The Bookshelf: May 26, 2015

Trib+Health is joining with respected books authority Kirkus Reviews to bring you select reviews of books of note in the field of health care. For more book reviews and recommendations, visit Kirkus.com.

COMPROMISED: The Affordable Care Act and Politics of Defeat

by Brendan W. Williams

Debut author Williams was a three-term Democratic state representative and the deputy to the insurance commissioner of Washington state, so he’s well-positioned to write a book about the creation, passage, and aftermath of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. … Williams walks readers through the labyrinth of political compromises that ultimately diluted the original reformist spirit of the ACA and, in his view, rendered it a dubious achievement. His analysis is consistently rigorous, and it’s particularly strong when it turns to complex issues such as state-run health insurance exchanges. … Overall, Williams’ examination might prove too wonkish for average readers ... But for those who want a detailed investigation into the internal machinations of the ACA, this is a well-documented assessment.

For full review, visit kirkus.com