Smoking

From School Library Journal Grade 5-10?In a volume packed with information, Pringle clearly lays out the harmful effects of smoking and then takes on the advertising strategies used to discredit such claims. Beginning with a history of tobacco, he jumps into a forthright discussion of nicotine and other ingredients of cigarettes, also considering pipes and smokeless tobacco, the effects of second-hand smoke, and smoking during pregnancy. Much of the book, however, is directed at the claims and advertising put out by the tobacco industry to discount the medical research on the dangers of smoking. The involvement of the federal government in agricultural subsidies, and interest in tobacco as a growth industry are laid out, as well as FDA regulations, congressional bills, and class-action suits. Brian R. Ward's Smoking and Health (1986; o.p.) offers younger readers a calmer discussion of the health effects of smoking, as does Sherry Sonnett's Smoking (1988; o.p., both Watts); neither incorporates the political information or perspective. Margaret O. Hyde's Know about Smoking (Walker, 1995) includes an interesting treatment of conflicts between smokers and non-smokers and more information on smokeless tobacco, and addresses concerns about advertising.?Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KSCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. From