Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

Mary Anne—The Things They Carried: How She’s Consumed by War

Who is Mary Anne in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for her character? Mary Anne is the American girlfriend of a soldier in the U.S. Army, Mark Fossie, during the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. Mary Anne comes to Vietnam to be with Fossie, and she becomes more of a natural soldier than any of the actual soldiers in the unit. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Mary Anne in The Things They Carried.

Sully’s Hudson River Landing: Who Was the Real Hero?

On Jan. 25, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 left La Guardia Airport with 155 on board, hit a flock of geese, lost both engines, and crash-landed in the icy Hudson River. Investigators later called Sully’s Hudson River landing the most successful ditching in aviation history. Pilot Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III was hailed as a hero. We’ll cover why Sully didn’t consider himself the primary hero of the “miracle on the Hudson,” and we’ll discuss how a simple checklist can save lives, both in the air and in everyday situations.

Ted Lavender—The Things They Carried: Character Summary

Who is Ted Lavender in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for his character? Ted Lavender is a soldier in Alpha Company, a unit of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. Lavender adopts a puppy while serving, and his death comes out of the blue. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Ted Lavender in The Things They Carried.

Mitchell Sanders—The Things They Carried: Character Analysis

Who is Mitchell Sanders in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for his character? Mitchell Sanders is a soldier in Alpha Company, a unit of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. Sanders tells the book’s narrator stories that prompt the narrator to reflect on the fine line between truth and fiction. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Mitchell Sanders in The Things They Carried.

The History of Specialization in Medicine

Advances in medicine have brought with them the need for the existence and expansion of medical specialties. This specialization in medicine has many benefits. Does it have downsides? We’ll cover the history of medical specialization and why it doesn’t always serve patients well.

Game Theory Example—Why Your Choices Have Unintended Effects

What is game theory? What’s a good game theory example? Game theory is the study of outcomes in negotiation and conflict that aren’t actually intended by the individuals involved in that negotiation or conflict. In these situations, the outcome is determined not by an individual’s choices, but by the way an individual’s choices interact with the choices of other “players.” We’ll look at a game theory example and explore other theories that explore the idea that we’re serving cultures, not the other way around.

Heart Attack Checklist—This Simple Tool Could Save Your Life

In trying to do the right things, the challenge of the 21st century is ineptitude, rather than ignorance. It used to be the reverse. Can a simple checklist, say, a heart attack checklist, help prevent avoidable mistakes in medicine? We’ll cover how more knowledge, in medicine particularly, has led to more ineptitude, and we’ll discuss how doctors adopting a simple list like a heart attack checklist can save lives.

Rat Kiley—The Things They Carried: Character Summary

Who is Rat Kiley in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for his character? Rat Kiley is a soldier in Alpha Company, a unit of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. Rat Kiley is the company’s first medic, who shoots himself in the foot to get out of active combat duty. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Rat Kiley in The Things They Carried.

Linda—The Things They Carried: O’Brien’s Childhood Love

Who is Linda in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for her character? Linda is the childhood girlfriend of the narrator of The Things They Carried. Linda died of a brain tumor when they were both nine years old, and the narrator believes this loss influences his belief in the power of storytelling. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Linda in The Things They Carried.

Norman Bowker—The Things They Carried: His Story + Tragic End

Who is Norman Bowker in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for his character? Norman Bowker is a soldier in Alpha Company, a unit of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. Bowker blames himself for the death of a fellow soldier and hangs himself after the war. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Norman Bowker in The Things They Carried.