Author

Tracy Kidder

16 key ideas across 2 books, each explained in our own words.

Mountains Beyond Mountains

IDEA 1
A doctor served the poorest
Kidder tells the story of Paul Farmer, a doctor and anthropologist who dedicated his life to providing health care to the world's poorest people. Farmer believed that every human life has equal value, regardless of wealth or country.
IDEA 2
He built a clinic in Haiti
Farmer helped build a clinic in Cange, a poor village in rural Haiti. It grew into a major health centre serving thousands. Kidder presents the clinic as proof that good care could be built even in a very poor place.
IDEA 3
Partners in Health spread his work
Farmer co-founded Partners in Health, an organisation that brought medical care to poor communities in Haiti, Peru, Russia and elsewhere. It challenged ideas about what was possible. Kidder shows that the group grew from one man's belief into a large effort.

IDEA 1
Engineers raced to build a computer
Kidder tells the true story of a team at the company Data General racing to design a new minicomputer, code-named Eagle, in the late 1970s. He shows the pressure, passion and exhaustion involved.
IDEA 2
A leader drove the team
Kidder describes Tom West, the team's leader, who was intense, secretive and demanding. He shielded the team while pushing them hard. His style was tough, yet many of his engineers admired his drive and followed him.
IDEA 3
Young engineers did the work
Kidder describes the young engineers, nicknamed Hardy Boys and Microkids, who designed the hardware and software. Many were fresh from college. Their energy and fresh thinking were a big part of how fast the machine got built.

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