What the Eyes Don't See : A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City

The dramatic story of the Flint water crisis, told with the gripping intrigue of a Grisham thriller ( O: The Oprah Magazine )an inspiring tale of scientific resistance by a relentless physician who stood up to power. Flint was already a troubled city in 2014 when the state of Michiganin the name of austerityshifted the source of its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Soon after, citizens began complaining about the water that flowed from their tapsbut officials rebuffed them, insisting that the water was fine. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician at the citys public hospital, took state officials at their word and encouraged the parents and children in her care to continue drinking the waterafter all, it was American tap water, blessed with thestatesseal of approval. But a conversation at a cookout with an old friend, leaked documents from a rogue environmental inspector, and the activism of a concerned mother raised red flags about leada neurotoxin whose irreversible effects fall most heavily on children. Even as circumstantial evidence mounted and protests grew, Dr. Mona knew that the only thing that could stop the lead poisoning was undeniable proof and that to get it, shed have to enter the fight of her life. What the Eyes Dont See *is the inspiring story of how Dr. Monaaccompanied by an idiosyncratic team of researchers, parents, friends, and community leadersproved that Flints kids were exposed to lead and then fought her own government and a brutal backlash to expose that truth to the world. Paced like a scientific thriller, this book shows how misguided austerity policies, the withdrawal of democratic government, and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. And at the center of the story is Dr. Mona herselfan immigrant, doctor, scientist, and mother whose familys activist roots inspired her pursuit of justice. What the Eyes Dont See* is a riveting, beautifully rendered account of a shameful disaster that became a tale of hope, the story of a city on the ropes that came together to fight for justice, self-determination, and the right to build a better world for theirand all of ourchildren. Flint is a public health disaster. But it was Dr. Mona, this caring, tough pediatrician turned detective, who cracked the case.Rachel Maddow Its one thing to point out a problem. It is another thing altogether to step up and work to fix it. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a true American hero.Erin Brockovich ** Review The Iraqi American pediatrician who helped expose the Flint water crisis lays bare the bureaucratic bunk and flat-out injustice at the heart of the environmental disgracerevealing, with the gripping intrigue of a Grisham thriller, the story of a government poisoning its own citizens, and then lying about it. *O: The Oprah Magazine * Flint is a public health disaster. But it was Dr. Mona, this caring, tough pediatrician turned detective, who cracked the case. Rachel Maddow Its one thing to point out a problem. It is another thing altogether to step up and work to fix it. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a true American hero. Erin Brockovich Essentialfor all readers who care about children, health, and the environment.This should be required readingfor public servants as anincisive cautionary tale,and for pediatricians and youth advocates as a story of heroismin the ranks ofpeople who have the capacity to make a difference. Library Journal (starred review) She is an unlikely heroa pediatrician who went up against the forces responsible for poisoning an American city, my hometown of Flint, Michigan. Yet because of her gentle but unrelenting perseverance, she brought the worlds attention to this crime. A story of race, greed, and a crumbling democracy, What the Eyes Dont See is a brilliantly written bookmay it help save every Flint in this country. Michael Moore [A] powerful firsthand account . . . Hanna-Attishas empathy for her patients and the people of Flint comes through, as do her pride in her Iraqi roots and her persistent optimism. . . . An inspiring work. *Publishers Weekly * Told with passion and intelligence, What the Eyes Dont See is an essential text for understanding the full scope of injustice in Flint and the importance of fighting for whats right. Booklist (starred review) Beautifully written, What the Eyes Dont See captures all that is wrong and right in America at this moment. This child of Iraqi immigrants is a true American hero, who told truth to power and galvanized a nation.Everyone who cares about the past and the future of the United States has to read her amazing, heartwarming, and inspiring story. Gerald Markowitz, co-author of *Lead Wars * Mona Hanna-Attisha details her extraordinary effort to document and publicize the tragedy of the lead-poisoned kids she found in her clinics every day, woven together with her personal journey as a young physician serving a population of underserved and underrepresented citizens in Flint. This elegant volume brings home what is best in public healthand what is worst in public policy. This book should be read by every citizen. David Rosner, co-author of *The Concussion Crisis * About the Author Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a physician, scientist, and activist who has been called to testify twice before the United States Congress, awarded the Freedom of Expression Courage Award by PEN America, and named one of Time magazines 100 Most Influential People in the World. The Dramatic Story Of The Signature Environmental Disaster Of Our Time And An Inspiring Tale Of Scientific