Getting What We Deserve: Health and Medical Care in America

by Alfred Sommer MD MHS

One of America's leading public health experts finds a host of ills in this country's health care • The United States spends nearly twice as much on health care as the rest of the developed world, yet has higher infant mortality rates and shorter longevity than most nations.
• We have access to many different drugs that accomplish the same end at varying costs, and nearly all are cheaper abroad.
• Our life span had doubled over the past century before we developed effective drugs to treat most diseases or even considered altering the human genome.
• The benefits of almost all newly developed treatments are marginal, while their costs are high. In his blunt assessment of the state of public health in America, Alfred Sommer argues that human behavior has a stronger effect on wellness than almost any other factor. Despite exciting advances in genomic research and cutting-edge medicine, Sommer explains, most illness can be avoided or managed with simple, low-tech habits such as proper hand washing, regular exercise, a balanced diet, and not smoking. But, as he also shows, this is easier said than done. Sommer finds that our fascination with medical advances sometimes keeps us from taking responsibility for our individual well-being. Instead of focusing on prevention, we wait for medical science to cure us once we become sick. Humorous, sometimes acerbic, and always well informed, Sommer's thought-provoking book will change the way you look at health care in America.

152 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jezebel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half reads a bit like a stream-of-consciousness rant, which was an initial stylistic turn-off for me. I also found that for my level of knowledge (relatively new public health professional), there wasn't much I didn't already know. I'm not sure the intended audience for this book (it's a lot of information for the general public, and not much of a statement for those who work in public health), but overall it's a good, compressed read if you are interested in what's wrong with our current system. I'd call it a primer.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very important content about what improves health from a former Dean of the Hopkins School of Public Health and a hero of global health. It is knowledge that is almost completely absent from the public debate on health policy, and here it is in a handy, short, readable format. To the extent that facts matter at all anymore in this world of truthiness, this is a very useful book.

The story of Dr. Sommer's work with Vitamin A is told more entertainingly in Rx for Survival (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...) .

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good explanation of the reasons for our current health care crisis and recommended solutions. This from a physician and expert on public health.

[Donna Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book packed with insight from an author who is working as a health care provider and who explains what it will take for the U.S. to achieve universal coverage.