Review

Although Marmor's essays offer brilliant insights into the rhetoric of health policy, they also provide clear descriptions of how health care systems actually work and the problems they face. The essay on 'How Not To Think About Managed Care' offers an excellent analysis of how managed care plans in fact function. It is particularly useful for helping students understand this complex subject. --Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, Washington and Lee University School of Law

Marmor is committed to universal access to quality care and has great sympathy for those who work in health systems. He is also a great skeptic, an essential characteristic of good public servants. He provides practical guidance, particularly to public service advisers, and also to health managers, professional service providers and media commentators. He encourages all to test the claims of the reform advocates, to consider the political and other interests involved, and to take into account the context in which different national health systems operate, and their distinct histories and cultures. --Andrew Podger, National President, Institute of Public Administration Australia

This collection of essays showcases Marmor at his most trenchant and irreverent best; skewering sacred cows, debunking health care fads, and exposing the shallowness of managerial jargon indiscriminately applied to health care. Only one whose sharp eye has been trained for years on the way health care delivery has and hasn't worked all over the world would have enough perspective to write this book. Marmor's sharp eye is matched by a sharp intellect and tongue, and the result is not only illuminating, but pure pleasure to read. --Frances Miller, Boston University School of Law

Review

Marmor is committed to universal access to quality care and has great sympathy for those who work in health systems. He is also a great skeptic, an essential characteristic of good public servants. He provides practical guidance, particularly to public service advisers, and also to health managers, professional service providers and media commentators. He encourages all to test the claims of the `reform' advocates, to consider the political and other interests involved, and to take into account the context in which different national health systems operate, and their distinct histories and cultures.

His latest book is refreshingly candid in exposing policy contradictions and irrationalities, and it is well worth a read ... The relevance of the arguments presented is now almost greater than before ... One thing that strikes me is how well Marmor's arguments stand the test of time.

His latest book is refreshingly candid in exposing policy contradictions and irrationalities, and it is well worth a read ... The relevance of the arguments presented is now almost greater than before ... One thing that strikes me is how well Marmor's arguments stand the test of time.