The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine James Le Fanu, MD. published in 2000 I'm always looking for connections between medicine and ecology so i reluctantly waded into this book. What i found was a real shock. One of my basic beliefs about personal health was wrong. But first, let me talk about the books conclusions. After many chapters of history and data the book concluded western medicine is not serving us very well. They showed how the push for profit has subverted research and the quest for truth. The book also uncovered some factors i had not thought of. None of this is surprising. Most people concluded the same thing years ago when alternative medicine began its sudden growth. All the material in the book has the feel of an insider talking about personal experience. As the facts move forward we feel like characters in a novel and only later do we see how small events put us on the wrong path. In the end it become clear that ethics and attitudes about science need to be taken seriously. We don't need more science. We need better science. What i found surprising was my beliefs about heart disease. I've accepted all the facts about saturated fats and cholesterol. It seemed clear that heart disease is related to fat intake. Well... guess what. The facts suggest fats may not be a big factor. How we have been led to believe this cholesterol myth is given a whole chapter and i doubt anyone could read the data without feeling betrayed. Don't take my word for it, read the book and check the facts. jeff
