Sacred Cows and Golden Geese: The Human Cost of Experiments on Animals

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Summary: Proof Dr. Greek believes in animal testing
Review: "The animal experimentation lobby has very persuasive arguments.";Sacred Cows,Golden Geese page 19
"Animal tissue can be used for human benefit without misleading science."; Sacred Cows,Golden Geese page 52
"Human subjects may be dishonest about theirlifestyles. You can addict monkeys to crack cocaine or heroin in your nice,clean lab. If you want to study human crack or heroin addicts, you may have to interact with potentially nasty and even dangerous people."Sacred Cows,Golden Geese page 79
"Not only easier, animal experiments are also much quicker than human studies."Sacred Cows,Golden Geese page 79
"Say we open the cages and let loose the lab animals.Then what? If we do not experiment on animals, on whom? How will we derive our discoveries, our cures? Sacred Cows, Golden Geese page 99

Using Dr. Greeks own technique I've shown proof that he believes in animal testing. Quoting out of context is just one of the many ways Dr. Greek "proves" his points.

In the Chapter "Legislated Ineptitude" he makes many references to pharmaceutical companies using animal testing as a defense against liability. Does he provide any of these cases? No. The only court case he quotes is one where the plaintiff who was suing the pharmaceutical tried to use animal studies to show the drug was harmful. The pharmaceutical had relied on Clinical Studies, something Dr. Greek recommends!

Dr. Greek advises his readers to "follow the money". Prior to the publication of Sacred Cows, Golden Geese, Dr. Greek had a mailing address in Spring Hill, Kansas... After publication, his new address is a Million dollar estate on 85 acres along the California coast. Makes you wonder.

For anyone wishing to learn about animal testing, I would advise finding a more believable source.

Rating:
Summary: Sacred Cows and Golden Geese
Review: A must-read for anyone who wants to know where their tax money ends up and why, despite billions of dollars in grants issued by National Institutes of Health, we still don't have a cure for cancer. Sacred Cows and Golden Geese: The Human Cost of Experiments on Animals opens our eyes to the corruption and graft that pervades the medical research industry. It kept me turning the page with fascinating stories of good research, and unbelievable tales of expensive animal experiments out of control. Easy to read, yet chock-full of carefully referenced factual information, this book reveals how animal experiments have failed medical science. I was amazed to learn how my tax money is funding dead-end, even ludicrous experiments, while less glamorous, but promising research goes unfunded. Definitely an entertaining and educational book, Sacred Cows and Golden Geese: The Human Cost of Experiments on Animals will blow the lid off of some of NIH's dirty little secrets.

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Summary: Eye Opening and Logical
Review: After reading this book, I was horrified to learn just how wasteful and archaic live animal research is. I also began to realize just how ridiculously illogical it is. What is the value of using a mouse or monkey model for medical research when it is *humans* that the research is supposed to be benefit?

This also makes great reading because as, one reviewer already put it, it doesn't tackle the ethics of animal research or at least not in the way most would expect it to. There is no room for the reader to whine "I hate that little bunnies are killed but how are we going to cure caaaanncer?". The Greeks deftly show that no, animal research will not cure cancer, at least for humans.

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Summary: why is so little careful criticism of this book to be found?
Review: Animal experimentation is often called a "necessary evil." As the other reviewers say, this book blows the lid off the common claim that animal experimentation is, in fact, "necessary". The Greeks carefully argue that animal experimentation is not (and never has been) necessary for human health and medical progress and that, in fact, human health and safety is often compromised by animal experimentation. Thus, it is only an "evil," for both animals and humans (except for those who profit greatly from it).

Unfortunately, there is little criticism of this book in the literature: carefully read the book and then search for rebuttals. You won't find much. This is not surprising since Dr. Greek often attempts to debate those who make their living on animal experimentation, but more often than not, they won't show up for the debate. Some scientists whine and get emotional about Greek's book, but nobody seriously responds to the Greek's arguments. Nobody provides a scientific case in defense of animal research that is comparable in quality or sophistication to the case against. Animal researchers have, so far, utterly failed at defending what they do from a scientific perspective. Their attempts at doing moral philosophy are even worse. This is unfortunate and one wishes that they would do a better job.

...

