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Our Malady
Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary | Timothy Snyder
9 posts | 7 read | 14 to read
From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller On Tyranny comes an impassioned condemnation of America's coronavirus response and an urgent call to rethink health and freedom. On December 29, 2019, historian Timothy Snyder fell gravely ill. Unable to stand, barely able to think, he waited for hours in an emergency room before being correctly diagnosed and rushed into surgery. Over the next few days, as he clung to life and the first light of a new year came through his window, he found himself reflecting on the fragility of health, not recognized in America as a human right but without which all rights and freedoms have no meaning. And that was before the pandemic. We have since watched American hospitals, long understaffed and undersupplied, buckling under waves of coronavirus patients. The federal government made matters worse through willful ignorance, misinformation, and profiteering. Our system of commercial medicine failed the ultimate test, and thousands of Americans died. In this eye-opening cri de coeur, Snyder traces the societal forces that led us here and outlines the lessons we must learn to survive. In examining some of the darkest moments of recent history and of his own life, Snyder finds glimmers of hope and principles that could lead us out of our current malaise. Only by enshrining healthcare as a human right, elevating the authority of doctors and medical knowledge, and planning for our children's future can we create an America where everyone is truly free.
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ravenlee
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Another good, short read from Snyder, this is an indictment of the US medical system and the government that perpetuates it. Snyder was ill at the very end of 2019 and saw the beginnings of COVID from his recovery bed. Worth a read. #52Books #subtitle #Roll100

LaraReads This looks really interesting! 1y
Librarybelle This was a good book! 1y
squirrelbrain Sounds rather 😡 inducing. 1y
ravenlee @LaraReads @squirrelbrain you‘re both right! He lays out four propositions (such as Doctors Should Be in Charge) that are so obvious and straightforward yet seem so impossible anymore. 1y
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ravenlee
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Valid question.

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catiewithac
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1000⭐️s!!! Part fever delirium, part indictment of America‘s shameful healthcare system. Snyder is a preeminent historian of 20th century continental politics, but here he describes his own brush with near-death pre-pandemic. It‘s such a little, powerful book! No excuse not to read!!!!

Gaylagal2 @catiewithac I love this man! If you haven't heard his audio book On Tyranny, it's amazing! 🤙 3y
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DyAnne
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Oh, how angry and despairing I am! I already knew and agreed with Synder‘s big points on healthcare in the US, but he is very good at weaving in the details, the effects, the havoc . . . This book is tiny, but mighty. Another one I wish I could make all people in the US read.

Megabooks I appreciated this too. Good insights. 3y
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Megabooks
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Read in one sitting. Fantastic!

The US healthcare system is broken. Insurance companies force doctors to follow algorithms and have short appointments. Consolidation/privatization of hospitals has left many without care.

Snyder had a liver abscess right before the pandemic. He talks about his experiences during that and contrasts them to healthcare he‘s received in Europe. He enumerates how the government failed us during the pandemic. ⬇️⬇️

Megabooks ⬆️⬆️ I want to thank @ImperfectCJ for the lovely matching bookmark! I also installed this floating shelf this morning. I drove two anchors through studs by hand, despite 8 surgeries weakening my arms. Feeling pretty awesome!! 💪🏻💪🏻 (edited) 3y
dariazeoli Nice job with the shelf! I could use about twenty. 3y
Megabooks @dariazeoli I plan to add three more eventually...I‘ve already filled the shelf! Thank you!! (edited) 3y
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Librarybelle
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Snyder recounts his nearly fatal recent visits through the US healthcare system, leading up to the outbreak of COVID-19. In his eloquent manner, Snyder details the pitfalls and broken system in place - how this affects medical personnel and puts them at risk too. It‘s utterly scary, & I can personally attest to a few of his points, as I watched a family member nearly die from lack of proper care/attention during a hospital stay a couple years ago.

Jess I just picked this up today. Glad to hear you like it. 4y
Librarybelle @Jess Hope you like it too! 4y
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Twocougs
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Every American should be required to read this book, process it and have a civilized and thoughtful discussion about the points it raises. I‘m in, I bought Snyder‘s themes, now the world for our greater good needs to begin!

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Snyder‘s 2017 book called On Tyranny is on a reread loop in my thoughts these days. So when I heard he had a book coming on 9/8 about health care, I requested the ARC ASAP. This is both a memoir and a thoughtful discussion about the intersection of medicine, health, and politics. 👇🏻

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020 #healthcareisahumanright

BarbaraTheBibliophage Some ideas include: If we have our health, we‘re free. For profit health care benefits the few and leaves many in one kind of pain or another.
4y
Prairiegirl_reading I had no idea about this book. On Tyranny is one I think about often. I‘ll have to put this one on my tbr. Thanks for sharing! 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Prairiegirl_reading Anytime! It‘s a good one! 4y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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This is short and powerful. Combines personal experience with insights on US health care (including COVID) based on years of historical research. (His specialty is 20th century tyrannies.)

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