Sometimes a book just isn’t up my alley, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be read and shared! In an effort to bring you a guy’s point of view I’ve asked a friend to help out and review the occasional book that doesn’t fall into our typical scope of reading here at WAGB. Today we have our first review from Brian. Please feel free to drop him a note in the comments to share your thoughts and welcome Brain to reviewing!
Summary
In the very near future, Wesley Anderson graduates at the top of his UCLA medical class with the plan of joining his father’s medical practice. However, in exchange for curing his father’s fatal heart disease and enough money to solve his family’s financial difficulties, Wesley agrees to join the Healers. The Healers are a mysterious organization of doctors and researchers, owing allegiance to no country and accountable to no one. Armed with sophisticated healing techniques and bleeding edge technology, the Healers are capable of curing almost every ill, but for a very steep price. Blinded by the good that he could do, Wesley becomes a staunch advocate of the Healer’s goals, even to the point of alienating his family. However, as he progresses through the Healer’s post-graduate training, Wesley becomes aware of the Healer’s sinister agendas. Guided by his conscience, Wesley joins a group of dissident doctors determined to thwart the Healer’s global threat, and learns of the organization’s villainous beginnings.
Review
The Healers moves at a brisk pace, and the heavy use of medical terminology is written in a way non-med students can easily understand. It’s easy to identify with the main character as he progresses from naïve grad student through staunch defender of the organization to reluctant hero trying to prevent global catastrophe. The narrative is the best part of the book, as it extrapolates the world’s current trends in medical treatments. World power is demonstrated in the Healer organization’s ability to cure sickness and disease, but only for outrageous sums of money. With people willing to pay, the organization’s power and influence grows across all borders. The book examines the ethical dilemmas of medical research and the application of cures to those who can pay under the guise of a tautly written medical/political thriller. The unfolding of the plot, the political machinations within the organization and the characters’ drive and motivations compelled me to finish the book at a breathless pace.
Verdict
After a slow build-up, I found this book to be riveting. The Healers could read as a non-fiction forecast of the future of medicine, with equal parts of alarm and hope.
*This book was provided for review by the Publisher.
