Dissecting Antismokers' Brains [Paperback]

Michael J. McFadden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2004

"Dissecting Antismokers' Brains" is a blend of hard science, linguistic analysis, humor, and easy reading that most readers will find irresistible, whether they smoke or not.

A table filled with numbers describing the chemical content of tobacco smoke is followed by the comment that to get a day's Recommended Daily Allowance of cholesterol an individual would have to sit in a room with smokers for over 600 years. The author goes on to recommend a good prime rib instead.

The scary picture of our minds being sculpted by those with money and power is softened by the image of a National Guardsman facing down a pack of Virginia Slims with a loaded M-16.

And the statistics that always seem so fearful when one opens a scientific journal are pared down, explained, and presented in such a way that anyone with the beginnings of a high school education will feel comfortable with them rather than daunted by them.

The various "types" of Antismokers and their motivations are analyzed carefully, and sometimes quite disturbingly, as the author builds the base for his meticulous examination of their arguments. "Dissection" is indeed an appropriate word for what one will find in these pages, but it's "Dissection" with an undercurrent of personal touch and humor that does indeed make it an irresistible read.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a very real concern about the anti-smoking politicians and others who continue to trample on freedom. -- CNSNews.com, 11/07/03, Alan Caruba.

One of the most definitive works to expose the truth behind this battle between personal freedom and the antismoker(s) -- Freedom-Of-Choice.com

Scientifically factual... well written... couldn't put it down. If there is one book to read this year, this is it. -- Journal of Theoretics, Feb/Mar 2004, Dr. Siepmann, Editor.

This book says what has been nagging all rational minds for nearly two decades. -- Indivsov.org, Robert Lundy

incredibly readable for the amount of information it has: you'll almost feel sometimes like you're reading a page-turning novel -- SmokersClub.com Newsletter, Samantha Phillipe, Editor

From the Publisher

Dissecting Antismokers' Brains is a book that is unique in look, feel, and content. So unique in content that the style of the cover itself was dictated by the need to focus a book browser's attention sharply on the three word title. Most Americans today will simply naturally assume that any book they see with a reference to smoking in the title is simply going to be another entry among the hundreds of titles attacking tobacco and its use.

Dissecting Antismokers' Brains is actually the polar opposite to that: Mr. McFadden, trained in statistics and propaganda analysis, rips apart the attack of the "Antismoking Crusade" on smokers by showing the weakness of their arguments and numbers, the deceit of their styles of argument, and the real psychological drives, sometimes quite neurotically based, that power some of the Crusade's leaders.

The author has succeeded in writing a book that is quite readable, funny at times, compelling in the path that it weaves through its chapters, and yet full of hard-based research and references to back up all the claims made. It will fill a niche that is currently almost empty for college courses seeking to analyze the social debate raging around smoking bans and professors search for literate and substantive material presenting "the other side" of the smoking debate; and it will also be well thumbed-through and discussed at local taverns on slow afternoons as bartenders and customers keep an eye out for the new breed of "Smoke Police" that now prowl some of our major cities.

Overall, other than some of the "Antismokers" analyzed in the book, few will be disappointed by "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains" and most will find it an unusually informative and enjoyable experience.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Aethna Press, Inc.; 1st edition (May 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974497908
• ISBN-13: 978-0974497907
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,162,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn What the Antismoker's are really about., May 18, 2004

By 

J. Siepmann - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dissecting Antismokers' Brains (Paperback)

I just finished reading the "Dissecting AntiSmokers' Brains" and I not only found it to be scientifically correct and logical, but also fun to read. In fact, I ordered 10 more to give out to those I know that may be interested.

It was very timely for me as our city (Oshkosh, WI) has recently been pushed into a smoking ban due to a group of antismokers comprised of most of the nine personality types that you describe. Though I do not smoke, I find this threat upon our freedoms truly frightening. The website www.freedom-of-choice.com summarizes this book more extensively with quotes and a more indepth analysis. If the general public knew about this book and how good it is, it would be on any best-seller list.

James P. Siepmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Theoretics

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SHS lies exposed, the air is finallly cleared! Anne Ayotte, March 2, 2005

By 

Anne D. Ayotte, Canada (Ontario) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dissecting Antismokers' Brains (Paperback)

This book has changed my life dramatically. I was deceived by all the misinformation surrounding SHS even though I realized that things just did not add up, I had no proof.

Thanks to Dissecting Antismokers' Brains I now feel totally vindicated and the sense of guilt from this pleasure is pretty much erased. The book is straight forward, thoughtful and well orgnaized. It states all the facts which are easily verified and when you are finished you find yourself wanting more.

When non-smokers read this book they, rightfully so, are outraged to discover that they have been used as pawns in a power stuggle by an elite group of people who are making millions from this. Factor in drug companies making millions from nicotine replacement products and most media outlets threatened with monetary loss if anything positive can be said about SHS and you have the biggest social lie of this generation.

What is happening right now in the free world is nothing short of criminal, akin to organized crime at it's best. Antismoking groups have no real evidence against SHS, just half-truths and outright lies through manipulation. This is racketeering on a world wide scale and most are unaware of this. The newly approved smoking treaty which just came into effect now holds third world countries as hostages who must comply or else. This is extortion and a violation of basic human rights!

We are all victims of these groups whose main goals are power and money but the biggest victims of all are our children. While money, time, media hype and other resources have been wasted on the BIG LIE the use of drugs and alcohol has sky rocketed in young people, STD rates continue to soar and poverty continues to rise. Antismoking groups are apathetic to these REAL problems while continuing to manufacture false data to reap in even more money. These are taxpayers dollars being wasted while freedom of choice is being stripped away.

Finally, for those of you wondering, I am independant of any tobacco companies or other interest groups in this area. I have never met Michael nor have I even had a conversation with him. This book stands on it's own merits, more than I can say for anything published by the antismokers. Read it, you will be amazed and you will even get a few chuckles from his light humour injected throughout. When you are finished send it to someone with some real political clout, someone who will ask the hard questions and expose these criminals for who they really are.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book!, May 2, 2004

By 

Samantha Phillipe (Center Conway, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dissecting Antismokers' Brains (Paperback)

He attacks the spin and propaganda used by those trying to eradicate smoking from the face of the earth and while doing so he takes pains to avoid falling into the trap of using the same methods himself: his style is simple and direct, no fancy pictures or mind-games, just facts supporting his arguments.

Overall his book is incredibly readable for the amount of information it packs into its 370 pages: you'll almost feel at times like you're reading a page-turning novel rather than a serious work of non-fiction aimed at a modern social problem. In an email exchange I had with him while writing this review, Mr. McFadden declared his belief that, if he could get copies of the book into every college course dealing with the social debate over smoking, and a copy sitting on the bar of every tavern threatened with a smoking ban, the outrage felt by those readers would provide the impetus needed to fight what has become a very powerful lobby.

After reading Dissecting Antismokers' Brains I think I would have to agree with the author on that point.