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Hunter 'Patch' Adams  Gesundheit!

Research on stress indicates that the immune system is enhanced by laughter, that humor and exercise trigger similar physiological processes. Laughter not only feels good, it produces increases in "good" hormones such as endorphins, and decreased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. One of Hunter "Patch" Adams most well-known public identities is 'the clown doctor' because of his visiting hospitals and other places to bring healing fun, often to children with devastating or terminal illnesses. In the costume of the clown he has found he can really connect with people, and "inject some exuberance and fun into their lives" as he puts it in this book about his life and the evolution of his visionary institute.

Adams' view is that the health care context, the places and ways healing are delivered, are often a "horror". "One can still occasionally find the one-to-one intimacy so treasured in medicine", he writes, "but these are special cases. Even as the doctor or the nurse has these great moments, they still feel choked by the context of their practice. The administrative (billing, paperwork, regulations, etc...) and the hospital (serious, solemn, unfriendly, etc.) contexts are not conducive to a thrilling, joyful practice of medicine. The modern medical context must change. Many new experiments are needed to explore this very complicated field." For some 27 years, the Gesundheit Institute has been one such experiment. The book provides not only specifics about the growth of the institute itself, but about the broader story of community-building, and how visionary organizations such as this can be nurtured. [book review by Douglas Eby]

material from on-line magazine Shared Vision at http://www.shared-vision.com/magazine/oct97/oct22.htm  October, 1997 Sensitivity under Cover - Reviews by Thomas Eldridge, founder of the Centre for Highly Sensitive People, tel (416) 653-2774. E-mail: sensitiv@interlog.com

   The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron, Birch Lane Press, New York, 1996.

Author Elaine Aron is herself highly sensitive and understands sensitivity. She is, however, somewhat psychologically oriented. In between the absolute gems of information in this book there are also details of statistical studies, psychological theories and brain chemicals. These parts of the book are easily skipped over. Flowing well, the book will touch a chord in you somewhere in its pages. In the preface, Aron introduces the concept that sensitivity is a greater than 'normal' receptivity to stimulation of the nervous system. There is plenty of material to help you understand this characteristic, as well as many anecdotes about how it is widely misunderstood and unappreciated in our fast-paced society. After reading this book, you will have many new words to describe yourself, or perhaps, more accurately, you will be able to use words more positively to describe yourself. Aron even provides thoughts about how to realize how special you really are when you are picking up on subtleties that others miss. There is plenty of information to help you appreciate why this special gift can so easily be over-stimulating. There are chapters on early childhood and growing up to help you understand what happened to you, as well as lots of great ideas on how to handle difficult social situations as an adult. The book addresses the problems of finding a place in the hectic work world and in close relationships. The final quarter of the book deals with growing up in dysfunctional families and the kinds of healing approaches which will guide you back to your soul.

The editors of this enriching collection quote a broad spectrum of spiritual passages and shorter comments from writers throughout history, regardless of religious orientation, ranging from lyricist Leonard Cohen to philosopher Jacob Needleman, from the mystic Christian Meister Eckhart to writers Maya Angelou and Annie Dillard, from Zen master Robert Aitken to poet Robert Haas. With its diverse prose and poetry sources organized under headings such as "Place," "Nature," "Creativity," "Body," "Community," "Relationships as a Path" and "Leisure," there is much to inspire readers to "read the signs that point to the active presence of Spirit in the world around us." In the introduction, the editors comment, "Do you need to have reached some state of enlightenment to be able to decode the world? Some traditions do see such understanding as a gift or 'awakening', but we believe it is a skill that can be developed." In the foreword to the book, author Thomas Moore ("Care of the Soul") notes there are many forces at work that fragment our lives and disrupt our experience of the spiritual. He writes "We need a fresh perspective, one that reimagines both the secular life and spiritual activity so they can be naturally in alignment with each other." This cornucopia of readings can be a guiding and enriching way to help do just that.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat site: SpiritualityandPractice.com   [review by Douglas Eby]

[ the following is from Dabrowski elist for June 1998, #2  from Bill Tillier  btillier@supernet.ab.ca ]  material from on-line magazine Shared Vision at http://www.shared-vision.com/magazine/oct97/oct22.htm  October, 1997 Sensitivity under Cover - Reviews by Thomas Eldridge, founder of the Centre for Highly Sensitive People, tel (416) 653-2774. E-mail: sensitiv@interlog.com

