Book Description
Americans have become the victims of misinformation about stem cell research. Over the last few years, the stem cell debate has been intensely political, religious, and confusing to many people. Now, Eve Herold explains what this science is all about, who is for and against it, and why it must go forward. She pulls together fascinating stories to highlight every aspect of this multifaceted field. She exposes the politics of stem cell research and demonstrates how the outcome of the debate could ultimately affect all of us. Packed with real-life stories of the people caught up in this groundbreaking struggle, Stem Cell Wars cuts through the noise and sets the standard for future debate.
Customer Reviews:
Inadequate.......2007-03-26
While the theme and argument of the book is easy to agree with (that is if you are not a religious fanatic), it provided insufficient information about what it alleges to provide - the inside stories from Capitol Hill about the debate of this important issue.
Eve Herold starts out by first briefly citing historic examples where religious theologies and ideologies impeded scientific progress. One can literally write volumes about this topic as the sheer number of such examples in history is unfathomable. Hence, it could have been omitted. She provided good, brief explanations and reviews of the science of stem cell research, in language that most laymen can comprehend.
She discusses Bush's policy and only a few inside stories from Washington DC about the politics surrounding this issue, highlighting especially senator Sam Brownback as the biggest fighter against this stem cell research, going as far as sponsoring bills that would criminalize science of stem cell research of any kind! (This theocrat needs to be voted out of office!)
In almost each chapter, Eve Herold covers individual cases of people who could be helped by the science of stem cell research, strengthening her case. Finally, in the last chapters, she covers the Korean controversy in detail and gives a brief overview of current British policy towards stem cell research.
The reason I found it inadequate is because I expected more, as well as, more detailed stories regarding the precise politics of this issue, referring to specific Senators and Congressmen who stand against this vital research. I wanted them to get exposed and get voted out. Being a biologist, I was at times bored reading about the science of it or that religious bigotry prevents this research. Those are well known facts. I wanted more exposure for the fools who stand against it, and I felt to that end it was insufficient. However, for starters, this book is very good and worth the read.
Amazing Book.......2007-02-08
Strongly recommend Stem Cell Wars. Gives a science based report of stem cell research from it's beginnings to the political perils it faces today. Not overly scientific. Very informative while making a strong case for the continuation of the research while not being biased.
War on TERRORble Diseases.......2006-11-14
Stem Cell Wars: InsideStories from the Frontlines by Eve Herold provides an excellent account of the forces that have shaped the delay of meaningful federal funding of stem cell research. It's the first of it's kind to describe the incredible obstacles that stem cell advocates have faced in their eight year fight for future cure, since human embryonic stem cells were first derived by Dr. Jamie Thompson.
Other books have focused on explaining the biology of stem cell research in lay terms, or the religious controversy related to stem cell research. And though Eve Herold's book also describes these aspects of the issues surrounding the immense promise of stem cell research, she devotes a considerable portion of this fascinating book at the crux of the issue: the fact that much needed advances in stem cell research are being held hostage by the absolutist views of a minority of Americans.
The urgency of this next revolution in medicine is revealed in the well-written accounts of the true suffering encountered by fellow advocates who are burdened by various incurable medical conditions.
She also explains that there is great support for embryonic stem cell research among many Christian denominations including the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church and the United Methodist Church. ( I wish she would have added that ironically our current president is a member of the United Methodist Church).
Unfortunately stem cell advocates have been at a disadvantage compared to the well-funded and highly organized anti abortion lobby which has politicized the entire issue. Both Eve's chapters on the hijacking of the issue by the politics of abortion as well as the profound political spin using what she calls "weapons of mass distraction" are a must read for anyone who wants to be fully informed about what has been holding back the research. Meanwhile the relatively new and inexperienced Pro-Cures advocates have had to unite and get "organized" primarily under the banner of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, to battle these obstructionist forces which have even gone as far as trying to criminalize the research at the UN level.
Bernard Siegel of the Genetics Policy institute played a pivotal role in averting that proposed UN ban, while international media seemed unaware of the upcoming UN vote and the profound impact it could have on the average person. His story is one of the highlights of the book
In her closing chapter Eve makes the case for federal regulation of stem cell research to provide ethical oversight as well as to ensure safety associated with cellular transplants.
