Tues. Jan. 30

We've been tempted, upon occasion, to sign up for one of the myriad of medical tests offered around Boston by the gazillion or so hospitals and universities. Like one of the sleep clinic things, maybe. So, we made a call. Forget about it. The stipulations, the restrictions, the modest stipend, the very slim chance of solving the problem. Even the thought of going through the program and - being a journalist - writing about it held little appeal. But that's privileged little us. We can conjure up Ron and Nancy from the '80s and "Just Say No!" But what about impoverished people in Third World nations? They're not exactly in that position and they are fodder for the pharm industry, which is trying to develop drugs for the profitable First World countries. If this doesn't induce some sort of nausea and guilt, you're just not thinking. Takes us back to what we know about the Holocaust and the German "doctors" experiments upon the Jews. Sonia Shah spent several years in Africa and elsewhere investigating this world and came back with "The Body Hunters: Testing New Drugs onthe World's Poorest Patients." She'll be reading at Brookline Booksmith Tuesday Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. Free.

279 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-566-6660 brooklinebooksmith.com