Hooks Book Events typically produces private author programs with companies and government organizations that inspire their teams or clients… except when Dr. Paul Farmer writes a book. There are some ideas that simply need a bigger platform for larger audiences and we are willing to extend ourselves and put together a large public event to deliver that audience.
We were fortunate to find a wonderful partner in Esther Foer and her team at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue to host Dr. Farmer and Dr. Claire Pierre on May 7thin conversation about his new book, To Repair The World – Paul Farmer Speaks to the Next Generation. And that he did – to a sold-out audience of close to 800, including many students to whom “Paul is this generation’s Albert Schweitzer”.
The theme of the evening was global health inequality – it is the concern of everyone, it is fundamental to breaking the cycle of poverty, and that government and private organizations can collaborate and enable great achievements. Dr. Farmer spoke of the most recent example of this, namely the Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais in Haiti and what can be accomplished when people work together.
His message, whether volunteering or working with NGOs, is to believe in what you are doing, imagine that every effort can be leveraged for training and learning and to keep the big picture in mind. He reminded us to “be humble, listen, collaborate and recognize your own privilege.”
C-Span Book TV was live streaming and the social media universe was buzzing. After the hour long conversation and Q&A, Dr. Farmer stayed and signed books for every person in line, some waiting for over two hours. But everyone left happy, including our partners at Sixth & I who were able to lock the doors at exactly 11:59 pm!
View pictures from the program at HBE on Facebook.
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