This book is a must for everyone concerned about how chemicals have affected food, health and the environment. The easy-going style and personal anecdotes make for pleasurable reading about policies and attitudes for the future.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It made me feel happy and healthy,
By "alison_grant" (San Rafael, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Happy & Healthy in a Chemical World (Paperback)
This little book is a gem! It is fast and easy to read and full of interesting information. The next time I open a newspaper, go to the grocery store, look at a farm, or a thousand other things, I will do so armed with the confidence and knowledge I need to understand the chemicals around me. After reading this book, I feel better about myself and the world we all live in. Read it, you will too.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Accessible overview,
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This review is from: Happy & Healthy in a Chemical World (Paperback)
Sweeney has written an accessible book that seems self-published. He seems unpretentious, a Canadian chemist who decided to write straight-talk about some chemical scares. He draws on arcane journal articles and books so as to craft a short book for citizens who would like to know how to interpret warnings about chemical exposures that they may encounter in the media or on food labels. This seems offered as a public service.
Sweeney's book is a handy, valuable introduction to many topics: MTBE; sillicone; pesticides; CFCs; alfatoxin; detergents; hormones, and others. He cites useful references, enabling the reader to learn more. Examples of poisons that are natural constituents of edible vegetables and fruits are enlightening. Sweeney indicates that he spent a career as a research scientist working for manufacturers (plastics, detergents, fuels, paper) and he holds patents. This seems a relevant acknowledgement, though it could bolster his credibility, had he provided still more specificity. Transparency is a good thing. The book also could have used editorial fine-tuning to correct a few writing errors. Sweeney reports pesticide use "per pound of produce has dropped"; it would have been helpful if this statement were supported by a footnote. He reports: "the newer pesticides are not persistent - their residues disappear (70)." Yet, it is more likely environmental scientists simply do not analyze for current pesticides, to foster the cheery myth of nondetectable residues, which Sweeney endorses. In so doing, he conveniently accepts the idea of a few naughty substances so as to divert attention from other traces that would be detected, if analyzed. He may know better, but may aim to balance the traditional myopic fear regarding synthetic substances. Sweeney speaks about contentious topics gently, with skepticism, candor, and a big picture perspective. He is not lost in meaningless techno-jargon, upon which many chemical scares rely. Sweeney has spent some of his retirement going to the trouble to write what he has learned. While some opinions are not conveyed with sufficient detail to accept as is, I admire the author's civic-minded intent. His little book holds much common-sense. At the same time, it seems a bit of a lost opportunity that he has not provided more rigorous footnotes, such that his manuscript could be submitted to a scientific publisher. An informal printing, such as this one, can cause some readers to doubt the credibility of Sweeney's intentions and evidence. Here is to hoping that he can find colleagues to help him take his views to a higher plane of argument. For a more rigorous book, consider "ecofacts and ecofictions" by Baarschers' (Routledge press). Sweeney does not refer to Baarschers book, so it plausible the two have arrived at many similar perspectives independently. Or you could consider "The Consumer's Good Chemical Guide" by the accomplished writer John Emsley (W.H. Freeman). Emsley is quite readable and prolific, having spent decades as a writer on chemistry while affiliated with several English universities.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A look at environmental chemistry without the jargon,
By Judson E. Goodrich, PhD (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Happy & Healthy in a Chemical World (Paperback)
This book is a clear, concise discussion of chemicals in the environment, both natural and man made. Everyone, from the high school student to the professional scientist will find fascinating tidbits of information and some genuine surprises. It should help allay the anxiety of those who fear mankind is swimming in a deadly sea of toxic man made chemicals and the earth is heading for an environmental holocaust. I highly recommend this book.
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