Dr Marcy Darnovsky, one of the most important voices on this subject, describes this new book as, "a terrific introduction to human genetic engineering and the fraught issues it raises. ... [It] covers the cloning of people and pets, "transhumanism," eugenics, sex selection, designer babies, gene doping, stem cells, and more. ... The book's appearance is engaging, with a table or pull quote or something else visually interesting on almost every page. The writing is top-notch -- entertaining, even funny and intermittently irreverent, but without ever losing sight of the seriousness and importance of the subject matter... I recommend this book very highly. "

Only published in the US so far but you can get this timely book via Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1560256958
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HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING: A GUIDE FOR ACTIVISTS, SKEPTICS, AND THE VERY PERPLEXED
by Pete Shanks
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Ina Howard / 646-437-1222 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pete Shanks has written a layperson's introduction to the scientific, political, and social dimensions of human genetic engineering. From the prospect - or specter, depending on your perspective - of designer babies, to the predicted "gene doping" of athletes, to the controversial stem cell research that promises to cure Alzheimer’s disease and other ailments, human genetic engineering is a topic we are all familiar with, though few of us understand exactly what it is.

Human Genetic Engineering includes explanations of both the science and politics of stem cell research and cloning, the failures of gene therapy, a comparison of rhetoric from proponents and detractors of the science, and much more. The book also includes a brief history of eugenics, showing how it is relevant today, descriptions of the main players promoting and opposing human genetic engineering, and crucially, an overview of the lack of effective regulation in the United States.

The material is clearly indexed with subheadings, extracts, and extensive lists of resources for further information. With a light touch and a careful balance of arguments from all sides of the debate, this is an indispensable book for parents, seniors, medical and social scientists, teachers, students, journalists, politicians, activists and everyone else interested in the topic.

Pete Shanks is a writer and grassroots activist who has worked for peace and justice on three continents over four decades. He is currently a researcher for the Center for Genetics and Society. He was born in Singapore and grew up in England where he received a Masters degree from Oxford University. He now lives in Santa Cruz, CA and is available for interviews in person in the Bay Area or by phone and satellite nationwide.

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING
A GUIDE FOR ACTIVISTS, SKEPTICS, AND THE VERY PERPLEXED
by Pete Shanks
Nation Books / June 2005
ISBN 1560256958 / $16.95 / 327 pp.