One of the great novels of the twentieth century. Also one of the most powerful expressions of existentialism and humanism ever written. I reviewed this book for the Narrative Medicine Series in 2003. See also the article A Hero for Our Times published in The Guardian.
The Plague is an allegorical novel set in the [...]
This is apparently a week for neuroscience. Just finished listening to a fascinating interview with Temple Grandin about autism, humane treatment of livestock and the connections between the two. Her new book is Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best life for Animals.
Just prior I read an article titled Some Protect the Ego by Working [...]
Philip K. Dick is less well known than other science fiction authors of his generation (Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein), but today he enjoys a growing reputation as his novels are adapted to the screen. Of these, A Scanner Darkly is the most recent, the most personal, and perhaps the most important. It is a semi-autobiographical story [...]
Amusing Ourselves to Death
Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
Neil Postman
This important book helps explain the current state of our society, media, and education. Postman begins by contrasting the two great futurist novels, 1984 and Brave New World. He concludes that Huxley made the better prediction—no need for a police state when we have television!
His basic [...]
Last Days of the Incas
Kim MacQuarrie
It is serendipitous that this book came out within a few months of my trip to South America. A history book that reads like a novel, it provided much needed context for what I’d seen. It begins and ends with Machu Picchu, from about 1400 to the present. The story really starts with [...]
Just back from attending this short course by the master of “intelligent design” himself Edward Tufte. It was well worth the time and effort! I’d recommend it to anyone who prepares or presents information with a computer (ie, just about everyone!). His insights are numerous and often challenge conventional wisdom. His bottom line is to [...]
With America “at war” on several fronts, I was stimulated to recall this wonderful and important book by the eminent historian Barbara Tuchman. The first line says it all…
A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests.
More Tuchman Quotations…
I’ve been a big fan of Kurt Andersen’s Studio360 over the years, and the American Icons series includes some of his best work. His musings on Moby-Dick, (check out Moby-Dude!), The Wizard of Oz, Appalachian Spring, and Emily Dickinson are my favorites.
This is one of the scariest books I’ve read in a long time—and it’s not fiction! Published in 2002, it chronicles the strange tale of Smallpox, its world-wide eradication, and the lingering threat of its return. Millions are alive today thanks to the efforts of D. A. Henderson (2) (who received the Presidential Medal of [...]
My first Web publishing effort. A series of short chapters describing medicine in the late 1800s and early 1990s. Dr. Rohlf was my grandfather’s mentor and partner. He was known as “Uncle Bill” in my family, although he wasn’t a blood relation.
Visit the site at gmd.rathe.org!