Synopses & Reviews
In a provocative, eye-opening, and ultimately inspiring history of the war on cancer, a celebrated expert asks why we are losing the battle and how to find victory.Over the past half-century, deaths from heart disease, stroke, and so many other killers have fallen dramatically. But cancer continues to kill with abandon. In 2013, despite a four-decade “war” against the disease that has cost hundreds of billions of dollars, more than 1.6 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and nearly 600,000 will die from it.
In an acclaimed investigative article for Fortune magazine in 2004, Clifton Leaf, then the magazine’s executive editor and a cancer survivor himself, asked why we had made such limited progress fighting this terrifying disease. The answer turned out to be shocking. As Leaf discovered, the failure was largely due to what he calls a dysfunctional “cancer culture”—“a groupthink that pushes tens of thousands of physicians and scientists toward the goal of finding the tiniest improvements in treatment rather than genuine breakthroughs; that fosters isolated (and redundant) problem solving instead of cooperation; and rewards academic achievement and publication over all else.”
Nine years in the making, this gripping narrative reveals why the public’s immense investment in research has been badly misspent, why scientists seldom collaborate and share their data, why new drugs are so expensive yet routinely fail, and why our best hope for progress—brilliant young scientists—are now abandoning the search for a cure. The Truth in Small Doses is that rare tale that will both outrage readers and inspire conversation and change.
Review
"As a cancer patient and advocate,
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"As a cancer patient and advocate,
Review
and#8220;In this brave and important book, Clifton Leaf explains the state of cancer research today, traces the battles we have won and lost in the war on cancer, and most importantly shows the ways in which doctors, researchers, and even patients might improve what we are doing to combat this disease. Leafand#8217;s own pathand#8212;from cancer patient to journalist to authorand#8212;is an inspiring story itself, and his book will benefit both patient and doctor alike. andlt;iandgt;The Truth in Small Doses andlt;/iandgt;will be the most important and#8216;discoveryand#8217; in cancer this year.and#8221;
Review
"In this lucid, convincing, and gripping book, Clifton Leaf lays out, in heartbreaking detail, why our well-intentioned war on cancer has produced such dispiriting results. Leaf's command of the science is masterful, his passion is palpable, and his critique of a broken research system is utterly convincing. But, like the best advocacy journalism, andlt;Iandgt;The Truth in Small Dosesandlt;/Iandgt; is ultimately inspiring, pointing the way toward a more hopeful future. It is a landmark achievement."
Review
"Beautifully written, with the twists, turns and suspense of a great novel, andlt;iandgt;The Truth in Small Dosesandlt;/iandgt; tells the tale of the great individual successes and collective failure of both government and the pharmaceutical industry to impact the increasing number of cancer diagnoses and deaths in the U.S. But Clifton Leaf offers more than a history of our national cancer effort: He provides a vision and a roadmap for a creative and bold national cancer strategy."
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"An important evaluative study meriting serious public discussion."
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"It matters because: Weand#8217;ve been at war with cancer since 1971, and despite endless promises, are not much closer to truly winning that battle. In this refreshingly impassioned volume, Leaf explains why while offering a path forwardand#8230;Perfect for: Anyone curious about the history of medicine, as well as the fraught intersection of pharmacology, public policy and the corporate world."
Review
and#8220;[An] eye-opening look at why the U.S. is losing the war on cancerand#8230;andlt;iandgt;The Emperor of All Maladiesandlt;/iandgt; got Americans talking about the stalled battle against cancer. Leafand#8217;s book keeps the conversation on track.and#8221;
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"Through flowing prose Leaf delivers, alongside facts and data, stories on personalities involved in research, the fascinating process of solving an unusual and highly deadly cancer in Africa, and the heartbreaking realities of cancer treatment in children today."
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"For a decade Leaf has followed the story, and though we are no closer to 'curing' cancer, we can now imagine--thanks to his lucid and fascinating work--what that solution might look like. In Leaf's brilliant new book, he reframes the challenge as one of engineering, not science."
Review
"[andlt;iandgt;The Truth in Small Dosesandlt;/iandgt;] is the book you love so much that you write about it not simply to fill a hungry page with words but because of a genuine conviction that andlt;iandgt;people need to read this thingandlt;/iandgt;... A fiercely written book on a fiercely urgent subject is too hard to resist."
Review
"According to Leaf, a journalist and cancer survivor, the [1971 National Cancer Act] failed because of the flawed research culture it spawned. In this history of the fight against cancer, he describes how scientists often cannot secure funding for risky research in a culture that rewards competition over collaboration."
Review
and#8220;Leafand#8217;s book serves as a powerful call-to-action that our current system is too structurally flawed to provide the transformation in cancer care we all seekand#8230;the longer format has given Leaf room to explore the wide range of issues in more detail, and several chapters merit reading as stand-alone piecesand#8230;Leafand#8217;s analysis is clear and accessible to scientists and non-scientists alike, and should probably be read and debated by senior executives at all oncology-focused drug companies.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;A fascinating resource for anyone interested in understanding more about the biological mechanisms of cancer and curious about the history, politics, and ethics of the current cancer culture.and#8221;
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"Exhaustively researched."
