Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies, and Aid by Dr. Samantha Nutt. (Signal, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Damned Nations

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

A great read I’m in the midst of is the thoughtful and thought-provoking Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies, and Aid. Its author Dr. Samantha Nutt joins me now. In the book she recounts her life thus far. Her last 15 years or so have been remarkable. She recounts in eye-opening detail being in the war zone, helping mothers and their babies while around her bombs would be going off, and bullets would be fired. In 1995, at the age of 25 as a new medical school graduate, she arrives in Somalia a volunteer for UNICEF. Over next 15 years, she’s in various war torn areas in the world, advocating for children and their families. She joins me now to tell us a bit of what she’s seen and what we ought to see. She writes in this book about issues we should think about, foreign aid and how and where it should be spent, as well as what we should think about when we do give. We also consider how much we spend on militarisation. Dr. Samantha Nutt is a medical doctor and a founder of War Child, an international humanitarian organisation. She’s been at the front line of many of the world’s major crises, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Congo, Darfur, Sudan, and Sierra Leone, among other countries. She’s an acclaimed public speaker, and an award-winning humanitarian appointed to the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. She is a staff physician at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, and she is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. The website for War Child is at www.warchild.ca. The book is published by Signal, which is an imprint of McClelland & Stewart. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Vancouver this day, Samantha Nutt; Good morning, Dr. Nutt.

Memoirs of An Addicted Brain: A Neuroscientist Examines His Former Life on Drugs by Marc Lewis, PhD. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Memoirs of An Addicted Brain

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

I’ve just started an engrossing, accessible, highly readable book, Memoirs of An Addicted Brain: A Neuroscientist Examines His Former Life on Drugs. Its author Marc Lewis joins me now. Dr. Lewis is a distinguished neuroscientist, who for many years was a drug addict himself. He describes in this book how his addictions manifested itself, what happened, and how he eventually overcame all that which affected his early life. Clean for some 30 years now, he’s currently a professor of human developmental psychology at Radboud University in the Netherlands. He was at the University of Toronto for over 20 years. This is a fascinating book in that we get Dr. Lewis’s own story as well as all the science behind what’s really happening to our brains. In that, it’s incredibly accessible. We also attempt to understand addiction more, and not just from an academic and scientist like Dr. Lewis, but from someone who’s literally been there and done that. And it’s not just drugs in this book, we read about our addictions to stuff like love, soap operas, wealth. We’ll get Dr. Lewis to explain more. The website is at www.memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com. The book is published by Doubleday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Marc Lewis; Good morning, Dr. Lewis.

The Grandest Challenge: Taking Life-Saving Science from Lab to Village by Dr. Abdallah Daar and Dr. Peter Singer. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Grandest Challenge: Taking Life-Saving Science from Lab to Village

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

It’s an unfortunate reality that our world sees alarming disparities between the developed and developing world, the First and the Third World to use somewhat archaic terms. In terms of life expectancy alone those in the West can expect to live into their 80s, while those in the developing world barely make it past 40. There’s been much advancement in medicine, what with designer drugs and treatments for diseases unheard of a decade or two ago, not to mention genetic research that’s looking at our DNA, as well as biotechnology with regards to genetically modified crops. Joining me now to wade through all of these issues of ethics and morality, science and technology are Dr. Abdallah Daar and Dr. Peter Singer. They are the authors of a new book, its premise is rather simple, but it’s also challenges how we look at ourselves and each other, with its thought provoking ideas on how to remedy the inequities. The book is called The Grandest Challenge: Taking Life-Saving Science from Lab to Village. The doctors Daar and Singer are at the forefront of all this biotechnology and are passionate about saving millions of lives. Dr. Abdallah Daar is a Professor of Public Health Sciences and of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and Director of Ethics and Commercialization at the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health. He is also Chief Science and Ethics Officer of Grand Challenges Canada. Dr. Peter Singer is the Director of the same McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, and is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada. Both have advised many governmental and non-governmental organisations. The book is published by Doubleday. Please welcome in Toronto this day to the Planta: On the Line program, Dr. Abdallah Daar and Dr. Peter Singer; Good morning, Dr. Singer; and good morning, Dr. Daar.

First You Smoked, No You Live by Dr. Derek Poteryko. Click to buy this book: First You Smoked, No You Live

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Tuesday, 31 May 2011 is World No Tobacco Day. We know we shouldn’t smoke, yet we can all name people we know who do and who ought to know better. Dr. Derek Poteryko joins me now. He is a family physician based in Nanaimo and the medical director of the Central Island Smoking Intervention Clinic. They’re at www.cisic.ca. He is the author of a book First You Smoked, Now You Live. Over four million Canadians still smoke. Up to 70% of those who smoke want to quit, and of course few have had success at it. We’ll get some tips on how to quit, as well discuss the provincial government’s plans with regards to quitting smoking. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Nanaimo, BC, Dr. Derek Poteryko; Good morning, Dr. Poteryko.

