TOW #13 (TEXT): Football: A Waste of Taxpayers’ Money, Why are we subsidizing such a hugely profitable sport? By: Nick Gillespie

In this opinion piece, author, Nick Gillespie, discusses how it is a waste of money for citizens to pay for National Football League (NFL) teams instead of for actual government needs. Gillespie argues that taxpayer money should be spent on actual government problems, and not huge industries like NFL teams. In this article, Gillespie tries to appeal to the reader's logos by using shocking statistics that will make the average taxpayer upset with the government's allotment of money. Nick Gillespie is the editor in chief of Reason.com and the co-author of The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong with America. In the article, Gillespie starts by showing the general public how the NFL is actually affecting their wallets by giving a statistic. He writes, "Over the 30-year life of the project, the public share of costs will come to $678 million." (par.2) This statistic was very effective as it showed the public how exactly football is effecting them. Instead of just talking about the overall market of the NFL, Gillespie targets how the NFL effects the citizens, and therefore makes a greater impact on the reader. The reader, or taxpayer, by reading this statistic, feels upset that their money is going to something as childish as football. Gillespie makes sure to not anger the reader by bashing football, but instead just talks about how people's money can be used elsewhere for a greater impact. This sensitivity to the reader's probable love for football, makes the logical statistics even more impactful as they aren't muddled by the reader's personal opinions. As a fan of the game, I personally think Gillespie did a great job in this because even though I love football, I saw that the amount of money that is being taken from taxes for football is way too much considering all the other problems society has. For this reason, I think Gillespie made his point clear, and effective because even an advocate of the game like myself could see light in his argument. 

TOW #12 (IRB) Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America by Yossef Bodansky

Through the first part of "Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America" author Yossef Bodansky discusses Bin Laden's early life and how he rose to becoming a terrorist. Essentially Bodansky writes the book as though it is a chronological story of Bin Laden's life, taking the reader through each aspect of his life. Bodansky starts the book by talking about how Bin Laden was originally a promising young engineer, and how he was affluent, but then Bodansky starts to gradually show Bin Laden's change. One of the better things Bodansky does is he doesn't make things seem very cause and effect-like. Since in the real world many things are due to multiple causation as opposed to cause and effect, Bodansky makes sure to paint the whole picture for the reader instead of making the book seem bland and fake. In this first section, Bodansky's purpose is to simply introduce Bin Laden and give background information to the reader while not boring them with sequential writing. One way Bodansky is effective at achieving this purpose is by writing the book as a narrative. Instead of boring the reader with a list of facts about Bin Laden, Bodansky takes the reader through the events as though they are actually happening. This effect makes the reader more engaged in the book and provides for a much deeper understanding than just raw fact. In addition to using a narrative style of writing, Bodansky poses rhetorical questions such as, "What makes these individuals commit themselves to this kind of war?"(Bodansky, 1) These rhetorical, "check-up" questions set the reader up for what is going to come up in the next section. So again, in order to capture the audience's attention, Bodansky alerts them through questions to say that new information is coming up. Personally I think these two strategies make "Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America" a much more connectable and interesting non-fiction piece. As opposed to being a boring non-fiction book, Bodanksy's rhetorical devices engage the reader and make them feel like they are in the time period instead of reading a list of facts.

TOW #11 (TEXT): Don’t Like the American Way of Meat? Blame That First Thanksgiving Meal by Maureen Ogle

Maureen Ogle, a historian and author of several books, wrote this opinion piece in order to shed light on the origin of American meat eating habits. While ostensibly seeming that this article is just a history lesson, Ogle uses narrative writing and cause and effect in order to logically show that Thanksgiving may be a day of problems as opposed to thanks. Ogle starts her article by taking the reader back to the days where colonists were first arriving in the New World. Ogle uses a narrative style of writing such that the reader feels like they are learning about the history of the colonists. This basic establishment of information allows for the reader to understand where exactly our meat eating habits come from. Since Ogle is trying to show that Thanksgiving was to blame for our unhealthiness, she takes the reader back to the time period so that they can understand how exactly Thanksgiving affected our unhealthy diets. After establishing this base knowledge, Ogle takes the information and connects it to today's society to show the effect on our diets. This cause and effect as seen by this quote, "meat-centric diets are killing us,"(par. 7) shows how the Thanksgiving meal directly is hurting us today. By using cause and effect, the reader understands that Ogle's argument makes sense and this appeals to the readers logos. All of these rhetorical devices allow Ogle to further solidify her claim that Thanksgiving is the blame of our meat heavy diet. By showing the change over time, using cause and effect, as well as narrative writing, Ogle even makes me feel like Thanksgiving is to blame for our meat heavy diets. I think that Ogle did a good job establishing her point, however I think that she tried to make too far of a stretch by connecting our meat habit to Thanksgiving as opposed to just colonization. I understand she did so because of the holiday, however I think her point would've been more correct, and effective if it was just talking about the connection to the natives as opposed to Thanksgiving as a whole.

