The Magician

It seems like I am on a roll with some really fabulous books to read.  Just finished W. Somerset Maugham’s book The Magician, written in his early years as a writer but not released until he re-wrote it many years later.  It is actually written using a person who claimed to be a magician whom Maugham knew.  The story focuses on how two people, Arthur and Margaret become separated by the “forces” of a visiting “sorcerer of sorts,” Oliver Haddo.  Haddo, an obese and menacing man, meets the two through a mutual friend (Dr. Porhoet) and during a very unfortunate interaction turns his hatred toward Arthur, promising to make him “pay” for the scuffle they get into.  Haddo gets back at Arthur by placing a “spell” upon his fiancée which “forces” her to leave Arthur the day of their wedding after Haddo places Margaret in some type of trance two months prior.  The worst part of Margaret’s departure is that she leaves to marry Haddo!!!  There must be a spell, huh?  Imagine this beautiful woman marrying the obese and hated Haddo.  There is much more to the story, including Margaret’s friend Susie, whom she lived with and whom also loves Arthur and tries to help him along the way.  After Margaret’s sudden departure, Arthur, Susie, and Dr. Porhoet come to the conclusion that Margaret must have a spell upon her.  But does she?  How will the three “musketeers” find Margaret and have her escape before Haddo does something evil?  How could someone so evil like Haddo be able to get away with this magic?  Well I won’t ruin it for you, but know this story is ahead of its time.  Could easily be a movie of the week.  Great suspense.  Sometimes books don’t always end as they should….  Go read this quick, short book.  I thoroughly enjoyed!

Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone

What a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about our society.  I will definitely be able to use at least the first few chapters for my class in the Graduate School on the development of community, or should I say how community is now developing!  The book is Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone by Eric Klinenberg, who is an NYU faculty member (Oh yeah!) who gets a grant from the Robert Wood Foundation to study the movement of singletons (I had no idea this was an actual group).  As you read the book, you realize that our society has changed so much from the days of community – where families grew up in a cramped home – and now, not so much. This is a huge swing in how people in the US and much of Europe are now choosing another way of living.   In the 1950, only 22 percent of American adults were single. Today, more than 50 percent of American adults are single, and 31 million—roughly one out of every seven adults—live alone.  The book actually builds on much of what Robert Putnam describes in his book Bowling Alone, but in this read Klinenberg focuses on the individual, whereas Putnam provides data from civic engagement and organizations.  Klinenberg uses individual interviews from all ages to meet “singletons,” those who live alone.  People marry later, and when it is time to die, we end up alone (as our spouses die) and we don’t want to live with our children, much different from a few decades ago.  Klinenberg’s rich data is from the voice of the individual and he learns why the solo living arrangement is desirable.  This is particularly compelling for children with parents reaching the ages of 70 and beyond… the stories will really awaken you to what you will need to think through over the next few years as parents age.  I do wish I was in Sweden though, as they really know how to take care of their elder citizens.  Obviously this is difficult for college and university residence life programs, as noted by the Director of Housing at University of Miami, where their students can’t get enough single rooms.  This is in-depth research (about how the singletons feel and why they choose to be alone) and worth ALL people to read, not only college professors.  Makes me want to do this kind of research myself.  Come on Robert Wood Foundation, give me a call!  Worth a read for sure!   

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

Reading Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki is a wonderful way to get to a place of perfect synergy with oneself.  Your true mind is always where you are…. there!  The book captures a series of talks that Suzuki gives about how to approach the Zen mind set, getting to enlightenment.  The most difficult thing to keep in mind is gaining a beginner’s mind.  You don’t need to know so much about Zen, it is about getting to that place where we started,  beginner’s mind, goal of practice is to keep that mind – always.  Interesting how when we do things for the first time – our original way we do things are so good, but the more we practice we lose the original mind.  Many possibilities in beginners mind, but not so with expert’s mind… self-centered minds hold us back.  He talks about if we want to see a fish you need to watch the water, not looking for a fish it will come.  He also gives some thoughts on how to get into position and breathe for attaining true Zen form.  Sitting in cross legged position, getting our mind pure in a fundamental sense and through this exercise we need learn how to keep our mind pure.  Using compassion is what is in a beginner’s mind, it makes us limitless.  Also encourage oneself to always be mischievous.  To further describe the Zen goal, he used the analogy of the four kinds of horses:  excellent ones, good ones, poor ones, and bad ones.  The best horse will run slow and then speeds fast before it sees the shadow of the whip, the good horse will run as the whip comes down, the poor horse will run when it feels the pain on its body, and the fourth will run after the pain penetrates his body throughout.  The fourth horse will learn hard how to run.  For us, we get stuck on the fast horse as it gets the idea quickly, but for Zen it is not to become the best.  If you practice the right way, it doesn’t matter if you are the best or the worst.  Zen has more sympathy for the worst one than the first one.  The worst horse is the most valuable because from our imperfections we will find our way.  It is like the position we choose for Zen, those who can sit perfectly took time to learn it.   Having the right attitude is not intellectual, but instead one is able to sit with someone in the relaxed state.  Through Zen, learn how to sit and breathe, let it happen, don’t over think it.  What a wonderful read, in my case listening to it on the ipod.  Zen philosophy is about making one, through hard work, work through one’s imperfections.  I wish I was more patient and took the time to apply this mindset to life.  I’m sure I would have a lower blood pressure and more connection to the moment.  Everyone should spend time listening and then taking away what you can from this philosophy.  Good read. 

