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From today's L.A. Times book review:

The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear


Seth Mnookin

Simon & Schuster: 429 pp., $26.99

Readers take note. If you're already convinced that vaccines cause autism, that vaccine-preventable infectious diseases no longer threaten children's lives here and abroad, and that certain modern, anti-vaccine gurus are motivated by nothing but tender concern for your family's health, Seth Mnookin's "The Panic Virus" is not the book for you.

If, on the other hand, you want to learn how a "perfect storm" of angst, deception and reckless media fanfare led to years of backlash against childhood vaccines, step right up. It's apt that "The Panic Virus" opens with the quote: "A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on." The person who said this, 19th century preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon, did not hesitate to rail against the "truthiness" of our age. Nor does Mnookin, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair whose books include "Hard News," about the New York Times and its scandals.

read the rest at latimes.com

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    I am livid with the Daily News. Below is a quote from their weak endorsement of Mitchell Englander in the CD 12 race.

    "However, as chief of staff to a sitting councilman, Englander effectively has the incumbent's advantage. He's raised a campaign war chest of $444,000, filled with contributions from the developers, businesses and political action committees that bankroll elections. We expect that he will focus his energy on serving the men and women of CD 12 who elected him, not his donors.

    It's also worth noting that Smith was elected in 2003 to replace his boss, then-retiring Councilman Hal Bernson. So there's been a line of succession of council aides in CD 12."

    They clearly state that Mitchell Englander got him money from developers, businessmen and political PAC's, not the average citizen. Yet they go on to say that they believe he will focus his energy on the voters who may or may not elect him. What are they basing that on?

    Every constituent in CD 12 should be furious over the Daily News and their endorsement of this repugnant man.

    They couldn't even find a halfway nice thing to say about him.

    ReplyDelete

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