PIHers' Picks: What to Read, Watch, and Listen to this Summer

PIH staff recommend books, a podcast, and a documentary to bring in the summer

Posted on Jun 17, 2024

Warmer weather and longer days have arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. Kicking off the season, Partners In Health (PIH) staff from around the world shared works they recently enjoyed, hoping to add trips beyond the surface to your summer plans. Illuminating the rich tapestry of experiences and challenges that shape the global health landscape, this insightful list promises to inform, enlighten, and inspire. PIH invites you to use this summer to deepen your perspective and learn more about our mission of social justice.

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Recommended by Hailey Morey, External Relations Manager

"The Mountains Sing is a beautifully written story about multi-generational trauma. Written through the author's perspective as a young girl, it vividly portrays the suffering and violence her family endured in the decades before, during, and after the Vietnam War. While an essential history on its own, it also serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating and enduring consequences of violence on families, communities, and the environment. Its relevance is particularly striking when considered in the context of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey

Recommended by Julianna Price, Associate Editorial Director

"When Crack Was King illuminates the social, political, and economic injustices that laid the groundwork for a devastating public health crisis. By weaving together historical research with the personal stories of four survivors of the crack cocaine epidemic, Ramsey has managed to craft a narrative that is both informative and emotionally compelling. I couldn’t put it down."

Pray The Devil Back to Hell directed by Gini Reticker

Recommended by Paul Michael; Development Officer, Gift Planning

"Pray The Devil Back to Hell is a documentary that was recommended to me by a member of PIH Liberia when I asked him for resources to educate myself about the unique history of Liberia. The film recounts the incredible story of the women of Liberia who came together to end the Liberian civil war through interfaith solidarity.

When the men of Liberia were failing to stop the violence of the Liberian civil war, these courageous women took to the streets in awe-inspiring displays of pacifist activism, unity, and love. I am so grateful that this film exists to uplift this inspiring chapter of Liberian history."

Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke

Recommended by Annie Michaelis; Managing Director, Strategic Information Systems

"I highly recommend all the books in the 8-part Anna Hibiscus series by Atinuke. These books feature a young girl and her multi-generational household in present-day West Africa. They are short chapter books with fun illustrations that both my 4-year-old daughter and my 8-year-old son adore. Each book is loving and humorous, and touches on many important social justice themes, including one book that confronts health disparities at a level that a young child can grasp."

The Devil That Danced on the Water: A Daughter’s Quest by Aminatta Forna

Recommended by Sabrina Hassan; Residency Training & Partnerships Associate, Mental Health

"Aminatta Forna’s search for the truth of her father’s fate (Sierra Leone’s former Minister of Finance) personalizes Sierra Leone’s painful and complex history in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. Having worked in Sierra Leone for the past year and a half, I am constantly relearning how Sierra Leone’s past continues to inform its present and believe this book should be a must-read for anyone who travels to the country. I also love that the book was written by a relative of PIH-Sierra Leone’s Finance Director, Yunus Fornah."

Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

Recommended by Dahyana Schlosser; Director of Curriculum and Training for Staff Wellness

"Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is an enlightening and essential read for anyone involved in caring for others, whether professionally or personally. This book offers a compassionate and practical guide to understanding and managing the emotional toll of working with trauma. With insightful reflections, real-life stories, and practical tools, van Dernoot Lipsky empowers readers to sustain themselves while supporting those in need. It's an invaluable resource for maintaining balance and well-being while making a difference in the lives of others."

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Recommended by Ellen Ball; Senior Informatics Engineer, Strategic Information Systems

"A magical epic covering multiple generations of a family between 1900 and 1977. The story covers family, love, faith, medicine, and tragedy and is primarily set in South India. I especially loved the audiobook which is read by the magnificent author and with beautiful pronunciations of names and places. The author has written many other excellent books including non-fiction books about the AIDS crisis (My Own Country) and drug addiction (The Tennis Partner), another novel (Cutting for Stone), and the 2003 NY Times book review of Mountains Beyond Mountains.