TOW #10 (TEXT): Don’t Go Shopping on Thanksgiving. Just Don’t. By Ellen Galinsky

In this opinion article, author Ellen Galinsky tries to persuade consumers to not shop on Thanksgiving. Galinsky is co-founder and president of the Families and Work Institute, and believes that by shopping on Thanksgiving Day, consumers are making large retailers like Macy's open their shops and thus have their employees work. Galinsky argues that having people work on holidays is detrimental to their well being, as well as their family values. In order to get her point across, Galinsky uses statistics as well as addresses the counter argument to make her point. Galinsky states, "Nearly one-third (32%) of employees report that their work has a primarily negative impact on their lives off the job by draining energy, so they don't have enough left over for their personal and family life."(par. 4). Galinsky uses this data to show readers that even without working on holidays, jobs affect people's family lives. To further her point, Galinsky uses this statistic to say that by taking off on holidays, employee morale is decreased, and there is unhappiness among the employees. These statistics make the consumer aware that morale is a big problem for employees, and that they therefore should not shop on holidays as to avoid promoting holiday working. Galinsky also addresses the other side of the argument by saying that there are some benefits like one and a half times pay for working on holidays, however she quickly refutes this claim saying that family is more important, especially on holidays. Personally I think Galinsky does a great job persuading consumers to not shop on holidays because after reading the article I feel the plight of the employees. Galinsky taught me that family is truly more valuable than money. 

IRB Intro #2: Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America by Yossef Bodansky

     For the next 4 weeks, I have chosen to read, "Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America" by Yossef Bodansky. This book looks into the rise of Bin Laden, and how he went from a promising engineer into a leader of radical Islam. Bodansky takes a different route into portraying Bin Laden's terrorism as he shows the why's and how's of his decision to do the things he does. Although impossible to understand the true reasons, Bodansky tries to use Bin Laden's past to try and piece together his reason for attacking the US. I stumbled upon this book when I was looking through my dad's bookshelf and decided to chose it because I realized that I truly didn't know much about Bin Laden. I thought to myself that I should know who this man was because he had such an impact on myself as well as the rest of America. Although most of us cheered when we heard about his assassination, I realized that I really had no idea who this man was. Therefore through reading this account of Bin Laden's life, I hope to understand why this man did what he did, as well as who he truly was. Often times non-fiction seems boring, however this book seems really interesting, and I am excited to read it. 

TOW #9 (Visual Text): One Coin for All of Your Cards Advertisement by Coin

   Over the weekend, I was looking at Youtube videos, and this advertisement/infomercial was the top hit on Youtube. Being that Coin is a brand new, innovative product, the video went viral, and now everyone is intrigued by the new technology. However, what truly made this advertisement successful was its mastery of the art of rhetoric. In the advertisement, the company, Coin is trying to promote its all in one credit card. In order to do this, a representative of Coin is doing everyday tasks with his new gadget and showing how simple it works. What Coin is trying to do is to explain what their product is, while showing how easy it is to use, as well as how it helps make life simpler. Coin is targeting all consumers with credit cards, as this is their target market. One of the main rhetorical strategies that Coin uses is the music in the background. The music is very techie as to give an innovative feel to the advertisement. The man's voice and the bee-bops merge well together into something that is really easy for the audience to hear, and understand. Another main part about the music is that once the man swipes his card, or does something innovative, there is a trill in the music. This roll off of the music makes a connection with the viewer, adding to the innovative feel of the device. Another rhetorical strategy that Coin uses in this advertisement is that it makes everything in very simple terms. For example, when trying to describe a portable swiper for an Iphone, the man simply says, "This thing" as to not complicate the product with techie jargon. By making things in simpler terms, almost anyone can understand what the man is saying, and understand the message of the company. Also by being informal, Coin reduces the barrier between the consumer and the creator. Personally, I thought that this advertisement was really good as it caught my attention and has even convinced me to possibly buy one. The Coin commercial used music and simple language to their benefit, and therefore the commercial really had an impact on the audience. 