As a long time stem cell research activist, I have kept up to date on many of the aspects described in Stem Cell Wars and know the content of this book to be very factual. It is an easy read and as patients are still fighting for their lives, I welcome this book as a comprehensive portrayal from the frontlines of what Jon Stewart calls the "War on TERRORble Diseases."
Great read for anyone curious about stem cell research!.......2006-11-03
This is a great book for anyone interested in keeping up with the current political debate on stem cell research. Eve Herold presents the scientific side of the argument without overlooking the emotional overtones of this important issue. Moreover, she presents her points clearly and with respect to the general public who may not be as familiar with the topic as scientific experts.
"Foiling 'Weapons of Mass Deception' Attacks on Stem Cell Research".......2006-10-31
Though issues of war and peace, and the very survival of the United States as a constitutional democracy demand our attention, there are also other important issues - matters relevant to the quality of our lives and health. Stem cell policy is one of these, and has become a focus of considerable political controversy. Every voting citizen deserves the chance to read a clear-eyed introduction to the issues surrounding stem cells in the gritty realm of politics and policy. Eve Herold's "Stem Cell Wars: inside Stories from the Frontline," provides just that opportunity.
Before I say more, I should offer a disclaimer: I've come know the author over the past year or so in her capacity as the director of research, policy, and education for the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI). This kind and thoughtful woman plays a key role in developing programs for conferences which integrate science, policy, and patient advocacy on stem cell research. In the meetings I've attended, she demonstrated a deep understanding of the issues within a broad and humane perspective. And so, I was acquainted with Eve Herold's voice before "hearing" it in print. But my inclination to be favorably disposed towards "Stem Cell Wars," was more than confirmed by reading the book.
"Stem Cell Wars" is written for a general audience in a clear and engaging way. But, it is Herold's passion for the subject, fueled by her deep compassion for individuals suffering from medical conditions that might well benefit from the research that drives this book. She is unapologetic for her sense of outrage at the slight of hand, deception, and disingenuous maneuvering she deplores in the chapter, "Political Spin and Weapons of Mass Distraction." She helps us see more clearly how some opponents to abortion see thwarting embryonic stem cell research as a way to indirectly undermine Roe vs. Wade. And, her first-hand account of the Korean cloning scandal enriches our understanding of this contemporary history.
There is sufficient detail in "Stem Cell Wars," but the reader will never be overwhelmed by it. Herold has a way of lucidly distilling the essence of her arguments.
In addition, George Daly, a prominent stem cell research has written a masterful foreword for the book, which itself, is engaging, and concisely insightful.
"Stem Cell Wars" should help the reader to understand that embryonic stem cell research is not immoral, as claimed by some. On the contrary, as Herold argues, it is morally imperative for us to give this research a chance fulfill its potential to bring better treatments and even cures for conditions that afflict many millions.
If what I have written has not convinced you that this is an important book, please note that several right wing and fundamentalist blogs have been quick to vehemently trash it. It would seem that they really don't want you to read "Stem Cell Wars."
That's understandable I guess. After all, what you don't know can't hurt them.
Book Description
Troy Abernathy doesn't believe in ghosts or demons - except those of the mind. The glory-seeking doctor's world is shattered when he brings patient Lynn DeAngelis to Silent Hill. There they confront the source of her seeming delusions... and find themselves trapped in a realm of unspeakable terrors!
Customer Reviews:
Dying Inside? I Know I Was.......2007-10-03
As a fan of the Silent Hill series and its twisted mythos, I was hoping that the comics would expand on that. That the one shot stories with original characters would be worth picking up. While Dying Inside is not as bad as the others, it wasn't that great either.
The artwork may have worked if you could actually see what was going on. There were times when the scene was so muddled that I couldn't tell the difference from one of the living human characters or a piece of rancid flesh.
The story isn't that strong either. I've seen fanfiction writers do better jobs with the Silent Hill story and create a greater sense of dread in me.
Dying Inside does not capture the essence of Silent Hill. That's just my opinion though. I leave it up to others to make their own.
