In The Decision Tree, Thomas Goetz proposes a new strategy for thinking about health, one that applies cutting-edge technology and sound science to put us at the center of the equation. An individual’s Decision Tree begins with genomics, where $400 and a test tube of spit provides a peek at how your DNA influences your health. It taps self-monitoring and collaborative health tools, where iPhone applications and next-generation monitoring gadgets can help individuals successfully change their behavior, once and for all. And it turns to new screening techniques that detect diseases like cancer and diabetes far earlier and with far better prospects for our health. Full of thoughtful, groundbreaking reporting on the impact personalized medicine will have on the average patient, The Decision Tree will show you how to take advantage of this new frontier in health care.
“In an era where the explosion of medical information has far outstripped our ability to process it, we need a new way to make health choices. Goetz shows that way with a clarity, verve, and intellectual depth that is both fascinating and wise. This book will change the way you live and the way you think.”
—Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail and Free
“Thomas Goetz writes more clearly and presciently about innovations in predictive medicine and the future of healthcare than anyone on the planet.”
—Dean Ornish, MD, founder and president, Preventive Medicine Research Institute; clinical professor of medicine, University of California, San Francisco; and author, The Spectrum and Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease
“When should we get a CT scan? Why does Weight Watchers work? Should we be scared about the advent of personal genomics? Which cancer screening tests are worth the cost? Thomas Goetz takes us to the frontiers of modern medicine to answer these and other pressing questions, providing patients and doctors with a new framework for thinking about medical decisions. This book will change the way you think about your health.”
—Jonah Lehrer, author of How We Decide and Proust Was a Neuroscientist
“The Decision Tree is a game-changer. A brilliant synthesis of science, public health, and practical advice that puts each of us at the center of our own healthcare revolution. The best decision you can make? Read this important book.”
—Dr. David Kessler, former commissioner of the FDA, author of The End of Overeating
THOMAS GOETZ is the executive editor of WIRED magazine, where he has written several cover stories, and a frequent contributor to the New York Times Magazine. He holds a masters in public health.