Are You Really Too Sensitive? by Marcy Calhoun, Blue Dolphin Publishing,Nevada City, CA, 1987. In this book, we are introduced to the term ultra-sensitivity-the ability to sense things that others cannot sense.Like Aron, Marcy Calhoun provides plenty of information to help you understand and appreciate your sensitivity. This book is less scientific and more spiritual, along the lines of body/mind/spirit approaches and creating your own reality. The phrase 'communication centre' is used to refer to the place where all the sensations come from the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Around puberty, we deal with our overload of sensory information in one of two ways. One is the structural choice which is an acceptance of the 'system' as it is. The other is the conceptual choice whereby life is lived within the immediate feelings that are being perceived. In the structural approach, you 'fit in' until a life crisis comes along during middle age. In the conceptual approach, you don't care that you don't fit in until middle age, when you realize that your life isn't working. This book has interesting descriptions of visual, knowing and feeling types of sensitive people. It also describes the sponge and the catalyst, among other unique forms of sensitive individuals. There are several chapters on intuition, empathy, and messages of higher guidance and how to handle this kind of input. Together with lots of suggestions and exercises on how to work with the information coming into your communication centre, there are ideas on how to turn overwhelm into a unique gift. Many of Calhoun's suggestions are centred around valuing yourself and thinking positively. In addition to chapters on money, the body, sexuality, relationships and spiritual growth, there are messages similar to those in Aron's book: we are not slow, we simply are processing more detailed information and, above all, the sensitive simply wants to be understood. Amen!

quote from book: "Emotional ultra-sensitivity is the ability to feel what other people are feeling as if those feelings were your very own. Physical ultra-sensitivity is the ability to feel in your body what someone else is feeling. Intuitive ultra-sensitivity is the ability to experience visions, prophetic information, spaces and dimensions that are not yet recognized by science. Healing is also included in intuitive ultra-sensitivity because the healer can read/feel/experience the present condition of the body."

Publisher Book Description: The Virtuoso is an illustrated celebration of the human potential in all of us.Defined as the unthinkable ventured and the impossible attained, the virtuosos in this book are from different generations and cultures, but they share certain qualities: dignity, self-discipline, determination, courage, and focus. They are tangible evidence of the value of hard work, dedication, and passion; they inspire greatness.

This daring book pairs lively text profiles with stunning, intimate portraits. Some, like Mikhail Baryshnikov and Muhammad Ali are world famous, others are relatively obscure. But all are among the best on earth at what they do, whether it's tying flies, puzzling over evolution, baking bread, making a canoe, picking stocks, juggling, telling a story, or playing a guitar. From an unbelievable 720-degree aerial rotation on a skateboard to a clandestine 1,350-foot-high wire walk between New York City's Twin Towers or a transporting piano solo, perfection exists in myriad forms, though rarely has it been captured so brilliantly as in this book.

---------

The author, Ken@CarboneSmolan.com , April 15, 1999

What makes a Virtuoso? Sensation with substance. When we hear the word "virtuoso" we imagine a level of skill that approaches the pinnacle of human achievement. But what makes a virtuoso? Genetics? Hard work? Luck? This book offers 40 compelling answers to that question by people who exemplify the word.

"The Virtuoso: Face to Face with 40 Extraordinary Talents" explores the often humble origins, passionate pursuits and unforeseen links between extraordinary talents who have transcended the possibilities of their given field. Each is a living role model for anyone who aspires to greatness. Some are world famous (Pele, Baryshnikov and Robin Williams), while others (storyteller Jackie Torrence, cartographer Stuart Allen and flytier Poul Jorgensen) are local legends. Many I have admired since my youth; other "hidden" talents were discovered in the course of my research. In fact, the unsung heroes turned out to be a valuable incentive for celebrities to participate in the book, since none of the virtuosos represented here are comfortable assigning superlatives to their achievements.The easiest decision I had to make was inviting photographer Howard Schatz to join me on this adventure. I knew his skill would be on a par equal to the talents we were presenting and the breadth of his vision would capture their diverse personalities. He enthusiastically accepted and our journey began.

All my interviews consisted of the same questions: "What is your greatest gift?" "When did you realize you had a special talent?" "How do you maintain your craft?" "What do you fear?" among others. Gradually it became clear that beyond the specifics of each unique talent lay a set of universal truths—dedication, craft, a passion that borders on madness, a need to share their pursuits with others—that emerged as a recurring motif through the book. These truths bind the participants together more than their individual talents may divide them. I've no doubt that a conversation between, say, high-wire artist Philippe Petit and type designer Matthew Carter might go on for hours! The misconception is that virtuosity is something one arrives at late in life.Hoping to dispel this, I sought a wide generational spread. Thus, the thirty-something skateboard whiz Tony Hawk displays a technical brilliance equal to the nonagenarian Al Hirschfeld. ...

Since we live in an era when stardom has lost some of its luster and the world is hungry for alternative heroes, I chose to dedicate this book to The Boys & Girls Clubs of America for the amazing job they do promoting inspiration and excellence by providing safe places throughout the country where children can realize their potential. A virtuoso takes hold of your spirit leaving you in awe of what a human being is capable of, which is why I think of this book as 122 pages of pure passion, optimism and inspiration.

