Hope in Hell (book)
 | |
| Author | Dan Bortolotti |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Médecins Sans Frontières |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Firefly Books |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 1-55297-865-6 |
Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders is a 2006 book by Dan Bortolotti about Médecins Sans Frontières.[1][2][3]
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
- ^ a b c d e Prittie, Jennifer (2005-01-21). "Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Dwek, Jerry R. (2004-12-30). "Book Review". New England Journal of Medicine. 351 (27): 2887–2888. doi:10.1056/NEJM200412303512728. ISSN 0028-4793.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Bates, Benjamin (November 2005). "Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors without Borders". ResearchGate.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Walters Scarborough, Amanda (September 4, 2004). "The Lancet" (PDF).