TOW #8 (IRB) Moneyball By Michael Lewis

The second half of Moneyball by Michael Lewis talks more about Beane's successes as a baseball manager, and how exactly he goes on his large win streak. Compared to the beginning, the second half of the book talks more about the managerial aspect to baseball as opposed to the first half's discussion about Beane's life. Lewis does a great job of describing Beane's life as a manager by putting the reader into the action of the clubhouse. Instead of simply just talking about the events, Lewis almost makes it seem as though the reader is experiencing the events for himself or herself. Lewis uses a plethora of rhetorical devices to make simple baseball events into something interesting and connectable. In the second section, Lewis's purpose is to describe the genius of Beane as a GM. In order to do this, Lewis takes the reader through the GM process to show them how difficult it is to manage a team. In the text, Lewis describes many things going on at the same time to show how much Beane has to control. For example, one moment Lewis talks about the pitching issues of the team, and then the next Lewis talks about the batting changes Beane has to make. In showing the overwhelming tasks, Lewis shows that being a GM in baseball is quite a difficult task. Another strategy Lewis uses is he uses allusions to the lives of baseball players. For example, before Beane is about to get a player, Lewis describes the life of the player. After considering the player, Lewis writes, "Chad Bradford grew up the youngest...."(223) to show the backstory of the player. This strategy makes the reader realize that there are many things that go into the consideration of players. Also, as the first part did, Lewis uses direct quotes from actual people in order to make the book seem as real as the actual events. For example, Lewis quotes, "Pitch games that were meaningless" said Moose"(225) By using direct quotes, Lewis makes the story much more believable and relatable. Personally, I think that these strategies make Beane seem like a very accomplished GM, and also make the reader able to connect with what actually happened. I think that because of Lewis's use of rhetorical strategies and devices, I was able to read this book much quicker because it was much more interesting and connectable. Moreover, Lewis's use of rhetorical devices made the story more interesting and connectable

TOW #7: TEXT- Boys Love Rainbow Loom, Defying Stereotype and Delighting Moms Everywhere By Annie Murphy Paul

In this opinion piece, Annie Murphy Paul discusses her son's newfound desire for Rainbow Loom, a popular bracelet making toy. Paul, being a mother herself as well as a writer well-established health writer understands that a "girly" toy such as the Rainbow Loom usually isn't something that boys play with. Paul then takes this information to essentially say that this change could possibly lead to more gender equality in the future. In order to make her point, Paul uses a plethora of rhetorical devices to draw the reader in. Paul first starts out with an anecdote as to target her audience of parents of children under 12 years old. By talking about a common motherly experience with her 12 year old child, Paul is trying to connect with her parent audience. By using her real like to draw experience from, Paul makes her article seem less scientific, and more approachable. However, in order to substantiate the claims she makes through anecdotes, Paul then uses scientific evidence to show 97% of all boys prefer cars, weapons, etc. (stereotypical boy toys) over girly ones. Although this is the case, the bracelet making toy has stood the test of time as such a fad is still going on today. Paul shows the benefits of boys taking on this very meticulous task of looming because instead of just breaking things, boys are now spending their time quietly making bracelets. Then to wrap it all up, Paul says that this change in toy selection, one of the most gender separated industries, is a positive one because it is eliminating gender roles in society. Personally, I think this claim is a bit far fetched, however I agree that this change to bracelet making for all kids is quite unusual. I think Paul's rhetorical devices were really well used because after reading the article, I had to think about what was truly happening with these rubber band bracelets. Although at the end of the day I don't agree with Paul, I think she made really good points.