Christopher Childs, who spent years working as a Greenpeace spokesperson, has written an ethically stirring handbook on social activism. "The most radical, powerful act ever undertaken by any human being," he states, "remains the act of committing oneself, beyond reservation, to a worthy personal mission." Childs reveals the importance of linking intuition and creativity in his discussion of Greenpeace activities such as saving the whales and protesting the pollution of the Great Lakes basin.He believes that genuine idealism is fueled by a clear idea of a desirable future. Childs salutes the importance of individual vision in Native American tradition and the value of collective vision in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Activists who want to creatively and constructively affect the course of future events must practice patience, compassion (positively influencing adversaries), and persistence. "The Spirit's Terrain" by Christopher Childs convincingly melds imagination and idealism and the result is a vigorous reframing of activism for our times. 

Review Copyright (1998) by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Reprinted with permission from SpiritualityandPractice.com

[Amazon.com] Philosophy and Religion Editor's Recommended Book, 08/01/97: Much like Zen, Pema Chodron's interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism takes the form of a nontheistic spiritualism. In When Things Fall Apart this head of a Tibetan monastery in Canada outlines some relevant and deceptively profound terms of Tibetan Buddhism that are germane to modern issues. The key to all of these terms is accepting that in the final analysis, life is groundless. By letting go, we free ourselves to face fear and obstacles and offer ourselves unflinchingly to others. The graceful, conversational tone of Chodron's writing gives the impression of sitting on a pillow across from her, listening to her everyday examples of Buddhist wisdom.

Synopsis: There is a fundamental happiness available to every individual--yet we usually miss it while spending our lives trying to escape suffering that is ultimately guite inescapable. Pema Chodron, an American Buddhist teacher, shows that the secret to freeing oneself from pain is not to run from it, but to step right up to the uncharted territory of difficulty with friendliness and curiosity.

"A mostly fascinating look at what makes creative people who they are, gleaned largely from interviews with 91 individuals from a wide variety of fields. Despite the subtitle, social psychologist Csikszentmihalyi, who invented the idea of ``flow'' and authored a book with that title, writes relatively little about the enjoyable, ego- and time- transcending absorption in a task that is conducive to creativity and high achievement. Rather, he focuses on the interplay between culture, the creative person, and the ``domain'' (sociologese for ``field''), including the receptivity of experts to new ideas and inventions. He quotes extensively--too much so--from the subjects he and his research team interviewed, but there are some gems among these passages, such as writer Madeleine L'Engle's observation that to produce good literature, ``your intuition and your intellect should be working together . . . making love.'' Csikszentmihalyi's weakest section consists of detailing ten personality polarities that supposedly distinguish creative individuals, but that are also applicable to ``balanced'' or ``fulfilled'' individuals. His best sections consist of longer profiles of individuals as varied as poet Anthony Hecht, ecologist Barry Commoner, and astronomer Vera Rubin. Also valuable is a concluding prescriptive section with some helpful advice to the average person on how to make his or her thinking and way of living more creative, particularly a passage on how to rethink and use a disappointing experiences, such as being passed over for a promotion. Unfortunately, redundancies make the work too long by at least a third, and some meaningless or fatuous generalizations also mar the presentation (e.g., ``Recent studies suggest that the amount of dalliance, marital infidelity and sexual experimentation [among creative people studied] is much less than earlier estimates had suggested''). Still, the rich anecdotal material Csikszentmihalyi has mined and analyzed make this an important study of a vital topic."    From Kirkus Reviews, 04/15/96  Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP.

  reviewed by Eugenia Zuckerman  The Washington Post, February 2 1997
FOR MOST of her life, Linda Katherine Cutting was ordered to apologize and to keep silent. "If you tell you'll burn in hell," she was admonished by her minister father. Remarkably, Cutting grew up to become a successful concert pianist, but her performances came to a halt when memory lapses at the keyboard jolted memories muted since early childhood. Her subsequent breakdown and her climb back from suicidal despair are recorded in Memory Slips.

Family violence, sexual abuse, the suicides of both of her brothers, her cruel and hypocritical father, her passively complicit mother -- Cutting's book is a testimony to the power of music and to the courage of a gifted and deeply wounded woman. Two narratives, 10 years apart, alternate throughout the book because, as the author explains, "Time is never strictly chronological in the way it is lived. Musicians know this. Anyone who has suffered grief, loss, or a broken heart knows this, too." This alternation affords the reader a necessary emotional rubato; her story is too harrowing to be told at a fast tempo. The narrative slips back and forth between 1982-83 and 1992. In the earlier years, when Cutting was performing with such orchestras as the Boston Pops, she was already experiencing recollections that troubled her. But it was not until 1992 that she was admitted to the National Center for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation. There, with the help of compassionate professionals, she began to put the pieces of her life back together.   ...

