Tom Morris’s compact book felt like a tuneup for my own citizenship. It has helped me find my own way of becoming the best American I can be, to be, aTom Morris’s compact book felt like a tuneup for my own citizenship. It has helped me find my own way of becoming the best American I can be, to be, as he says, “an everyday patriot.” For me, it is in fostering bilingualism in America and worldwide. That is, speaking English plus one or more other languages.
Do you have your own passion project that is larger than yourself? Would you like more perspective on how your efforts fit into the larger American experiment? If so, Tom may be for you what he has been for me–a warm-hearted and wise teacher who has a special talent for making the wisdom of the ancients, and our American founding fathers, come to life. With his help you may realize your own dreams for being your best American self–for fulfilling your own sense of duty to our country in your unique way.
I encourage you to slide behind the wheel and buckle up for a ride down the American philosophical highway, a trip that will deliver a driver different from the one who began the journey a mere 116 pages earlier. ...more
I loved traveling through the 60s and 70s via the life of one of the shapers of those decades, Stewart Brand. And then continuing on through the birthI loved traveling through the 60s and 70s via the life of one of the shapers of those decades, Stewart Brand. And then continuing on through the birth of Silicon Valley, with its booms and busts. Brand even came up with the term “personal computer,” for heaven's sake.
Reading this makes me grateful to Markoff’s diligent research and professional writing, which steps out of the way so that the reader sees the subject seemingly through no glass at all. I am also grateful to Brand for allowing the author access to his personal journals, letters and emails.
For all his rather amazing accomplishments, Brand comes across as quite human, as we see him wrestle his own demons. And it’s uplifting to learn about such an accomplished thinker who is, nevertheless, willing to change his mind on important matters (such as nuclear power) even though it meant alienating friends and reaping a harvest of public criticism.
Brand is a model of someone who leads a well-read life (a term of my own coining in my role as co-founder of Levenger) meaning someone who reads and acts in roughly equal proportions throughout their life. Louis L'amour said it best: “Read, read, read. Do, do, do.” Stewart Brand did it best.
The world needs more Stewart Brands. Unfortunately, we get only one. ...more
Recommended by Paul Saffo after I had read The Immortal King Rao, and I am indebted to Paul for the recommendation to this important writer. It takes Recommended by Paul Saffo after I had read The Immortal King Rao, and I am indebted to Paul for the recommendation to this important writer. It takes place in the near future when humans face a mass extinction event of their own making--planetary warming and the various efforts to stop it. It delves into the monetary changes that have to happen, the terrorist moves, the gradual and uneven changes in attitudes the world over, critical geo engineering. It is ultimately hopeful and in some respects a how-to-save-ourselves manual. Perhaps the book could have been shorter and even more powerful for the shortening, but then who am I to suggest that since my own recent book was judged too long by people in the know. ...more
We all know that lifespans are longer than they used to be, but few of us understand the implications. Susan Golden helps us explore what the future mWe all know that lifespans are longer than they used to be, but few of us understand the implications. Susan Golden helps us explore what the future might bring, and should bring, and has me rethinking the enterprises I support. Golden helped me understand that it’s not just years we are adding, but healthy years, expressed with the useful term, “healthspan.” I also resonate with other terms she suggests: “returnship” (in contrast to internship), “furtherhood,” and “unretirement.” “A big part of what used to be retirement will now be learning.” Amen.
A useful book for anyone running or helping to guide consumer businesses. I’m buying copies for two CEOs. ...more
A lovely little book, first read by Lori on our trip to Greece, 02022, and then by me on the same trip. Strange that it isn't available in audio, but A lovely little book, first read by Lori on our trip to Greece, 02022, and then by me on the same trip. Strange that it isn't available in audio, but perhaps it would not be published today as it is not PC. Two white Americans move to Mexico and she writes about the quaint, and sometimes awful, behavior and thinking of the Mexicans she encounters. Beautifully written, and one of those books that helps me look at the world more carefully and with more appreciation, especially the little beauties we encounter. I recommend it highly. ...more
A memoir by a journalist and author about how his life was nearly destroyed by incompent doctors and by college administrators due to their What it is
A memoir by a journalist and author about how his life was nearly destroyed by incompent doctors and by college administrators due to their ignorance and prejudice regarding epilepsy.
What I liked about the book
A shocking, real-life cautionary tale about how doctors, even those seemingly super well qualified and highly recommended, can do untold damage to patients. Sometimes it is pure incompetence, as when docs practice outside their fields, which is common. Sometimes the failure is due to not taking a proper history and examination so that the doctor reaches false, premature conclusions. Sometimes it is lack of follow up, such as neglecting to check drug levels in the blood over time, and other times doctors may not check drug side effects or interactions with other medicines.