The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals

The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals by Gavin De Becker is an interesting book for an RA to choose as their favorite book.  The book is written by the nation’s leading expert on predicting violent behavior.   The goal of the book is to educate the reader on survival signals that protect us from violence in all its forms.  What is danger and how should we notice it?  The reader learns how to start identifying the signs and how to rely on our intuition.  How does one begin to sharpen your ability to predict the behaviors of others?  For the person who is concerned about interactions with others whom may be a threat, think about the following warning signs: forced teaming, charm and niceness, too many details, typecasting, loan sharking, the unsolicited promise, and discounting the word “no.”  De Becker provides real life stories written about clients and other well known cases of violence against another.  It is interesting to note De Becker’s upbringing as a victim of an abusive father who learns how to leave that situation and then applies those lessons to help others.  His list of clients reads like a magazine top ten list.  He notes that it is those we know that usually cause the most pain to us, but he does provide stories of unknown stalkers, extortionists, and mass murderers/rapists.  How about workplace employees who turn into problem people (especially when you think they will be bring a gun to work)?  He provides that list of things to watch out for too: inflexibility, weapons in the work place, hopelessness, paranoia, blaming others, going on a “crusade,” having grievances of others, initiating contact after being let go… if you experience some of these, watch out.  As individuals who engage with others, we should be always paying attention to our gut and follow the questions we may have of others.  He also captures when/how we should be afraid of children.  De Becker provides in depth data into his ideas and concepts.  This is well written with stories many of us have heard about, like OJ Simpson and other high profile cases relating to violent actions.  I didn’t expect a read like this, but it did open my eyes a bit to look around more than I might normally do.  A fast read.

Six Months in Sudan

Reading the journeys that others decide to embark on is always inspiring to read about, especially when one does so to help others in our society.  Enter the world of James Maskalyk, a doctor from Toronto who leaves his hospital to venture to the Sudan... this is the story told in his book Six Months in Sudan.  Dr. Maskalyk has completed a number of humanitarian trips prior to this one but he informs the reader that this may have been the hardest one to date.  For six months, Dr. Maskalyk works for Doctors without Borders in Abyei, Sudan, a territory that is caught between a number of military factions, though during his trip is not the site of a current war.  The reality of the life in Abyei reveals that few medical personnel can make it, mainly because of the climate (exceedingly hot), coupled with the lack of medical supplies for the people.  The people are very wary of the free medical treatments and expect doctors to perform miracles in a place with limited food, malaria, malnutrition, lack of education, and inner-strife between warring factions.  Dr. Maskalyk has his own inner torment of not allowing himself to connect to others from home, giving the idea that he is constantly running from something (ability to love others) and trying to solve problems beyond his abilities (solving all medical issues in a place that is incapable of helping itself).  I have read many of these stories (or it seems like I have) and this was a bit of a disappointment compared to “Paul Farmer” stories, as I wasn’t able to connect with this author like I was for many of the other “save the world doc tales.”  Dr. Maskalyk did receive some concern from the medical group for his “blogging” of the experience and I think it would have been beneficial to go into a bit more detail.  His characters were presented on a superficial level, I never got close enough to feel their experience.  Overall I am amazed at his conviction to help others, just felt the characters and his story were ho-hum.  Providing a bit more depth of the 480 paces he “ran” from his tukul (sleeping hut) to the medical units and the various ways he was touched wasn’t there.  Hitting the highlights but not in a way that moved the reader.  I’d say there are a few better reads than this “tell-all” volunteer doc, though I respect the work he completed!