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Linus Pauling: A Life In Science And Politics
One of the few unquestioned greats of twentieth-century science, Linus Pauling was the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes—one in chemistry, for deciphering the quantum physics of large molecules, and one in peace, for helping to end nuclear bomb testing. His brilliance was allied with a certain stubbornness, and when he died in 1994, at the age of 93, he was embroiled in controversy regarding his advocacy of vitamin C as a treatment for cancer. Based on thirty years of interviews, this masterful biography is filled with insights into the life and work of this complex, fascinating man.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 28, 2013
The section in this book on orthomolecular medicine is ignorant, arrogant and very condescending as regards the motivations and intelligence of Linus Pauling. The authors have not understood even the most rudimentary facts on what Paulings Orthomolecular opinions and theories were, unfortunately. I felt embarassed for the authors as I was reading it. It is like reading someone explain why the earth is flat.
The analysis is so poorly done and silly there is no point taking the time to refute any of the claims made in it. (You can easily see the facts explained in any of the books listed below.)
Fortunately many others have done a far better job summing up Linus Pauling's Orthomolecular work and advocacy.
Dr T. Levy's new book Primal Panacea explains that some of the most common myths about vitamin C include:
1. There are no studies on vitamin C
2. There is no proof that vitamin C works
3. Vitamin C is not safe
4. Vitamin C causes kidney stones
5. Our need for vitamin C is met by diet
6. Vitamin C just makes expensive urine
7. If vitamin C really worked we would all be using it
Aside from Levy's great book there are also:
Ascorbate: The Science of Vitamin C by Dr Hickey and Dr Roberts,
VITAMIN C: The Real Story by Steve Hickey, PhD and Andrew Saul,
Orthomolecular Medicine For Everyone: Megavitamin Therapeutics for Families and Physicians by Abram Hoffer,
Fire your doctor! : how to be independently healthy by Andrew W. Saul
The healing factor: Vitamin C against disease by Irwin Stone
How to live longer and feel better by Linus Pauling...and many others.
Despite what this book states, in fact Linus Pauling 'the man' will be remembered by many of us.
That includes so many of us who have seen for ourselves the huge impact ascorbic acid at a correct dose and Orthomolecular medicine generally have had on our health. Standing up to what is popular and politically correct but unscientific is not easy, as we admire Pauling for his pioneering spirit, guts and determination as well as his intelligence. We really need more people like him in the medical field.
Just had to add a few C quotes to the end of the review:
'Man's body was designed to function best with high blood and cellular levels of vitamin C - synthesised as needed by the liver. Due to an inborn error of metabolism, the vast majority of us no longer have the ability to make it, but that does not lessen our need for vitamin C or the benefits derived form it.' Dr Levy
“Modern medicine’s narrow approach, to treat every disease as if it were a drug deficiency, has resulted in a steep price for humanity. It is obvious millions have died prematurely since vitamin C was first discovered over 80 years ago. Brave and resolute men and women, Albert Szent-Györgyi, Irwin Stone, Linus Pauling, Ewan Cameron, Emil Ginter, Matthias Rath, Andrew Saul, Tom Levy, Steve Hickey, Raxit Jariwalla, John T. Ely, Hilary Roberts, and others promoted the idea of vitamin C therapy but were readily dismissed, even belittled.” Bill Sardi
'I could also spend millions to prove that the small amounts of these nutrients will not prevent car accidents. Who is funding all these silly studies? No orthomolecular physician ever claimed that giving 200 IU of vitamin E and 500 mg of C cured anything.
Perhaps you should write a paper with tongue in cheek in which you announce, “Antibiotics Do Not Cure Infection”. Then, report somewhere hidden in the paper that you only gave them 200 or even 20,000 IU of a drug that requires doses of one million or more. Such reporting is a superb example of the cynical, expensive and sleazy research so loved by Big Pharma. This is because it delays the real introduction of good medicine, in the same way that tobacco companies denied smoking causes cancer and we supposedly needed more and more and more research to prove anything.
All this allows the companies to add millions of dollars to their coffers. Their defense is delay, delay and delay. The only objective of Big Pharma is to make money, lots and lots of it. How dare we try to prevent them from doing so?' Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.
Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E. (HFME) and Health, Healing & Hummingbirds
The analysis is so poorly done and silly there is no point taking the time to refute any of the claims made in it. (You can easily see the facts explained in any of the books listed below.)
Fortunately many others have done a far better job summing up Linus Pauling's Orthomolecular work and advocacy.
Dr T. Levy's new book Primal Panacea explains that some of the most common myths about vitamin C include:
1. There are no studies on vitamin C
2. There is no proof that vitamin C works
3. Vitamin C is not safe
4. Vitamin C causes kidney stones
5. Our need for vitamin C is met by diet
6. Vitamin C just makes expensive urine
7. If vitamin C really worked we would all be using it
Aside from Levy's great book there are also:
Ascorbate: The Science of Vitamin C by Dr Hickey and Dr Roberts,
VITAMIN C: The Real Story by Steve Hickey, PhD and Andrew Saul,
Orthomolecular Medicine For Everyone: Megavitamin Therapeutics for Families and Physicians by Abram Hoffer,
Fire your doctor! : how to be independently healthy by Andrew W. Saul
The healing factor: Vitamin C against disease by Irwin Stone
How to live longer and feel better by Linus Pauling...and many others.
