Healing Politics: A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic (Hardcover)
Staff Reviews
Long before the Covid19 pandemic Abdul El-Sayed was feeling the effects of a different type of epidemic on the rise in our country. He saw it in the homeless he was treating in the hospital; he saw it in the ranks of his friends and wealthy colleagues; he saw it consuming Americans of all walks of life: it was an Epidemic of Insecurity.
Born in Detroit to parents who had immigrated from Egypt, Abdul grew up in two different worlds. While still wanting to feel connected to his Egyptian roots, Abdul also was chasing the "American Dream." His tenacity and charm found him excelling in his studies, ultimately becoming a Rhodes scholar. Feeling obligated to help his fellow man, Abdul naturally was drawn to a career in medicine and his desire to make the largest impact possible drew him specifically to Social Epidemiology. This career path would involve many positions and titles, including Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department. In 2017, he launched a run for Governor of Michigan, and while ultimately unsuccessful, he garnered broad support for his campaign.
Through his many travels and his campaign, he came to realize that while there were many issues confronting Michiganders and Americans, there was one overarching condition that seemed to be affecting the whole nation. He calls it an Epidemic of Insecurity and it is affecting every part of our lives, from education to financial security to our actual physical health. Abdul lays out the insidious effects of this epidemic,and what steps we can take to combat it. Make no mistake, this is precisely the prescription our country needs. Perhaps a double dose!
Description
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.
About the Author
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is a physician, epidemiologist, public health expert, and progressive activist. He was appointed health director of Detroit at 30 years old. He’s a former professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. He holds a doctorate in public health from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and a medical degree from Columbia University.
Praise For…
— Sen. Bernie Sanders
— Jon Favreau
— Professor Cornel West
— Bill McKibben
— Representative Pramila Jayapal
“Abdul El-Sayed is an inspired leader with a failsafe moral compass. Achingly felt and carefully reasoned, this book explains the forces that are shattering our communities—and the politics of empathy that can repair our relationships and transform society.”
— Naomi Klein