Performance involves personal risk and public trial, but when, in the Treatment Center, Cutting finally plays for her fellow patients, it is an act of pure generosity: "The whole room is quiet and I know I need to remember Schumann's `Scenes from Childhood' -- not just for myself, but for every woman here who has lost hers." Linda Cutting returned to the concert stage in 1995 at the age of 41. Memory Slips is her memoir of music and healing; it is poetic and poignant. She has created a powerful piece from the dark melodies and painful dissonances of her lost childhood.

Eugenia Zukerman, a flutist and television arts commentator, is the author of two novels and co-author of a nonfiction book to be published in August.   Copyright 1997 The Washington Post Company

Synopsis:   When it was first published in 1994 Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray's bestselling book "The Bell Curve" set off a firestorm of controversy about the relationships among genetics, IQ, and various social outcomes. In "Intelligence, Genes and Success", a group of respected social scientists and statisticians present a scientific response to "The Bell Curve", including reanalysis of data and its implications. 25 illus Pub: 8/97.

The author, John Cawley j-cawley@uchicago.edu , 09/17/97: In chapter 8 of Intelligence, Genes, and Success, my coauthors and I test the claims about cognitive ability and wages made by the authors of The Bell Curve. We show that measured cognitive ability is correlated with wages but explains little of the variance in wages across individuals and time. We also present evidence that cognitive ability is unequally rewarded in the labor market for people of different ethnicity and gender, which is inconsistent with the claim of The Bell Curve that the U.S. labor market is meritocratic.

Mark Epstein, a psychiatrist and Buddhist for 25 years, writes, "Separateness, independence, and clear boundaries are not glorified in Buddhism the way they are in our culture. They are seen instead as potent sources of suffering, as illusions that perpetuate destructive emotions like hatred, jealousy, and conceit." The author of "Thoughts Without a Thinker" uses illustrations from his own experiences and from the lives of his patients to shine a light on emotions, the body, relationships, and sexuality.

Dr. Epstein shows how the Buddhist practices of mindfulness, letting go, connection, and emptiness can free us from enslavement to self-improvement, perfectionism, delusion, and escapism. Throughout the book, he emphasizes how important it is for us to honestly deal with difficult feelings and to open ourselves to the tender parts of our being. "Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart" uses the resources of the most psychological of the world's religions as a gateway to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Review Copyright (1998) by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Reprinted with permission from SpiritualityandPractice.com

Eysenck says that "psychopathology in the absence of psychosis is the vital element to creativity" (p. 121). This pathology is mediated by cognitive inhibition: if inhibition is lacking, then an over-inclusiveness will result (the key problem in schizophrenia). Creative people have less cognitive inhibition and thus tend to see a wider horizon of possibilities. Creativity is relatively independent of IQ but is correlated with certain personality traits. For example, in creativity, the disposition to pathology is often accompanied by high ego strength - a trait seen as emotional stability. Hence in this model, low emotionality, and emotional stability are important - the opposite of neuroticism in Eysenck's model.As a trait, creativity combines with other personality traits (like ego strength) and other abilities (like IQ, persistence) and many sociocultural variables (social support) that all interact synergistically. Esyenck sees a genetic basis to both the personality traits and the pathology involved.    [review by Bill Tillier <btillier@supernet.ab.ca>]

[review of audio tape:] "Natalie Goldberg studied meditation with Zen master Katagiri Roshi at the Minnesota Zen Center for many years. Then one day, knowing of her interest in creativity, he said: "Why don't you make writing your practice? If you go deep enough in writing, it will take you everyplace." In 1986, Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones" was released. This unabridged version of the book, read by the author, also contains an interview with her and two postcards of her art.

What does it mean to make writing a spiritual practice? It means to follow in the spirit of Zen master Dogen and see, "Every day is a good day." It means, as Goldberg notes, that "the deepest secret in our heart of hearts is that we are writing because we love the world." Here are some of the tips she gives on this very practical tape: Write in different places, read a lot, and listen well. Use your senses as an animal does. Be specific. Don't tell but show. And trust your first thoughts."

Review Copyright (1998) by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Reprinted with permission from SpiritualityandPractice.com

book review by Douglas Eby :
On one wall hangs a wooden arrow with a tobacco pouch tied to it - the Lakota Sioux symbol of prayer - and in other locations are a bear claw necklace, an owl feather, a photo of a white buffalo. This is, unexpectedly, the team room of three-time national champion basketball players, the Chicago Bulls. The team's inner sanctum has been made a sacred space by Phil Jackson, one of the most successful coaches in NBA history. Born in Deer Lodge, Montana of Pentecostal ministers, Jackson has studied psychology, Eastern and Native American philosophy and religion, and practices Zen meditation.

