Sacred Cows and Golden Geese: The Human Cost of Experiments on Animals,   ISBN:9780826414021

Customer Rating: 

The Greeks have professed what so many people have been wanting to say but were either too afraid or too uneducated to do so. It is taboo in the research world to speak badly of animal experimentation. The Greeks have pushed past that taboo and rationally critiqued it with plenty of sources to support their claims. This book should be read by everyone, even those who are not interested in pursuing sciences. Perhaps then, people will be willing to rise up against these industries that are responsible for suffering and deaths of so many humans and other animals.

Customer Rating: 

This is a well written and very readable book. It is, however, based on a seriously flawed premise which will become obvious to the discerning reader.

Their premise is that all medical research and testing that utilizes animals is totally useless as applied to humans, is immoral as it mistreats the animals, and wastes incredible sums of taxpayer funds that could be used for "real" research.

Since I have neither a medical nor scientific background I am not qualified to evaluate claims made by the Greeks as to the inappropriateness of specific tests or procedures. I will leave the scientific exposure of their statements and conclusions to those qualified in these fields. It is my understanding that just such a scholarly rebuttal is currently in the works.

I am, however, reasonably qualified, as are many millions of readers, in recognizing a "con" wherein we are supposed to believe that there is a huge conspiracy consisting of many thousands of professionals, doctors, scientists, graduate students and suppliers to the research industry, our neighbors, friends and relatives, that is lying to us about the effectiveness of animal research just to make a quick buck.

If we follow the principle of "Occam's Razor", paraphrased as "All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one", it is far more likely that the spinning of the facts here for a quick buck is by the authors.

Customer Rating: 

This book is an excellent overview of the history of (the failures of) animal expiriments. I would recommend it to lawmakers, politicians, teachers and students, and ... well everyone in general. It gives concrete examples and all in terms that do not require medical or biological background yet well documented for those who wish to verify the sources.

It does not appeal to our emotions (no horrifying pictures, nor stories of the suffering inflicted on animals) but rationally clarifies and exposes the uselessness of experiments on animals (unless we are trying to find a cure for cancer for rats).

I would summarize their concept thus: "Experimenting on animals to understand humans is like having race car technicians study bicycles to understand race cars."

Customer Rating: 

This book is not the easiest read, but it does methodically reveal both the faulty logic in play as well as the very powerful economic motives that really drive medical research. I recommend this to anyone considering donating money to any charity or organization for the purposes of "finding a cure" for any disease. Our tax dollars are mostly funding useless ego-enhancing science projects for which many animals are being tortured and killed. Whether you care about animal suffering or care more about where your tax dollars go, you will find reason to question the status quo in this book.

Customer Rating: 

The Greeks believe computer models and in-vitro work with isolated cells can solve our health problems. Perhaps they are right. But then, I suggest they hit the Lab and show this line of research is feasible. If they can do so, GREAT! I am pretty sure they will then get the attention of Washington to shift funding to such models. Until then, let Science work of us and wait patiently for the Greeks to cure cancer on their PC, or by drawing on the back of their napkin.

Regarding their qualifications: I quick search on www.pubmed.gov shows that "Anesthesiologist Ray Greek and veterinarian Jean Swingle Greek" (as they present their credentials) have produced a total of 0 (yes, that's a ZERO) pieces of research and 8 opinion letters sent to various scientific journals arguing against animal research.

It seems weird that someone without any research experience can write such a book...