"Cures" author

by Meditatinglibrarian@evpl on Monday, January 26 2009, 10:19am. Viewed 934 times.
EVPL Blogs » Blogs » Books Blog » "Cures" author

One of the challenges in making decisions about how to spend the Library's materials budget is balancing public demand with issues such as accuracy of information, quality of writing, subject matter...  Kevin Trudeau's books have been in popular demand here in Vanderburgh County (and many other places) the past few years.  We've purchased numerous copies because of that demand, even though we knew the information in them is questionable.  One of our rationalizations, besides demand, is that maybe if the Library has copies it will help save our customers from purchasing the books.

I do want you all to know the latest from the Federal Trade Commission, however.  Trudeau has been ordered to pay $37 million for violating a 2004 order regarding false claims in his weight loss "cures" book.  He has also been barred from publishing anything or creating infomercials for the next three years.  Here is a link to the story at the Federal Trade Commission site.

What is your opinion about whether or not the Library should have these books?

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Comments (2)

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gawell@evpl wrote
on Tuesday, January 27 2009, 12:17pm

If a false claim is to be a cause for not having these books, what about other books which contain a false claim?

What about warnings for books that have false claims?

And how does one go about barring someone from publishing?

Maybe authors need some sort of malpractice insurance, might be a big boost for the economy. Sounds like Trudeau could afford another hefty premium, not so sure about some others.

I have a terrible fear planted by Ray Bradbury and reinforced by Spielberg and Lucas.

My opinion is let me decide what I want and sometimes need to read, allow me to make requests. As far as demand goes if you don't give the public what they want, they will go where they can get it. What a monumental task this could turn into sifting through every page inspecting for

"accuracy of information, quality of writing, and subject matter." I suppose if one limits themselves to diet 'cures'

and other court order violators a regulating project like this won't get too far out of hand. Maybe some federal bank regulators could offer their expert advice.

Sorry, I think this struck a nerve. And it hurts.

Meditatinglibrarian@evpl wrote
on Friday, February 6 2009, 10:05am

Thanks for your comments, gawell. I feel your pain.  I will continue to "err" on the side of providing what people want and supporting Intellectual Freedom.  As a colleague said, "Sometimes Intellectual Freedom means giving people the freedom to pursue ignorance."  Part of the role of public libraries is supporting the individual's right to haave access to ideas and information representing diverse points of view.