Clyde's Corner

Clyde Lindley

Quotable Quotes

"Each man can make a difference, and each man should try."
-- John F. Kennedy

"Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits."
-- Samuel Clemens

"One never goes so far as when one doesn't know where one is going."
-- Goethe

"Of all intellectual faculties, judgment is the last to mature."
-- Arthur Schopenhauer

"It's not how old we are, but how we are old."
-- Unknown

"'I know what you're thinking about,' said Tweedledum; 'but it isn't so, nohow.'
'Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, 'if it were so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'"
-- Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a.k.a. Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), Through the Looking Glass

Reading

One of life's most interesting activities is reading, However many persons find their schedules ares too busy to engage in this "recreational activity." Nonetheless, one should schedule some time each wee on pursuing interests of one's main work activities. And the evenings can also be devoted to reading (skimming) books or articles outside your work activities.

With this introduction, I recommend the following six books for your consideration.

In the Company of Giants. 1997. Rama D. Jager & Rafael R. Ortiz. New York: McGraw Hill.

The authors conducted "Candid conversations with the Visionaries of the digital world, and present what they said about their successes, failures, values, management style, and what they think portends for the future of the technology industry. This in-depth look at 15 of the most successful companies reveals the personalities of the entrepreneurs: Steve Jabs - Apple Computer, Next Software & Pixar; T.J. Rodgers - Cypress Semiconductor; Gordon Eubanks - Symantec; Steve Case - America Online; Scott Cook - Intuit; Sandy Kurtzig - ASK; John Warnock/Charles Gesche - Adobe Systems; Michael Dell - Dell Computer; Charles Wang - Computer Associates; Bill Gates - Microsoft; Andy Grove - Intel; Trip Hawkins - Electronic Arts/3DO; Ed McCracken - Silicon Graphics; Ken Olsen - Digital Equipment Corporation; and Bill Hewlett - Hewlett-Packard.

Hi-tech persons will find these interviews intriguing; but if you have time for only a few read two: (1) Sandy Kutrzig - ASK: in the "male-dominated industry of the 1970's" Sandra "managed to sell her ware to large manufacturing giants while raising two sons. (2) Bill Hewlett - Hewlett-Packard: ". . . is considered the father of the industry, they created a company with values --- a company that treated its employees right and had genuine concern for their welfare." In talking about their employees, Bill said, "... our friends were the ones we worked with. They weren't employees, really. They were our friends. And so, it was important for us to understand how they felt about things in the company. It was important to us that all the employees were treated well and enjoyed themselves."

Reversing Human Aging. 1996. Michael Fossel, Ph.D., M.D. New York: Wm. Morrow & Co. (Dr. Fossel earned his Ph.D. in Neurobiology and his M.D. at Stanford University and was a recipient of a National Science Foundation Fellowship.)

This book focuses on the cells in our body and the "aging clock" in them, how this functions and how eventually we can control the "aging" and tell it how to stop. "We will be able to prevent, even reverse, aging within two decades. At the same time, and as part of the same process, we will also cure most of the diseases that now frighten and destroy us." (Chapter 1. p 1). "...This book is the story of how we are conquering aging and of what the consequences will be. It is the story of our hopes and our fears, and of change that will soon shake the world, We are about to change history forever." (p.2). Dr. Fossel provides much scientific evidence about cells, how they function, the aging clock in cells and in each person's DNA, and the natural defenses against aging - the ability to repair, maintain, and replace molecules, cells, and tissue, and eventually to stop the aging clock or reverse it. However, in his introduction to the book, he states he has gone beyond the facts. "I have elected to tempt fate and encourage critics bye leaning further toward certainty than many will find acceptable. ..... I look forward to the future. The future may not be at hand, but it is not far off.: (xii).

Understanding Alzheimer's Disease. 1996 Neal R. Cutler, M.D., & John J. Sramek, Pharm. D. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.

This book explains the course of the disease, how it is diagnosed, the cognitive and behavioral deficits, and what happens in the brain. It discusses treatments for Alzheimer's and how to care for a person with the disease. At the end of the book is the appendix which will have great appeal: a listing of drug treatments with indications of common side effects; criteria for Alzheimer's Disease (American Psychiatric Association); suggestions for future reading/viewing; and sources for information and support.

Environmental Health (Revised Edition). 1997. Dade W. Moeller. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Not a day goes by but we hear of some factor that will effect our health and well being through environmental means (for example: pollution, contaminated water or vegetables, toxic chemicals, deforestation, etc.). It becomes very difficult to make sense of conflicting arguments: the study of environmental health is complicated. Environmental Health is a textbook that Dr. Moeller developed for his course at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Principles of Environmental Health." By skimming through the nineteen chapters and consulting the index you can find an excellent discussion of the latest scientific findings about your queries. Moeller's goal is to "provide comprehensive coverage of the field." He presents "...topics from both local and global perspectives, and in relation to both short- and long-range impacts." (from Preface).

Empowering Older People. 1995. Edited by: Daniel Thursz, Charlotte Nusberg & Jhonnie Prather. (Published in cooperation with the International Federation on Ageing). Westport, Ct: Auburn House.

"Older persons are one of the last groups with which empowerment has become associated. Yet the privilege it represents -- the ability to make informed choices, exercise influence, continue to make contributions in a variety of settings, and take advantage of services -- are critically important to the well-being of the elders." (Preface). Seventeen experts in aging review contributions from Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, India, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Necessary Losses. 1986. Judith Viorst. New York: Simon & Schuster.

This book is an interesting observation that understanding ourselves is based in large part on how we deal with the losses that occur to us throughout our life span. Loss is not only loss through death, but encompasses all types of loss through interactions with people, to changes that occur through the development of life stages, separations and departures, romantic dreams, etc. "Throughout our life we grow up by giving up. We give up some of our deepest attachments to others. We give up certain cherished parts of ourselves. We must confront, in the dreams we dream, as well as in our intimate relationships, all that we will never have and never will be. Passionate investment leaves us vulnerable to loss. And sometimes, no matter how clever we are, we must lose." (p. 16 Introduction).

Judith Viorst has a psychoanalytic orientation and has worked in several psychiatric settings with children, adolescents, and adults. The twenty chapters are full of wisdom and insights into how the handling of losses helps one to grow. I especially like the inclusion of two chapters, "I grow old... I grow Old" and "The ABC of Dying."

Clyde is the Director of the Center for Psychological Services, 1608 Sanford Road, Silver Spring, MD 20902. Phone: (301) 754-1070.