false 4687373 1 "What is an illness? What is good health? What, for that matter, is medical science really for? Greenberg will make you think about these questions in ways that I'm willing to bet you haven't. Along the way, he will enlighten and amuse and provoke you in equal measure. A wonderful book from a terrific writer."<br> -William Finnegan, author of Cold New World: Growing Up in a Harder Country<br> <br> When a doctor tells you that you have bronchitis and should take an antibiotic, you'd probably say that this is an unbiased medical opinion based on an impartial reading of your symptoms, and it makes sense for you to follow your physician's advice. Should you have the same confidence if you are diagnosed with depression and told to take antidepressants, or informed that a loved one is brain-dead and it's time to harvest her organs for transplant?<br> <br> In The Noble Lie, acclaimed and controversial science writer Gary Greenberg takes a penetrating look at common and accepted medical practices and opinions that, while they may be beneficial for society and help us deal with the unfathomable, are essentially the product of moral judgments and not supported by scientific evidence. In a series of riveting true stories, Greenberg examines the processes through which alcoholism and depression came to be accepted as diseases, asks why serial killer Ted Kaczynski was diagnosed as schizophrenic, and examines medical pronouncements on when life begins and ends. He also explains why there is no proof that homosexuality is genetic, and there never will be.<br> <br> These real-life science fictions may be well intentioned, but do they cause more harm than good? Read The Noble Lie, then judge for yourself. 4737933 16 9 2008 The Noble Lie: When Scientists Give the Right Answers for the Wrong Reasons total:6|4:3|3:2|2:1| 6 20 19 1 2 0 false false Tue Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 18 09:00:59 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 28 15:25:01 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Mon Oct 05 12:05:15 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 05 12:05:15 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Aug 17 17:45:07 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 17 17:45:13 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Wed Aug 12 19:31:29 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 12 19:31:38 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Aug 11 15:53:37 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 11 15:53:37 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Aug 08 20:16:05 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 08 20:16:05 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Jul 29 11:47:48 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 11:48:02 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Jul 29 03:11:25 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 03:11:25 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Jul 06 21:07:36 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 06 21:07:48 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jun 22 11:51:08 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 22 11:51:08 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue May 12 21:42:42 -0700 2009 Tue May 12 21:42:42 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 06:01:03 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 06:01:16 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Mar 25 12:41:22 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 25 12:41:22 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Feb 27 19:09:42 -0800 2009 Fri Feb 27 19:09:42 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Sat May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Dec 31 11:28:28 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 31 11:29:08 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Mon Dec 15 21:19:15 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 15 21:19:15 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Sat Dec 06 15:17:13 -0800 2008 Sat Dec 06 15:17:13 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Wed Oct 01 10:46:03 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 01 10:46:03 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Tue Sep 16 16:25:29 -0700 2008 Tue Sep 16 16:25:29 -0700 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=4687373