Despite what this book states, in fact Linus Pauling 'the man' will be remembered by many of us.
That includes so many of us who have seen for ourselves the huge impact ascorbic acid at a correct dose and Orthomolecular medicine generally have had on our health. Standing up to what is popular and politically correct but unscientific is not easy, as we admire Pauling for his pioneering spirit, guts and determination as well as his intelligence. We really need more people like him in the medical field.
Just had to add a few C quotes to the end of the review:
'Man's body was designed to function best with high blood and cellular levels of vitamin C - synthesised as needed by the liver. Due to an inborn error of metabolism, the vast majority of us no longer have the ability to make it, but that does not lessen our need for vitamin C or the benefits derived form it.' Dr Levy
“Modern medicine’s narrow approach, to treat every disease as if it were a drug deficiency, has resulted in a steep price for humanity. It is obvious millions have died prematurely since vitamin C was first discovered over 80 years ago. Brave and resolute men and women, Albert Szent-Györgyi, Irwin Stone, Linus Pauling, Ewan Cameron, Emil Ginter, Matthias Rath, Andrew Saul, Tom Levy, Steve Hickey, Raxit Jariwalla, John T. Ely, Hilary Roberts, and others promoted the idea of vitamin C therapy but were readily dismissed, even belittled.” Bill Sardi
'I could also spend millions to prove that the small amounts of these nutrients will not prevent car accidents. Who is funding all these silly studies? No orthomolecular physician ever claimed that giving 200 IU of vitamin E and 500 mg of C cured anything.
Perhaps you should write a paper with tongue in cheek in which you announce, “Antibiotics Do Not Cure Infection”. Then, report somewhere hidden in the paper that you only gave them 200 or even 20,000 IU of a drug that requires doses of one million or more. Such reporting is a superb example of the cynical, expensive and sleazy research so loved by Big Pharma. This is because it delays the real introduction of good medicine, in the same way that tobacco companies denied smoking causes cancer and we supposedly needed more and more and more research to prove anything.
All this allows the companies to add millions of dollars to their coffers. Their defense is delay, delay and delay. The only objective of Big Pharma is to make money, lots and lots of it. How dare we try to prevent them from doing so?' Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.
Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E. (HFME) and Health, Healing & Hummingbirds
May 17, 2022
Disappointing.
The original plan was to write a book with Pauling while he was alive. He did review and approve parts of the book, but the authors changed part of the focus of the book as Pauling aged.
Pauling is a complex person with many accomplishments and some detriments in his career. The book isn't as nuanced as it should be, not does it present a balanced perspective of the controversial aspects.
As an example, the authors' opinion of Pauling's peace work is that he had an overly simplistic view of situations. That may be but
Why does their opinion need to be inserted?
A person of influence speaking a simple message is sometimes what needs to be said and heard
The authors have every right to criticize Pauling, but the manner seems mean spirited.
The last chapter has a good wrap up of the highs and lows of Pauling's career.
An appendix follows. Although it is titled as an appendix, it appears more like a final chapter. It discusses a Rorschach test done late in Pauling's life and reviewed by several experts in the field.
Quite a lot of the review quotes the experts saying Pauling is, for example, suicidal, depressed, psychotic. There is later context that the reviews might have needed more information to be valid, and there is significant discrepancy between the reviewers on the same data points.
This leaves an unfortunate and unnecessary bad taste at the end of the book.
Not a definitive study for me.
The original plan was to write a book with Pauling while he was alive. He did review and approve parts of the book, but the authors changed part of the focus of the book as Pauling aged.
Pauling is a complex person with many accomplishments and some detriments in his career. The book isn't as nuanced as it should be, not does it present a balanced perspective of the controversial aspects.
As an example, the authors' opinion of Pauling's peace work is that he had an overly simplistic view of situations. That may be but
Why does their opinion need to be inserted?
A person of influence speaking a simple message is sometimes what needs to be said and heard
The authors have every right to criticize Pauling, but the manner seems mean spirited.
The last chapter has a good wrap up of the highs and lows of Pauling's career.
An appendix follows. Although it is titled as an appendix, it appears more like a final chapter. It discusses a Rorschach test done late in Pauling's life and reviewed by several experts in the field.
Quite a lot of the review quotes the experts saying Pauling is, for example, suicidal, depressed, psychotic. There is later context that the reviews might have needed more information to be valid, and there is significant discrepancy between the reviewers on the same data points.
This leaves an unfortunate and unnecessary bad taste at the end of the book.
Not a definitive study for me.
August 30, 2021
Somehow unsatisfying. Felt a bit like it was written by committee, parts were repetitive, important moments in his life (the death of his wife!) were glossed over- barely covered in a sentence or two. Some of his early research was well described.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews