Nicotine Fiends
America's Tragic Love Affair with a Wicked Weed
From the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, cigarette smoking was at its peak in the U.S. Nearly half of all Americans smoked. More than half of all men smoked. Doctors and nurses smoked — a lot. Millions of people were affected. This is the story of how this came to be and how we resolved to put an end to it.
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About the Book
One of the Most ImportantPublic Health Stories in American History
Smoking was once accepted far more than it is today and was often considered "normal." It dominated our lives and our culture. Ashtrays were standard equpment in homes, because you never knew when a guest might light up a cigarette. Smoking was everywhere -- our homes, our workplaces, our cars, our retaurants, in the movies and on television, and even our hospitals. And the health of millions of Americans was seriously impacted.
Filled with colorful illustrations, historic cigarette advertising and photos, "Nicotine Fiends" provides an entertaining and informative look at a period in history when cigarettes and smoking tightened their grip on society and made it increasingly difficult to escape the allure of the highly addictive tobacco plant.
Available soon in paperback or e-book on Amazon.com.
A Glimpse Inside
Illustrations from the Book
Inside the Book
Key Topics Explored
Tobacco's Early Years in America
How tobacco took root in American culture from the very beginning
The Creation of the Modern Cigarette Industry
The rise of mass production and the birth of Big Tobacco
Early Cigarette Advertising
The campaigns and slogans that made smoking glamorous and desirable
Industries Affected by the Growth of Smoking
How tobacco's rise shaped American business and commerce
How Wars Impacted Smoking's Popularity
The role of wartime culture in spreading cigarette use across the nation
The Influence of Movies and Television
How Hollywood and TV normalized and glamorized smoking for generations
The Influence of Sports and Political Figures
Athletes and politicians who shaped — and were shaped by — tobacco culture
Notable Americans Whose Health Was Impacted
Famous figures whose lives were changed by the consequences of smoking
The Marlboro Story
How one brand became the best-selling cigarette in the world
More Addictive than Cocaine or Heroin
The science behind nicotine's grip — and why so many found it impossible to quit
Candy Cigarettes
How the tobacco industry marketed its image to children
The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke
The science and politics behind one of public health's most important discoveries
The Fallacy of "Safer" Cigarettes
Industry claims, filtered cigarettes, and the truth behind the marketing
Government's Response to Smoking's Impact
Legislation, regulation, and the long road to public health policy
Key Court Cases
Landmark legal battles that changed the tobacco industry forever
How Society Began to Change
The cultural shift that turned smoking from normal to stigmatized
New Health Threats from E-Cigarettes and Marijuana
The modern chapter of America's complicated relationship with smoking
Generational Impact
How decades of tobacco use shaped the health and habits of American families
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