If you get into the book (and I was completely immersed), I recommend the Oprah podcast (6 podcasts) where she discusses the book with Dr Verghese: https://www.oprah.com/sp/the-covenant-of-water-companion-podcast.html"

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Recommended by Lori Ray; Associate Director of Grant Compliance

"Demon Copperhead follows the life of Demon, an orphaned Appalachian boy who faces unimaginable hardships as a child and young adult. I found the book to be such a compelling read because of the way the reader falls in love with the main character and is rooting for his success, even when it seems impossible. The book is also an important reminder of the effect that geography can have on our likelihood of success and survival, and the disproportionate burden placed on individuals living in these under-resourced areas—a powerful theme that I know resonates for PIHers."

Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health by Leana Wen, MD

Recommended by Kathrine Kuhlmann, Senior Writer of Development Communications

"The book is written by Leana Wen, MD, who has held many roles in the public health world, including as an emergency physician here in Boston, the former Baltimore health commissioner, and a CNN medical analyst. She also discusses her personal experience as a Chinese immigrant who grew up with very little and how that impacted her family’s health care experience. Her approach to public health and her beliefs on health care are very PIH-esque. It was interesting to read about her experience!"

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Indian American from 1890 to the Present by David Treur

Recommended by Kristen Jones; Senior Regional Director, Western & Midwest Region

"For many Americans, if they have read a book on the history of Native Americans in the US, it is Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Our colleagues at COPE in Navajo Nation suggested The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Indian American from 1890 to the Present as a counterpoint to Brown’s narrative, which suggests that Native American history, and its substantial achievements, ended at Wounded Knee.

Treuer (who also wrote an outstanding 2021 NYT essay, “A Sadness I Can’t Carry”) focuses on the history of Native American tribes since Wounded Knee, and celebrates their resilience, reinvention, and creativity. As a West Coast native, I also appreciated Treuer’s intentional focus on the successes of tribes throughout the US, so that the varied experiences of tribes from coast to coast (and not exclusively the Plains) were included."

Knife by Salman Rushdie

Recommended by Bonnie Rubrecht, Project Manager

"In recounting a vicious attack that took place while at a reading in 2022, Rushdie grapples with issues of violence, healing, artistic freedom, and justice. His wry humor coupled with unflinching reflections on the grisly incident that nearly took his life make this memoir both intimate and profound. Knife is a compelling read I wasn't able to put down."

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

Recommended by Dahyana Schlosser; Director of Curriculum and Training for Staff Wellness

"The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a captivating and insightful read that explores the profound impact of trauma on the body and mind. Blending cutting-edge neuroscience with compassionate case studies, van der Kolk reveals how trauma reshapes both brain and body, and how innovative treatments can help survivors reclaim their lives. This book is a powerful testament to human resilience and offers hope for healing, making it an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of trauma and recovery."

Catching the Light by Joy Harjo

Recommended by Ali Lutz; Senior Director of Special Projects, Theory of Change, Clinical

"Harjo reflects on her life as a poet and as a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She describes storytelling as multi-dimensional creative work intrinsic to justice, love, the healing of generational trauma, and beauty. Listening to Harjo read her short gem of a memoir (available through many public libraries on the Libby app) made an indelible impression on my desire to work for love and justice throughout my life."

Sex and World Peace by Valarie M. Hudson, Bonnie Ballif-Spanvill, Mary Caprioli, and Chad F. Emmett

Recommended by April Dembeck; Climate Accountability and Sustainability Specialist, Global Policy & Programs

"Within the heaviness of so much global conflict and the worsening climate crisis, I found this data-driven, balanced examination of the vital need for gender equality in sustaining peace to be truly grounding. Certainly, anyone called to the fight to reduce maternal mortality rates will find the content of this book engaging, as well. The authors look at the role of women in society from the community level to their global impact, taking down tired assumptions along the way, and offering action-based steps for creating stronger gender equality in the future. The book presents an inspiring perspective for anyone aching for a world with greater social justice, or as the author has framed it: 'There is not a zero-sum game being played between men and women in which if women are elevated, then men are debased. We were meant to win together.'"

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