We have a number of very important stories this week: a paper in Nature about gene-editing human embryos, a rise in euthanasia figures in the Netherlands, some appalling news about commercial surrogacy in India… plus a great interview with Yale bioethicist Lydia S. Dugdale about death and dying. 

But, for better or worse, this is a day for shameless self-promotion. Sorry. I have just published a book, The Great Human Dignity Heist, a collection of short essays on topics ranging from IVF to paleo-archaeology to polio epidemics to euthanasia and cannibalism. Its lurid sub-title is How bioethicists are trashing the foundations of Western civilization. 

If you live in Sydney, you are invited to a book launch at 1pm on this coming Thursday, August 10, at Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney. Professor Margaret Somerville will be the main speaker. (RSVP to mcook@mercatornet.com.) 

And of course, if you cannot make it, feel free to order a book online

In Australia from the publisher, Connor Court
https://goo.gl/V1vF8V 

In the US and Canada from Amazon (feel free to leave a review of the book!)   
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Human-Dignity-Heist-Bioethicists/dp/1925501469/ 

Cheers

Michael Cook
Book launch in Sydney
1501500660
great human dignity heist