- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Vintage (5 July 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099428334
- ISBN-13: 978-0099428336
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 227,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Snake Oil And Other Preoccupations (A Vintage original)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Author of Snake Oil, John Diamond, believed journalism to be an ephemeral thing: "If I wanted to write for posterity's sake, I'll start another unfinishable book." Sadly, he did. At the time of his death, on March 2, 2001, Diamond had written six chapters of Snake Oil. Intended to be "an uncomplimentary view of complementary medicine", he was spurred into writing the book by the 5,000 letters he received suggesting alternative cures for his terminal cancer.
In the book Diamond sets out to prove that the protagonists of alternativism are, at best, gullible and misguided, at worst, con-merchants and quacks. The uncompleted book ends with the words: "Let me explain." Unfortunately, he wasn't given the chance. The remainder of the book is made up from a selection of Diamond's articles and columns, which, edited by brother-in-law Dominic Lawson, were chosen on "the basis of his humour rather than his tumour". As a freelancer, Diamond wrote about anything for anyone. Consequently, the "preoccupations" cover every subject under the sun, including soggy bread, middle age , donor cards, first dates and bottled water: " ... the perfect accompaniment to good food and fine wines, it can even be served as a refreshing drink in its own right". But, post diagnosis, it's Diamond's columns for The Times which hit home hardest. As his condition progresses, Diamond remains stoically reflective without ever sounding resentful; always moving, but never maudlin, his insouciant prose conveys a humbling bravery. John Diamond may have considered journalism to be a transitory art form, but as this collection of his work shows, his writing makes an indelible impression. --Christopher Kelly
Product Description
At the time of his death from cancer on 1 March 2001, journalist and broadcaster John Diamond had completed six chapters of what was to be "an uncomplimentary look at the world of complementary medicine". These chapters, based on his own experience and on researched fact, which were emailed each week to his editors at Random House, are both personal and poignant, hard hitting and controversial, tackling the issues raised by alternative medicine with total candour and his usual wit. The second half of this book features some of the best of Diamond's writing, including a selection of emails to colleagues and friends, articles from "The Times" and the "Jewish Chronicle" and other publications, together with excerpts from his final notebook. For seven years he wrote an immensely popular weekly column in "The Times" which, following his diagnosis with cancer, was given over to following the progress of the disease. As well as gaining him a Columnist of the Year award, it resulted in an avalanche of mail from thousands of his readers.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Diamond's unfinished book about alternative medicine is excellent and a much-needed antidote to the ubiquitous newspaper columns which tell you how selenium, avocado oil, echinacea, aromatherapy, colonic irrigation and all the rest of the phoney alternative treatments will make you well and keep you healthy, provided you have total faith and are willing to comply with the associated rituals.
I am tempted to say that it is a pity that many of the essays and articles with which the book is padded out, are of inferior quality. But on reflection, I think that is all to the good. Frivolous articles written by Diamond from one week to another, intended for momentary amusement only, gradually give way to his profound and moving articles on the subject of his cancer. It all makes you think about what sells newspapers and what's worth reading. Should you enrich your life with a jokey article about a boring hotel room, or a harrowing article about having your tongue removed? Crystal therapy or chemotherapy? By offering us logic and reason, Diamond may strike some readers as pessimistic and negative. For those who want to know the truth, however painful, his book is a valuable tonic. By the end of his life, when his tongue had been removed, Diamond had at last truly found his voice and he had something important to say.
I am tempted to say that it is a pity that many of the essays and articles with which the book is padded out, are of inferior quality. But on reflection, I think that is all to the good. Frivolous articles written by Diamond from one week to another, intended for momentary amusement only, gradually give way to his profound and moving articles on the subject of his cancer. It all makes you think about what sells newspapers and what's worth reading. Should you enrich your life with a jokey article about a boring hotel room, or a harrowing article about having your tongue removed? Crystal therapy or chemotherapy? By offering us logic and reason, Diamond may strike some readers as pessimistic and negative. For those who want to know the truth, however painful, his book is a valuable tonic. By the end of his life, when his tongue had been removed, Diamond had at last truly found his voice and he had something important to say.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A rigorous but accessible de-bunking of alternative medicine, which is a great contrast to the credulous coverage of the issue in most of the popular media.
As one reader said, prepare to be preoccupied -- and disapointed and saddened that the main part of the book stops after six chapters.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The first third is JD's well written attack on the alternative medicine scene.
The collection of articles selected by the editors, which follows, are a mix of some that deal with his failing health and some that don't. All very readable and witty.
Disappointing that there appears to be some overlap between this and "C" (or do I remember some pieces from elsewhere?), given the huge amount of great work he produced you would have thought this was unnecessary.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A tale of two books
I came to this from a recommended book list in Richard Dawkins' "A Devil's Chaplain" and I must say that I found it disappointing. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2009 by ianscardiff
A skeptic replies
Tony Dougan - all Prof. Dawkins is asking is whether some of the huge profits generated by these "therapies", which have no scientific basis, could be put back into testing whether... Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2007 by Mark Till
poignant but padded
Having just read those terse words on page 82- 'let me explain' followed by the terminal silence, it is difficult to be critical. Read more
Published on 18 April 2002 by Chris Potter
Read this especially if you work in the Health Service
I am so pleased I read this book. I work in audit and research in the Health Service and I found that I have been asked to an awful lot of 'complementary medicine' groups in recent... Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2001 by M. Walker
Brilliant
It's about time that someone wrote a book debunking the popular myth of "alternative" medicine. There can surely be no better person to write such a book. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2001
Prepare to be preoccupied
It's quite likely that if you want to read this book you have previously tackled John's earlier publication C: Because Cowards get Cancer Too. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2001
A beacon of humanity and common sense
How do you review such a book? The content is as has been indicated by other readers: touching; funny; intelligent; scathing. Read more
Published on 20 July 2001
Because the brave get cancer too...
John Diamond was famous for a few things. He was a famous British journalist. He was famous because he was married to domestic goddess Nigella Lawson. Read more
Published on 19 July 2001
Last Words from the Journalistic Maestro
Before he died of throat cancer, John Diamond started work on this, his last book, in which he critically assesses the world of 'alternative medicine', which, as many of his Times... Read more
Published on 15 July 2001
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