Rich White is only a young writer, but he has put together some powerful research for a new book, released today, on the history of tobacco control.
Yes, of course there are lies detailed within. What else would you expect from even a cursory examination of the hysterical lunatics who have fake coughed and exaggeratedly waved their way through the 20th century and beyond, let alone an in-depth piece such as this?
Rich was kind enough to let me have a sneaky peek prior to publication and it certainly pulls no punches. By delving into some of the early indulgences of the tobacco control industry, White comes up with some provocative explanations as to how a herb, which was once viewed as purely medicinal, came to be cynically demonised in the perennial nicotine supply war between big tobacco and big pharma.
There are a few teasers at Rich's site, after which you might like to buy Smoke Screens here.
I can recommend this as a perfect Christmas present for that irritating, obsessive anti-smoking gobshite in your family (we've all got at least one).
