Fact checked by Jim Lacy
The state of health and medicine in the United States is complicated, to say the least — from medical professional shortages, to system consolidations; high healthcare costs to rampant misinformation. Americans are experiencing the unsteadiness of this moment in out-of-control medical debt, long waits for appointments, and high levels of chronic disease. Here are five books to help clarify the current state of healthcare in the U.S. — how we got here and where we might be headed.
by Brian Alexander (2021)
The Chicago Tribune named this book as one of the best of 2021. In it, Alexander explores the day-to-day operations and challenges of a small hospital in Bryan, Ohio, struggling to survive and serve patients who are often poor and dealing with chronic diseases and addiction, while coping with health insurers and bureaucracy.
Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine
by Olivia Campbell (2022)
This book tells the compelling stories of three determined women in the Victorian era who became the first female doctors in the U.S. Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and Sophia Jex-Blake witnessed women avoiding medical care in the early 1800s because examinations from male doctors were commonly demeaning and painful. These women overcame sexism and societal disapproval to become doctors, improving healthcare for men and women alike.
On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service
by Anthony Fauci (2024)
Fauci is best known now as former President Biden’s chief medical advisor during the Covid-19 pandemic. That role, however, capped nearly 40 years serving as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In his memoir, Fauci recounts his path from his boyhood in Brooklyn to a distinguished career as an immunologist and researcher at the forefront of the government’s battle against global health threats, including HIV, SARS, Zika, and Covid-19.
The Beauty in Breaking
by Michele Harper (2020)
In this heartfelt memoir — a New York Times Notable Book of 2020 — Harper shares the joys and challenges of being an emergency medicine physician. She interweaves stories of the ER with reflections on racism and sexism in medicine, as well as her personal journey to recover from the trauma of an abusive father and to heal after her marriage breaks apart.
The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper Healthcare
by T.R. Reid (2009)
How does our healthcare system stack up with those of other countries, and what can we learn from them? In this thought-provoking and engaging book, Reid recounts his visits to Canada, England, France, Germany, and Japan, interviewing physicians and administrators to learn how healthcare is financed and delivered in each. He concludes with recommendations on how the U.S. can improve its own tangled and complex mix of public and private healthcare.
Originally published in the Spring/Summer 2025 print issue.
Julie Jacob is a communications professional and writer who focuses on healthcare and technology issues.
