Book excerpt: THE BOOK TAKES A GLIMPSE OF HEALTH CARE ISSUES FROM THE AUTHORS PERSPECTIVE DURING HIS FORMATIVE YEARS, HIS YEARS IN PRACTICE, AND WHAT HE CALLS THE CURRENT DARK WALLS OF MEDICINE----- AS WE HAVE SOME 47 MILLION AMERICANS WITHOUT HEALTH CARE INSURANCE, NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO ARE UNDERINSURED, THE RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE, AND HOW THESE SITUATIONS HAVE LED TO HIS STRONG BELIEF THAT WE NEED AN OVERHAUL IN THE WAY HEALTH CARE IS DELIVERED IN THIS NATION. THE AUTHOR SETS FORTH A PROPOSAL THAT HE FEELS WOULD ALLOW FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR ALL, WHILE ENSURING QUALITY AND COST EFFECTIVE SERVICES. HE TAKES A LOOK AT HOW HEALTH CARE IS DELIVERED IN OTHER NATIONS AS WELL. FINALLY HE LOVES AMERICA AND BELIEVES THAT WE CAN, AS A NATION, CONTINUE TO BE THE LEADER IN HEALTHCARE IN THE WORLD.