"Being aware is more important than being smart" says Jackson, and he helps his players take that sense of mindfulness and quiet clarity into the trenches of professional athletic competition. His book is partly a memoir, with stories about that often fierce competition, and the Bulls' famed players such as Michael Jordan. But more than that, the book is an expression of spiritual approaches to teamwork and peak performance. As Jackson writes, the team "will have to expand their minds and embrace a vision in which the group imperative takes precedence over individual glory, and success comes from being awake, aware, and in tune with others. That lesson is important in all areas of life." An example of the quotes featured at the beginning of each chapter is one by Thich Nhat Hanh: "Our own life is the instrument with which we experiment with the truth."

Readily compared with an idol of his, Norman Rockwell, painter Thomas Kinkade depicts warmly romantic scenes of quiet and quaint Victorian homes, stone cottages, rustic cabins, and expansive natural landscapes, often in a twilight glow. Kinkade's work reflects his interests in portraying serenity and charm: "worlds of tranquility, joy and beauty" he declares. The text of his book is complemented by many four-color examples of his art. In one passage he asks if the reader has experienced "those magic times that seem to epitomize the way that life should be? .. the kind of life you really want — a life that is full yet balanced, pulsing with vitality, yet smiling with peace." He claims his successful life as a widely appreciated commercial artist (there are some 150 Kinkade-themed retail stores) is still oriented toward this kind of what he calls the "lifestyle of light" -- "ideally, at least, unhindered by dark forces of negativity, overstress, and despair." He writes that his book "is my attempt to share a few things I've learned about the art of living." He admits that learning has involved "much trial and error" and that the book has "nothing complex or difficult" in its pages. At first the simplicity of some of his ideas and writing struck me as naive, too full of cloying sweetness, with old-fashioned or New Age-y homilies not really useful. But further reading made me question that reaction, and start to appreciate more his call for mindful appreciation of basic virtues, of the enduring aesthetic and spiritual values of nature, and the power of simplifying even busy lives.

One of the themes that the book emphasizes is balance. "Imagine a life where this is plenty of time, plenty of energy, plenty of opportunity for everything you feel is important — plus a little left over for some things you simply enjoy" one passage suggests. .."Who wouldn't want such a balanced, harmonious existence? To me, the vision of that kind of life is especially compelling because balance has sometimes been a challenge for me. I have always been very dedicated to my work and at times a bit grandiose in my thinking. My natural tendency is to pour too much of myself into some things and not enough of myself into others." Kinkade says that although he "has deep respect for both Thoreau and the Amish" he doesn't think their kind of "radical simplicity is necessary or even desirable for everyone. Each person's needs and calling are different." In this passage, he uses specific examples of how specific ways ot working, and using tools like a fax, telephone headset and teleconferencing, can function as "simplifying agents." The book declares it has been an attempt to describe "a few simple ways you can bring more light into the work-in-progress that is your life...Kinkade and his co-writer offer a stimulating and encouraging call to mindful and creative living. [book review by Douglas Eby]

Synopsis [from Amazon.com]: "Citing that an effective frame of mind is pivotal to one's success as a leader, the author of Creating Minds emphasises the importance of leader awareness while profiling such figures as Pope John XXIII and Gandhi.While much has been written on the subject, a crucial component of leadership has been largely ignored: the mind of the leader and the minds of his or her followers. Linking the study of creativity and leadership, Gardner demonstrates the strong tie between traditional creators (artists and scientists) and leaders in the realms of business, politics, and the military. Gardner claims that the key to leadership is the creation and embodiment of an effective story. He argues that unless they're working with specialists, leaders must deal with the "unschooled mind." They must take into account the fundamental theories about the world that all of us acquire as children and that persist through life - even when those theories are later undermined by what we learn in school. In striking portraits of a wide range of leaders - from J. Robert Oppenheimer to Alfred P. Sloan, from Margaret Mead to Pope John XXIII to Mahatma Gandhi. Gardner recreates the leaders' stories and depicts the struggles among rival stories that occur in the minds of an audience. He explains the overwhelming appeal of simplistic stories and enumerates the key moves needed to counter that appeal. He also describes the ways in which all leaders ultimately confront failure. In a powerful conclusion, Gardner identifies the six constant features of leadership, six trends that complexify leadership in our time, and the paradoxes that must be resolved for leadership to be effective."

