The format of the Critical Book Review will be in the form of an essay – with an introduction, a body and a conclusion. The critical book review will be between four to five pages with 1-inch margins, 12-point fonts and double spaced. The body should include 2, 3 or more themes from the questions below. Note – the essay should not be in the form of question & answer.
Integrate some of the ideas in the questions below into body of your essay. No outside research is required for the essay. Be sure to cite in-text and in a works cited section when you cite from this book in your review paper.
For your review – critically examine Macy’s main assertions about the drug epidemic and the role of various actors in it. Some possible questions/issues to address include the following below. Note – you are not limited to the following questions only in your review, but you MUST use 2-3 themes. More than 2-3 would be good as well.
(a) Does Macy have a theme or main argument in her work? If so, what did you see as her main argument? Did you agree with it or not? Why/Why not?
(b) In your judgment is Macy correct in calling the drug problem discussed in her book a public health crisis? If so, does it require robust government action in one form or another? If not, how can one conceptualize the drug issue discussed by Macy?
(c) Which of the individuals profiled here most grabbed your attention & why? Discuss.
(d) What did you find most shocking/interesting in this work and why?
(e) How has the national government addressed the drug epidemic discussed by Macy? How satisfied are you with the federal government’s response? For example has the Congress and/or Presidents stepped in to address this crisis? Discuss.
(f) How have state and local (city) governments responded to the drug epidemic? How satisfied are you with their response? Discuss.
(g) Did you find Macy’s critique of Purdue Pharma as directed solely toward this company or broadly to how American capitalism functions? In either case, did you agree here with Macy or not? Discuss.
(h) What explains government regulatory failure in regulating this drug for Macy? Did you agree?
(i) Politically, what options does the author suggest for people to hold corporate interests such as Purdue Pharma accountable? What did you think of the author’s suggestions?
(j) How effective (or not) has the legal system been in addressing this epidemic and holding physicians and Purdue Pharma accountable? In your judgment, are courts a useful way to address this epidemic? Discuss.
(k) How well does Macy address the agency of individuals how have fallen victim to this epidemic? Do physicians and Purdue Pharma bear all accountability? What do you think?
(l) Given the partisan political divide on most policy issues in the country today, how much does partisanship play a role in addressing the drug epidemic? For example, do Democrats offer different solutions than Republicans? Discuss.
(m) As a public policy problem in this country, where do you situate the drug epidemic as described by Macy? For example, is it more or less important than other pressing policy issues such as cost of living, unemployment, and others? Discuss.
(n) Are there linkages to the drug problem with other problems in American society – such as joblessness, poverty, lack of access to health care? Or is the drug problem as described by Macy unique and would exist regardless of the above issues? What do you think? Discuss.
Attached is an example of an old book review they did in my professors class years ago.
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