In the defense of doctors (these are my thoughts, not the author’s), they are all given impossible tasks and then pretend that they are up to it. It is important for their own self confidence, and important for patients who want and need to believe in the doctor’s competence. Yet there is so much to know and to learn, even in a narrow speciality, that must be learned by first hand experience, and lives are short. Usually, it takes a very competent and experienced doctor to admit he doesn’t know something, and to be frank with a patient about unknowns. Young doctors rarely have this confidence and perspective. I once heard a young doctor say this to me when I questioned her about something: “I don’t know about that so it’s not important.”
The consequences of doctor fallibility are often made worse because patients, especially patients with serious illnesses such as epilepsy, want so very badly to believe their doctors will heal them, want so badly to believe their doctors are not only competent, but caring, thoughtful, attentive, and on top of things. This trust in your doctor is actually incredibly important for healing and health outcomes, yet more often than we would like, it is misplaced. Often a patient has to become so ill or so extremely upset with their doctor before, in desperation, they finally search for another.
The bottom line is that the patient must take control of their medical life and treatment. The patient must take the time to read, learn and understand the basics of their illness and its range of treatments, side effects, natural histories, etc., and to view doctors as advisors or consultants to their treatment.
Another bottom line is that those patients fortunate enough to have a loved one who can travel the road with them are so much better off. It is incredibly important to have another person, and sometimes persons, to share the learning, attend the sessions with doctors and other health care providers, to help the patient make good decisions, including the hiring and firing of those doctor consultants, and guide the course of treatment. This is true for navigating life in general, of course, but when a person is ill and not always in command of their senses, it becomes so very much more important.
Some other take-home lessons from the book:
Share widely:
With epilepsy, it is much better to share with others that you have the condition, especially friends and co-workers who are liable to be around if you have a seizure. You want a wide circle of people who know what to do, and what not to do, in the event of a seizure. When you share your own condition, you help educate people in a way that will help not only you and them, but possibly others they will encounter downstream.
Get a medical alert bracelet
This can list your condition, emergency contact phone numbers, what medication you are on. This is a big help to paramedics or anyone who happens across your slumped body. The concept of a medical alert bracelet has become more popular and is now mainstream, even for people without medical conditions but who might get into accidents. See RoadID, which advertises in the cycling magazines. I just ordered one of them for myself.
A good information and advocacy organization
The Epilepsy Foundation gets high marks, both for its information and education and also for staff members who can get involved in cases of discrimination. People with epilepsy are protected under ADA laws.
I listened to the author read it, and am grateful to him for writing this important book.
After finishing The Immortal King Rao, I have to report it wasn't worth it and I don't recommend the book.
No way I would have slogged through it had iAfter finishing The Immortal King Rao, I have to report it wasn't worth it and I don't recommend the book.
No way I would have slogged through it had it not been assigned to my book group.
The premise of a future dystopian world of a doomed "hot house earth" and a post nation state world run by algorithms is interesting, but I found the fiction boring, tedious and disjointed. ¡No vale la pena!
Enjoyed learning about Luche Libre and the border towns of Juarez and El Paso, the different aspects of Mexico and how it feels not having great commaEnjoyed learning about Luche Libre and the border towns of Juarez and El Paso, the different aspects of Mexico and how it feels not having great command of Spanish, the issues of accent, etc. So from all those aspects, it kept my interest and I'm glad I read it.
Probably the most involved gay love affair I've read about. Reminds me of Corelli´s Mandolin, which provided me my first gay love affair, unrequited, in which I learned that they can be every bit as deep and involved as heterosexual love. Duh!
As for the book itself, I found the ending most disappointing for its lack of resolution and follow through. It felt like it was going for literature rather than enjoyable reading. Suspicious that may the editor got too involved...Hm... ...more
Love the simple Spanish. Even I could follow it and the fiction was enough to hold my interest, but mainly as an exercise. And the Kindle allows me toLove the simple Spanish. Even I could follow it and the fiction was enough to hold my interest, but mainly as an exercise. And the Kindle allows me to look up words in Spanish, too. I did not resort to an English translation to make it through, and this may be a first for me. I've downloaded another of her works. ...more
Entertaining and SO similar to Where the Crawdads Sing. A disadvantaged yet sympathetic woman navigates the world, is taken advantage of, and exacts rEntertaining and SO similar to Where the Crawdads Sing. A disadvantaged yet sympathetic woman navigates the world, is taken advantage of, and exacts revenge according to her own code. In O'Henry style, the explanation comes in the final pages. The reader is left wondering, were her actions justified?
Read for my book group, The Mules. Listened to the audiobook....more
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