The authors have been leaders in the human potential area for many years, and have each published a variety of related books. Michael Murphy is the founder of the Esalen Institute, and George Leonard is author of some ten books, including "Mastery : The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment." In this collaborative work, they present an overview of a course they developed in 1992 (at Esalen) titled Integral Transformative Practice, described in the original class announcement as an exploration in the twelve aspects of human functioning outlined in Murphy's book "The Future of the Body : Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature." In the introduction to this book, written after conducting the class for close to two years, they write, "Every person on this planet can join in the process of transformative practice that began with our ancient ancestors." Chapters include specific instruction in various forms of affirmation, Katz (a series of body movements), mental imaging, meditation and other structured practices, and the authors note "many fine practices, many paths exist... Many, many activities can be considered practice. Even something as commonplace as gardening can be a practice if done for the sheer love of it, as an expression of the gardener's soul." The authors obviously have a commitment to helping advance, as they say, "the realization of every citizen's positive potential... inherent in every aspect of our lives, from the most common to the most extraordinary."  [review by Douglas Eby]

Amazon.com Customer Comments: kmctee@yahoo.com from Austin, Texas , October 19, 1998 [5 out of 5 stars]
More useful to me than The Artist's Way... This book helps and inspires me (a visual artist) in a way that Julia Cameron's popular (and wonderful) work has not. For those of us who have a kneejerk negative reaction to following rules and doing "exercises", preferring instead to create our own structure, this is a refreshing alternative to her more structured approach. McNiff emphasizes that the sense of despair we feel when the "flow" isn't flowing is itself an integral part of the process of making art, which I found particularly encouraging and true to my experience. He also encourages the reader to get going by creating multiple small, "disposable" works, which can contain the roots of larger pieces...

In 1971 the Apollo 14 mission took Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell for a walk on the moon. On the return flight, contemplating the "blue jewel-like home planet suspended in the velvety blackness", Dr. Mitchell experienced a life-changing sense of profound connectedness and the universality of consciousness. Leaving NASA, he founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences, whose name derives from the Greek word "nous", meaning mind, intelligence or ways of knowing. In a 1981 statement he said "The vision of the institute is becoming a reality.. humans are creative beings, more spirit and mind than body, limited in our ability to create a satisfying future only by the limitations we accept for ourselves."

In this new book, he talks of how we need to revise our notions of truth to open up those limitations, and writes: "Most of us have accumulated this body of ideas that make up our belief systems through external authorities rather than through our own quest and original insight." In a personal interview, Dr. Mitchell noted that social change is increasing rapidly: "Most everything is accelerating. I think in terms of systems theory, and civilization is simply a system; we're far from equilibrium, and the further you are from equilibrium, according to [Nobel Prize physicist Ilya] Prigogine, the more traumatic, the more accelerated, the more non-linear is the behavior of the systems. And that's exactly what I think we're experiencing. We're approaching what might be called a bifurcation point or a paradigm shift that is likely to become quite noticeable in the not too distant future."

Regarding the increased interest in entities, angels, channeling and other New Age material, he said "People are looking for solutions for what they perceive as a problem, and they're perceiving at what I call a non-local, intuitive level, viscerally. And naturally we have traditionally, because of our belief systems, looked external to ourselves for answers: to the father figure, the grandfather figure, the deity. That is our tradition. If we want to change things, we supplicate deity or external authority. And what we're suggesting here [in the book] is that's not appropriate. We have all the capabilities within ourselves. We're creating the problem, we can solve it, and we have the capabilities to solve it vertically."

He has a sense that some of the new technology such as mind machines is just substituting another kind of external authority, and that for accessing our internal resources "the meditative techniques are very very powerful; people have been using them for hundreds of years, and they work. But by and large our populace has not taken really seriously what the mystics or the religious leaders have said; we've used the exoteric, but not the esoteric forms, which are worldwide. When I commit to my personal journey and to society at large to be the very best I can be, then we see this internal, esoteric starting to work, starting to take over. But it's requiring us to perceive that we can do that, as opposed to relying on external authority to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.

One of the most central themes of this book is the need for a renewed trust and commitment in personal and individual authority, as Dr. Mitchell says, "the internal response, the personal response, the need to accept personal responsibility for self, for life, is fundamental, and I think that's probably what we have to emphasize. What we're also saying is that the group called the postmoderns or the Cultural Creatives, who are leading this movement, have increased from about two percent to over twenty four percent in the last twenty years, and that's pretty powerful. Since this movement is directed from the people, it is non-predictable, it is nonlinear, it will go where we take it.

"And that means we have to be in tune with our very deepest inner instincts, and our most powerful wisdom, if we're going to move in the right direction... The meditative approach puts us directly in touch at the nonlocal level with each other. In the old ways of saying, that puts us in touch with the divine reality. In the modern way of saying it, or the way my model in my book would say it, that puts us in touch with each other, so we develop the collective will, the collective consensus to make the right decisions."

review by Douglas Eby    [also see interview with Mitchell]

Amazon.com Synopsis: Unveiling the bizarre lives of a number of the most brilliant but eccentric geniuses, "Strange Brains and Genius" delights readers with unexpected stories of their obsessive personalities and curious phobias. Included are anecdotes about Ted Kaczynski, Albert Einstein, and Nikola Tesla. 27 illustrations.