TOW #6 (Text): Are Chicks Brighter Than Babies? By Nicholas D. Kristof

In the New York Times article, Are Chicks Brighter Than Babies?, author, Nicholas D. Kristof provides insight as to how chickens, despite popular opinion, are actually smart. Kristof uses the fact that chickens are not "birdbrains" to provide a broader message that cruelty of animals, no matter what we think of them, should be eliminated. Kristof, a two time Pulitzer Prize winner, grew up on a farm and provides anecdotal evidence as to how chickens aren't simply dumb birds, but rather social creatures. He then uses scientific evidence to support his claim that chickens are indeed smart, and in some cases more so than babies. Kristof uses a combination of ethos through his anecdotes and logos through his scientific studies to provide an overall message that chickens should be treated with respect, and not treated as a dumb and unworthy bird. In an attempt to seem less of a preacher and environmental activist, Kristof admits that he himself eats chicken all the time. However he uses this point to further show that the common meat eater can take small steps to avoid harming chickens by just not eating factory farmed ones. He puts into the reader's mind the scene of rotting dead chickens next to others in a farm and says that this is wrong. One of the most effective parts of Kristof's argument is how he compares chickens to human characteristics. Through his anecdotes, Kristof makes a claim such as, "Geese shared family obligations" and then delves into his argument that geese (chickens) are similar to humans. He later even compares them to babies, saying that chickens have been seen to replicate TV faster and better than when babies are shown what to do on TV. The comparison of chickens to humans was an attempt to show that chickens don't deserve cruelty just as much as humans don't. Being a vegetarian, this article really connected with me and I found it a refreshing way to send the vegetarian message. Although it didn't say to go vegetarian, it provided simple steps as to how the common consumer can easily avoid animal cruelty. I found that Kristof's overall comparison of chickens to humans, scientific evidence, and use of anecdotes were profound as this is quite possibly one of my favorite articles that I have read in a while. 

Suffering Chicken

TOW #5 (Visual Text)- FedEx Advertisement by FedEx

     In the FedEx advertisement shown below, FedEx is essentially showing consumers that they are as much as two times better than UPS, a competitor in the shipping industry. In this advertisement, FedEx is targeting anyone who uses postal services and more specifically, those who don't know whether to choose UPS or FedEx. Since many people don't really know which company is better for their shipping needs, FedEx tries to clear this discrepancy for customers as through the advertisement they essentially they can ship twice as much as UPS while also showing that UPS uses FedEx to transport its own trucks. FedEx uses this visual advertisement to stress to the consumers that FedEx is so good that even its competitors use it. Although this may not be true, FedEx's use of hyperbole makes the viewer think that FedEx is the superior company. In addition to hyperbole, FedEx puts two UPS trucks inside one of its trucks to show that FedEx can ship twice as much as UPS. Although consumers probably aren't going to want to send two truckloads of items, the comparison of 2:1 makes FedEx seem far superior to UPS.  FedEx, being a huge leader in the transport industry, is trying to further prove its brand, and make it seem better than the competition, and in this advertisement it does achieve that task. Personally, this advertisement caught my attention right away, and I thought it was a creative way to make FedEx seem better than UPS. With a simple image, FedEx was able to make it seem two times better than UPS, while also showing that it is a reliable brand that even its competitors use. Overall, I thought this advertisement was very effective and the rhetorical strategies to essentially build up the ethos of FedEx worked. Currently, I have my own t-shirt company, Qi Apparel, and after seeing this advertisement I feel inclined to check out FedEx prices because the advertisement was so compelling. 

Advertisement from FedEx Blows UPS out of the Water

TOW #4 (IRB)- Moneyball By Michael Lewis

The first part of Moneyball by Michael Lewis consists of a thorough explanation as to who Billy Beane is. In the first section, Lewis talks about Beane's baseball promise, his rise to the MLB, and then his eventual downfall into an angry General Manager (GM) of the Oakland Athletics (A's). While seemingly just summarizing his life, Lewis, a credible non-fiction author and financial journalist, uses a plethora of rhetorical devices to make simple backstory into something interesting and connectable. In this first section, Lewis' purpose is to essentially introduce Billy Beane, and paint a picture as to what the context of Moneyball truly is. One way that Lewis makes something like baseball seem more connectable is by using extended metaphors. Throughout the introduction, Beane compares baseball prospects to sports cars. He writes, "They feel more like sports cars being taken out for a spin than they do like young men being tested"(5). He continues this metaphor throughout this chapter as to make the foreign subject of baseball scouting something more relatable to the average reader. In addition to using extended metaphors, Lewis uses a lot of direct quotations to solidify his points. Because Lewis is retelling a story, he needs to make it seem as real as the actual events. In order to accomplish this goal, he uses quotes from people involved such as Joe Torre, and even Billy Beane himself. The use of direct quotes makes the story more believable and as though the reader is reliving the events. Personally, I think that the two strategies make Moneyball a much more connectable non-fiction piece as the direct quotes and extended metaphors make me feel the experience much more than a simple summary of the events. Although the book is so far just a summary of the events, the way in which Lewis makes the book more connectable makes something that would be dry, something interesting and involving. 

