Customer Reviews

The Emperor Wears No Clothes: The Authoritative Historical Record of Cannabis and the Conspiracy Against Marijuana

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book's strength is its easy readability, a fact that should be stressed. Too often books dealing with the subject of drugs are either too dry and scientific or to New Age and flower child. While this book does focus on the positive aspects of marijuana usage (sometimes to border on "hippyish") I feel it does so in a way that does not alienate those who might be nervous about reading drug-positive literature.

First, let's use the words cannabis or hemp instead of marijuana - as the author suggests - and second, let's get this book out to everyone over the age of 15 or 16. Parents, before you talk with your kids about "marijuana", read this book! Why? This book is not about "sparking a bowl" and getting high: This book uses facts and common sense to explain the history of cannabis and its uses (which are far more than medicinal), what cannabis has done and can do for humanity, and the governmental/commercial conspiracy against cannabis (and its advocates) in the US. The recreational use of hemp is but one facet of this informative book.

"The Emperor Wears No Clothes" changed my life. The lies and propaganda we Americans have been fed about cannabis (particularly in recent generations) is not only astounding but sickening, and Jack Herer necessarily shines a bright light into the dark recesses of our nation's cannabis hypocrisy.

Although some of the historical data can be called into question, the essential claims of this book remain unrefuted by the disinformation campaigns of the anti-marijuana lobby. Herer shatters cannabis myths; he shows, with hard data that: pot has absolutely no toxicity to human tissues; pot has anti-carcinogenic properties; the tar, although greater in proportion than tobacco, is completely water-soluble; smoking marijuana shortly after having a stroke prevents the swelling of the brain -- and consequently much of the brain damage and loss of function associated with strokes.

This huge collection of generously illustrated historical material is a lot of fun; with the humorous tone of the narration that runs throughout, you almost forget the magnitude of the harm this long-running Drug War has caused to society. But it is all documented here: the many-thousand-year history of hemp; its recent fall from grace due to racism, puritanism, and business-government corruption; the enormous damage from Prohibition; the numerous potential benefits; and the support for legalization from many, many respected public figures. Oversized and colorful, this comprehensive book makes an excellent present and introduction to hemp re-legalization.

This is the only reference book you'll need for the myriad uses of cannabis (fuel, varnish, food, medicine, recreation, soap, and more). Every environmentalist, patient, doctor, lawmaker, and citizen concerned with freedom and access to accurate information should read this book. True, Herer is not a historian, but possible inaccuracies about hemp's use in medieval and ancient religious history do not negate the central premise of this book, which is that it's ludicrous to jail people for the sale and use of this plant. Herer draws information from clinical studies of smokers that include thousands of people in several countries (U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, Holland, Jamaica, Greece, etc.) over three decades. These studies, from 1969 to 2000, were conducted by MDs, PhDs, and medical anthropologists. Much of these studies were commissioned by the federal government for the purpose of FINDING harmful effects of cannabis. At the same time, Herer shows that many of the cell culture and animal studies either cannot be extrapolated to humans or are outright distortions. He also exposes the political ties and dubious research methods of the most noted anti-cannabis scientists, Heath and Nahas. (For example, Columbia University disassociated themselves from Nahas and he had to recant many of his metabolite studies.) The proceedings from 1930's congressional hearings to criminalize marijuana are transcribed here--they'll make you laugh, but they'll also make you mad. Finally, this is not just a reference book but a call to action, as Herer lists several hemp businesses you can support. People, how does it make you feel that politicians are deciding what medicine, fiber, fuel, food, and pleasure we should have access to? Whether you're a smoker or not, buy this book, spread the word, and make a real difference.

I wrote 10 Foolish Fortune Hunters not only to tell the true story of a marijuana grower but to present an environmental theme via dramatic action.I started researching hemp in detail after deciding to do my book promotion radio talk shows around the legalization of hemp farming.Now that I have read The Emperor Wears No Clothes, I know it is the only book I need to fuel these talk shows. What I find most interesting in the book is the way William Randolph Hearst manipulated the American public so that we would illegalize the farming of hemp. He had his newspapers print articles on a car accident where a marijuana cigarette was found at the scene. This was one car accident, mind you.He never bothered to print the thousands of alcohol related car accidents. Hearst, you see, was worried that hemp paper would become a standard in the newspaper industry. Rightly so, because it was a better quality paper and cheaper to use. He had millions invested in the timber industry and couldn't afford to let this happen. This is the kind of manipulation occurring more and more by those in power. This is the source of the great hemp lie and this is what we need to convey to the public. Hurrah Jack Herer!

I can't begin to explain how this book has changed my life. I was your typical closet marijuana advocate, afraid to talk to anyone about this subject, until I read this book. Jack Herer (and his many friends and associates) have opened my eyes to the HUGE conspiracy that has ruined the lives of 700,000 American citizens a year. I never knew that Hemp had so many uses...and I now believe that it COULD save the world, but we must get this message out. Read this book, and recommend it to every person you know - smoker or not.

This is the easiest to read, most fascinating introduction into the world's most unique and useful plant. "Cannabis Sativa" means literally "most useful" in Latin and Herer shows, carefully referencing his claims with scientific studies, how this much maligned plant has been used by every major culture throughout history and holds the capacity to remake our industrialized and polluting societies into fully sustainable natural systems. Hemp can make textiles, food, fuel, cosmetics, building materials, solvents and paper and Herer demonstrates clearly that entrenched business interests conspired in the 1930's to make hemp illegal by associating it with marijuana and discrediting the latter. Herer is the proverbial child in the story of "The Emporer's New Clothes", tearing the mask off decades of misinformation and corruption that has resulted in the poisoning of the planet. A "must read" for anyone concerned about public health, the environment or the role of government in people's private lives.

This book is a must read for those interested in reforming todays marijuana laws. Jack Herer's passion and dedication to this cause is reflected throughout this book simply with the overwhelming amount of facts and research involved to support his (and many of ours) belief that this crop is one of the most under-rated resources in the world. For those of you interested in learning about the value of hemp and marijuana take the time to read this book.

This is a very good legalization pot book and was one of the first to really break through the scene. There is lots of facts here to get through and lots of oddball type stories that you will enjoy. This is what makes the book unique. All these strange but true stories about hemp.

Some here are asking questions about the whole conclusions that Jack Herer draws. The truth is that he is confused about the difference between government modified Hemp, unmodified hemp and Drug based cannabis cultivars. If you really want to know more about those differences then you need a grow book. I recommend The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green for that. It has an Issues section in the back that deals with these topics of question. But remember Jack Herer wrote this book in an era of information suppression and so it was hard to find out everything that he wanted to know.

This book has spawned countless other legalization books. Yes it does appear almost cartoonish or tabloidish but the facts are all here. In the end it is a very good book about pot laws and political corruption which asks all the right questions.

No one has ever died from using cannabis. That is not a bad fact to know at all.

This book is a must read for every citizen of the United States. The United States is driving people to drink and cannabis would be a much better and safer alternative to alcohol. Jack Herer's book is highly entertaining and very informative and presented in an extremely interesting format. Read this book and pass it on. Spread the word. This book should be on the number one best seller list.