The World's Best Book Summaries
What was the Bayou Corne sinkhole disaster? What happened and what did it mean for the people who lived in Bayou Corne? In Bayou Corne, an environmental disaster lead to a sinkhole. Louisiana is staunchly pro-business and pro-energy, and residents of Bayou Corne blamed the government instead of the company at fault, Texas Brine. Read more about the Bayou Corne sinkhole disaster and what happened.
Which economic system is the best? Why does Milton Friedman believe capitalism is best? Throughout history, many leaders and economists have asked “which economic system is the best?” According to Milton Friedman, the answer is clear. Capitalism is the best type of economic system. Keep reading to find out which economic system is the best.
Do you want to know how to help a child with OCD? Are there examples of people with OCD? Author Alison Bechdel suffered from OCD as a child. Eventually, she and her mother worked together to help her stop her compulsions. Though this article isn’t a guide about how to help a child with OCD, it does offer a glimpse into Alison’s life, and how she developed and dealt with her disorder as a child. Read more about Alison’s mother’s ideas on how to help a child with OCD, and how it worked for Alison.
Is psychotherapy for bipolar disorder effective? What role did it play in Kay Jamison’s recovery? In her memoir An Unquiet Mind, Dr. Kay Jamison shares her experience with bipolar disorder and recounts how psychotherapy helped her manage her symptoms. Read about Dr. Kay Jamison’s experience with psychotherapy for bipolar disorder management.
Do you think health is a human right? Should everyone have access to health care, regardless of their ability to pay? According to Paul Farmer, a doctor and anthropologist who devoted his life to making medical care accessible to all, health is a fundamental human right. Farmer went to great lengths to realize this philosophy in practice. Read more to learn about Paul Farmer and his medical philosophy: health is a human right.
What are manic phase symptoms in bipolar disorder? How did these manic state symptoms appear in An Unquiet Mind? In her memoir An Unquiet Mind, Dr. Jamison recounts her experience living with manic depression. Her manic phase symptoms began in her senior year of high school and didn’t end until late adulthood when she was prescribed lithium therapy. Read more to learn how manic phase symptoms manifest in everyday life.
What is it like to live with bipolar depression disorder? What experiences did Kay Redfield Jamison share in An Unquiet Mind? Bipolar depression disorder is a two-sided illness. One side of the coin involves episodes of joy and clarity, while the other is despair and confusion. Read about Kay Redfield Jamison’s experience living with bipolar depression disorder, as she recounts it in her memoir An Unquiet Mind.
Can bipolar be genetic? More generally, what role does genetics play in mental illness? Dr. Jamison, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychiatry, was fascinated with the study of genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder. In light of her mental illness lineage, she couldn’t help but wonder, “Can bipolar be genetic?” Keep reading for the answer to the question: can bipolar be genetic?
What are the causes of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis? How does it develop and can it be treated? Paul Farmer started investigating multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Lima, Peru. He found out that MDR can be prevented if patients are treated with different antibiotic drugs after their first TB treatment round. Otherwise, bacteria will grow resistant to those antibiotics. Read more to learn about multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, its causes, and how Paul Farmer convinced the WHO to implement TB MDR treatment program.
Who are Paul Farmer and Partners in Health? What was their mission? Partners in Health is a non-profit organization co-founded by Paul Farmer to provide medical care to Haiti’s rural poor. Its founding was inspired by Farmer’s vision to deliver health care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Read more to learn about Paul Farmer and Partners in Health.