The U.S. is the most medically innovative country in the world, and these innovations are responsible for saving and improving the lives of countless patients. Three instructive new books acknowledge both the U.S. health care system’s existing achievements, and its government-induced defects. A common free market theme among these books means foreseeable overlap, even from chapter to chapter. But differences among them considerably distinguish their approach on health care reform.

The authors of Lives At Risk aim primarily to discredit single payer, national health care. Healthy Competition advocates absolute, free enterprise health care. Healthy, Wealthy and Wise supports more competition in health care, but can’t completely let go of government’s hand. This review attempts to emphasize the admirable aspects of these reform guides, and expose their limits.

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