Selected: Why Some People Lead, Why Others Follow, and Why It Matters by Mark van Vugt and Anjana Ahuja. (Random House Canada, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Selected

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The history and psychology of leadership is explained in a highly readable, highly recommended book, Selected: Why Some People Lead, Why Others Follow, and Why It Matters. One of its authors joins me now. Mark van Vugt, who joins me from Toronto now, co-wrote the book with Anjana Ahuja. What they’ve done here is take much scientific research, distilled it, added some fascinating anecdotes, and give us the reader, a great sweep through the last couple of million years to see who amongst us emerge as leaders, who are followers, and perhaps gives us a glimpse into where we’re headed. Mark van Vugt is a professor of psychology at the VU University of Amsterdam, and holds honorary positions at the universities of Oxford and Kent. His website for more is at www.professormarkvanvugt.com. Selected is published by Random House. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Mark van Vugt; Good morning, Professor van Vugt.

Split-Second Persuasion: The Ancient Art and New Science of Changing Minds by Kevin Dutton. (Doubleday, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Split-Second Persuasion

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line in Vancouver, at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The ability to influence quickly, in the matter of seconds, is something that few have. And unfortunately, just as many who can dismantle a conflict or seal a deal, if not more so, can also kill, steal, and cheat. It is mind control at its most effective, black-belt mind control, as it were. That, the sociology, neuroscience and colourful anecdotes along the way are found in a fascinating new book: Split-Second Persuasion: The Ancient Art and New Science of Changing Minds. Its author, Dr. Kevin Dutton joins me now from Toronto. He is a leading expert on the science of social influence. He teaches at Cambridge, where he is Research Fellow at the Faraday Institute of Science and Religion at St. Edmund’s College, and at the University of Western Australia in Perth. Split-Second Persuasion is published by Doubleday. The website for more is at www.flipnosis.co.uk. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Dr. Kevin Dutton; Good morning, Professor Dutton.

The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century by Dr. Dickson Despommier. (Thomas Dunne Book, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Vertical Farm

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. In Vancouver, this is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Dr. Dickson Despommier joins me now. He is the author of a new book, a fascinating one, The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century. It’s a provocative, yet thoughtful book showing us how we could have our own local food source, especially if we live in an urban centre. With food in short supply, the same with water and energy, Dr. Despommier thinks we should build up. Now, scientists, architects and people around the globe are getting hip to the idea that these specially designed buildings can grow not only food, thanks to hydroponics and aeroponics, but they can be sources of employment and because of their locations, they would also reduce dependence on fossil fuels in terms of getting the food to people. Dr. Dickson Despommier spent thirty eight years as a professor of microbiology and public health in environmental health sciences at Columbia University. He has won numerous awards, and he’s been featured in countless national and international media outlets, both print and broadcast. It’s a Thomas Dunne Book, which is an imprint of St. Martin’s Press. The website for more is www.verticalfarm.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Dickson Despommier; Good morning, Dr. Despommier.

SuperBaby: 12 Way to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years by Dr. Jenn Berman. (Sterling, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: SuperBaby

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

In Vancouver, I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The first three years in the life of a child are important in its development. The child learns to trust, develops a sense of self, and forms attachments. As such, this time is important for parents. Dr. Jenn Berman joins me now to talk about her new book, SuperBaby: 12 Way to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years. I don’t have children nor expect any anytime shortly, but for parents in the audience, this is a substantial book, and quite accessible. Parents are probably too busy to read a book cover to cover, but this book is set up that you can go to the appropriate chapter, like what toys you should give your kids, or what foods to avoid, or how to communicate to the child. Dr. Jenn Berman is a marriage, family, and child therapist in private practice in Los Angeles. Her previous book, The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy Confident Kids was a Los Angeles Times bestseller. Her parenting column appears in a number of publications including Los Angeles Family. She is a frequent commentator on various media, including television on programs like The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show and The Early Show. She also hosts a call-in program on Sirius/XM Radio. Her website is at www.doctorjenn.com. SuperBaby is published by Sterling. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Beverly Hills, Dr. Jenn Berman; Good morning, Dr. Berman.

FOB Doc: A Doctor on the Front Lines in Afghanistan by Captain Ray Wiss, M.D.. (Douglas & McIntyre 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: FOB Doc

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The war in Afghanistan is brought home in a candid new book, FOB Doc: A Doctor on the Front Lines in Afghanistan. It’s a compelling diary kept by Captain Ray Wiss, M.D., who rejoined the Canadian Forces in the summer of 2007 to support the mission in Afghanistan. Beginning in November 2007, for the next three months, he spent nearly his entire tour in combat, treating the severe injuries of Canadians and Afghans. We read of his trying to cope with the ‘terror and boredom’ of front-line soldier life. There are also over a hundred photographs in the book, from his time in combat, as well as the men and women on all sides of this war. All royalties from the publication of this book will be donated to the Military Families Fund, which was founded by General Rick Hillier, the former Chief of Defence Staff, who writes the foreword to this book. Published by Douglas & McIntyre, FOB Doc is a tremendous book, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious, but always riveting, human and real. It’s a necessary view on to this conflict that is sometimes hard to understand, but one that’s on the minds of a lot of Canadians. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Dr. Ray Wiss; Good morning, Captain Wiss.

A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly by Dr. John Sloan. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: A Bitter Pill

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A much needed book is out now, A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly. It’s written by Dr. John Sloan, who is a senior academic physician in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia. He provides a view onto elderly care, filling in the knowledge gaps we might have on how older patients are cared for. The anecdotes and case studies are fascinating to read and an instructive way to understand these issues. Dr. Sloan has spent well over 30 years caring for the frail elderly, many years conducting his practice outside an office, doing house calls, one of the few doctors who did so. A Bitter Pill is published by Greystone. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Sloan; Good morning, Dr. Sloan.