Full Description
Inspiring stories of individuals who shaped prevention as a public good.
What drives someone to challenge the status quo to prevent disaster? In The Preventioneers, Barry R. Davis chronicles the work of bold individuals who recognized the warning signs of catastrophe and intervened before tragedy could strike. With stories that include fire, disease, climate change, and public health, Davis illuminates the efforts of those who confronted indifference, ignorance, and inertia to shift society's focus from reaction to prevention.
Through real-world case studies and historical research, The Preventioneers introduces readers to a diverse cast of problem-solvers who identified threats, persuaded skeptics, and devised practical solutions. In colonial Boston, a young Benjamin Franklin witnessed one of the city's most devastating fires. Haunted by that memory, Franklin grew into a lifelong advocate for fire prevention. Ignaz Semmelweis and Sara Josephine Baker fought to raise awareness of and prevent child and maternal mortality. Richard Doll's work to establish the link between smoking and lung cancer revealed the danger of what many viewed as a harmless activity. These inspiring stories exemplify the central message of the book: Prevention is a powerful form of civic action. Their work underscores how principles of prevention transcend fields, whether addressing maternal mortality, auto safety, cancer, or climate change.
Davis underscores that successful prevention requires more than knowledge; it also demands courage, strategy, and relentless advocacy. In doing so, The Preventioneers introduces a framework for thinking about how societies can act early, save lives, and build a healthier, more resilient future.
Contents
Table of Contents
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. A Fire is Raging: Benjamin Franklin and Fire Prevention
2. A Mother is Dying: Ignaz Semmelweis and Maternal Mortality Prevention
3. A Child is Dying: Sara Josephine Baker and Child Mortality Prevention
4. A Car is Crashing: The Five Auto Safety Doctors and Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention
5. The Pressure is Rising: Edward Freis and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
6. Smoking Kills: The Two Physician/Epidemiologists Ernst Wynder and Richard Doll and Cancer Prevention
7. Losing Oneself: Guardians and Angels and Suicide Prevention
8. Saving the Planet: James Hansen and Climate Change Prevention
Conclusion
