Smoke Screen: The Truth Behind the Tobacco-Industry Cover-Up [Hardcover]

Philip J. Hilts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0788157345 | ISBN-13: 978-0788157349

A full expose of the tobacco industry's 40 year war on the health of every American. The secrets, denials, delaying tactics, & out-right lies that the tobacco industry has foisted on us all are documented in this by turns shocking, fascinating, & infuriating page turner, as Hilts unravels what may be the most deceitful & deadly marketing campaign in history. Cuts right to the heart of what has enraged the American public. The clearest statement he heard from RJR executives came in a Q&A period at a sales meeting. Someone asked who the youngsters were that were being targeted, jr. high school kids, or younger? The reply 'They got lips? We want 'em.'

Editorial Reviews

Review

There are so many aspects to the controversies surrounding cigarettes and smoking that it will take a number of books to clear the air. Two recent titles [both reviewed in BKL Ap 1 96] include Richard Kluger's Ashes to Ashes, a survey of the history of tobacco and the social aspects of smoking from the perspective of Philip Morris, and Stanton Glantz's The Cigarette Papers, a study of the incriminating internal documents purloined from the Brown & Williamson (B & W) Tobacco Company. As a result of these books, Addison-Wesley has moved forward publication of Hilts' story, which documents decades of corporate deceit. As science and health writer for the New York Times, Hilts first broke the incredible story of intrigue behind the B & W papers, and he elaborates on that here. He begins this account in 1953, when the public first learned of a possible link between cancer and cigarettes. He shows how tobacco companies mislead the public, adulterate their product, target the young, and intimidate critics. The issue of smoking aside, Hilts' is a troubling look at the abuses of corporate power. --Booklist

Product Details

• Hardcover: 253 pages
• Publisher: Gramercy Books (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0788157345
• ISBN-13: 978-0788157349
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,861,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Good journalism, really helped me, May 29, 2008

By 

Benjamin Drasin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smoke Screen: The Truth Behind the Tobacco-Industry Cover-Up (Hardcover)

I found this book at the library while I was quitting smoking and read it over a few days. The writer clearly has deep contempt and hatred for the tobacco industry, so if you are looking for a detached objective look you won't find it here. It made me very motivated to quit smoking so I have to give it five stars :-)

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Frightful., June 24, 2007

By 

Calamity Jane - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smoke Screen: The Truth Behind the Tobacco-Industry Cover-Up (Hardcover)

Hilts holds up to the light what the tobacco industry kept hidden in the darkest of places. Hilts explains how they, the tobacco industry, target our youth. They (tobacco industry) know that to get people hooked on tobacco, they must introduce them to tobacco before they hit the 18 - 21 age. If people aren't smoking by the time they reach 21 they aren't likely to start.

It takes 3 years of smoking before the user becomes addicted to nicotine. Big tobacco panders to the 13 - 15 age, knowing that those kids will be hooked and faithful to their product by the time they're 18.

I don't even have the time to list all the ways the tobacco industry plays mindgames with our youth. If the children don't take up smoking the industry will die shortly after their current customers die.

Hilts explains how they lowered the "tar" and increased the nicotine, while hawking the low-tar product as "safer".

This is a frightening book.

It begs one major question.

How can any industry knowingly kill millions of people in the past, conspire to kill millions more in the future, yet not be charged with Murder in the First Degree?

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Merchants of death exposed in somewhat tedious detail, June 26, 2001

By 

Patrick E. Clarke "msgclarke7" (Rockville, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smoke Screen: The Truth Behind the Tobacco-Industry Cover-Up (Hardcover)

Philip Hilts has an ax to grind and he does so with determination. However, the writing tends to be repitious, pedantic and just plaing boring. There are some lively parts, particularly the testimony he includes from Jeffrey Wigand, which the movie "The Insider" was based on. The skillful deceit of the tobacco companies is also fully exposed and some parts are fascinating. If only he wouldn't keep making the same points over and over. Basically, if anyone if doing a paper on smoking as an addiction this book would be a good reference.