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anna3101's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. WOW. That booked really changed my life.
I thought I knew my priorities and I considered myself to be quite well-educated when it comes to the dangers of the present-day world. I try to buy as much organic food and cosmetics (and local produce) as my purse would allow me, I recycle everything I can and opt for used things when I need to get something for the house, I dumped everything that could be tested on animals and/or manufactured by the "great evil" of the Monsanto/Nestle/P&G kind. I never pick up items in the supermarket without first checking what they are made of and where they come from. Ha, I thought I was safe and I knew all there is to know! And that just shows how little I knew...
But now I know more, and it's all thanks to this great, eye-opening book. Some of the things I suspected, some I heard of, while others were completely new to me. Those are the facts that most companies would rather we didn't know, and don't they do their best to pretend that everything is safe unless many, many people die - and even then they will argue it had nothing to do with the chemicals they produce. It reminded me of a very exciting book, "Thank You For Smoking" by Christopher Buckley, which I considered to be pure fiction - but that was until I read actual statements from real companies. They are not very far from "So you smoke and have lung cancer, but what does that have to do with smoking?". This is exactly the kind of logic chemical corporations still use. And that's just appalling...
What I really liked about this book was:
1. Factual information backed up by facts, investigations, scientific tests and interviews with the experts.
2. Personal touch - the authors subjected themselves to the chemical substances most of us encounter on a daily basis to see if it enters their body (yes, you guessed right - they did affect the blood in the most drastic ways!)
3. A chapter on each of the commonly used chemicals - PFOA, bisphenol A, phtalates, mercury, 2,4D, PCBs, triclosan - that get into our bodies via teflon pans, plastic baby bottles, heavily perfumed cosmetics, fish, anti pest treatments, food and even clothing....
4. Engaging style, excellent writing - easy to read (although less easy to digest and imagine the scale of the chemical sea we're all swimming in)
Now that I realize what really IS inside that plastic bottle, I will do my best to make better choices and avoid things that are harmful and toxic. And I'm going to buy several copies of the book to give as presents and raise awareness.
Thank you Rick and Bruce for that amazing book!
I thought I knew my priorities and I considered myself to be quite well-educated when it comes to the dangers of the present-day world. I try to buy as much organic food and cosmetics (and local produce) as my purse would allow me, I recycle everything I can and opt for used things when I need to get something for the house, I dumped everything that could be tested on animals and/or manufactured by the "great evil" of the Monsanto/Nestle/P&G kind. I never pick up items in the supermarket without first checking what they are made of and where they come from. Ha, I thought I was safe and I knew all there is to know! And that just shows how little I knew...
But now I know more, and it's all thanks to this great, eye-opening book. Some of the things I suspected, some I heard of, while others were completely new to me. Those are the facts that most companies would rather we didn't know, and don't they do their best to pretend that everything is safe unless many, many people die - and even then they will argue it had nothing to do with the chemicals they produce. It reminded me of a very exciting book, "Thank You For Smoking" by Christopher Buckley, which I considered to be pure fiction - but that was until I read actual statements from real companies. They are not very far from "So you smoke and have lung cancer, but what does that have to do with smoking?". This is exactly the kind of logic chemical corporations still use. And that's just appalling...
What I really liked about this book was:
1. Factual information backed up by facts, investigations, scientific tests and interviews with the experts.
2. Personal touch - the authors subjected themselves to the chemical substances most of us encounter on a daily basis to see if it enters their body (yes, you guessed right - they did affect the blood in the most drastic ways!)
3. A chapter on each of the commonly used chemicals - PFOA, bisphenol A, phtalates, mercury, 2,4D, PCBs, triclosan - that get into our bodies via teflon pans, plastic baby bottles, heavily perfumed cosmetics, fish, anti pest treatments, food and even clothing....
4. Engaging style, excellent writing - easy to read (although less easy to digest and imagine the scale of the chemical sea we're all swimming in)
Now that I realize what really IS inside that plastic bottle, I will do my best to make better choices and avoid things that are harmful and toxic. And I'm going to buy several copies of the book to give as presents and raise awareness.
