User talk:OlavN/The Body Electric (book)
Notability and sources
editThe notability of the book The Body Electric may be based upon the notability of its main author Robert O. Becker:
- Robert O. Becker was a prominent scientist, as evidenced by the number of peer-reviewed articles he has published. (The 33 articles for which he was the first author must evidently be listed in the Becker article - as a defensive measure. Writing that a PubMed search gave this list, can of course not be labelled as Original Research.)
- He wrote the book The Body Electric to summarize his research, so the book is notable.
- The book must be recognized as an authoritative source for the research results given in the article. (Internet sources can of course not be demanded for the details in pre-Internet research.)
Some notability indicators for the book:
- The official SUNY Upstate Department of Orthopedic Surgery Research History gives this book as the first source for Becker's research there. (This history also states that Becker was twice nominated for a Nobel prize.)
- The American Medical Student Association placed the book on the organization's national curriculum list for medical students.
- The book was quoted 440 times by other papers on Google scholar. (April 2012)
The publisher (Harper Collins) lists these reviews on the cover of the book:
"An astounding, thought-provoking book"
"This is truly a fascinating history of an important area of investigation, and an accurate exposé of the politics of medicine and research. I highly recommend this reading for everyone interested in the future direction of medicine."
-Journal of Ultramolecular Medicine
"The Body Electric is a gripping account of science at the cutting edge. The writing is clear and vivid, and the story - about one man's quest for knowledge in the face of government resistance - is sure to chill."
"Facilely written, meticulously edited and illustrated with skill."
"This definitive book... sheds light on mysteries of cancer, acupuncture, and psychiatric disorders."
"A highly informative book on regeneration for educated lay readers."
"This book is well written and very informative, with many thoughtful ideas about the relationship of electromagnetism and electricity to basic life processes, medical care, and environmental concerns. Also, the politics of the world of medical research are presented in a realistic light."
As the book was published in 1985, these reviews are not accessible on Internet.
The book is based on generally acknowledged physical theories. Nothing fringe here.