The Urban Food Revolution: Changing the Way We Feed Cities by Peter Ladner. (New Society Publishers, 2011) Click to buy this book from New Society: The Urban Food Revolution

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

We rely too much on industrial agriculture, to the point where it’s damaging our health, our economy and the environment itself. Sure food is cheap and easy to come by in this part of the world, but the costs inherent are almost incalculable. A new book, The Urban Food Revolution: Changing the Way We Feed Cities is part recipe for solutions to our problems, and highlights places where great advancements are taking place; examples of where we could be with new ways of growing and delivering our food. It’s a fascinating, stimulating and important book. Peter Ladner is a journalist, and a former two-term member of Vancouver’s city council. He is the publisher and co-founder of Business in Vancouver, and a director of The Natural Step Canada. This book is published by New Society Publishers. The website for more is at www.peterladner.ca. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Peter Ladner; Good morning, Mr. Ladner.

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.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

I’m very pleased to be joined now by Graham Kerr. Internationally known for his legendary television program, The Galloping Gourmet, Mr. Kerr has been on television since 1960 in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, here in Canada, and around the world. He is also a bestselling author, and an award-winning culinary personality. Next month, here in Vancouver, Mr. Kerr will be one of the personalities headlining the EAT! Vancouver Food and Cooking Festival, June 10th, 11th, and 12th. Check out their website at www.eat-vancouver.com for more information. The Galloping Gourmet program was known for its humour and generous use of butter, cream, fat and alcohol. Now, Mr. Kerr and his wife Treena, who produced the television programs are promoting less hedonistic values. I’ll ask him about his goals to increase vegetable and fruit consumption and reduce portion sizes. His website is at www.grahamkerr.com. His latest book is called Growing at the Speed of Life: A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden. From Mount Vernon, Washington, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Graham Kerr; Good morning, Mr. Kerr.

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.

The Solution: Conquer Your Fear, Control Your Future by Lucinda Bassett. (Sterling, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Solution

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Anxiety and stress are prescribed a remedy in a new book The Solution: Conquer Your Fear, Control Your Future. Its author Lucinda Bassett joins me now. Some 40 million North Americans suffer with anxiety, and 200 million say stress in their lives is a problem. Stress of course leads to ailments that lead to death. In this book you read about some well-known and not-so well known people, you hear their stories and experiences, and you get started on dealing with your own issues. There’s a 21 day program in this book that will help focus your life, help you see what you want, and perhaps help you get it. You’ll also understand your emotions with Ms. Bassett’s ideas on how to harness those insecure and uncertain feelings for good. Better health, more energy, and positive thinking is the goal, and we’ll get Lucinda Bassett to tell us more about this book. She’s had to deal with this herself, and her story will prove instructive. Lucinda Bassett is the president of the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety. She has appeared on many radio and television programs including Oprah, The View, Live with Regis and Kelly and Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power. Her previous books include the bestsellers From Panic to Power, and Life Without Limits. The Solution is published by Sterling. The websites for more are www.lucindabassett.com and www.midwestcenter.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lucinda Bassett; Good morning, Ms. Bassett.

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.

Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest by Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell. (Harbour Publishing, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

In June, my guests now Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell published the second edition of their book, Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest. In this revised and expanded edition, they include detailed sketches and vivid photographs of over 250 fish species, with detailed information on their habitat, physical characteristics, behaviour, as well as location. What was also interesting to read was the cooking ideas for most of the species. I’m not a fisher, nor a consumer of fish, but this book is a great view onto the vast numbers of species up and down the coast, as well as fish found in the United States, whether it’s Alaska or Washington and Oregon, even Northern California. Joining me now from Thetis Island, British Columbia, Andy Lamb is a marine naturalist who’s worked at the Vancouver Aquarium and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Phil Edgell is a photographer, who’s also worked at the DFO, and his photographs have appeared in sundry publications. He joins us today from Port Alberni, BC. They’ve each co-authored other books for Harbour Publishing, who publish this book. Weeks after getting it, I find myself sitting at my desk thumbing through it, looking up species, and viewing the great photographs. I’m very pleased to have both authors on the program this morning. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell; Good morning, Mr. Lamb. And good morning, Mr. Edgell.