Hope in Hell (book)

Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders is a 2006 book by Dan Bortolotti about Médecins Sans Frontières.[1][2][3]

Hope in Hell
AuthorDan Bortolotti
LanguageEnglish
SubjectMédecins Sans Frontières
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherFirefly Books
Pages304
ISBN1-55297-865-6

Summary

The book covers the activities undertaken by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) such as building hospitals and navigating conflict zones.[1] Content covers the complexities of dealing with bureaucracies, epidemics, abductions and killings.[1]

Bortolotti is critical of the mainstream media for its simplistic and heroic portrayal of MSF staff.[4]

Style

The book is written in the style of a report.[5]

Reception

Jenniger Prittie, writing for Quill and Quire described it as "gripping" and "clear" and noted that it would be of interest to a wide range of readers.[1] Prittie also praised the book for not glorifying the international staff of MSF and for discussing the struggles they face integrating back into their home countries.[1]

Amanda Walters Scarborough, writing in The Lancet, described the book as a "comprehensive picture of the essence of volunteerism."[6]

Benjamin Bates of Ohio University is critical of Bortolotti for writing a simple and heroic caricature of MSF and its staff and accuses the author of "disaster pornography".[4] Bates also criticizes the story for centering white, middle-class men and for missing the perspectives of MSF's patients.[4]

Isabelle Leblac, writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, criticizes the lack of reporting on the activities of the local staff.[5]

See also

References

  1. Prittie, Jennifer (2005-01-21). "Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  2. Dwek, Jerry R. (2004-12-30). "Book Review". New England Journal of Medicine. 351 (27): 2887–2888. doi:10.1056/NEJM200412303512728. ISSN 0028-4793.
  3. Reisman, Anna (2006-09-01). "The good doctor: there is no sure formula when it comes to healing, but courage and compassion, combined with faith in one's instincts, go a long way". Science & Spirit. 17 (5): 47–50. doi:10.3200/SSPT.17.5.47-61.
  4. Bates, Benjamin (November 2005). "Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors without Borders". ResearchGate.
  5. Leblanc, Isabelle (2005-04-12). "The human right thing to do". CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 172 (8): 1047–1048. doi:10.1503/cmaj.050182. ISSN 0820-3946. PMC 556046.
  6. Walters Scarborough, Amanda (September 4, 2004). "The Lancet" (PDF).
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