The New York Times - Abigail Zuger M.D.
Dr. Goldman takes the long, long view in Too Much of a Good Thing, arguing that many common modern ills result from the surpassingly excellent genes that allowed our species to endure over the millenniums. Only very recently did these survivor genes turn on us, creating the collection of overweight, hypertensive, jumpy and miserable individuals we are today. Some of his argument will probably be familiar, at least when it comes to the question of why we have all become so fat. Less has been written about other areas of human physiology where our genetic programming seems to butt up against the circumstances of modern life. Dr. Goldman integrates it all into a complex narrative—a little tough sledding at points, but still thought-provoking.
From the Publisher
"In this highly original and profound book, Lee Goldman describes how the same physical traits that evolved to ensure our survival are now working against us. For anyone interested in their own and their family's well-being, Too Much of a Good Thing is a must read!"—Eric Kandel, Winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, University Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, author of The Age of Insight and In Search of Memory
"A fascinating look at the health problems that plague us, illuminating why they happen and what to do about them."
—Jerome Groopman, M.D., Pamela Hartzband, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Authors of Your Medical Mind: How to Decide What is Right For You
"This book, written from a deeply expert yet broad medical viewpoint, sets current medical challenges into their larger contexts of our human history and biological pre-history, to provide a crisply related and refreshingly clear-eyed perspective on much that ails us these days. And throughout the book, I also enjoyed the fascinating snippets on topics ranging from platelets to percentages of paleolithic food components to polyandry to presidential obesity."
—Elizabeth Blackburn, Winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
"Lee Goldman is a pioneer in medicine in the best sense of the word: his 'Goldman Criteria' and 'Goldman Index' are in the vernacular of daily practice. As an educator and writer, he has influenced many: as just one example his visionary ideas created the first hospitalist movement in America. In this provocative and elegant book, Goldman examines the very survival traits that have brought our species this far. It could be that these traits are now killing us-the arguments, insights and solutions offered here are profound. It is a book that I think only someone with the stature and perspective of Lee Goldman could write. It's an important book for our times."
—Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone
"An interesting explanation for our current medical woes....Goldman presents a convincing case for the power of our genetics and explains why conquering these inclinations is so difficult."—Candace Smith, Booklist
"Goldman goes beyond diet issues to talk about survival mechanisms that worked well for thousands of generations but have now turned against human health."—Nancy Szokan, Washington Post
