{"product_id":"fitter-happier-the-eugenic-strain-in-twentieth-century-cancer-rhetoric-9780817361341","title":"Fitter, Happier: The Eugenic Strain in Twentieth-Century Cancer Rhetoric","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFitter, Happier: The Eugenic Strain in Twentieth-Century Cancer Rhetoric\u003c\/i\u003e is a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between cancer rhetoric, American ideals, and eugenic influences in the twentieth century. This groundbreaking work delves into the paradoxical interplay between acknowledging the genuine threat of cancer and the ingrained American ethos of confidence and control. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Agnew's meticulous research traces the topic's historical context, unveiling how cancer discourses evolved from a hushed personal concern to a public issue thanks to the rise of cancer research centers and advocacy organizations. However, she unearths a troubling dimension to these discussions--subtle yet persistent eugenic ideologies that taint cancer arguments and advocacy groups. By dissecting prevailing cancer narratives, Agnew brings into focus how ideals rooted in eliminating imperfections and embracing progress converge with concerns for safeguarding societal fitness. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFitter, Happier\u003c\/i\u003e scrutinizes the military origins and metaphors that permeate government policies and medical research, the transformation of cancer's association with melancholy into a rallying cry for a positive outlook, and the nuanced implications of prevention-focused dialogues. Reflecting on the varied experiences of actual cancer patients, Agnew resists the neat assimilation of these stories into a eugenic framework. Agnew's insights prompt readers to contemplate the societal meanings of disease and disability as well as how language constructs our shared reality. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLois Peters Agnew\u003c\/b\u003e is professor in the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition at Syracuse University. She is author of \u003ci\u003eThomas De Quincey: British Rhetoric's Romantic Turn\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eOutward, Visible Propriety: Stoic Philosophy and Eighteenth-Century British Rhetorics\u003c\/i\u003e, and numerous journal articles. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"University Alabama Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50457495765266,"sku":"9780817361341","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_386b8dbb-49a2-4d96-be54-073ce97e67ec.jpg?v=1729930751","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/fitter-happier-the-eugenic-strain-in-twentieth-century-cancer-rhetoric-9780817361341","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}