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"DON'T forget the cigarettes for Tommy," ran one patriotic British ditty during the first world war. American generals told their government they needed "tobacco as much as bullets"; charities sent cigarettes to the front-line. After the war, non-smokers seemed odd. The crime writer, Agatha Christie, even apologised for not smoking. She had tried many times, she said, but just could not like it.
In this solidly researched, interesting and only occasionally strident book, Christopher Snowdon, an independent researcher, documents the cigarette's journey from patriotic necessity to pariah status. There had always been those who found smoking "loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs," as James I put it in 1604. Some despots, in Hindustan and Persia, went further, slitting smokers' lips or pouring molten lead down their throats. American prohibitionists claimed that smoking led to moral decay; Nazis that it was a decadent Jewish habit. But few non-bigots thought that their personal distaste warranted limiting the freedom of others.
--The Economist, June 11 2009
In his fascinating history of anti-smoking, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist, Christopher Snowdon... shows how the campaign against passive smoking took off in the 1970s, long before the first studies that claimed to show its ill-effects. An early campaigner's statement that `we were just waiting for science to tell us what we already knew' accurately reveals the subordinate role of science in the anti-tobacco cause.
In this solidly researched, interesting and only occasionally strident book, Christopher Snowdon, an independent researcher, documents the cigarette's journey from patriotic necessity to pariah status. There had always been those who found smoking "loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs," as James I put it in 1604. Some despots, in Hindustan and Persia, went further, slitting smokers' lips or pouring molten lead down their throats. American prohibitionists claimed that smoking led to moral decay; Nazis that it was a decadent Jewish habit. But few non-bigots thought that their personal distaste warranted limiting the freedom of others.
--The Economist, June 11 2009
In his fascinating history of anti-smoking, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist, Christopher Snowdon... shows how the campaign against passive smoking took off in the 1970s, long before the first studies that claimed to show its ill-effects. An early campaigner's statement that `we were just waiting for science to tell us what we already knew' accurately reveals the subordinate role of science in the anti-tobacco cause.
Snowdon quotes a recent editorial in the New Scientist, which suggests that the anti-smoking campaign may have reached some sort of limit. Commenting on the promotion of the concept of `third-hand smoke' - the notion that toxic residues in the form of particulates can be transmitted from a victim of passive smoking to a third party (and hence justifying bans on smoking in the home as well as in the workplace) - campaigners were accused of `distorting the facts to make their case'. The editorial concluded that `using bad science can never be justified, even in the pursuit of a noble cause'. Yet, as Snowdon observes, the `real message' that emerges from his study is that `government health agencies could no longer be trusted to provide accurate medical advice and were now wilfully misleading the public in an effort to manipulate behaviour'. This is the real damage done to public health by its embrace of the cynical moralism of the anti-smoking crusaders. --Dr Michael Fitzpatrick, Spiked Review of Books, October 30 2009
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Spain, 1493 - Europe's first smoker imprisioned by the Inquisition England, 1604 - Massive tax rise on tobacco in a bid to discourage smoking Canada, 1676 - Smoking is banned in the street United States, 1899 - Anti-smoking campaigners call for the eradication of tobacco Germany, 1944 - Smoking banned on public transport to protect workers from secondhand smoke In this revealing and meticulously researched account of an untold story, Christopher Snowdon traces the fortunes of those who have tried to stamp out tobacco through the ages. Velvet Glove, Iron Fist takes the reader on a journey from 15th century Cuba to 21st century California, via Revolutionary France, Victorian Britain, Prohibition Era America and Nazi Germany. Along the way, the author finds uncanny parallels between today's anti-smoking activists and those of the past. Today, as the same tactics begin to be used against those who enjoy alcohol, chocolate, fast food, gambling and perfume, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist provides a timely reminder that once politicians start regulating private behaviour, they find it very hard to quit.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
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This review is from: Velvet Glove, Iron Fist: A History of Anti-Smoking (Paperback)
I'm not one to write reviews but I wanted to say this is certainly one of the best books I've ever read. Fascinating subject matter and a great writing style that keeps you turning the pages. Read in two sessions, which is just about as quick as I ever do a book. This is a book for free-thinkers, and I'm not sure how many of us there are left.
He has a new one out too, which I can't wait to get my hands on.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping read,
By TammyD "Tammy D" (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Velvet Glove, Iron Fist: A History of Anti-Smoking (Paperback)
I read this book in a couple of days and throughly enjoyed it. It is well written, well researched and is not preachy in any way. Simply put, this is one of the most important books I have ever read and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in discovering just how paternalistic our society has become. 5 out of 5.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
everything you thought you knew.. you dont!,
By
This review is from: Velvet Glove, Iron Fist: A History of Anti-Smoking (Paperback)
....this book is nothing short of remarkable. Could well turn the Nanny State on its head!...Essential reading
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