The Real Billy Beane

TOW #3-Text: iPads on Planes: Be Careful What You Wish For

         In this article, William J. McGee, talks about the potential drawbacks of only allowing certain electronic devices on planes. McGee is a known aviation journalist who is the author of many books such as Attention all Passengers. In today's society, many of us are more and more connected to our electronic devices, and are therefore finding it harder to listen to the flight attendants and turn our devices off. McGee is using this context of the 21st century to show that if there was a slight revocation to the rule, it would be a threat to our health. He starts off this article by asking the reader (directed to all who fly) if they are guilty of using an electronic device for takeoff and landing. The question, "Are you guilty?" immediately grabs the reader's attention and asks them wondering what they are guilty of. McGee goes on to say that although we all know not to use phones during takeoff and landing, 30% of us still do it. This statistic and connection to the audience appeals to the reader’s logos because instead of saying that a lot of us break the rules, McGee uses a statistic, which is more logical than a simple generalization. McGee continues to say that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still uncertain about the implications of radio-signal transmission on a plane, and therefore it may be too risky to use the devices on them. During takeoff and landing, the most dangerous parts of flying, the FAA has still yet to discover what the effects of certain devices are on the plane. However, the FAA is looking to allow some devices on planes as to please passengers. What McGee finds, however, that once certain devices are allowed, there will be a plethora of problems. One is that once one person is allowed to have their I-Pod on the plane, other passengers who have devices that are prohibited will start to get angry and therefore the plan of pleasing passengers is foiled. Another is that the flight attendants will have a difficult time regulating the usage of some devices versus the use of other devices. McGee substantiates these problems by using rhetorical devices to grasp the reader. Besides the ones already mentioned, McGee uses a lot of quotes and direct examples from flight attendants and FAA officials to make his point. This establishes his ethos as he uses direct information to make his argument established and substantiated with evidence. In my opinion, I think this article does a great job in changing my opinion. Originally I hated the idea of turning off my devices because it meant one less tweet or one less text. However after seeing that the use of electronic devices may actually have an effect on the plane and consequently my life, I now understand that the text is not worth it. In addition I agree with McGee’s point that a partial ban would not be beneficial because if my iphone isn't allowed and someone else’s device is, it makes me upset and almost jealous that I am not allowed while someone else is. Although originally I was unsure what the title of the article meant by being careful what I wished for, I now understand that having devices on planes could be a threat to my safety. 

TOW #2: TEXT- Breaking Bad Normalizes Meth, Argues Prosecutor By Blake Ewing

     In this article, Blake Ewing, an assistant district attorney in Austin, provides insight as to how the popular show Breaking Bad, normalizes the meth industry. Breaking Bad is a popular show that takes the viewer through the life of a dying man, Walter White, and his decisions to cook meth to provide for his family. Since this is such a popular show about a serious subject like meth, Ewing argues that, although entertaining, it makes meth seem normal. In reality, methamphetamine is one of the most serious, and dangerous drugs in society, and through the show's popularity, meth seems less intimidating. Ewing's audience is meant for all those who watch the show as to show them what exactly it is doing to their minds. Since I am an avid viewer of the show (just finished watching it) I found this article compelling, as a credit to his use of rhetorical devices. Ewing initially makes himself seem approachable to the reader (mostly Breaking Bad fanatics) by saying that he enjoys the show as well. By opening himself up to the viewers of the show, the audience doesn't automatically discredit him as a person who doesn't understand the true worth of the show (it is amazing). Ewing again makes himself approachable by closing his article saying that although meth is normalized by the show, he is still going to watch it. Although this may seem counterintuitive, it makes his point easier to grasp. For me, Ewing is simply trying to say that the show isn't a bad influence as long as the viewer is cognizant of the effects of meth. Ewing also uses hyperboles to appeal to the pathos of the reader. Humor used by Ewing such as, "Does this mean that watching an episode of Breaking Bad will cause responsible adults to run out and find a local meth dealer? Clearly not" (Times) provide readers with a comic relief to his serious claim. This question also appeals to the reader's sense of logos as it makes logical sense that something that crazy would not happen. Another useful rhetorical device he uses is that he clearly addresses both sides of the argument and then substantiates why his point is better. This gives him more credibility as he acknowledges that there are other sides to the argument. Overall, I think Ewing effectively uses rhetorical devices to get his point across. From being a die-hard fan of Breaking Bad I understand how sensitive we can be when people criticize the show, however the way in which Ewing does it is brilliant. Not only does he get his point across that the show is indeed making meth normal, he does it from the perspective of a fan. After reading this article, I realize that what he was saying is indeed true. Before watching the show, I never really thought about the drug industry and meth, however after the show I think meth is more common in everyday conversation. Although people are simply talking about the show, meth is talked about and seems more normal. Overall, I think Ewing did a great job making his point while not angering any die-hard fans.

