Sociologist James D. Slack lays his superb scholarly reputation on the line in Abortion, Execution and the Consequences of Taking Life. He writes not from afar in the ivory tower, but close at hand in the trenches of life-and-death decisions. His extensive interviews with participants on all sides of these life-and-death dramas make Abortion, Execution and the Consequences of Taking Life a must-read. Indeed, no other scholar in sociology, political science, or psychology comes even remotely close to Slack's fair-and-balanced scholarly research when life and death hang in the balance.” —Charles W. Dunn, Professor Emeritus, Clemson University “It is authentically cutting edge, and even a bit avant-garde . . . Definitely worth the read.” —Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law “James D. Slack has given a lucid but disturbing account of the public philosophy in America . . . will challenge you to think anew about abortion, execution, and the consequences of taking life.” —Donald C. Menzel, former president of the American Society for Public Administration; president, Ethics Management International "This is essential reading for anyone desiring to understand Death Policy in the twenty-first century." —Jack DeSario, University of Mount Union “This is a must read. I strongly recommend this newly revised and updated edition.” —Stephen M. King, Taylor University “James Slack has written an extraordinary book of profound relevance for our time. This second edition will be of interest to scholars and students alike . . . Slack has managed to produce a concise, well-researched second edition that is at once scholarly and highly readable. . . . The argument is highly persuasive without being ideological or didactic, and displays an acute moral sensitivity and humaneness that is a welcome departure from the cold utilitarianism that marks so many treatments of the subject.” —Gregory Butler, New Mexico State University On the First Edition: "Slack has produced an important book that energetically calls on readers to look beyond benefit-cost and cost-effectiveness calculations, reflect, and seek to ground public policy and administration firmly in morality." —David H. Rosenbloom, Public Administration Review On the First Edition: “Don’t judge a book by its cover. Or even its first chapter, for that matter. Or, at least, don’t judge this particular book that way. If you do, you may never get to the real story that has been written by UAB professor James D. Slack, and that would be your loss. . . . Abortion, Execution and the Consequences of Taking Life, despite its ‘academic’ title and beyond its ‘academic’ first chapter, is a compelling, enlightening examination of both sides of the abortion divide, the capital punishment debate and the hard (and usually deserved) life lived by those sentenced to a life in prison. . . . The success of this book. . . is that Slack thoroughly examines the issues across the spectrum, and he does it honestly and objectively, regardless of his personal views, through dozens of conversations and first-hand observations. . . . [L]ike any skillful writer, Slack takes us there, too. We overhear his conversations; we see what he sees and smell what he smells. Some of this is not pleasant. Maybe most of it. But it is real” —Joey Kennedy, BirminghamNews On the First Edition: "On the matters of abortion, capital punishment, and other life and death topics that commonly take center stage in political debate, "Abortion, Execution, and the Consequences of Taking Life" is a read very much worth considering." —Midwest Book Review On the First Edition: "James Slack has written a brilliant book. Moving effortlessly all the way from conceptually sophisticated political theology to the gritty details of prison existence, he shows that life can be taken in several ways and makes a powerful and compelling case against abortion and capital punishment, and makes a powerful and compelling case in favor of life imprisonment without parole. Highly recommended reading." —Murray Jardine, Jane Dickson Lanier Professor, Department of Political Science, Auburn University
