Environmental Cancer-A Political Disease? [Paperback]

Professor S. Robert Lichter (Author), Stanley Rothman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0300076347 | ISBN-13: 978-0300076349 | Publication Date: February 8, 1999 | Edition: 1

In this provocative book, S. Robert Lichter and Stanley Rothman examine the controversies surrounding environmental cancer and place them in historical perspective. Then, drawing on surveys of cancer researchers and environmental activists, they reveal that there are sharp differences between the two groups' viewpoints on environmental cancer. Despite these differences, a further comparison - between the views of the two groups and the content of television and newspaper accounts over a two-decade period - shows that press reports most frequently cite the views of environmental activists as if they were the views of the scientific community. These findings cast doubt on the objectivity of the news media and environmental activists. And, the authors conclude, misplaced fears about the risks of environmental cancer have seriously distorted public policy and priorities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Environmental Cancer: A Political Disease does a tremendous service in separating fact from fiction. The authors ... show how out of touch the activists and "media elite" often are. -- The Wall Street Journal, Michael Fumento

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1 edition (February 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300076347
• ISBN-13: 978-0300076349
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Health Risk Assessment

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Facts, Not Fear, February 2, 2008

By 

Rf Brich "Duke of Nuke" (Pierre, SD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Environmental Cancer-A Political Disease? (Paperback)

Fear of the unknown is perhaps one of the greatest fears mankind faces. Environmental activists capitalize on that fear; and, magnified by media, especially Main Stream Media, congress reacts creating laws which lead to regulations leveled on industry that far exceed the risk they purport to control. Meanwhile the greatest cancer risks involve lifestyle, free choices made by free people apparently oblivious to, or uncaring, about the risks they subject themselves to on an everyday basis.

With clarity and brevity the authors describe their research regarding the causes of cancer in Americans and compare the opinion of experts (defined as cancer researchers) to those of environmental activists, the media and the public. In all cases the opinions of the experts are diametrically opposed to those of the activitsts which mirror the media's portrayal of the cancer risks Americans face.

The authors concisely lay out their premise and describe the replicable research they did to arrive at the conclusion that Environmental Cancer is indeed a political disease. This book is must reading for anyone trying to understand the basics of cancer risk in America and the implications of continuing to regulate based on fear not facts.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars not scientific and taken out of context, November 22, 2008

By 

amity "a.l." (los angeles, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Environmental Cancer-A Political Disease? (Paperback)

these two authors are pretty radical right-wing non-scientists who distort facts and use them out of context to "support" their views. i read this book back in college in an environmental politics class. the prof wanted us to read it to understand the other side - the purpose was for students to realise that such arguments against environmentalists are not sound and this book can be classified under fiction.

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely not a bedtime reading ;), April 18, 2000

By 

A. Gunawan "ironwill" (Indonesia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Environmental Cancer-A Political Disease? (Paperback)

This is a good book to be criticized. To understand what Lichter and Rothman wrote, I need to read this book sentence by sentence. If you read this book, DO NOT forget to read the footnote, because without reading the footnote you could misinterpret the content of this book. Their writing styles will make you need a special time to read this book.