Resistance By A Relentless Physician Who Stood Up To Power. Flint Was Already A Troubled City In 2014 When The State Of Michigan--in The Name Of Austerity--shifted The Source Of Its Water Supply From Lake Huron To The Flint River. Soon After, Citizens Began Complaining About The Water That Flowed From Their Taps--but Officials Rebuffed Them, Insisting That The Water Was Fine. Dr. Mona Hanna-attisha, A Pediatrician At The City's Public Hospital, Took State Officials At Their Word And Encouraged The Parents And Children In Her Care To Continue Drinking The Water--after All, It Was American Tap Water, Blessed With The State's Seal Of Approval. But A Conversation At A Cookout With An Old Friend, Leaked Documents From A Rogue Environmental Inspector, And The Activism Of A Concerned Mother Raised Red Flags About Lead--a Neurotoxin Whose Irreversible Effects Fall Most Heavily On Children. Even As Circumstantial Evidence Mounted And Protests Grew, Dr. Mona Knew That The Only Thing That Could Stop The Lead Poisoning Was Undeniable Proof--and That To Get It, She'd Have To Enter The Fight Of Her Life. What The Eyes Don't See Is The Inspiring Story Of How Dr. Mona--accompanied By An Idiosyncratic Team Of Researchers, Parents, Friends, And Community Leaders--proved That Flint's Kids Were Exposed To Lead And Then Fought Her Own Government And A Brutal Backlash To Expose That Truth To The World. Paced Like A Scientific Thriller, This Book Shows How Misguided Austerity Policies, The Withdrawal Of Democratic Government, And Callous Bureaucratic Indifference Placed An Entire City At Risk. And At The Center Of The Story Is Dr. Mona Herself--an Immigrant, Doctor, Scientist, And Mother Whose Family's Activist Roots Inspired Her Pursuit Of Justice. What The Eyes Don't See Is A Riveting, Beautifully Rendered Account Of A Shameful Disaster That Became A Tale Of Hope, The Story Of A City On The Ropes That Came Together To Fight For Justice, Self-determination, And The Right To Build A Better World For Their--and All Of Our--children.--dust Jacket. Flint Was Already A Troubled City In 2014 When The State Of Michigan Shifted The Source Of Its Water Supply From Lake Huron To The Flint River. Citizens Began Complaining About The Water That Flowed From Their Taps, But Officials Insisted That The Water Was Fine. Hanna-attisha, A Pediatrician At The City's Public Hospital, Took State Officials At Their Word. Then Leaked Documents From An Environmental Inspector, And The Activism Of A Concerned Mother, Raised Red Flags About Lead. This Is The Story Of How A Team Of Researchers, Parents, Friends, And Community Leaders Proved That Flint's Kids Were Exposed To Lead-- And Fought The Government And A Brutal Backlash To Expose That Truth To The World. -- Adapted From Dust Jacket How I Got My Name -- What The Eyes Don't See -- The Barbecue -- The Valedictorian -- Haji -- Red Flags -- First Encounter -- Miasma -- No Response -- Sit Down -- Jenny + The Data -- Public Health Enemy #1 -- What Field Are You On? -- The Man In The Panda Tie -- Environmental Injustice -- Poisoned By Policy -- Shortwave Radio Crackling -- Meeting The Mayor -- Aeb -- The Press Conference -- Splice And Dice -- Numbers War -- Demonstration Of Proof -- All The Things We Found Out Later -- Fire Ant -- Truth And Reconciliation -- Prescription For Hope -- Haji And The Birds. Mona Hanna-attisha. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 335-352) And Index. The dramatic story of the Flint water crisis, told "with the gripping intrigue of a Grisham thriller" (O: The Oprah Magazine)?an inspiring tale of scientific resistance by a relentless physician who stood up to power. Flint was already a troubled city in 2014 when the state of Michigan?in the name of austerity?shifted the source of its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Soon after, citizens began complaining about the water that flowed from their taps?but officials rebuffed them, insisting that the water was fine. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician at the city's public hospital, took state officials at their word and encouraged the parents and children in her care to continue drinking the water?after all, it was American tap water, blessed with the state's seal of approval. But a conversation at a cookout with an old friend, leaked documents from a rogue environmental inspector, and the activism of a concerned mother raised red flags about lead?a neurotoxin whose irreversible effects fall most heavily on children. Even as circumstantial evidence mounted and protests grew, Dr. Mona knew that the only thing that could stop the lead poisoning was undeniable proof? and that to get it, she'd have to enter the fight of her life. What the Eyes Don't See is the inspiring story of how Dr. Mona?accompanied by an idiosyncratic team of researchers, parents, friends, and community leaders?proved that Flint's kids were exposed to lead and then fought her own government and a brutal backlash to expose that truth to the world. Paced like a scientific thriller, this book shows how misguided austerity policies, the withdrawal of democratic government, and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. And at the center of the story is Dr. Mona herself?an immigrant, doctor, scientist, and mother whose family's activist roots inspired her pursuit of justice. What the Eyes Don't See is a riveting, beautifully rendered account of a shameful disaster that became a tale of hope, the story of a city on the ropes that came together to fight for justice, self-determination, and the right to build a better world for their?and all of our?children. "Flint is a public health disaster. But it was Dr. Mona, this caring, tough pediatrician turned detective, who cracked the case."