Thank you Rick and Bruce for that amazing book!
reillya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
elizaed's review against another edition
4.0
Who knew a book with a rubber duck on it could be so depressing. Discusses how ubiquitous toxins have become in the environment and our homes, and focuses especially on mercury and chemicals found in flame retardants, pesticides and antibacterial products. The authors are Canadian but the content is intended for an American audience as well. The book tries to end on optimistic note by suggesting ways to reduce toxins at home and the environment. Overall a well written book, but be prepared to want to throw out half the stuff in your house and change your shopping habits after reading it.
bridge_overbooked's review against another edition
4.0
The authors of this book are heroes for doing experiments on themselves and explaining the results in a way that is easy to read and interesting to learn about!
"Slow Death by Rubber Duck" is a nonfiction book that explores the hidden dangers of common household items and environmental pollutants. The authors conduct a self-experiment by exposing themselves to everyday chemicals, measuring the impact on their bodies, and discussing the broader implications for human health and the environment. The book serves as a call to action, urging readers to be mindful of the toxins in their daily lives and advocating for greater regulation of harmful substances.
"Slow Death by Rubber Duck" is a nonfiction book that explores the hidden dangers of common household items and environmental pollutants. The authors conduct a self-experiment by exposing themselves to everyday chemicals, measuring the impact on their bodies, and discussing the broader implications for human health and the environment. The book serves as a call to action, urging readers to be mindful of the toxins in their daily lives and advocating for greater regulation of harmful substances.
lana_vivida's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. For such a serious topic and for so many bad, scary and troublesome facts it brings, it reads so easily and it is actually very enjoyable. The fact that authors put themselves through experiements to test what actually happens when they behave like "normal" people is thought provoking and insightful. I've learned a lot, and I already knew a lot beforehand :) Very recommended, especially for people with kids.
rynisreading's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book. Super informative and interesting without being dry or boring... written in a fun, conversational tone that makes it's a pretty quick read.
draeprice's review against another edition
4.0
Very readable, but scary, book. It does have a lot of tips in the last chapter about how to reduce your exposure to dangerous chemicals.
nerdwearingpearls's review against another edition
3.0
A bit slow and overwhelming in its lack of solutions. Got stuck halfway through and abandoned it.
threeseagrass's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book a while ago, but the one thing I vividly remember is being afraid of buying anything plastic and checking and re-checking the ingredients on food lists.
[b:Slow Death by Rubber Duck|6654474|Slow Death by Rubber Duck How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health|Rick Smith|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320464865s/6654474.jpg|6849110] is a story of two men who decide to experiment with toxic substances in everyday items, and document the effects on their health. By tracking the levels of pollution in their bodies before and after ingesting or inhaling toxic substances, [a:Rick Smith|57745|Rick Smith|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg], and his partner-in-crime Bruce Lourie demonstrate the effect different toxins have on our bodies, including possible long-term health risks.
The scariest part about these experiments, is that we are unknowingly in contact with these substances on a daily basis. You could be drinking out of a water bottle filled with BPA, or microwaving tupperware that leaches this toxic substance into your food before you ingest it.
However, the book does not only pose readers with the problems of these substances in their everyday lives, it also explores ways to protect from toxins and other harmful substances. A must read for anyone who is concerned about toxic substances in everyday life.
[b:Slow Death by Rubber Duck|6654474|Slow Death by Rubber Duck How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health|Rick Smith|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320464865s/6654474.jpg|6849110] is a story of two men who decide to experiment with toxic substances in everyday items, and document the effects on their health. By tracking the levels of pollution in their bodies before and after ingesting or inhaling toxic substances, [a:Rick Smith|57745|Rick Smith|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg], and his partner-in-crime Bruce Lourie demonstrate the effect different toxins have on our bodies, including possible long-term health risks.
The scariest part about these experiments, is that we are unknowingly in contact with these substances on a daily basis. You could be drinking out of a water bottle filled with BPA, or microwaving tupperware that leaches this toxic substance into your food before you ingest it.
However, the book does not only pose readers with the problems of these substances in their everyday lives, it also explores ways to protect from toxins and other harmful substances. A must read for anyone who is concerned about toxic substances in everyday life.
xeniafoe's review against another edition
4.0
Very disturbing, very enlightening. This book found me at the right time, as I was taking a long hard look at the hidden ingredients of the foods I eat and generally re-examining my approach to health. It is outrageous that even as conscious consumers it is almost impossible to live a toxin-free life. You might think you're making the right, healthy choices, but it's so hard to actually get things right. This book provides a great initial guide and has gotten me very interested in eliminating the toxins from my life. It is written with humour and personal asides, which I find very helpful in taking in information.