This was an interesting book, not exactly what I was expecting from the title and description. While it did provide information about Dr. Elizabeth Hayes, I found that it provide more detailed information about the mines and the companies that owned them. Dr. Hayes was in instrumental in helping the miners and their families get better living conditions, there was nothing really on how she sparked the miners to strike other than her threat to leave them without a doctor. There was surely more I would think to go with this threat. It was interesting to read about the relationship between the miners and the companies but sometimes it felt like information was just being repeated. . Over all this was a good book.

Great story-telling about an unsung hero

I loved this book. The story-telling and character development are excellent. The book reads more like a novel than a history book; it is so much more than a list of names and dates. The story is well paced and I found it difficult to put the book down. It has everything I was expecting, a mix of history, science, and politics. The hardest part of the book to accept was that such unsanitary conditions existed so late into the 20th century. I had to check the dates on occasion as a reality check. This is a great read about an unsung hero and I recommend it for anyone interested in history or public health. Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield for the advance reader copy.

I wanted so desperately to enjoy this book since medical history is a favorite topic of mine. However, I found it difficult to follow and quite meandering. So much of the content was listing of items found in historical archives, most of it related to the coal mining business and the ideas of the businessmen in charge. I wanted to hear more about the experience of being a doctor in such a tough environment. Great potential but unfortunately a haphazardly put together story.

Amazing and inspirational. 2 words that barely describe what environmental health activist Dr Elizabeth Hayes work means to our world. I learned a lot about a woman I had never heard of! This book was really well done, made it easy for me to read and I honestly think it should be required reading in science classes. Absolutely great book about a true hero for people and the environmental activism movement.