What are the real dangers, if any, toxic chemicals, the greenhouse effect, microwave radiation, nuclear power, air travel, automobile travel, carcinogens of all kinds, and other threats to our peace of mind?
Risks seem to abound in our everyday lives, especially the risks flowing from the explosion of our modern technology, with its pesticides, pollution, nuclear power, microwave radiation and chemical trace elements in food of all kinds. Two questions face all of us: how real are these risks and, if real, how do we manage our lives in order to avoid personal damage from them? The book examines these questions, delving into the nature and true seriousness of risk (as opposed to how bad the risk seems to be), into how we measure risk and how we regulate it. Lewis includes the latest scientific information on carcinogens and the greenhouse effect as well as detailed discussion of road safety, the risk of air travel, nuclear power and acid rain.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Occasionally a volume on some controversial issue comes along that is so balanced, so sensible, so down-to-earth, it clears away all the fogs and miasmas surrounding the question and leaves people a little smarter than they were before. [This] is such a work.” (Barry Gewen - The New Leader )
“A valuable, clearly written appraisal. . . . Should be widely read.” (John Allen Paulos - New York Times Book Review )
“A first-rate text on the art and science of risk measurement and management. . . . Offers a breath of fresh air to blow at the artful dodgers who pooh-pooh any risk and the Forever Fearful who would avoid risks at all costs. . . . Three cheers to Lewis for leading us down the straight and narrow.” (Kirkus Reviews )
“A stiff, rational breeze in a debate which has hitherto been stultified with muddy thinking and political hidden agendas.” (William H. Press, Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Harvard University )
“A valuable, clearly written appraisal. . . . Should be widely read.” (John Allen Paulos - New York Times Book Review )
“A first-rate text on the art and science of risk measurement and management. . . . Offers a breath of fresh air to blow at the artful dodgers who pooh-pooh any risk and the Forever Fearful who would avoid risks at all costs. . . . Three cheers to Lewis for leading us down the straight and narrow.” (Kirkus Reviews )
“A stiff, rational breeze in a debate which has hitherto been stultified with muddy thinking and political hidden agendas.” (William H. Press, Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Harvard University )
About the Author
H. W. Lewis is a professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has chaired numerous government risk-assessment committees on defense, nuclear power, and other matters.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
CALCULATE YOUR RISK,
By
This review is from: Technological Risk (Paperback)
Lewis makes the good point here that too often we fear the unlikely while remaining complacent about true dangers. Many, for instance, believe nuclear power plants impose great risks, ignoring the greater threat from automobiles. The public spends excessive money and time looking for ways to bury toxic waste, or eliminate possible carcinogens from food,while overlooking natural health risks. Regulations created to make us safer often have the opposite effect. Citizens should acquire a greater understanding of risk and how it influences our lives.
The book is divided into three sections. The first gives an overview of risk and the issues involved, the second examines the role risk plays in air travel, radiation and pollution, and the third gives the reader a small mathematics lesson in probability. It should be made clear right from the start this is not the sort of book to curl up with by the fire. It is written to educate, not entertain. One can hear the scientist speaking through the writing, wringing his hands at out ignorance and disbelief. Unfortunately Lewis is likely preaching to the converted. Those who agree with him already may make up the bulk of his readership. Others will likely stop reading about twenty pages in.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book on risks, and managing risks of, technology,
By A Customer
This review is from: Technological Risk (Paperback)
An excellent book on the risks associated with modern technology. Looks at the risks of car and plane travel, food additives, nuclear power, and other controversial topics. Lots of interesting examples. Did you know, for example, that the US government measures incoming wine for radiation, and rejects it if it's not radioactive enough
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Fear and risk are different creatures. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
major nuclear accident, probabilistic risk assessment, baggage door, technological risk, general aviation aircraft Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, World War, Three Mile Island, Los Angeles, Department of Transportation, New York, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Soviet Union, Clean Air Act, Interstate Highways, Rogers Commission, Air Force, Cosmetic Act, Cutty Sark, Fisher Exact Test, Industrial Revolution, Tacoma Narrows Bridge New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Fear and risk are different creatures. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
major nuclear accident, probabilistic risk assessment, baggage door, technological risk, general aviation aircraft Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, World War, Three Mile Island, Los Angeles, Department of Transportation, New York, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Soviet Union, Clean Air Act, Interstate Highways, Rogers Commission, Air Force, Cosmetic Act, Cutty Sark, Fisher Exact Test, Industrial Revolution, Tacoma Narrows Bridge New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 3
books:
42
books
cite this book:
See all 42 books citing this book
- The Secret House by Carol Beach York on page 72
- American Review by World Reviews on page 185
- The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes on page 225
- The Universe and the Teacup: The Mathematics of Truth and Beauty by K. C. Cole on 4 pages
- What Every Engineer Should Know About Decision Making Under Uncertainty by John X. Wang on page 28, page 100, and page 200
- Trust Us, We're Experts: How Industry Manipulates Science and gambles with Your Future by Sheldon Rampton on page 111, and Back Matter
- Ethical Issues in the New Genetics: Are Genes Us by Brenda Almond on page 157, and page 165
- Breakthroughs in Statistics: Volume 1: Foundations and Basic Theory (Springer Series in Statistics / Perspectives in Statistics) by Samuel Kotz on page 131, and page 133
See all 42 books citing this book
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