TOW #1- Visual Text: Nokia Lumia 1020 Commercial By Nokia

      In this commercial, Nokia attempts to advertise its latest phone, the Lumia 1020. Nokia is advertising the Lumia 1020 for its 41 megapixel camera, unseen in the phone industry, to try and compete will other phones such as the Apple I-Phone. In order to gain customers, Nokia pokes fun at the struggle of other cellphone users in their latest commercial. By showing that their cameras are not up to par with the 1020, while also appealing to the audience's emotions, Nokia puts forward a valiant effort that caught my attention. During the commercial, people are struggling to get a good picture of a children's play, and their attempts to do so are humorous. People taking random panoramas and even head-butting each other are part of Nokia's rhetorical strategy of using pathos to get the audience interested. While watching the commercial, I found myself laughing showing that the commercials' attempt to be comical, worked. Nokia was once a top seller of cellphones, however with the invention of the I-Phone in 2007, Nokia, along with other companies saw a steep decline in marketshare. In order to gain more marketshare, Nokia has targeted the camera aspect to the cellphone, and through this commercial the camera shines through. At the end of the commercial, the viewer sees that a man all the way in the back is relaxed and can see the entire play due to the power of his camera-phone, the Lumia 1020. This with and without effect is seen by showing people with I-Phones struggling and then showing people with Lumia 1020's relaxing. This rhetorical device is exaggerating the difference between phone users, however it makes Nokia's point that the camera is better on the 1020. Personally, I think that this commercial was very comical, and therefore caught my attention. The pathos used by Nokia really appealed to me and made me realize how much better having a good camera would be. Although head-butting people for a picture is hyperbolized, the constant struggle of taking a decent picture on your phone is real. Because Nokia pointed this out to me, I realize the need of a better camera on my phone, and therefore I think the commercial definitely worked. Nokia's use of pathos, and with/without as well as hyperbole appealed to the audience, and moreover was a successful commercial. 

IRB Introduction #1

     For the next 4 weeks, I have chosen to read, Moneyball by Michael Lewis. This book is a recount of the remarkable successes of the 2002 Oakland Athletics. In years before the 2002 season, the Oakland Athletics were ranked near the bottom of the MLB, and were the poorest team in the league. In a league where the richest teams usually won the most games, the Oakland A's defied all when they won 20 consecutive games and made the playoffs under general manager, Billy Beane. The book delves into the way in which the A's won, as well as the managerial aspect to how Beane turned the team around. I chose this book because it was recommended to me by Mr. Yost, and also because I really enjoyed the movie. When I heard the premise of the book, I was really intrigued, as it seemed to connect my interest with business and sports into one cohesive novel. Since I run my own clothing company, seeing how another industry is managed may help me in my own entrepreneurial adventures. I hope to gain managerial ideas and techniques from the book as well as inspiration as to how a manager can fully lead his workers. Not only do I want to learn about business from this book, but I also hope to have an enjoyable read about my favorite two topics. Often times, non-fiction seems boring to me, however I am excited to read this book and learn from a non-fiction novel

