An Air That Kills: How the Asbestos Poisoning of Libby, Montana, Uncovered a National Scandal
Product Description
An Air That Kills is the horrifying true story of the decades-long poisoning of a small town and the definitive exposé of asbestos in America-all told by the prize-winning journalists who broke it.
This is the story of miners who were unaware of the toxins they took into their lungs, then brought home in their clothes-infecting their families. It is the story of the ongoing use of asbestos in products ranging from insulation to cat litter. It is the stor... More >>
An Air That Kills: How the Asbestos Poisoning of Libby, Montana, Uncovered a National Scandal
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I am in the middle of this book and I find it very compelling. I was interested in customer reviews and when I read the last review on how the story is not yet complete because many of the victims of this scandal do not have health insurance, I felt compelled to write.
Everyone will be making a profit on this story. WB Grace made their money and now the media will make their money. While I agree that the authors have done a wonderful public service uncovering this environmental disaster, I would like to suggest that a substantial amount of the money made on this book (and the perhaps subsequent movie) could be donated to the victims. If not for their illness, there would be no story. I was recently appalled to learn about the monies that were made by media stars on the Watergate scandal while Deep Throat (whoe courage made it all possible) was not doing quite as well. For the media to make money off these stories without providing for the victims is not right either.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is a fine, informative book, but its odd voice and emphases will make sense if you understand from the outset that the author is the pivotal character. It’s an elaboration of a news story, reported in journalistic style, tracing the peregrination of a journalist in the third person. The journalist in the story, it turns out, is the journalist telling the story.
That’s not criticism. It’s a hell of a story, which he knows better than anyone, at least objectively. He can’t very well write himself out of it completely but also wants not to obscure any of the tale’s colorful primary characters. Third person narration is one technique for accomplishing that. It leads to subtle tells, though, like details in a mystery that foretell which clues will later prove significant.
If anyone out there still believes the fallacy (oh heck! it’s not a fallacy, it’s a bald-faced lie) that government regulation and oversight is unnecessary, that market forces will curb the rapacious, homicidal proclivities of corporations, read this book. Of course, if you still believe that, someone will probably have to read it to you.
Rating: 3 / 5
I highly recommend this book. I was interested because I had just visited my friend in Montana. She is a fifth generation Montanan and we had driven past large mines throughout the state. I instantly became engulfed in the book and the individual’s struggle for their lives and legislative justice. We see all the commercials on t.v. for patients suffering from Mesothelioma and how to contact a law firm. I now understand why. Companies were allowed for over 50 years to knowingly kill their employees from asbestos poisoning. They are allowed to sell asbestos as a product in the U.S. and infect consumers as well. Asbestos is still being mined and sold today. It will kill people for many years to come. Read this book and also educate yourself on House of Rep bill 6903 that is trying to outlaw asbestos as of Oct 2008. There is still time to support it and save lives
Rating: 5 / 5
The plight of the people of Libby and the other sites around the country is very sad and you want to hate WR Grace and the previous mine owners and operators. While their reponsibility is not in doubt, the book could have been improved by more information about what exactly they knew and when. I’m sure Grace et al. did not cooperate with the authors, but the extensive litigation should have made some of this information available.
Rating: 4 / 5
Take time to read this well written and informative book. The story is tragic and will give the reader much to contemplate.
Rating: 5 / 5