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andlt;divandgt;"Provocative...his prescription is dead on."andlt;/divandgt;
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"As a cancer patient and advocate,
Review
"As a cancer patient and advocate,
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andlt;divandgt;"As a cancer patient and advocate,
Review
"Through flowing prose Leaf delivers, alongside facts and data, stories on personalities involved in research, the fascinating process of solving an unusual and highly deadly cancer in Africa, and the heartbreaking realities of cancer treatment in children today. Leaf's extensively investigated treatise will resonate with researchers and patients frustrated by the bureaucratic woes he delineates. Public policy makers, grant reviewers, and pharmaceutical researchers alike must consider Leaf's indictment and proposed solutions."
Review
""Why have we made so little progress in the war on cancer?" Clifton Leaf asked andlt;Iandgt;Fortune andlt;/Iandgt;in 2004. His groundbreaking story went on to describe the failures of researchers and drugmakers alike, and a system so focused on incremental improvements in the treatment of the disease that it could not arrange itself to tackle the roots of a persistent (and still growing) problem. For a decade Leaf has followed the story, and though we are no closer to and#8216;curingand#8217; cancer, we can now imagineand#8212;thanks to his lucid and fascinating workand#8212;what that solution might look like. In Leafand#8217;s brilliant new book, he reframes the challenge as one of engineering, not science. As Leaf writes, "Science determines the limits of the possible. Engineering lets us reach them.""
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andlt;divandgt;"Exhaustively researched."andlt;/divandgt;
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andlt;Iandgt;"The Truth in Small Dosesandlt;/Iandgt; is a detailed, sober myth-busting report."
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and#8220;As a cancer patient and advocate, I applaud Clifton Leaf for so boldly pulling back the curtain on the and#8216;cancer cultureand#8217; to reveal why we've made limited progress toward cures. andlt;iandgt;The Truth in Small Doses, andlt;/iandgt;a book told with the rigor of a brilliant journalist but with the heart of a cancer survivor, is certain to disrupt the conversation on the state of cancer research and inspire new approaches to win this war.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Exhaustively researched.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Provocativeand#8230;his prescription is dead on.and#8221;
Synopsis
In a provocative, eye-opening, and ultimately inspiring history of the war on cancer, a celebrated expert asks why we are losing the battle and how to find victory.
A provocative, eye-opening history of the war on cancer, The Truth in Small Doses asks why we are losing this essential fight and charts a path forward.
OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY, deaths from heart disease, stroke, and so many other killers have fallen dramatically. But cancer continues to kill with abandon. In 2013, despite a four-decade "war" against the disease that has cost hundreds of billions of dollars, more than 1.6 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and nearly six hundred thousand will die from it.
A decade ago, Clifton Leaf, a celebrated journalist and a cancer survivor himself, began to investigate why we had made such limited progress fighting this terrifying disease. The result is a gripping narrative that reveals why the public's immense investment in research has been badly misspent, why scientists seldom collaborate and share their data, why new drugs are so expensive yet routinely fail, and why our best hope for progress--brilliant young scientists-- are now abandoning the search for a cure. The Truth in Small Doses is that rare tale that will both outrage readers and inspire conversation and change.
Synopsis
andlt;B andgt;A provocative, eye-opening history of the war on cancer, andlt;I andgt;The Truth in Small Dosesandlt;/Iandgt; asks why we are losing this essential fight and charts a path forward.andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY, deaths from heart disease, stroke, and so many other killers have fallen dramatically. But cancer continues to kill with abandon. In 2013, despite a four-decade and#8220;warand#8221; against the disease that has cost hundreds of billions of dollars, more than 1.6 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and nearly six hundred thousand will die from it.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;A decade ago, Clifton Leaf, a celebrated journalist and a cancer survivor himself, began to investigate why we had made such limited progress fighting this terrifying disease. The result is a gripping narrative that reveals why the publicand#8217;s immense investment in research has been badly misspent, why scientists seldom collaborate and share their data, why new drugs are so expensive yet routinely fail, and why our best hope for progressand#8212;brilliant young scientistsand#8212; are now abandoning the search for a cure. andlt;I andgt;The Truth in Small Dosesandlt;/Iandgt; is that rare tale that will both outrage readers and inspire conversation and change.
Synopsis
A provocative, eye-opening history of the war on cancer, The Truth in Small Doses asks why we are losing this essential fight and charts a path forward.
OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY, deaths from heart disease, stroke, and so many other killers have fallen dramatically. But cancer continues to kill with abandon. In 2013, despite a four-decade “war” against the disease that has cost hundreds of billions of dollars, more than 1.6 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and nearly six hundred thousand will die from it.
A decade ago, Clifton Leaf, a celebrated journalist and a cancer survivor himself, began to investigate why we had made such limited progress fighting this terrifying disease. The result is a gripping narrative that reveals why the public’s immense investment in research has been badly misspent, why scientists seldom collaborate and share their data, why new drugs are so expensive yet routinely fail, and why our best hope for progress—brilliant young scientists— are now abandoning the search for a cure. The Truth in Small Doses is that rare tale that will both outrage readers and inspire conversation and change.
About the Author
Clifton Leafandnbsp;was, until recently,andnbsp;a guest editor for andlt;iandgt;The New York Timesandlt;/iandgt; op-ed page and Sunday Review. Previously, he was executive editor at both andlt;iandgt;The Wall Street Journaland#8217;sandlt;/iandgt; andlt;iandgt;SmartMoneyandlt;/iandgt; magazine and andlt;iandgt;Fortuneandlt;/iandgt;. A winner of the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism and a two-time finalist for the National Magazine Award, Cliff has received several leadership honors for his efforts in the cancer fight. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.