Let's be fair..........2006-10-12
I am a huge fan of Silent Hill, so knowing the games as I do, I know that there IS no original story that these so called "fans" want to be familiar with when they pick up the comics. Not the same monsters? Well duh. Its called originality. Besides, Silent Hill was trying to show us in the first place that the real monsters are not the ones physically seen, but are within the human psyche. Not the same story? Again, duh. Every story of Silent Hill is different and leaves much to the imagination.
Now on to the review. The artwork in this comic is made by two different people, why, I don't know. But there are differences galore between them. The first animated it in a way that presented a more expressive and dramatic side of the world and characters, whereas the second seemed to paint the world, making it a bit more of a pictorialization. They are both unique and dark, much of what I would picture a Silent Hill comic to be. (I should mention that there are 5 chapters, and the second illistrationist appears in the third and up.)
The story, though a bit difficult to follow at times (as with any Silent Hill story) is entertaining if you don't think too hard on it.
Whoo, I gotta go, but look my advice is to just relax and enjoy it, listen to some Silent Hill soundtracks while reading, or even better buy the PSP title (The Silent Hill Experience) and "experience" the digital comics of the same name (there is another one on there called "Hunger") plus it has music in the background throughout.
As to be expected there are similarities and differences between the comics and the games, try not to dwell on them and just enjoy it, for God's Sake. Silent Hill is a town that screws with your mind, beyond that it is up to the imagination of others to turn endless possibilites into a story. Good reading!
Not what I wanted!.......2006-06-29
The other reviews to this comic was right. It wasn't a very good comic.
Fans of this series: Stay far away.......2006-05-17
Okay when you think of Silent Hill, you think scary monsters, demons and messed up people. Well, in dying inside, you don't get any experience from the game, except maybe in the first few chapters (just 1 and 2). Dying Inside starts off with a man trying to find a cure for a girl with psychosis. He brings her to Silent Hill and all this bad [...] happens. The first two chapters follow the basic Silent Hill 2 aspect and implement it well, but the downside is the art-it isn't that great.
When we begin chapter 3, we are introduced to Lauryn who wants to go to Silent Hill because of a tape of the story mentioned above and runs into her dead sister. The art work becomes better, but the storyline is worse. Heck, you only get a few monsters only one of which is actually from the game. You always are missing something in this book. If you must read this comic, which I would advise against, go buy the Silent Hill Experience for PSP if you have one. It comes with this whole comic as well as some other videos and you save money.
The only thing scary about this comic is that it doesn't live up to the series at all. Fans, you have been warned. Stay far away from this embarassment if you can.
Major let down..........2006-05-01
I am a huge fan of the Silent Hill game series and so decided to pick up the comic book...
All I can say is that it was a major let down...there is none of the story, atmosphere, emotion, or intelligence that is such a large part of the games.
The main characters were shallow and bland...the story was baffling at best, dumb and unbelievable at worse. Nothing thought provoking or interesting in the least...nothing but pointless violence and a foul mouthed little girl...
The artwork starts out badly with Ben Templesmith. His drawings, though beautifully colored, are cartoonish and extreme...things get somewhat better with Aadi Salman. His style is more realistic, and there are a few frames that are very beautifully done, but it can become blurry at times and unclear what is happening. Salmans art work and Templesmiths color schemes are the only things that keep me from giving this book one star.
Definetly not for fans of the video games, and not recommened to most people, unless you're the type who enjoys watching badly acted b-horror movies...
Book Description
David Selig was born with an awesome power -- the ability to look deep into the human heart, to probe the darkest truths hidden in the secret recesses of the soul. With reckless abandon, he used his talent in the pursuit of pleasure. Then, one day, his power began to die...
Universally acclaimed as Robert Silverberg's masterwork, Dying Inside is a vivid, harrowing portrait of a man who squandered a remarkable gift, of a superman who had to learn what it was to be human.
Download Description
David Selig was born with an awesome power - the ability to look deep into the human heart, to probe the darkest truths hidden in the secret recesses of the soul. With reckless abandon, he used his talent in the pursuit of pleasure. Then, one day, his power began to die... Dying Inside is a vivid, harrowing portrait of a man who squandered a remarkable gift, of a superman who had to learn what it was to be human.
Customer Reviews:
Rare beast - a science fiction character study.......2007-10-09
This book is that rare thing, a science fiction character study. David Selig is born a telepath in New York City, able to read anyone's mind. The book includes a lot of New York local color (circa 1972), some Jewish guilt, and some very vivid and imaginative writing about how it would feel to be a telepath.