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Summary: Only read the excerpt here, but come on!
Review: Come on, people! Anyone can see just by reading the book excerpt presented here that Dr. Greek has an agenda, and is using argumentative and inflammatory language. He presents the careful "clinical methodology" of Hippocrates, and how his method of clinical observation has stood the test of time, all the while using flowery language. But then he uses words like "cut up" and "purloined" when referring to the work of Galen. Obviously, Dr. Greek is not concerned about presenting a balanced argument, and with a topic such as this, balanced arguments are necessary.

Then he goes on to blast Galen's conclusions from his work. Isn't it obvious to anybody else that Galen could have reached the same conclusions about blood circulation if he "cut up" dead people as well as dead animals? If it's not obvious to any of his readers, then his work is a simple case of manipulating the opinion of those who don't fully understand biology, anatomy, and physiology.

I haven't read the book yet (I will); but it's apparent from the excerpt presented here that Dr. Greek is effectively bamboozling a large portion of the public. I'm sure the rest of the book will be just as "interesting."

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Summary: Animal research = scientific fraud
Review: Compelling and persuasive treatise examining the scientific invalidity of animal testing amd animal "models" of human health problems. In time, vivisection will be looked back upon as one of the greatest swindles ever foisted upon a gullible and desperate populace. While this book is not, as other reviewers have opined, the "first" to attack animal research on scientific grounds(that credit must go to Hans Ruesch's 'Slaughter of the Innocent'), the authors are to be commended for their lucid assessment of the appalling waste, cruelty, and corruption that is part and parcel of the vivisection industry. Anyone remotely concerned with the expenditure of their tax dollars and donations to charitable organizations should do themselves a favor and read this book. It will become clear that human clinical studies, epidemiology, preventative measures, and technological advances have been and will continue to be the truly valid methods of addressing human health problems. "Sacred Cows and Golden Geese" is a valuable reference for those with the fortitude to challenge vivisection apologists spouting off thinly-veiled threats such as "What's it going to be...your baby or your dog?", when in reality it's going to be both. Educate yourself and get angry! Kudos to the authors for a timely, well-written expose. I look forward to the next one.

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Summary: Sacred Cows and Golden Geese
Review: Finally! Doctors with the courage and persistance to tell the true history of the self serving agendas that have lead to the derailing of clinical research in medical science. Through seamless documention, Sacred Cows and Golden Geese details how animal experimentation harms humanity. With their work, Dr.s Greek will likely rock the foundations of this multi-billion dollar industry that has a misguided death embrace on the animal model, with a singular motivation- money. A must-read for anyone who values human health.

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Summary: Not Just Animals Suffer
Review: Finally, voices against animal experimentation that the medical establishment will not successfully derogate! In this book, scientists and science-minded readers will find exhaustive proof that research and testing that uses animals is not only cruel, but also senseless and dangerous. It's high time someone uncovered how often funds allocated to useless animal-modeled research keep people sick, and how often animal-modeled data make people suffer and even die. Written by a doctor and a veterinarian, Sacred Cows and Golden Geese addresses the topic comprehensively, intelligently, and in a style most readers will appreciate. The Greeks' book should upend misinformation perpetrated by the many, many organizations and businesses that profit from this wholly unscientific convention. As the book explains, delirium over dollars perpetuates animal experimentation. The Greeks write that they regularly debate animal experimenters and animal experimentation lobbyists. Maybe this book will put one of those debates on national television so the public can appreciate the scope of danger and deception animal experimentation exposes us to. I look forward to the Greeks' next book, which they say will cover even more medical disciplines. Everyone should read Sacred Cows and Golden Geese.

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Summary: excercise your right to think with an open mind
Review: I am conservative in my politics but like to approach life with an open mind. I never questioned the need to use animals in research until I stumbled across this enlightening book! The Greeks explain, in easily digestable terms, how you need not care about animals to be disgusted with animal testing. I'm not convinced easily and I checked into many of their references- every one checked out! My head is still spinning from the implications of this book- but reading is believing!

Rating:
Summary: Eye Opening and Logical
Review: I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I read this book while trying to determine if animal research was ethical or not. This book did not even address the ethical dilemna, but rather proved to me that animal research is scientifically unsound, delays medical progress, and wastes billions of dollars. I have never been so mad about where my tax dollars are spent.

After reading this book I have determined I am against animal research for the harm it causes to humans. This book is a must read for anyone who receives medical treatment in the United States.