Books: After All the Smoke Cleared

An in-the-trenches look at how the war against Big Tobacco got won

Old thinking: If you smoke cigarettes, what ever happens to your heart and lungs is your own damned fault. Cigarettes are a legal product, voluntarily purchased and consumed. Don't come whining to the courts when you see a shadow on the X ray. Caveat fumor.

New Thinking: Big Tobacco knowingly sells a defective product that, when used exactly as intended (i.e., you smoke the thing), addicts the consumer to nicotine and eventually sickens and kills him. Big Tobacco should pay billions in damages, not only to smokers and their families but also to state governments to cover the smokers' Medicaid expenses.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!