"Mercy killing," "assisting a suicide," "planning your own death," and "euthanasia" are once again high-profile issues. Recent popular referendums have sought to legalize doctor-assisted suicide, while best-selling books have been published about how to kill yourself. In short, Americans are searching for more control over their own mortality. Hemlock's Cup is the first history of the active euthanasia movement in America, as represented by its most visible proponent, the Hemlock Society. Donald W. Cox traces the growth of the society from its beginnings as a three-person cause to its current world-wide fame. The work of Derek Humphrey, the society's founder, is reviewed and the publicity surrounding Dr. Jack Kevorkian and his controversial "suicide machine" is discussed. Cox also addresses the Washington and California initiatives to legalize doctor-assisted suicide and the ethical questions they pose. He reflects on the impact of the Quinlan and Cruzan cases to establish the "right to die" for all Americans and he explores the reasons for the delays in enacting living-will laws in various states. In addition, Cox examines the significant connections among AIDS, abortion, and assisted suicide.

Hemlock's Cup

Self-Help

Cox, Donald W.

Death & Grief

Prometheus

From Library Journal
In one of the most successful prosecutions ever of organized crime, 17 members of the Philadelphia Mafia, including boss Nicky Scarfo, received long prison terms for murder and racketeering in 1988. Cox's book is based primarily on the trials he attended. The result is an adequate overview, but one which is repetitious and tedious at times. His good guys/bad guys approach, while not inappropriate (these Mafioso were very bad guys), does lack the vivid, human particulars supplied by Joseph Salerno, a witness against Scarfo, in his and Stephen J. Rivele's The Plumber ( LJ 1/90). Neither book is first rate, but this is a more complete account of the trial and is suitable for organized crime collections.
- Gregor A. Preston, Univ. of California Lib., Davis
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Mafia Wipeout: How the Law Put Away an Entire Crime Family

Spi Books

Doomsday Asteroid: Can We Survive?

Sixty-five million years ago, a gigantic asteroid collided with Earth. The resulting dust clouds and fire storm blotted out the sunlight, destroying much of the animal, plant, and fish life - most notably, the dinosaurs. What would happen if another giant asteroid found itself on a collision course with Earth? This is the most comprehensive current book for general readers to address the threats and potential benefits of asteroids. Space experts Cox and Chestek explain the major differences between comets and asteroids and describe what might happen should the Earth suffer a collision with either one of them, a distinct future possibility.

Science & Math

James H. Chestek, P.E.

Astronomy & Space Science

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