Soul Full of Coal Dust is a good book by author Chris Hamby.
Urgent and devastating investigative journalism, Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hamby explores the tragic resurgence of black lung disease in Appalachia, the Big Coal cover-up, and resilient mining communities refused to back down.

Decades ago, a grassroots uprising forced Congress to enact long overdue legislation designed to virtually eliminate black lung disease and fairly compensate coal miners. sick. Both promises have yet to be fulfilled. Disease levels have increased, old scourge has taken on an aggressive new form, and ailing miners and widows have been left behind by a dizzying legal system, denied even modest payments and medical care.

In this urgent piece of investigative journalism, Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hamby follows the unforgettable story of how these trends converged in the lives of two men: Gary Fox, a coal miner. in West Virginia with black lungs determined to lift his family out of poverty, and John Cline, an idealistic carpenter and rural health clinic worker turned lawyer in his 50s.

Opposing them are the lawyers at a law firm specializing in the coal industry; well-certified physicians who often consider defense, including the elite Johns Hopkins unit; and Gary’s former owner, Massey Energy, a regional energy conglomerate run by a tough CEO often portrayed in the media as a dark lord of the coal mines. The crux of Gary and John’s long legal battle is the fundamentals of fairness and justice, with consequences for miners and their loved ones across the country.

Bringing listeners into courtrooms, hospitals, homes hidden in Appalachian recesses and dusty mine tunnels, Hamby exposes how coal companies not only repeatedly break laws aimed at protecting miners. from deadly dust but also enlisted reputable doctors and lawyers to help systematically deny much-needed benefits to miners. The result is a legal and medical thriller that brilliantly illuminates how a group of workers — aided by a small group of lawyers, doctors, and advocates. lay people, often working outside their homes or in rural clinics and small offices — challenged one of the world’s challenges. Mightiest force, Big Coal, and win.

This is a good follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize-winning articles by the Center for Public Integrity. Chris Hamby tells us how some lawyers and some doctors were able to avoid paying benefits to miners who later died prematurely. Enhanced safety measures have been taken because of this book.

In this remarkable book, Hamby exposes a system of fraud — orchestrated by wealthy corporate lawyers, radiologists at one of America’s most prestigious university hospitals, and ruthless coal company — refused to subsidize miners with black lung disease. Hamby deservedly won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the subject. Now, he tells the “story behind the story” through a coal mining attorney south of WV and a coal mine roof repairman. You can tell that Camby cares about the miners and their families he writes about. Story David vs. This goliath is infuriating, fascinating, and inspiring. It has the sound of “A Civil Action” by Harr. Highly recommended!

• Soul Full of Coal Dust

• A Fight for Breath and Justice in Appalachia
• By: Chris Hamby

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