OCTOBER
23, 2005 --
The
New York Times Book Review, October 23, carried a review of "Lincoln's
Melancholy" by Joshua Wolf Shenk. The
book's subtitle is "How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His
Greatness."
The reviewer, Patricia Cohen, takes issue with author Shenk's emphasis on optimism
in our America. (Apparently, however, there are great sums of money to be made,
today, in trying to overcome depression.)
Ms. Cohen dismisses the value of a psychological profile of Lincoln.
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LPR was interested
in her observation that "while depressives may be politically
acute, creative and spiritual, they don't have a monopoly on these
attributes."
Ah, but are they found on the TV talk shows, in the op-ed columns -- on lecture
tours?
To receive a regular paycheck -- and particularly one for telling people what
you think -- may be just the right antidote for many cases of depression in the
U.S. today.
(By the way, copies of some LPR photos, as blank cards, may be available. Inquiries
are invited.)
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