Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders

By Dan Bortolotti

Book Overview

More fascinating and harrowing accounts of the volunteer professionals who risk their lives to help those in desperate need.

Praise for the second edition:

"Direct and evocative, this well-written book pushes readers to the edge of a world of grueling realities not known by most Americans."
-- Choice

Doctors Without Borders (aka Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) was founded in 1971 by rebellious French doctors. It is arguably the most respected humanitarian organization in the world, delivering emergency aid to victims of armed conflict, epidemics and natural disasters as well as to many others who lack reliable health care.

Dan Bortolotti follows the volunteers at the forefront of this organization and its work, who daily risk their lives to perform surgery, establish or rehabilitate hospitals and clinics, run nutrition and sanitation programs, and train local medical personnel. These volunteer professionals:

Perform emergency surgery in war-torn regions of Africa, Asia and elsewhere
Treat the homeless in the streets of Europe
Honor cultural customs and understand societal differences that affect health care
Witness and report the genocidal atrocities so often missed by mainstream media

This new and revised third edition includes updates and new inside stories from recent relief operations, and it covers changes within the organization, such as its new emphasis on nutrition. There are also many new and revealing color photographs and insights gained from the author's 2009 trip to Haiti, where he found three different arms of MSF operating in dire conditions.

Hope in Hell is a widely acclaimed portrait of a renowned Nobel-winning humanitarian organization, revealing how Doctors Without Borders provides immediate and outstanding medical care.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 155407634X
• ISBN13: 9781554076345
• Release Date: August 2010
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

The Real MSF

Almost everyone has an opinion on MSF(Médecins Sans Frontiéres). The author Dan Bortolotti in "HOPE IN HELL" provides what is surely a complete and trustworthy account of this organization. The book will once and for all confirm that MSF is still the only fully independent relief organization which seeks to alleviate human suffering, regardless of how that suffering was caused: by dictators, war barons, corrupt governments, or even relief teams which have fled the field. "Hell" in the title is perhaps missguiding. The majority of doctors, administrators and logisticians, regardless of having suffered from diseases and trauma brought on by witnessing ghastly cruelty, still go back for more. Before commenting to anyone on MSF again, read "HOPE IN HELL". It will not only alter your opinion but probably persuade you to support a relief organisation which really makes a difference. You might even become one of the doctors, etc, who helped to make the difference.Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders

Informative and entertaining

This is a quick read which provides excellent insight into the history and development of MSF as well as its current organization and on-the-ground operations. The historical component is well integrated into the many personal stories of physicians, logisticians, and other critical team members of MSF in the field. This book does a nice job balancing the positive and negative aspects of MSF's mission and how it is implemented. Even with the fair number of criticisms of the organization, I am still eager to be involved with such a remarkable group of people.

I couldn't put this book down

This is an AMAZING book. It takes alot for a book to really captivate me, and Hope in Hell did so about a page into it. I recomend this book to everyone, whether your an avid reader into good stories, or wether your like myself and considering a career with the MSF. The book makes sure to cover all jobs that you could fill with the organization, with the execption of working for one of their western offices. It covers job descroptions for water sanitation workers, Logistians (excuse my spelling), Nurses, Doctors, and Surgeons. I feel it is great for people considering work with the MSF because it gives you the full story through acounts from actual volunteers, not only does it tell you the nature of the feild work, but also the effect it has on people pschologically when they return home, and how they react once back in their "homes" (and how they realize their only home is with the MSF). The book also spends time discussing the structural aspect of the organization as well as politics and Drug research. I bought the book and couldn't put it down, a great read.

MSF brings hope tot he most unimagineable Hell

I am a grade 10 student who recently used this book for an english project. I found this book to be highly insightful of MSF thoughts, goals and ideas. The book painted a bold picture that sends a impactful image of our world. It sheds lights on many projects MSF is currently working on and also makes you think of these people who give their lives for strangers in order to provide life. Technically, the book follows an understandable format and remains interesting throughout while covering a lot of information. Many perspectives are covered which gives the book added depth.

Very Good Book

This book really helped putting the finishing touches on my sister's research projects about doctors without borders, especially since many books don't offer as many insights and pictures as this one.