?Rachel Maddow "It's one thing to point out a problem. It is another thing altogether to step up and work to fix it. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a true American hero."?Erin Brockovich A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK • The dramatic story of the Flint water crisis, by a relentless physician who stood up to power. “Stirring . . . [a] blueprint for all those who believe . . . that ‘the world . . . should be full of people raising their voices.’”— The New York Times “Revealing, with the gripping intrigue of a Grisham thriller.” — O: The Oprah Magazine Here is the inspiring story of how Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, alongside a team of researchers, parents, friends, and community leaders, discovered that the children of Flint, Michigan, were being exposed to lead in their tap water—and then battled her own government and a brutal backlash to expose that truth to the world. Paced like a scientific thriller, What the Eyes Don’t See reveals how misguided austerity policies, broken democracy, and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. And at the center of the story is Dr. Mona herself—an immigrant, doctor, scientist, and mother whose family’s activist roots inspired her pursuit of justice. What the Eyes Don’t See is a riveting account of a shameful disaster that became a tale of hope, the story of a city on the ropes that came together to fight for justice, self-determination, and the right to build a better world for their—and all of our—children. Praise for What the Eyes Don’t See “It is one thing to point out a problem. It is another thing altogether to step up and work to fix it. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a true American hero.” —Erin Brockovich “A clarion call to live a life of purpose.” — The Washington Post “Gripping . . . entertaining . . . Her book has power precisely because she takes the events she recounts so personally. . . . Moral outrage present on every page.” — The New York Times Book Review “Personal and emotional. . . She vividly describes the effects of lead poisoning on her young patients. . . . She is at her best when recounting the detective work she undertook after a tip-off about lead levels from a friend. . . . ‛Flint will not be defined by this crisis,’ vows Ms. Hanna-Attisha.” — The Economist “Flint is a public health disaster. But it was Dr. Mona, this caring, tough pediatrican turned detective, who cracked the case.” —Rachel Maddow "From the heroic pediatrician who rallied a community and brought the fight for justice to national attention comes a powerful firsthand account of the Flint water crisis--a dramatic story of failed democracy and inspiring citizen advocacy and action. Inthe heart of the world's wealthiest nation, one hundred thousand people were poisoned by the water supply for two years--with the knowing complicity of their government. Written by the crusading pediatrician who helped turn the crisis into a transformative movement for change, What the Eyes Don't See is a devastating insider chronicle of the Flint water crisis, the signature environmental disaster of our time, and a riveting narrative of personal advocacy. Here is the dramatic story of how Dr. Mona usedscience to prove Flint kids were exposed to lead, and how she courageously went public with her research and faced a brutal backlash. With persistence and single-minded sense of mission, she spoke truth to power. The book explores the horrific reality ofhow misguided austerity policies and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. A medical and scientific thriller, What the Eyes Don't See grapples with our country's history of environmental injustice while telling the inspiring personal story of Dr. Mona--an immigrant, a doctor, and a scientist--whose family roots in social justice activism buoyed her through the fight for justice in Flint. It captures a timely and essential story of how communities can come together to fight forsocial justice, even in opposition to their own governments"-- Provided by publisher "From the heroic pediatrician who rallied a community and brought the fight for justice to national attention comes a powerful firsthand account of the Flint water crisis--a dramatic story of failed democracy and inspiring citizen advocacy and action. In the heart of the world's wealthiest nation, one hundred thousand people were poisoned by the water supply for two years--with the knowing complicity of their government. Written by the crusading pediatrician who helped turn the crisis into a transformative movement for change, What the Eyes Don't See is a devastating insider chronicle of the Flint water crisis, the signature environmental disaster of our time, and a riveting narrative of personal advocacy. Here is the dramatic story of how Dr. Mona used science to prove Flint kids were exposed to lead, and how she courageously went public with her research and faced a brutal backlash. With persistence and single-minded sense of mission, she spoke truth to power. The book explores the horrific reality of how misguided austerity policies and callous bureaucratic indifference placed an entire city at risk. A medical and scientific thriller, What the Eyes Don't See grapples with our country's history of environmental injustice while telling the inspiring personal story of Dr. Mona--an immigrant, a doctor, and a scientist--whose family roots in social justice activism buoyed her through the fight for justice in Flint. It captures a timely and essential story of how communities can come together to fight for social justice, even in opposition to their own governments"--