Customer Reviews

Impact: On the Frontlines of Global Health

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I know of no other book like this. It covers global public health issues through the lens of an acclaimed National Geographic photojournalist (Karen Kasmauski) with an accompanying narrative by a well-known health and medicine author (Peter Jaret). Combined with a foreword by Nobel Prize-winner President Jimmy Carter and an eloquent introduction by the Carter Center's Dr Don Hopkins, the book is far from a dull public health textbook. The photos are arresting, some startling, and the remarkably readable story unfolds in three sections - State of the world's health, Symptoms of change and Meeting the challenge. All college students should read this book as well as anyone who cares about the inter-relationships between the earth's environment, its people and the human diseases that flourish in both rich and poor countries.

Notwithstanding the dire portrayal of scourges like AIDS, obesity, pollution and social upheaval, the overall message is a hopeful one. Jaret writes "Yet despite these dangers, the field of public health today is marked by a surging sense of optimism, born of the creation of bold new coalitions of individuals and institutions determined to bring the benefits of an ongoing revolution in medical science to the people who most need them."

I found this to be a coffee-table book that I quickly read from cover to cover and will do so several times again. It clearly preserves the photographer's personal view of the world with her choices unimpeded by any risk-fearing editor. The captions and intertwining text are never overbearing or boring but weave the way through the gallery of pictures that are the heart of the book. Some people might be inspired to then read more about public health, others might hopefully reach for their checkbooks to make donations to specific programs. This book would make a good intelligent present for anyone who cares about today's world and who respects the National Geographic Society's work.

"Impact" is more than your average National Geographic photo collection, though it is filled with stunning photos from exotic locales around the world. This book takes the reader on a tour of public health crises facing our world, magnificently illustrating the topic with moving (and sometimes amusing) photos and enlightening text.

I've seen photographer Karen Kasmauski give a slide show/lecture on this subject, and came to understand how she's able to capture such intimate portraits of her subject (mothers waiting with their malnourished children at a Cholera treatment program in Africa; an AIDS patient in the US, tenderly and proudly displaying a photo of his daughter). She's not only well-versed in global public health issues, she's clearly a compassionate individual who's dedicated to improving the lives of her subjects.

The subject is serious, but the photos are vibrant, colorful, compelling, far from gloomy. The text by Peter Jarrett is the perfect compliment, raising all the right issues and providing just the right amount of information without overwhelming us. Overall, "Impact" is an important work that carries a message that should not, and cannot, be ignored.

I bought this book to look at Karen's pictures, but the book offers so much more than that.

The introduction by President Carter sets the stage, and the mix of pictures and chapter texts leads the reader to an understanding of global health issues, with a challenge to do something about it.

This is not just another table top book, but could be a working agenda for global health concerns in the 21st century.