"Who else but the maestro of mathematical creativity, Clifford Pickover, to curate a museum of Strange Brains and write biographies of the scientific geniuses who formerly owned them? I'll never look at a pidgeon, a pearl, or a Wheatstone bridge the same way again."   - Mark Frauenfelder, WIRED magazine

Mary Rocamora, founder and director of The Rocamora School, Inc., has been counseling gifted adults for more than 24 years, plus researching how beliefs and patterns of thinking impact self-actualization and creativity.

[from school:]  "This new self-paced workbook, based on the coursework of the Rocamora School, is a carefully designed exploration of awareness and beliefs using accessible, non-dogmatic information and precisely crafted sequences of inductive exercises... The best attitude to have or to cultivate for this work is one of curiosity, interest, and fascination. Set aside labels ('neurotic', 'co-dependent', 'inadequate', etc.), judgments, theories, archetypes, beliefs and meditation practices. The Personal Journey is to be explored with a fresh mind that is completely present, to seek a precise description of your own inner -- and unique -- experience."

Book Review in Science of Mind, by Kathy Juline, March, 1997
  (NOTE: The Rocamora School has no association with Science of Mind, but appreciates their review)
    "On the way to a direct experience of the indwelling Spirit, most of us encounter a roadblock of old fears or negative thinking, impediments that seem to keep us stuck. A way through them is provided by Mary Rocamora and Ron Koertge in The Personal Journey Workbook.   This workbook contains a sequence of lessons and exercises carefully designed to free the user from limiting patterns of thought and emotions. The journey offered here is one of spiritual transformation, resulting in enhanced creativity, capacity for loving, and authentic self-expression.   The workbook approach, dealing as it does with actual life experiences, gives realness and clarity to the kinds of spiritual Truths brought forth by Ernest Holmes, empowering us to allow our higher Self to become more fully expressed. Then the greater good we affirm in our prayerful thought becomes outwardly manifest."

Responses to using Personal Journey material include:
   "I find the text very profound. I can re-read not only sentences, but parts of sentences. It seems very meaty to me, very carefully and thoughtfully done. I find it extremely helpful."  (filmmaker)
   "It's tremendous. I was busy living a little life, and now my life has totally changed.I'm very happy."       (former office manager, now waitress and restaurant manager)
   "I have been a seeker since I was nine, involved with meditation and zazen and other practices. I see this work as a totally consistent complement; this has really amplified, clarified, accelerated a lot of the things I've been working on."        (CEO: multimedia, CD-ROM and online game company)

[Amazon.com] Card catalog description: In his ground-breaking study on the life and work of some of our greatest artists, Dr Philip Sandblom explores the intriguing connections between illness, art and creativity. It deals with specific ailments - tuberculosis, sensory defects, congenital malformations and many others - and inquiries into the ways in which they inform and influence the creative personality. Dr Sandblom also goes on to discuss the effects of mental illness, drug addiction and severe pain. Many outstanding talents are discussed in this enlarged and revised edition - among them, the authors Byron, Walter Scott, Dostoyevsky, Holderlin and William Styron, the artists Goya, Klee, Matisse and Monet and the composers Mozart, Robert Schumann and Beethoven. Dr Sandblom illustrates his arguments with scores and manuscripts as well as nearly 100 paintings and drawings (over 80 in black and white, with 12 colour plates).

review by Douglas Eby:  Many counselors and therapists may informally make use of movies to help people explore important psychological issues. "The Motion Picture Prescription" lists "200 Movies to Help You Heal Life's Problems", as the subtitle puts it, with brief synopses of the films, short lists of "healing themes" in them, and comments about the key story elements. For example, Solomon writes about "Rain Man" (with Dustin Hoffman as the autistic savant brother to Tom Cruise, unknown to him for decades): "Some families keep secrets that eventually come to light, leaving those who are still alive to deal with the legacy of the family lies. There's no room for secrets in a loving relationship... Can you see Charlie [Cruise] was taking his anger out on Raymond [Hoffman] when he was really feeling hurt and sad over his father's abandoning him?" Also included is a chapter with specific, usually common-sense suggestions, and an index of the 200 films in various theme categories.

Library Journal: "Debunking the myth that intellectually gifted people are either impractical social misfits or perfect specimens, Streznewski, a specialist in gifted education, presents a readable and poignant study of 100 people aged 18 to 90. Her criteria for inclusion were somewhat informal, based on the contemporary notion that intelligence is not merely a matter of high I.Q. However, a detailed set of indicators for giftedness was developed, and the study group included a wide range of individuals, from gifted women to senior citizens and criminals. Streznewski explores their experiences with schools, jobs, and in the social world. Lively personal narratives reveal how they adapt to their "oddball" status, determinants of their success or failure, and the structure of their high-powered interior lives."

