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12-19-14: Audio Book Review: Mark Samuels, Written in Darkness

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"This is an abyss that is not content to merely gaze back."

I've been wanting to fire off some audio reviews for my podcast and broadcast, and found myself with enough time to do so today. THis is a nice time of year, as I get to catch up on some reading and writing Ive been meaning to get to, and evven the most interviewable sorts tend to get busy around the holidays.

For your on-the-go listening pleasure, then, here is my audio review of Mark Samuels' oustanding 'Written in Darkness,' a book that literally creeps up on you. It's is the most engaging work of disengagment you're going to find. I hope to do this on a regular basis so that on my radio show, I can cover the work of writers I'm not able to speak to in person.

Follow this link into the darkness and my audio revie of 'Written in Darkness' by Mark Samuels.




12-16-14: A 2014 Interview with Christopher Hobbs

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"I want to integrate both the traditional uses and the traditional wisdom and knowledge and experience with modern science."
—Christopher Hobbs

Christopher Hobbs is easygoing and relaxed as we sit down to discuss his book 'Grow It, Heal It' — more so than I'll ever be. After all, here's a man who has spent his life in the world of natural health, mining ancient medicine with modern science. The continuity implied has got to give him the level of peace and intelligence that he brings to the conversation.

s I have always tended to be quite skeptical of any writing in this genre. It's very easy to make claims that you cannot back up and slather them with graphics that are impressive and entertaining. But Hobbs is first and foremost a scientist who understands the technical aspects of the practice. That said, his work and his presence on the page and in-person, are far more humane than are typically associated with the words "research scientist."

For me, the striking aspect of 'Grow It, Heal It' was the cookbook slant. It's not really in the text, but I love cookbooks, and the idea of being able to create your own medicinal herbs at home, with the recipes you find here is very appealing. It's also nice that the work in the book does not involve a lot of high-tech, high-maintenance gardening stuff. I'm edging my way into growing my own herbs, as I have some nice places in the front yard to do so.

Chris and I talked about his work, and his take on how growing your own herbs (and yes, he does mention that herb as well, only very briefly) can save you money and cure your headaches — literally, in this case. If you're interested in growing herb, matters of mind, body and spiritual health, or just want to hear something you can easily do in your own home, then Christopher Hobbs is your man.

You can hear Christopher Hobbs and I discuss 'Grow It, Heal It' by following this link to the MP3 audio file.

[Disclosure Note: I am currently creating a Living Well podcast for Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems, who employ Christopher Hobbs.]




12-16-14 UPDATE: Podcast Update: Time to Read Episode 187: Christopher Hobbs, 'Grow It, Heal It'

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Here's the one-hundred eighty-seventh episode of my series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read.

I've been worjking for more of a live format lately, and to this end in this Time to Read "lightning round," I've included some of the banter beforehand, to give a feel for the atmosphere when we run these little mini-interviews. The boom line: THey're a fun way to finish off the gig.

The podcasts/radio broadcasts will be of books worth your valuable reading time. I'll try to keep the reports under four minutes, for a radio-friendly format. If you want to run them on your show or podcast, let me know.

My hope is that in under four minutes I can offer readers a concise review and an opportunity to hear the author read from or speak about the work. I'm hoping to offer a new one every week.

The one-hundred eighty-seventh episode is a look at Christopher Hobbs and 'Grow It, Heal It.'

Here's a link to the MP3 audio file of Time to Read, Episode 187: Christopher Hobbs, 'Grow It, Heal It'.



New to the Agony Column

09-18-15: Commentary : William T. Vollman Amidst 'The Dying Grass' : An Epic Exploration of Simultaneity

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with William T. Vollman : "...a lot of long words that in our language are sentences..."

09-05-15: Commentary : Susan Casey Listens to 'Voices in the Ocean' : Science, Empathy and Self

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Susan Casey : "...the reporting for this book was emotionally difficult at times..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 213: Susan Casey : Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins

08-24-15: Commentary : Felicia Day Knows 'You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)' : Transformative Technology

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Felicia Day : "I think you have to be attention curators for audience in every way."

08-22-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 212: Felicia Day : You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)

08-21-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report : Senator Claire McCaskill is 'Plenty Ladylike' : Internalizing Determination to Overcome Sexism [Incudes Time to Read EP 211: Claire McCaskill, Plenty Ladylike, plus A 2015 Interview with Senator Claire McCaskill]

Agony Column Podcast News Report : Emily Schultz Unleashes 'The Blondes' : A Cure by Color [Incudes Time to Read EP 210: Emily Schultz, The Blondes, plus A 2015 Interview with Emily Schultz]

08-10-15:Agony Column Podcast News Report : In Memory of Alan Cheuse : Thank you Alan, and Your Family, for Everything

07-11-15: Commentary : Robert Repino Morphs 'Mort(e)' : Housecat to Harbinger of the Apocalypse

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Robert Repino : "...an even bigger threat. which is us, the humans..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Robert Repino : Mort(e)

07-05-15: Commentary : Dr. Michael Gazzaniga Tells Tales from Both Sides of the Brain : A Life in Neuroscience Reveals the Life of Science

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Michael Gazzaniga : "We made the first observation and BAM there was the disconnection effect..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Michael Gazzaniga : Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience

06-26-15: Commentary : Neal Stephenson Crafts an Eden for 'Seveneves' : Blow It Up and Start All Over Again

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Neal Stephenson : "...and know that you're never going to se a tree again..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 207: Neal Stephenson : Seveneves

06-03-15: Commentary : Dan Simmons Opens 'The Fifth Heart' : Having it Every Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Dan Simmons : "...yes, they really did bring those bombs..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 206: Dan Simmons : The Fifth Heart

05-23-15: Commentary : John Waters Gets 'Carsick' : Going His Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with John Waters : "...you change how you would be in real life...”

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 205: John Waters : Carsick

05-09-15: Commentary : Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD and 'Shrinks' : A Most Fashionable Take on the Human Mind

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : "..its influence to be as hegemonic as it was..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 204: Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry

04-29-15: Commentary : Barney Frank is 'Frank' : Interpersonally Ours

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Barney Frank : "...while you're trying to change it, don't ignore it..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 203: Barney Frank : Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage

04-21-15: Commentary : Kazuo Ishiguro Unearths 'The Buried Giant' : The Mist of Myth and Memory

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro : ".... by the time I was writing this novel, the lines between what was fantasy and what was real had blurred for me..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 202: Kazuo Ishiguro : The Buried Giant

04-17-15: Commentary : Erik Larson Follows a 'Dead Wake' : Countdown to Destiny

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Erik Larson : "...said to have been found in the arms of a dead German sailor..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 201: Erik Larson : Dead Wake

04-15-15: Commentary : Peter Bell Reflects 'A Certain Slant of Light' : Strange Stories of Modern Scholars

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2014 Interview with Peter Bell : "...I looked up some of the old books..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 200: Peter Bell : Strange Epiphanies and A Certain Slant of Light

03-14-15: Commentary : Marc Goodman Foresees 'Future Crimes' : Exponential Potential

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Marc Goodman : "...every physical object around us is being transformed, one way or another, into an information technology..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 199: Marc Goodman : Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It

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