those motivated to join movements for justice and peace.
View Insightsby Paul Farmer, Jim Yong Kim, et al.
AI Rating: 93
AI Review: This textbook lays a comprehensive foundation for understanding the social and political determinants of health worldwide. It is practical and theoretical, offering actionable frameworks for global health practitioners.
View Insightsby Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn
AI Rating: 89
AI Review: Focusing on women’s rights and empowerment, this book highlights the transformative impact of small interventions. It underscores the importance of engagement, advocacy, and cross-cultural understanding, echoing Farmer’s core messages.
View Insightsby Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn
AI Rating: 87
AI Review: Further exploring how individuals and organizations can make a difference, this book is an uplifting examination of innovation and service worldwide. The authors showcase models of lasting change and encourage readers to get involved.
View Insightsby David Ansell
AI Rating: 90
AI Review: Ansell examines the roots of health disparities in the United States, drawing on personal experience in urban hospitals. It offers a clear-eyed view of how social and economic forces translate into life and death—making the stakes of Farmer’s message very real.
View Insightsby Paul Farmer
AI Rating: 92
AI Review: This book focuses on the social determinants of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, showing how poverty and injustice fuel epidemics. Farmer’s accessible writing and deep expertise make this a foundational global health text.
View Insightsby Jeffrey Sachs
AI Rating: 88
AI Review: Sachs lays out a bold plan for eradicating global poverty, blending economic analysis with case studies from around the world. His work complements Farmer’s faith in practical, systemic solutions to seemingly intractable problems.
View Insightsby Danielle Ofri
AI Rating: 85
AI Review: Ofri offers an inside look at the emotional landscape of physicians, emphasizing the need for compassion, empathy, and resilience. Her perspective highlights the emotional core of medicine, a theme central to Farmer’s work.
View Insightsby Paul Polak
AI Rating: 85
AI Review: Focusing on practical, grassroots solutions, Polak charts viable paths out of poverty through innovation and entrepreneurship. The book inspires readers to embrace Farmer's hands-on, problem-solving approach to justice.
View Insightsby Atul Gawande
AI Rating: 90
AI Review: Examining end-of-life care, Gawande reflects on how medicine can best serve dignity and humanity in the face of mortality. His humane insights complement Farmer’s drive for compassionate care that respects each patient’s life and context.
View Insights