Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
From a rising voice in progressive politics, a combination of memoir and science, diagnosing the challenges facing America and laying out a way forward
Fascinated by science and awestruck by the opportunity to heal others, Abdul El-Sayed threw himself into the study of medicine and excelled--to the tune of a Rhodes Scholarship, two advanced degrees, and a tenure-track position at Columbia, all before he turned 30. But he found himself disillusioned by the difficulty of effecting change--he could heal the sick but not address the conditions causing the illness in the first place. So he became the health commissioner for Detroit, and then went into politics, running for governor of Michigan in 2018.
In Healing Politics, El-Sayed traces the life of a young idealist--the child of immigrants, an academic overachiever--and the field he loves, showing how epidemiologists have worked to find what causes us harm and stop it. Weaving together personal stories and fascinating forays into history and science, El-Sayed uses his unique perspective to diagnose the epidemic of uncertainty facing Americans and to lay out a direction for the progressive movement.
Synopsis
From a rising voice in progressive politics, a combination of memoir, science, and public policy, diagnosing the challenges facing America and laying out a way forward
A child of immigrants, Abdul El-Sayed grew up feeling a responsibility to help others. He threw himself into the study of medicine and excelled--winning a Rhodes Scholarship, earning two advanced degrees, and landing a tenure-track position at Columbia University. At 30, he became the youngest city health official in America, tasked with rebuilding Detroit's health department after years of austerity policies.
But El-Sayed found himself disillusioned. He could heal the sick--even build healthier and safer communities--but that wouldn't address the social and economic conditions causing illness in the first place. So he left health for politics, running for Governor of Michigan and earning the support of progressive champions like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders.
In Healing Politics, El-Sayed traces the life of a young idealist, weaving together powerful personal stories and fascinating forays into history and science. Marrying his unique perspective with the science of epidemiology, El-Sayed diagnoses an underlying epidemic afflicting our country, an epidemic of insecurity. And to heal the rifts this epidemic has created, he lays out a new direction for the progressive movement. This is a bold, personal, and compellingly original book from a prominent young leader.