Selig has always been ambivalent about his gift. He can't stop mind-reading, but he also can't avoid feeling guilty about it. When we meet him he is 41 and has lived an undistinguished life. He resides in a run-down housing project and makes his living by ghost-writing term papers for Columbia University students, a calling that makes no use of mind-reading. In middle age his power is starting to fade away, and he is ambivalent about this too.
Paradoxically his gift isolates him: when he meets someone he immediately plunders their memories to find out all about them, then decides he isn't interested. He epitomizes Quentin Crisp's line, "To know all is not to forgive all. It is to despise everybody." Still, he has hopeful moments, usually when he imagines he is going to leave his power behind and start over. This never happens, but at the end of the novel he finally loses his power and there's a hint he really will start a new life.
Super Reader.......2007-08-31
David, the book's protagonist, is a telepath of no mean ability.
Now middle-aged, it seems he is starting to lose his powers, and they will no longer be able to tell him what women are thinking, help him win fights, or accomplish other tasks beyond the means of most people.
So, the theme here is can a superhuman deal with becoming an ordinary mortal and adjust to a different life. Quite different as looking at things that way hasn't been done in many books I can think of, as the major element of the story.
2.5.......2007-07-28
I'd give this a 2.5 star rating if I could. It's a sci-fi novel for non sci-fi readers. It does a pretty good job with the main character, his thoughts and feelings.
The premise is this: The protagonist was a lonely insecure boy with telepathic powers. We join him narrating his story in mid-life, with his powers fading. He has always had a complex relationship to his gift, and he has mixed feelings about its passing.
He is isolated, and he writes black market term papers for college kids. He does use his gift to read his customers' thoughts, or those of random passers by. However, he has tried to be as normal as possible in his personal life. He also has a strained relation with his sister, who has always been wary of his gift, for fear of his voyeurism.
I think the main problem with the novel is that we don't get enough of how he used the gift in his youth. I find it hard to believe that a lonely kid like him would not have used his gift more to figure out what others are thinking. He would have needed that security or connection. Or to further his personal gain. That still could have led him to the same place, with him largely renouncing his gift. But I think we would have had more emotional connection to him. Note: I don't want to give the impression that there are no such scenes. There are such scenes -- but not enough, and what there is doesn't come to life. Of course, how can a depressed character really make his pain come alive?
As it stands, I guess you get a good feeling of someone dying inside, but that doesn't make for a compelling novel, at least as it's told.
Fabulous........2007-05-19
I am a big fan of Silverberg, and I think this is one of his best. I thought he did an excellent job of communicating what it would really be like to read the minds of others. If you like stories of lonliness and alienation, check this author out. He's done a bunch of good stuff.
Superlative........2007-03-15
I started this book with only the basic knowledge of its plot, which is pretty much what's on the back matter: a guy coming to grips with the loss of his telepathic ability. Now that I've read it, I doubt I any paragraph-long summary (let alone analysis) could do anything other than butcher this wonderful book--but I'll try.
This has long been one of Silverberg's own favorite works, and it's easy to see why. Like many of his short stories and novels, it is deeply wrapped up in the problem of identity--specifically, why we are ourselves instead of someone else. David Selig is a man who has let himself become so defined by his power, that he becomes first dismayed, then angry, and finally lost by its waning.
The book itself is a swift and captivating read, one that keeps you on your toes by constantly switching between first and third person, sometimes in the same paragraph. The book is rife with references to Eliot, Whitman, and Joyce, in keeping with the protagonist's unabashed pride in his knowledge, again drawing you into direct communication with Selig. Not surprisingly, much of the book takes place in Selig's head, as a kind of running meditation on his life.
Selig himself is a consummately fascinating character, especially for such a slender novel; he is by turns narcissistic, perverse, paranoid, and exasperating (even to himself)--but never boring, and never wholly unsympathetic. This is a work that forces you to confront what you would do if you were faced with Selig's life and choices.
A must-read; that it's no longer in print is a bloody shame.
