False Alarm: The Truth about the Epidemic of Fear [Paperback]

Marc Siegel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006

Life today for citizens of the developed world is safer, easier, and healthier than for any other people in history thanks to modern medicine, science, technology, and intelligence. So why is an epidemic of fear sweeping America? The answer, according to nationally renowned health commentator Dr. Marc Siegel, is that we live in an artificially created culture of fear. In False Alarm, Siegel identifies three major catalysts of the culture of fear—government, the media, and big pharma. With fascinating, blow-by-blow analyses of the most sensational false alarms of the past few years, he shows how these fearmongers manipulate our most primitive instincts—often without our even realizing it. False Alarm shows us how to look behind the hype and hysteria, inoculate ourselves against fear tactics, and develop the emotional and intellectual skills needed to take back our lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

[Signature]Reviewed by Bob KerreyI write these words on the very day that multiple bombings occurred on London's transit system. It is hard not to feel personally threatened, particularly when the aftermath becomes the focus of worldwide attention and nonstop media coverage. And therein, unfortunately, lies the power of such destruction, as the terrorists well know.After such news, we are reminded yet again of the fragility of life and the depth of love we feel for friends and family. We offer grave concern and heartfelt prayers for the dead and injured. We vow to find better ways to heighten security. We do what we can to calm ourselves and not be overtaken by fear physiology.In these days of great uncertainty, it is reassuring to learn that some of our worst-case scenarios will not necessarily come true. Such is the premise of Dr. Siegel's False Alarm.To put alarmist tendencies in perspective: over 58,000 soldiers died or were missing in action in Vietnam; on average over one million people are killed annually—and another 50 million injured—in traffic accidents around the world. In the United States, traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 35.Though it is little consolation to anyone understandably concerned about their loved ones in today's climate, it is nonetheless true that the likelihood of being involved in a terrorist incident is remarkably low. One is more likely to get killed crossing the street.Affected as we all were by the events of September 11, and subsequently inspired to study "the process by which dangers were manufactured and provoked," Siegel has compiled a remarkable response to what he calls our "newfound vulnerability" and the "ongoing doom-and-gloom of the daily news."The title of Siegel's exploration, False Alarm, is a powerful, provocative and well-chosen oxymoron. Highly qualified and deeply motivated, Siegel has conducted an intensive and much needed study of the ramifications of living in a time of pervasive fear, when we are constantly threatened with the prospect of biological and/or nuclear warfare.With so much attention paid to that which we cannot control, it is easy to lose sight of, and neglect, behavioral and lifestyle choices that clearly impact the quality of our lives. In addition, important, global health issues tend to get swept under the rug, while hysteria multiplies. Legitimate concerns go unaddressed, and valuable resources are wasted.Siegel has done us a great service. His thorough research illuminates the biological, political, psychological and sociological facets of this important topic, and offers an alternative to the current landscape of perpetual high drama and pathological fear. I enthusiastically endorse his efforts, and urge readers to take his message to heart. This is a terrific and groundbreaking book. (Aug. 26)Bob Kerrey is president of The New School, a former governor and senator from Nebraska, and member of the 9/11 Commission.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Anthrax, vaccine shortages, and SARS, oh my! Americans have been pummeled with an endless series of apparent threats. Siegel makes a passionate argument that the only thing we have to fear is, indeed, our own paranoia. Reason, he says, is the best vaccination for this epidemic." ("Psychology Today, September/October 2005)

"Marc Siegel tries to reduce the hysteria quotient with a straightforward recitation of facts and statistics. Recalling the famous Orson Welles broadcast of "The War of the Worlds," Siegel tries all too sensibly (and one suspects futilely) to assess risk accurately and respond only to "plausible" threats such as the vulnerability of our container ships or "loose nukes" in former Soviet republics." (Benamin Barber, "Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2005)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470053844
• ISBN-13: 978-0470053843
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,089,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Living in history, living in reality September 6, 2005

By FrKurt Messick HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

We live in a media-saturated culture, and that media is increasingly given to exploiting the most fantastic, the most gruesome, and the most dire in an effort to get ratings. If it bleeds, it leads. Similar impulses tend to dominate political speech - rhetoric for calling people to war on terrorism, war on drugs, war on whatever the 'glamour' issue is can tend toward the worst-case scenario being heightened as the most likely occurrence. However, the truth is that the worst case scenario rarely happens, and even when it does, it pales by a realistic comparison to the way the world is as a whole.

For example, author Marc Siegel discusses the media and popular panic over the outbreak of SARS - one would think that this is the next worldwide pandemic just waiting to break, and public and governmental pressure was brought to bear to deal with this. In reality, few people died from SARS, it turned out that SARS was not that infectious, and in fact more people die of the regular flu virus annually than did of SARS. This is but one example of how we as a culture tend to get distracted by a high-profile issue.

The fear of people in the West about terrorism is a similar false alarm, in Siegel's estimation. It is still true that one is far more likely to get killed or injured in traffic accidents or workplace accidents than by any terrorism related; to devote one's resources (physical and psychological) toward an event unlikely to happen to the exclusion of dealing with the likely events is a problem our society increasingly faces.

Siegel's plea is that we as a society and as a global community pay attention to those things that are more likely to happen (even if they aren't glamourous and don't play well in front of the camera) and not spend all our time and resources on the things we cannot change - a bit like the serenity prayer writ large (change the things we can, accept the things we can't, and have the wisdom to know the difference).

This is an important book.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reality check August 20, 2005

By mwest

Format:Hardcover

Yea, we're all afraid of terrorism, diseases, death, and violence... but who would have guessed that the real threat to our health was the fear impulse spurred on by these nebulous and rare events? This book introduces us to the real stories behind the terrors - a welcome message in the midst of alarmist media and drug company marketing ploys. Siegel masterfully introduces us to the reality of the situation, and reminds us of the real issues that Americans face today - a message sorely missed and needed in our culture. An excellent read - and a welcome relief - for anyone living in today's culture of mass media sound bites and goverment issued terror alerts.

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing Rationality to Our Emotionality September 8, 2005

By Robert W. Kellemen

Format:Hardcover

Dr. Marc Siegel teaches us that something has gone wildly wrong with our national psyche when we begin to believe that if something could possibly happen, then it is likely to happen. This epidemic of fear, as Siegel exposes, is often market driven--if it bleeds it leads, if it smells it sells.

Two primary negative results flow from the false alarm syndrome. First, we place all our national energy, money, and resources into emotionally hyped issues that provide little bang for the buck. Second, the chicken little, the sky is falling phenomenon causes us to become cynical about real warnings. The tragedy of ten of thousands refusing to evacuate the gulf coast during Katrina is proof positive of this negative result.

Reading this book should alert all of us to our need to stay alert. We must think for ourselves, and not let politicians and the self-serving media drive us into overdrive. We need to bring rationality to our emotionality. "False Alarm" offers the intellectual medicine and emotional prescription necessary to return us to national mental health.

Reviewer: Dr. Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming, "Beyond the Suffering."