MORRIS FISHBEIN, M. D.

The compleat Dr. Fishbein (although this close to six hundred page book has been edited down to half its original length) covers his eighty years of activity, primarily as elder statesman and senior spokesman of the A.M.A. Actually he began to write for the A.M.A. at a very early age (21) and he has never stopped; for along with his later position as editor of its Journal he also wrote book reviews, many, many magazine articles (from the old American Mercury to the Reader's Digest) and to books with which everyone is familiar. Here he records, from his vested interest in private medicine, A.M.A. stances on everything from quackery in the '20's to Social Security Legislation in the '30's on to the greater dissension of the late '40's when there was far more internal struggle within the A.M.A. and the attempt to oust its ""kingpin."" Which failed. Other interests -- public speaking and debating; bridge, golf; theatre; travel; philanthropies; and of course his family and many friends. Dr. Fishbein, always with supporting testimonials from others inside and outside the profession, is not self-effacing but his tone is genial. The publishers make a popular prognosis but the book is quite voluminous and anticipates a parti pris position on what he has represented during his long and unquestionably busy life.