Book Description
Have you ever wished that you could unwrap a mummy? Imagine examining the skin, bones, even muscles and organs of a person who lived thousands of years ago! Cutting-edge technology is revealing more than ever before about these amazing relics from human history. Modern crime lab technology can reveal whether a mummy was killed or died of natural causes. X-rays can help us discover a mummy’s age and identity, and DNA samples are even helping scientists find today’s living relatives of Incan mummies. In the most fascinating topic she’s unraveled in her Outside and Inside series, Sandra Markle reunites us with our ancient ancestors through fascinating text and jaw-dropping photographs.
Customer Reviews:
mummies.......2007-05-16
This book will teach you all you need to know about mummies. It includes
facts about how mummies are made. Sandra Markle shares her research on
mummies. It also teaches you about the ways to tell how old the mummies
are.
This book is easy-to-read, informative, well-illustrated, and fun. It
included full color photos of real mummies
We would recommend this book to kids ages 9-12 who would like to read
and
learn more about mummies. The book is filled with lots of great
information that I didn't know and I feel that I learned a lot from this book.
Book Description
Unmask your opponents as you discover the psychological/competitive advantage you'll have when you learn how to get inside your opponent's head. Discover the 13 personality traits that will give you the much sought after edge at the poker table! One of the most influential books on game theory available today, this guide is a must read for all players.
Average customer rating:
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The Book of skulls ; Nightwings ; Dying inside
Robert Silverberg
Manufacturer: Quality Paperback Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
 Silverberg, Robert
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multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
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DYING INSIDE
ROBERT SILVEBERG
Manufacturer: NEW ENGLISH LIBRARY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0283985771 |
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- Good, Quick Read for New Believers
- A New Christian's guide to the Faith
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Now That I Believe
Robert Cook
Manufacturer: Moody Publishers
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Today with the King: Daily meditations with-- Robert A. Cook
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Walk with the King today
ASIN: 0802459838 |
Book Description
Dealing with the basics of the Christian life, this simple, informal book offers counsel from both the biblical text and human experience. (More than 1,000,000 in print)
Customer Reviews:
Good, Quick Read for New Believers.......2003-05-30
This book is a good, quick read for new believers. It covers the basics such as regeneration, joy, temptation, Christian conduct, Bible study, prayer, sharing one's faith, life direction, and worldliness. These topics would make good material for a study group of people new to the Christian faith.
I would have given this work five stars, but the format is poor. The Scriptures used are given in their entirety at the end of each chapter, and are difficult to distinguish from the rest of the text. Had Scripture references only been cited within the text, the book would have been much better. Study questions would also have improved this book's usefulness. Still, this book is a great resource to offer to a person who has just been born again into the kingdom of God.
A New Christian's guide to the Faith.......2001-02-01
Bob Cook does a tremendous job of telling the new Christian all that he/she needs to know in the new life they've chosen. Not only does he give basic scripture passages that will help shape and guide them, he gives practical ways to put their new faith in action. This is a MUST HAVE for the new believer in Jesus - at a time when it is so vital for them to "grow up in Christ."
Books:
- Stop Getting Dumped! All You Need to Know to Make Men Fall Madly in Love with You and Marry "The One" in 3 Years or Less
- Sunset (Warriors: The New Prophecy, Book 6)
- Superluminal
- Supertoys Last All Summer Long: And Other Stories of Future Time
- That's Not in My American History Book: A Compilation of Little Known Events and Forgotten Heroes
- The Black Cloud
- The Black Raven (Dragon Mage, Book 2)
- The Collapsium
- The Design of Modern Steel Bridges
- The Domino Effect (Doctor Who)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- One Hundred Years of Solitude
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- Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God
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- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Grindhouse: The Sleaze-filled Saga of an Exploitation Double Feature
- Horizontal Yellow: Nature and History in the Near Southwest
- Correspondents Of Lord Overstone
- Bombast and Broadsides: The Lives of George Johnstone
The Stem Cell Divide: The Facts, the Fiction, And the Fear Driving the Greatest Scientific, Political And Religious Debate of Our Time
Cell of Cells: The Global Race to Capture and Control the Stem Cell
Stem Cell Research: Medical Applications And Ethical Controversy (The New Biology)
The Stem Cell Controversy: Debating the Issues (Contemporary Issue Series)
The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy (Basic Bioethics)