Marylou Kelly Streznewski's unprecedented, 10-year study of 100 gifted adults, examines how being identified as a "smart kid" early on affects career choices, friendships, and romantic pairings later in life. Why do some talented and gifted people become Mozarts and Einsteins or corporate chieftains, while others drop out of school, struggle to hold down jobs, or turn to self-destructive behavior? What are the signs of giftedness, its pitfalls, and its promise? Marylou Streznewski provides answers to these and other questions, and creates an intriguing picture of what it is like to have an accelerated mind in a slow-moving world.

Traditionally, the gifted were measured in terms of intelligence only, and anyone with an IQ score higher than 130 was automatically grouped in with that misunderstood minority. Recently "giftedness" has been redefined to include qualities like extraordinary creative, leadership, or physical skills. Heightened perception, sensitivity, humor, and the ability to put complex ideas together quickly are also aspects of giftedness. These gifts affect the way talented adults react to their friends, families, jobs, and life challenges. Doing for gifted grownups what the bestselling Driven to Distraction did for adults with attention deficit, Gifted Grownups traces many types of gifted adults, including the high-testing, power-achieving Striver; the popular scholar or athlete Superstar; and the creative intellectual, free-spirit Independent. Here for the first time and in their own words, 100 gifted grownups, from ages 18 to 90, and a variety of family and educational backgrounds, occupations, social classes, and races, count the blessings and tally the costs of a high-powered mind. "Highly informative and interesting."—Alice Miller, author of The Drama of the Gifted Child

Reviews: The author, Dr Rena Subotnik (rena.subotnik@hunter.cuny.edu) , December 6, 1998
  "What kind of adults do gifted children become? This book describes, often in their own words, the experiences and reflections of graduates of Hunter College Elementary School at midlife. The design of this longitudinal look at giftedness in childhood and its relation to adult eminence and life satisfaction is modeled after the work of Lewis Terman, father of the Stanford Binet IQ test. ... Do high-IQ children admitted to NYC's most selective program for the gifted turn into eminent adults? This book describes, often in their own words, the experiences and reflections of graduates of Hunter College Elementary School at midlife. The design of this longitudinal look at giftedness in childhood and its relation to adult eminence and life satisfaction is modeled after the work of Lewis Terman, father of the Stanford Binet IQ test. The book challenges readers to question the purposes for which we identify and serve gifted students, and offers the opportunity to consider optimal learning environments for special populations.

"Gifted children are more susceptible to interfering social and emotional factors than once was thought... Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi of the University of Chicago has shown that children with exceptionally high abilities in any area -- not just in academics but in the visual arts, music, even athletics -- are out of step with their peers socially. These children tend to be highly driven, independent in their thinking and introverted." Ellen Winner, PhD [from "Uncommom Talents: Gifted Children, Prodigies and Savants", Scientific American, 1998]

From Kirkus Reviews , 04/15/96:
Winner's ambitious study focuses on the hereditary, familial, and characterological factors shared by gifted children, and suggests ways in which American educators might help such students develop their special talents. Winner (Psychology/Boston Coll.) notes that precocious youth differ from their peers in being ``independent, self-directed, willful, dominant non-conformists,'' possessed of a raging desire to master new skills and an ability to improvise approaches to learning and problem-solving. Winner goes on to explode some myths about the gifted, including the belief that giftedness necessarily correlates with a high IQ, particularly among artists; some extremely talented young painters and sculptors have only average IQs, while others even suffer from learning disorders such as dyslexia. Gifted children also tend to have parents who provide intellectual stimulation and emotional support. Winner also points out the alarming fact that, while girls ``make up about half the population in . . . programs for the gifted in kindergarten through third grade,'' by junior high school "they make up less than 30 percent.'' But it isn't only girls that society discourages: Our educational system lets down gifted children of both sexes, she asserts, by keeping them in classes with less advanced peers out of misguided egalitarianism, or by grouping them together in superficial programs that meet just a few hours a week. Winner's best section offers a convincing analysis of why some gifted children become highly creative adults--and why many do not. Gifted children must learn how to broaden, apply, and otherwise develop a talent that has come as a gift, transforming "sheer technical skill into something more conceptual, interpretative, and original.'' Written in serviceable if unspectacular prose, her book should help parents and teachers to aid the gifted as they make the often difficult transition from being brilliant children to becoming genuinely creative and fulfilled adults.

Synopsis (Amazon.com):   Myths and misconceptions about gifted children abound and cloud ourunderstanding of what gifted children are like and how they should be educated. Winner uncovers nine myths about giftedness and castigates schools for wasting resources on weak educational programs for the moderately gifted. Instead, she advocates elevating standards for all children.

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