This assortment of pithy, provocative opinions on all things bioethical
does more than simply give you a piece of the author's mind--it dares
you to make up your own mind.
In his typical tell-it-like-it-is style,
America's leading bioethicist Arthur Caplan provokes discussion on all
issues at the center of the new genetics.
***
News & Reviews
"Caplan’s latest book is both interesting and thoroughly amusing! Composed of 75 short sections, each examines a different topic that is en vogue and that has had a recent spotlight in the media, thus being fresh in the mind of any reader."
- Jason Behrmann, American Journal of Bioethics, 7(7): 49–52, July 2007
"Can you recommend a good book on bioethics for a beginner? I am often asked that question and until now I haven't had a very satisfying answer. As much as I love it, I don't feel comfortable recommending the American Journal of Bioethics with its grim graphics and complex cover stories (this month's: "Damage Compounded: Disparities, Distrust, and Disparate Impact In End-of-Life Conflict Resolution Policies" and "Altruistic Discourse in the Informed Consent Process for Childhood Cancer Clinical Trials.") Not exactly layperson friendly. Fortunately, Art L. Caplan has come along to save the day. His recently published book titled "Smart Mice, Not So Smart People: An Interesting and Amusing Guide to Bioethics" is a great introductory book which covers a stunningly wide range of topics. It is easy to read, doesn't pretend to be "objective" and helps the reader ponder the key bioethics issues of our time. I'll be giving it out as Christmas presents this year."
-Kathryn Hinsch, October 19, 2006, Women's Bioethics Blog
"Famed bioethicist Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics
at the University of Pennsylvania, obviously has a sense of humor. But
an ethicist is nothing without strong opinions, and Caplan has those
too. This book of short essays on science and medicine gives Caplan's
take on everything from the state of American science ('If science
becomes politicized, where do we go for truth?') to health reform ('No
coverage for kids a moral failure'). Though previously
published, they're worth reading again or for the first time. In an
essay called 'Model Eggs,' about a fashion photographer selling the
eggs of eight models, Caplan writes, 'By failing to ban the sale of
sperm, eggs and rent-a-womb schemes, we have allowed baby buying and
selling to become a reality. . . . If we do not regulate the open
commerce in human reproductive materials soon, then other entrepreneurs
with bigger schemes and more marketing power . . . will soon be up on
the Internet.' "
-Anne E. Stein, Chicago Tribune, October 15, 2006 |
Arthur L. Caplan
is the Emmanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics, Chair of the
Department of Medical Ethics and the Director of the Center for
Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Arthur Caplan is author or editor of over 500 articles and two dozen books including:
The Case of Terri Schiavo (2006)
Health, Disease, & Illness: Concepts in Medicine (2004)
Who Owns Life? (2002)
Ethics and Organ Transplants (1999)
If I Were a Rich Man Could I Buy a Pancreas? (1992)
When Medicine Went Mad: Bioethics and the Holocaust (1992)
The Sociobiology Debate (1979)
He is a frequent commentator in the media including National Public Radio, ABC-Nightline, the New York Times, CNN, the Washington Post, and Philadelphia Inquirer. He writes a regular bioethics column for MSNBC.com
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