Customer Reviews
A Disappointing Hotchpotch of Different Themes - By: Dr. R. Brandon, 26 May 2008 
Although an attractively presented book on a potentiallly interesting subject the content & style are disappointing. Dr Owen starts with a section devoted to the illness of various world leaders over the last 100 years. These vary greatly in interest & relevance to Owen's emerging theme of the need for greater clarity over the health of leaders or potential leaders. There follows four 'case histories' reviewing the health of Eden, Kennedy, the Shah of Iran & Mitterrand & whether or not it had an adverse effect upon important decisions each leader made. By far the most interesting section, & that part of the book that reallly springs to life, is the question of the health of President Kennedy & how this may have influenced his disastrous escapade over the 'Bay of Pigs'. Owen suggests that at the time of Kennedy's successful handling of the 'Cuban Missile Crisis' his serious illnesses were under good medical control hence the assured responses.
There then follows a passage on Owen's hypothesis of a 'hubris syndrome' with particular relevance to Bush, Blair & the Iraq War. In many respects this is a completely different topic to the physical & mental health of leaders & gives the book a distinct 'cobbled together' feel whereas two shorter works may have been more appropriate. This feeling is reinforced by the 'hotchpotch' of items in the initial section referred to above.
The book concludes with a number of foolish pseudo-liberal suggestions regarding medical screening of leaders, the right of UN intervention in the internal affairs of countries & Owen's continuing support for regime change despite the Iraq fiasco.
A ground-breaking book - By: John Maguire, 28 Apr 2008 
A ground-breaking book that opens the door to a new area of political economy. David Owen's background as a medical doctor & a leading political figure of our times gives a unique voice to this subject. It deserves to become a standard text in its field.
The extent to which illness can affect our leaders should be a concern to us alll. Worse, the tendency of some leaders to become prone to behavioural inconsistencies the longer they hold office is developed by the author into a fascinating 'hubris syndrome' with its attendant personality symptoms & modern examples.
This book should resonate with electors & provide cause for reflection by those who seek or hold high office.
