11 reviews
Sales Rank: 86085

Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5 x 1

ISBN: 0199205620
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.483
EAN: 9780199205622
ASIN: 0199205620

Publication Date: November 30, 2006
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours

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Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Possibly only four and a half stars. February 9, 2007
Mike Swain (Cambridge)
22 out of 25 found this review helpful

This is one of a number of books recently to explore what many consider to be a very worrying growth in unreason. Taverne is obviously a sincere man, even to those, like me, who have not always shared his political convictions. His views certainly deserve attention. In my mind `unreason' is associated with the words prejudice, superstition and ignorance. I look forward to a time when the various consequences of unreason are viewed in a similar light to the unreason of racism. They are intellectually and morally the same.

I have experienced unreason myself when, recently, in a British university, a postgraduate student expressed the view that she would rather see a good proportion of the world's population die unnecessarily (through want of vaccines) than countenance any use of GM technology; this, despite having no understanding of the processes, applications or risks involved. She was, sadly, not an exception. Taverne has addressed the issues of GM well, I think, but as an example of a general malaise. I particularly like his treatment of organisations like Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Soil Association. They seem to have abandoned objectivity and are likely to do considerable harm as a result. I think his remarks on organic food, which has been the subject of some very unflattering research, are also sound and need saying.

This is an excellent book, easily read, sufficient to make people think and perhaps encourage them to look more deeply into some of the issues raised. I think they will find much evidence to support most of what Taverne says and certainly I am convinced by his general thesis. Unreason has pushed mankind into dark ages before and will do so again unless we can counteract it. However, I have some sympathy with the reservations of an earlier reviewer (Is this book leading the march? 16 Jan 2007).

Hormesis is a fairly well known phenomenon, but it is probably the exception rather than the rule, i.e. it is characteristic of certain chemicals but not others. My reading is that Taverne qualifies his remarks so that they are correct although they may overstate the case. I am not sure of the beneficial effects of Arsenic (p73) but I do note that, for example, copper, molybdenum, and nickel are essential in small doses but toxic in larger doses. I, also, would like to see more about the studies of the effects of low doses of radioactivity. One of his references is available on the web [...] and makes interesting reading but I need to dig deeper to be convinced.

Contrary to the reviewer's comments on GM, there is a natural way to transfer genes from the genome of one species to another. The transfer of genes from bacteria to figs has almost certainly happened, as has the transfer from bacteria to humans. In fact one of the main objections to GM has been just this issue. Those transfers to us that have survived are generally very beneficial, though rare. It is very probably that many more harmful transfers have taken place, but they have not survived or become non-functional by mutation. The essential difference between GM and natural gene transfer is that we have control over the former but not over the latter.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and believe its central message needs saying loudly and often. Perhaps some arguments are overstated in an effort to avoid the necessity of a more technical and detailed treatment. That is a relatively minor quibble and a price worth paying. It doesn't, for me, detract significantly from the strength of evidence.

5 out of 5 stars

A splendid, rational and long overdue book June 21, 2005
Caroline Richmond (London, England.)
30 out of 36 found this review helpful

It is accepted among educated, liberal-minded people that alternative medicine, organic farming, and the precautionary principle are good, and that GM crops, eco-fundamentalism globalisation and so forth are bad. None of these assumptions stands up to close scrutiny. This book subjects these topics to such scrutiny.
Taverne is not against environmentalism - indeed, he says that he took up bicycling for ecological reasons and still prefers it for its speed, exercise and convenience. But he is well-informed, and writes well, about the way that many credos are accepted without question.

5 out of 5 stars

What a well written and researched book January 17, 2007
S. N. Gbert (England)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Probably one of the best balanced books I have read. It sets out arguments for and against each topic in a balanced way and cuts through some of the hype and propaganda spread by the press and the papers. I would add that having read it it completely changed my view about GM crops. Well worth reading.

5 out of 5 stars

simply excellent November 11, 2005
fact junky (London, UK)
9 out of 21 found this review helpful

Should be a set text for science students from GCSE onwards, not to mention every politician and consumer trying to make informed choices. A masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars

The Eco-fundamentalists principal goal seems to be the wanton and total annihilation of rational debate. January 5, 2008
Mr Smith (England)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

An absolutely fantastic book.
In an ideal world, one not controlled by doomsayers, fear-mongers and sensationalist headline grabbers - this excellent book would be on the school science curriculum throughout Europe.
The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (which makes a refreshing change!).
Just read it!