Out of the Blue: A Memoir of Workplace Depression, Recovery, Redemption, and Yes, Happiness by Jan Wong (2012). Click to buy this book from JanWong.ca: Out of the Blue

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Jan Wong joins me again. For over twenty years she’s been one of Canada’s most famous and infamous of journalists. Her reporting won her awards, and her famous ‘Lunch with. . .’ column in the Globe and Mail was legendary. In 2006 covering the Dawson College shooting in Montreal, what she wrote set off a controversy that marked the beginning of the end of her relationship with the Globe and Mail. After receiving many death threats, being denunciated in Parliament, and outright racism, it was the abandonment of her newspaper that caused her to fall into severe clinical depression. She has just written and published a new book, Out of the Blue: A Memoir of Workplace Depression, Recovery, Redemption, and Yes, Happiness. It’s a captivating book wherein Wong narrates her spiral from the heights of journalism in Canada to the depths of depression. Throughout the book, she cites books and people that had helped her along the way. It’s a terrific bibliography if you’re interested in reading more about depression and grief. The book is also a chronicle of her battles with the Globe and Mail; Manulife, the paper’s insurer; and Doubleday, which had been contracted to publish this book, before deciding otherwise, prompting Wong to self-publish. Virginia Woolf once said, “Take notes, and the pain goes away.” We’ll ask Ms. Wong if she took this to heart, and whether writing this book has helped her. I suspect it’ll help a lot of people define depression, notice its signs, and perhaps challenge the stigma associated with it. It’s also got the sort of media gossip that’s interesting. Jan Wong was last on for her previous book Beijing Confidential. Her previous books include Red China Blues, Jan Wong’s China, and Lunch with Jan Wong. She’s won many awards, was at the Globe and Mail for 20 years, and is currently a columnist at Toronto Life and the Halifax Chronicle Herald, and a professor of journalism at St. Thomas University in Fredricton, New Brunswick, where she splits her time with Toronto. The website for more is at www.janwong.ca; that’s where you can buy the book. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program in Toronto today, Jan Wong; Ms. Wong, good morning.

The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam. (Doubleday, 2012) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Headmaster’s Wager

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Vincent Lam joins me now. He’s got a new book out, his long awaited novel, The Headmaster’s Wager. It has already been described as epic, a masterpiece, superbly crafted, and deeply affecting. In the book, Percival Chen is the headmaster of a highly regarded English school in Vietnam. Set amidst the Vietnam War, we see Chen, who’s Chinese, navigate the culture and politics of Vietnam. He’s a gambling and womanising bon vivant, looking out for his son who he wants to retain a sense of his Chinese identity, and Chen has also fallen for a local, a half-Vietnamese, half-French woman. Vincent Lam is an emergency physician in Toronto, and he lectures at the University of Toronto. He received the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize for his collection Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures. He’s also written a biography of Tommy Douglas, and co-written a book on influenza. The website for more is at www.vincentlam.ca. The book is published by Doubleday. He will be appearing with Linden MacIntyre next Wednesday night, the 9th of May at Incite, the series put on by the Vancouver International Writers Festival, which will be at the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library, Downtown. And next Thursday night, the 10th, he’ll be appearing at Bolen Books in Victoria. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Vancouver this day, Vincent Lam; Dr. Lam, Good morning.

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines by Natalie MacLean. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Unquenchable

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Natalie MacLean joins me now. The award winning wine critic is widely read having millions of readers in print, and over a hundred thousand people subscribe to her e-newsletter which you can sign up for at www.nataliemaclean.com. On the said website there are all sorts of neat things, such as phone apps and the sort, as well as reviews of all sorts of wine. She’s the author of a new book too, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines. It’s a highly readable book that’s part guide and part memoir to all sorts of places Germany, Australia, Italy, Argentina, Portugal, South America, and here in Canada. I’ve just started reading it, and as I’ve said when another wine writer was on, I don’t have a taste for wine, but in her lively, witty prose she makes the search for these bargain wines fun and fascinating. Natalie MacLean’s previous book Red, White and Drunk All Over was a bestseller and critically lauded. She’s in Vancouver now, but will return later in the month, Monday, 21 November 2011 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. For the price of admission, there’ll be wine and cheese and a copy of this new book. Visit www.ticketweb.ca for more information and tickets. The book is published by Doubleday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Natalie MacLean; Good morning, Ms. MacLean.

