Destroyers: Exploiting God’s Good Earth: A Global Health Perspective
David McKay is the author of Destroyers: Exploiting God 's Good Earth, it was written in 2008 and is the last book in the End of Time Trilogy. Destroyers is a futuristic novel about how the burden of disease cripples a village in Kenya and the impact foreign investors have on the socioeconomic values of that village. The title chosen by McKay sets the tone for the book: in the end money and profit has the power to destroy all that we know. McKay was able to challenge many of my views by using subjugated knowledge that compelled me to learn more about the global health issues our western world is typically not aware of. In turn it encouraged me to understand the responsibilities …show more content…
Although Kenya‘s improving economy allows for improved social development (World Bank, 2015) many still struggle in poverty. However, Moses is able to start his own prosperous business through a micro-loan he secured through American investors. Eventually, Moses travels to the United States and he is concerned by the amount of wasted food and land; more important to the plotline, Moses discovers the American investors have been capitalizing off of his success which allows them to live lavishly while he continues to live in a mud hut. I found this an excellent contrast and reinforced why not all investments need to produce a profit. As Moses’ character develops he loses his humble personality becomes absorbed with making a profit and as a result, he alienates himself from family and friends. Eventually, Kenya begins stimulating its own economy with less sustainable revenue sources. McKay makes it clear that Kenya is now adopting the same wasteful nature Moses saw in America. Ultimately Kenya’s rapid urbanization causes conflict amongst the villagers, the impact results in the loss of the supportive community that once existed. It is issues such as the burden of disease and socioeconomic success that urge the reader to think beyond the words on the page and consider how the actions of …show more content…
What I learned stirred emotion in my heart. At first, I felt that I the idea of making a change would be an insurmountable task, however, I realized that like most, I am looking at the big picture. Critiquing this book from a global health perspective has helped me realize that we are all interconnected and that even small acts of information sharing can make a difference. Reading this novel helped me to expand several core values and beliefs I developed as a child. If you are going to help someone, do not just teach them the skills to be successful, teach them how to manage their success. Show them the importance of living within their means and the dangers of living in excess. Money is a powerful object, it has the power to build greatness but it also has the ability to destroy all that you
David McKay is the author of Destroyers: Exploiting God 's Good Earth, it was written in 2008 and is the last book in the End of Time Trilogy. Destroyers is a futuristic novel about how the burden of disease cripples a village in Kenya and the impact foreign investors have on the socioeconomic values of that village. The title chosen by McKay sets the tone for the book: in the end money and profit has the power to destroy all that we know. McKay was able to challenge many of my views by using subjugated knowledge that compelled me to learn more about the global health issues our western world is typically not aware of. In turn it encouraged me to understand the responsibilities …show more content…
Although Kenya‘s improving economy allows for improved social development (World Bank, 2015) many still struggle in poverty. However, Moses is able to start his own prosperous business through a micro-loan he secured through American investors. Eventually, Moses travels to the United States and he is concerned by the amount of wasted food and land; more important to the plotline, Moses discovers the American investors have been capitalizing off of his success which allows them to live lavishly while he continues to live in a mud hut. I found this an excellent contrast and reinforced why not all investments need to produce a profit. As Moses’ character develops he loses his humble personality becomes absorbed with making a profit and as a result, he alienates himself from family and friends. Eventually, Kenya begins stimulating its own economy with less sustainable revenue sources. McKay makes it clear that Kenya is now adopting the same wasteful nature Moses saw in America. Ultimately Kenya’s rapid urbanization causes conflict amongst the villagers, the impact results in the loss of the supportive community that once existed. It is issues such as the burden of disease and socioeconomic success that urge the reader to think beyond the words on the page and consider how the actions of …show more content…
What I learned stirred emotion in my heart. At first, I felt that I the idea of making a change would be an insurmountable task, however, I realized that like most, I am looking at the big picture. Critiquing this book from a global health perspective has helped me realize that we are all interconnected and that even small acts of information sharing can make a difference. Reading this novel helped me to expand several core values and beliefs I developed as a child. If you are going to help someone, do not just teach them the skills to be successful, teach them how to manage their success. Show them the importance of living within their means and the dangers of living in excess. Money is a powerful object, it has the power to build greatness but it also has the ability to destroy all that you