Who's Afraid of Human Cloning?

San Francisco Chronicle

Pence makes an important, largely rational and informative argument for a point of view that has not yet been heard in the uproar over human cloning.

British Medical Journal

Regardless of whether one agrees with Pence's main argument, this is a very readable book.

Booklist

Occasionally, a new book evokes a sigh of relief. Pence . . . wants to know how a consensus on human cloning can be said to have been reached when only one side of the argument about it has appeared.

New Scientist

. . . a rattling good polemic against the rush to condemn human cloning.

CHOICE

Thoughtfully written and persuasive. . . . A fine, up-to-date resource for those who need more information about this subject.

Medical Humanties Review, Fall 1998 - Courtney S. Campbell

(Pence's) argumentative breadth is impressive and accessible. . . . A lively philosphical imagination that pushes the parameters of the cloning debate in new directions.

Religious Studies Review, Vol. 24, N0. 4, October 1998 - Glenn McGee

Who's Afraid is the best of the several recent pro-reprotech books. It is a fine teaching book for a bioehtics course. The tendency is somewhat charming and will keep students awake...

JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Nov. 1998-Vol. 280, No. 20 - Lisa S. parker

Pence's short, readable volume successfully establishes this agenda and proceeds a great distance in examining the assumption, positions, concerns that constitute and constrain the cloning debate.

The Gene Letter

The best-reasoned set of ethical arguments [about human cloning] yet published.

First Things - Jorge Garcia

...written in a lively style...

Teaching Philosophy - Peter Horn

Greg Pence is recognized as a leader in the art of making bioethics accessible without compromise of depth. His writings combine a journalistic lucidity, a strong philosophical knowledge and insights into the topics in his field, and a good teacher's ability to present material clearly. His latest book, Who's Afraid of Human Cloning? exemplifies this yet again. . . . Whether one agrees or disagrees with Pence's conclusion . . . the book should be read by those who teach about ethical dimensions of biomedical technology, particularly reproductive technology, since it catalogs and evaluates lucidly the spectrum of arguments most frequently heard in opposition to those technologies.

Bioethics - David Resnik

A clear-headed analysis of an emotionally charged topic. This book shed more light on this topic than the report by the National Bioethics Advisory Commision or the thousands of hours of television interviews and debates.

Journal of the American Medical Association

At the outset, Pence states that the debate about human cloning is rightfully a philosophical matter because the issue turns not on scientific data but on questions of ethics, human nature, and public policy. Successful resolution of the issue requires the articulation and questioning of underlying assumptions. Pence's short, readable volume successfully establishes this agenda and proceeds a great distance in examining the assumptions, positions, and concerns that constitute and constrain the cloning debate.

Library Journal

With human cloning such a hot topic, there is considerable need for clear explanations of the unresolved and complex science and social and ethical issues. Bioethicist Pence philosophy, Univ. of Alabama tackles the subject head on, arguing for human cloning as a reproductive option. Pence's strengths include his take on the much-hyped issue of genetic overdeterminism, useful analogies to in-vitro fertilization, and coherent reasons for preferring regulation over legislative bans. Unfortunately, the flippant and dismissive tone detracts from his arguments and trivializes difficult issues. The focus on babymaking obscures the opportunity to gain insight into basic human physiology and to advance some of the most promising and jeopardized fetal cell research for applications such as cell-based therapies, gene therapy, and organ and tissue transplantation, all now prohibited from federal funding and essentially unregulated in the private sector. Not an essential purchase, but a timely reminder to examine and update library resources on cloning; librarians could perhaps start with Cloning Human Beings National Bioethics Advisory Board, June 1997 and update with journal articles and books.Mary Chitty, Cambridge Healthtech, Newton, Mass.

Booknews

Contending that a consensus against human cloning has been made without a real debate <'a> la the National Bioethics Advisory Commission's report, Pence (philosophy, U. of Alabama) attempts to redress this one-sidedness by explaining the importance of Dolly ("Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was slightly gray; it didn't have a father, just some borrowed DNA"); debunking "the false seers of assisted human reproduction" and other misconceptions; yet coming out in favor of regulation. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

First Things

...written in a lively style...
— Jorge Garcia

Bioethics

A clear-headed analysis of an emotionally charged topic. This book shed more light on this topic than the report by the National Bioethics Advisory Commision or the thousands of hours of television interviews and debates.
— David Resnik

Teaching Philosophy

Greg Pence is recognized as a leader in the art of making bioethics accessible without compromise of depth. His writings combine a journalistic lucidity, a strong philosophical knowledge and insights into the topics in his field, and a good teacher's ability to present material clearly. His latest book, Who's Afraid of Human Cloning? exemplifies this yet again. . . . Whether one agrees or disagrees with Pence's conclusion . . . the book should be read by those who teach about ethical dimensions of biomedical technology, particularly reproductive technology, since it catalogs and evaluates lucidly the spectrum of arguments most frequently heard in opposition to those technologies.
— Peter Horn, Capital University