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.

Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian by John Elder Robison. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Be Different

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Asperger’s syndrome and Aspergians are given a view and a voice in a new book. The author is John Elder Robison, and he joins me from Toronto this morning. His new book is called Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian. In it he talks about his own experiences, offers advice to those who are essentially different not disabled, all the while giving the reader a greater understanding of what Asperger’s is and its place in the Autism spectrum. It’s a compelling book, candid and often humorous. John Elder Robison was diagnosed with Asperger’s in adulthood, he wrote about it in his previous book, a bestseller, Look Me in the Eye. He blogs for Psychology Today and is an adjunct professor at Elms College in Massachusetts. His website for more is at www.johnrobison.com. Be Different is published by Doubleday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Elder Robison; Good morning, Mr. Robison.

Frontier Justice: The Global Refugee Crisis and What to Do About It by Andy Lamey. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Frontier Justice

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

There’s an important book just published this week, Frontier Justice: The Global Refugee Crisis and What to Do About It. Its author Andy Lamey joins me now. What he’s written is described as a gripping, eye-opening exploration of the refugee crisis. I’m reading the book now, and in some parts it reads like a novel when he talks about the harrowing journey many have to undertake to escape repressive regimes. We’ll get Mr. Lamey, who joins me from Toronto this morning, to tell us about the book, the issues, social and otherwise, we all face with regards to accepting and turning away refugees and asylum-seekers. Andy Lamey is a journalist and academic whose work has appeared in the National Post, Maclean’s and The Walrus. He’s produced documentaries for the CBC’s Ideas program. Frontier Justice is published by Doubleday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Andy Lamey; Good morning, Mr. Lamey.

Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril by Margaret Heffernan. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Willful Blindness

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

There’s an absorbing new book out, Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril. It’s a fascinating book that chronicles anecdotes where turning a blind eye to things, has lead to big problems. Invariably, in the review of things, we realise what went wrong and ask ‘How were we so blind?’ The book’s author Margaret Heffernan joins me now. Could disasters like the BP oil well rupture have been anticipated? How could no one know prisoners were being tortured in Abu Ghraib? How was the housing bubble missed? How do we let credit card bills go unopened? In the book she also looks at the studies of psychologists and neuroscientists, and offers explanations as to why we turn the other cheek as it were. It’s a fascinating book. Margaret Heffernan is a former producer for BBC Radio and TV, and she’s had vast experience as an entrepreneur, having been CEO of several companies. Her previous books include The Naked Truth, How She Does It, and Women on Top. Her work has been compared to the books Malcolm Gladwell. She blogs for The Huffington Post and writes for other publications. Her website is at www.mheffernan.com. The book is published by Doubleday. In Toronto this day, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Margaret Heffernan; Good morning, Ms. Heffernan.

The Guardians by Andrew Pyper. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Guardians

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

The acclaimed and bestselling author Andrew Pyper joins me again. His previous books, all critically lauded include Lost Girls, The Trade Mission, The Wildfire Season, and a short story collection, Kiss Me. His new book, his sixth, The Guardians is already selling well. It’s an engrossing book that I could only read in daylight hours. I get all fraidy-scared easily. Here’s Andrew Pyper from the last time he was on this program. This is from September 2008, when he was on to talk about his previous book, The Killing Circle:

(START CLIP)

PYPER: . . . but eventually, soon, I’m going to have clear the deck of all that stuff because I want to get, you know, fully involved in the next book.

PLANTA: And—may I ask what the next book will be about?

PYPER: Yeah, it’s a—totally different again—the premise is a haunted house story for grownups. Or at least a haunted house story without ghosts. I grew up in a small, smallish town and we had, as I think most small towns a house that was abandoned, that everyone made up stories about. And so it’s an adult story—a story of adults revisiting their childhood and the things that may or may not have happened in a haunted house.

(END CLIP)

It’s a really good book about the childhood friendship of four boys who grow up in rural Ontario connected by a dark, sinister past. The past comes back to haunt them some 20 years later, and tremendously well in this book. The Guardians, other than being a really good thriller, is profound when talking about life and death, growing older, Parkinson’s disease, murder, friendship, and importantly the male friendship variety that’s rarely discussed in fiction or elsewhere. The Guardians is published by Doubleday. The website for more is at www.andrewpyper.com. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Andrew Pyper; Good morning, Mr. Pyper.

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.