Breaking Ground

I have always known that Lou Sullivan was an outstanding head of Health and Human Services and a valued member of my White House team. I am convinced we are a healthier nation still today because of some of the issues Lou brought to the table with so much passion and determination; I paid attention. But I don’t think I really appreciated the man Louis Sullivan is until I read Breaking Ground. He is a true American hero, and Barbara and I are proud we have played a small part in his life’s journey.

In this dramatic and revealing memoir that takes us from the segregated backwoods of Georgia to the founding of the nation’s premier African American medical school and the cabinet of President George H. W. Bush, Lou Sullivan shows how commitment, courage, a sense of humor, and a passion for health promotion and disease prevention can make life better for all Americans.

Lou Sullivan’s life story offers a compelling chronicle of how vision and perseverance can overcome daunting obstacles. Sullivan is a genuine American hero, and his life stands as a testament to how devotion to the service of others can breech any barrier and ascend any height.

Louis Sullivan proved that when leadership is rooted in compassion and exercised with courage, it can be a powerful source of change. This book provides insight into his personal roots, his professional drive, and his historic decisions.

Lou Sullivan has always believed that addressing the health requirements of the country’s neediest—its minorities and poor—will bring the greatest benefit to society as a whole. That was the theme of his tenure as secretary, and that has been the impact of the medical school he founded. In this book he writes with clarity, passion, and humor about the life he has led and the issues that dominate our current health care debates.

One of the first of the civil rights generation to achieve national distinction, Sullivan is an engaging narrator as well as a passionate advocate for his beloved Morehouse and a variety of public health initiatives, particularly expanding medical education for African Americans. Sullivan is an outstanding example of a 'Morehouse man' who has made a difference; this narrative of his life and legacy will entertain and inspire.

* Library Journal *

This book is an inspiration and insightful storyabout a man whose tireless work makes theworld a healthier place.

* Pure Politics *

Dr. Sullivan has made remarkable strides in expanding medical education, increasing opportunities for African Americans, and improving the health of the nation. This autobiography is a fascinating glimpse of the journey from segregation to recognition as a national leader for health care education and reform.

* Georgia Library Quarter