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Book Review: Pathological Altruism, Katrina Bramstedt

Katrina A. Bramstedt

In my work as a transplant ethicist I have always been interested in the topic of altruism. Thus, when a book appeared with the title, Pathological Altruism, I was very intrigued to read it. An exceedingly heavy book, however, arrived in my mailbox, and I admit I was taken aback. But upon reading Pathological Altruism, edited by Barbara Oakley, Ariel Knafo, GuruprasadMadhavan, and David SloanWilson, I was not disappointed. In fact, chapter 1 baited me with the line, “Altruism can be the back door to hell.”