For Your Own Good: The Anti-Smoking Crusade and the Tyranny of Public Health
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.31 (946 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0684827360 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 352 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-08-25 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
They have accused the tobacco companies of hiding the truth about the hazards and addictiveness of smoking, preventing their customers from making informed decisions. In response to this charge, tobacco's opponents have offered various rationales designed to overcome suspicions of paternalism. Given this country's tradition of limited government, however, Americans tend to be skeptical of this argument. They have claimed that secondhand smoke poses a grave threat to bystanders, so smoking should be confined to the home. Sullum justifies their misgivings, noting that achieving a "smoke-free society" in a nation where tens of millions choose to smoke is necessarily an exercise in tyranny. J. They have described nicotine addiction as a compulsive and possibly contagious illness, fitting nicely with the public health mission to control disease. It therefore comes as no surprise that tobacco's opponents resort to censorship, punitive taxes, violations of property rights, and other coercive tactics. In recent decades, they have used scientific evidence that smoking is hazardous to enlist the state in their crusade, arguing that the government has an obligation to discourage behavior that might lead to disease or injury. They have said that smoking imposes costs on society that need to be recouped through special taxes. It is an attempt by one group of people to impo
Ex-Surgeon General C. Have you heard that secondhand smoke is bad for you? "There is no evidence that casual exposure to secondhand smoke has any impact on your life expectancy," writes Sullum, a drug policy expert and senior editor at Reason magazine. The debate over smoking is really more about the nature of liberty--how should a society restrict the choices of its members?--than it is about public health. Everett Koop is certain not to like For Your Own Good, but Sullum makes a powerful and provocative case against America's public health crusaders. In this controversial book, Jacob Sullum demolishes the
J. C Clark said A little redundant & unfocused, but sure to light your fire. This book will certainly set you aflame. Whether you hate smoking (as I do), prefer civil liberties (as I do), and/or despise the busybodies who know best how we should live our lives (as I very much do), you will find something here to excite you. If you belong to that latter group--please read it and stop your meddling. You do not know what's best fo. A Customer said It's too easy to join the anti-smoking hysteria uncritically. and Jacob Sullum resists the temptation. Unlike so many recent books on similar subjects, Sullum examines the arguments on their merits. Surprise! surprise! looked at objectively, without the preconceived bias most authors never try to hide, there is actually a complex issue at stake here. Reasonable readers will find many of their most treasured myths. "A fascinating history of the anti-smoking movement" according to scribe. A great history of the anti-smoking movement, in a very readable format. An important book for anyone interested in civil liberties and personal space.