The Hundred-Year Lie
Randall Fitzgerald's book is destined to become a modern day classic. Human beings are fast becoming one of the most polluted species on the planet.
Quick Review
- Very easy to read
- Throughly researched and referenced
- Perfect for dinner party conversation.
Detailed Review
In this highly readable, and throughly researched book, the author carefully combines interviews, scientific research and years of data to reveal how, over the last 100 years, the modern world has become polluted with innumerable toxic synthetic chemicals.
As Fitzgerald succinctly states in his opening paragraph:
"Over the past one hundred years our species has been engaged in a vast and complicated chemistry experiment. Each and every one of us, along with our children, our parents and our grandparents, have been a guinea pig in this experiment that uses our bodies, our health, our wealth and our good will to test the proposition that modern science can improve upon the foods and medicines of Nature."
We are told by the media that we are living longer than ever before, and that we can thank modern medicine and drugs for these 'extra years of life' - but again, at what cost?
Today there are over 100,000 man made chemicals in use, most of them have never been tested for toxicity in humans, either alone or in combination with other chemicals. The author asks us to question what are the implications for our general and reproductive health, and the environment.
What I found truly disturbing is how the chemical industry is so closely interconnected with not only the pharmaceutical industry, but also the food processing and general health industries.
Throughout the book, Fitzgerald uses thought provoking statistics to lead into more detailed research. For instance:
- Studies show that 12% of American couples are unable to conceive
- Studies show that the number of children being born with both male and female sex organs tripled in the last decade
- The incidence of testicular cancer in 2000 was four times higher than in 1950
- More and more men seeking breast-reduction surgery as a result of drinking tap water
- The US spends more than twice as much on health care than any other industrialized nation.
The reader is left to ponder why we are allowing ourselves, and our children, to become increasingly polluted, on a daily basis, with toxic poisons and synthetic chemicals. Why are we turning a blind eye, when all antidotel evidence, (even the scientific data) point to the contrary?
Conclusion
Fitzgerald's solid scientific basis for these conclusions is well documented and will leave the reader with no doubt that we are slowly poisoning ourselves into possible extinction.
However, all is not 'doom and gloom' - I did find his last few chapters on detoxing and fasting, including his own personal experience, both inspiring and motivational. It made me realise that there are people out there, who are beginning to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. Self-empowerment begins with taking an active interest in one's own wellbeing, and making a start. The 'Hunderd-Year Lie' is a great place to begin.
