Barron H. Lerner's Blog

There is a lot of great stuff to say about Goodreads, but here is an unfortunate thing. People give your book crummy ratings without even posting a review. So why would you do that? Like other authors, I spend years trying to craft books that are innovative, easy to read and, hopefully, meaningful. But these gratuitous negative ratings take one click of the computer and dilute the higher ratings and the actual thoughtful reviews. My new book, "The Good Doctor," for example, has several two-star ratings here but the New York Times called it "exquisitely insightful." So who do you believe?

Here is the review of my new book, "The Good Doctor," that appeared in the June 20, 2014 edition of the New York Times. I was honored to received not only such a positive review but also one that truly appreciated what I tried to accomplish in writing the book.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/17/hea...

I am so pleased and honored that 110 of you have listed my forthcoming book, "The Good Doctor: A Father, A Son and the Evolution of Medical Ethics," as "to read." (It comes out in May.) I realize some of you may never get around to it, but that is OK. We authors all want a little buzz around our book (it's not often easy) and your interest will surely help.

This is what Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of "The Emperor of All Maladies," said about the book:

"Barron Lerner's marvelous book--a deeply intimate story about his father and the practice of medicine--touches on some of the most profound issues in medicine today: autonomy, medical wisdom, empathy, paternalism and the evolving roles of the doctor and patient. This is one of the most thoughtful and provocative books that I have read in a long time, and I suspect that generations of doctors and patients will find it just as thought provoking."

Thanks again.

Barron Lerner

Hi--

I am seeing if I can post a blog and, if so, if I can find it. So please ignore this unless you want to tell me you saw it, and where you saw it, which might help me. At times, I am confused by what Goodreads does and does not post.

Thanks and sorry,

Barron Lerner

Today's New York Times contains an article about efforts by legislators in Massachusetts to reverse a 1984 law that banned "happy hours" at bars in the state. As someone who just published a book on the history of drunk driving control, I was disturbed to read about this. Laws that ban happy hours aim to stop binge drinking and the problems that result from it, including drunk driving. Although it can be argued that bar owners should have the right to sell as much alcohol as they can and that increased alcohol sales will help the economy, it is wrong to foster activities that put the lives of innocent pedestrians and drivers at increased risk. Let's encourage drinking for pleasure, not binge drinking.

Links:

www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/us/massach...

www.amazon.com/One-Road-Drunk-Driving...