How Doctors Die by Ken Murray

            How Doctors Die is written by Dr. Ken Murray M.D, an essayist, speaker, and a retired physician. Dr. Murray has been published in several medical magazines such as the Zocalo Public Square, and has also been interviewed on NPR. In this particular essay, Murray compares how doctors and patients decide to go about treatment for life threatening injuries. Being a retired doctor, Murray has experience in the medical field and therefore knows much about the internal workings of a hospital. Murray begins by providing an anecdote about his mentor, Charlie, an orthopedist who was diagnosed with cancer. Charlie, albeit that he could’ve gotten the best treatment decided to forgo any, “Radiation, or surgical treatment”(231), and instead just died at home. Murray continues to explain that due to the fact that doctors are aware of the probability and the suffering involved with treatment, the majority of them forgo any operations and instead elect to die at home. What appalled Murray was that although doctors elect to refrain from treatment, many of them give their patients, “futile care”(232). Murray continues to hypothesize that the reason for such activity has to do with the patient’s lack of knowledge on treatment, the doctor’s lack of judgment, and even the panic of the emergency room. While these all are contributing factors, the bottom line and purpose of Murray’s essay is that the medical system can, “swallow people up”(234) if patients aren’t educated on what they’re deciding. In order to avoid the panic, the medical bills, and the haphazard nature of the hospital, Murray suggests to, like his cousin, and fellow doctors, “Go gentle into that good night”(235). Murray’s use of anecdotes from his mentor and his cousin who also died naturally, better Murray’s point because the reader sees the examples as relatable. I felt as though Murray affirmed his point by emphasizing the contradiction that doctors themselves don’t go through intense treatment; therefore why should patients. Overall I thought the essay was very well written and even convinced me to consider dying naturally. To me it seems peaceful and less invasive and that was Murray’s point.

Dying Man

Image By: Vipdictionary.com

Would you rather die covered in wires with large medical bills or in peace with your family?

Objects of Affection by Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough

       Objects of Affection is written by Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough, an essayist, literary translator, and teacher at Emerson College. Ewa’s numerous essays have been published in The American Scholar, Ploughshares, and various other journals. This essay specifically, discusses Ewa’s attachment with antique objects. Ewa begins the essay by saying that such items, “Connect us to the past and its messy materiality by making the past more concrete”(167-168). Once this claim is made, Ewa recounts her time as a child in Communist Poland where due to the scarcity of items, everyone had to hold onto what was his or hers. In order to further substantiate her materiality Ewa provides an anecdote of her grandmother, whose possessions were all wiped away in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. Ewa’s grandmother was shaped by the fact that all her possessions disappeared because along with them, memories were lost. Ewa uses this anecdote to show that she doesn’t want to lose everything as her grandmother did. Instead, Ewa now keeps things that her husband calls “junk” such as her, “Daughters’ newborn caps, their christening gowns…cards they wrote to me [her] on Mother’s Day”(174). Ewa’s purpose in writing about her attachment to objects is that she wants to inform the general public that keeping sentimental items can be rewarding. Ewa sums up the essay by pulling from story, This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, by Tadeusz Borowski. The story talks of a man who takes his personal items to a gas chamber despite knowing that he is going to get them taken from him. Ewa’s point in using this story is to show that, “Objects help us exorcise some of our fears...they give us semblance of permanence and grant a stay against chaos”(175). Pulling from this story helped me understand the power of objects. Overall, I think that this essay is well crafted and accomplishes its purpose of giving reason to keep sentimental items. After reading about Ewa’s grandmother, I realized how little I know about my family history and connected that to the fact that my family’s trinkets are in India. Moreover, the essay was insightful and Ewa accomplished her purpose.

Weird Cup By Carl Norwaydude

Some may see just a weird cup, however others may see a history of family memories encased in a small cup

Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here by Mark Edmundson

        In this essay, Dr. Mark Edmundson discusses the major drawbacks of higher education and proposes a way for students to have fulfilling careers through following their passion. Dr. Edmundson is an established writer, and an English professor at the University of Virginia. He has won several awards for writing and this essay in particular, has been published in the Oxford American literary journal. Being a professor, Edmundson directs his essay towards incoming students as to show how to get the most out of a college education. Edmundson observes, “To everyone, university education is a means to an end. For students that end is a job”(91) and while seeing this, Edmundson says, “They have it wrong”(91). Rather than using college as a stepping-stone towards getting a high-paying job and a life with “A driveway of your own”(95), Edmundson asserts that the real value of college education is, “Finding out what form of work for you is close to being play”(100). Edmundson starts the essay in the second person to get the effect of talking directly to the reader. He uses this strategy to break down the barrier between the author and reader and by doing so the essay is more approachable. Also, instead of saying his claim, Edmundson poses questions to the reader such as, “Why make trouble”(95) and “Doesn’t the content of the courses matter at all”(94) as to make the reader feel more involved. Edmundson later discusses Emerson and Freud, two famous writers that convinced him that challenging everything was more rewarding than conforming to societal needs. By working in these two prominent figures, Edmundson further substantiates his claim. Later, Edmundson talks about his father’s dissatisfying career. This anecdote serves to make the essay’s point that by doing what society wants; you will end up like Edmundson’s father. Overall, I think the essay was very well written to the point where I agreed with what Edmundson was saying. His authoritative tone, stories, insights, and use of prominent figures convinced me that Edmundson is very intellectual and correct in his claims.

Student Affairs Cartoon! By Oullette (2010)

What will happen if we continue to conform with society and fail to question everything

The Good Short Life by Dudley Clendinen

        In this essay, author Dudley Clendinen describes his thoughts of death after he is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Clendinen was a reporter for the New York Times and the editor of The Baltimore Sun. Shortly after being diagnosed, Clendinen offered his perspective on death through writing this essay, as well as hosting a radio series on WYPR. In this essay, Clendinen opens with the statement, “I have wonderful friends”(63) and continues to talk about how his life is fantastic. However midway through the first page he mentions the necessity for obtaining a gun to kill himself. The way Clendinen changes the tone of the essay catches the reader’s attention. Although Clendinen is cognizant that with modern technology he is able to prolong his life, he decides not to undergo the, “Colossal waste of love and money”(65) because he doesn’t want to be, “A drag”(64). Clendinen not only accepts the fact that he is going to die, but rather embraces it and decides that once he is unable to, “Tell a funny story, (or) walk my (his) dog…Life is over”(66). Clendinen’s purpose in writing this essay was to inform the public that it’s more beneficial to die once you can’t do simple tasks as opposed to prolonging your life. This unique perspective is supported by an anecdote where Clendinen sees his mother suffer through treatment. Clendinen recounts, “She looked at me…as she might have at a passing cloud”(65). Essentially, in order to stop himself from becoming so weak that he wouldn’t be able to love his daughter, he wanted to kill himself. I thought that this anecdote was powerful, as it exemplified what Clendinen did not want to become. Later on, Clendinen references a song called, “Dance Me to the End of Love”(66) to even further show how he truly feels about dying. I thought that this essay was well written and offered a fresh perspective on death. I think Clendinen achieved his purpose as I now question how I would want to die. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this essay as it was very insightful and thought provoking.

Pulling the Plug By Bennett (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

This pain and suffering is not helping anyone...

Duh Bor-Ring by Joseph Epstein

       In this essay, Joseph Epstein, an essayist, short story writer, editor, and lecturer, explores boredom. Epstein has written numerous essays for a variety of publications including the New York Times and The New Criterion. Through the essay Epstein describes the feelings associated with boredom along with its causes and both negative and positive effects. Epstein’s purpose is to show the public that boredom is not a negative emotion but rather one that has many positive effects. One such effect is described when he writes, “One often finds oneself more patient with boredom”(7). Epstein delivers his message by using animals as a comparison to humans. Essentially Epstein says that if animals have been shown to experience boredom, then it is only natural that humans do as well. The comparison to the animals shows the reader that being bored is as Toohey says, “A normal, useful and incredibly common part of human experience”(110). Epstein further makes his point by supplying the reader with anecdotes from his life. One example is when he was in a peacetime army and was bored, “Out of my [his] gourd”(104) and he enjoyed the, “Luxuriousness of boredom”(104). These luxuries again affirm the fact that boredom has positive effects. However as the essay progresses, not only does Epstein talk of his own experiences but also talks of the opinions of Lars Svendsen, the author of A Philosophy of Boredom. Although Svendsen argues that, “Boredom is…a social, a cultural,[and] finally a philosophical problem”(104) Epstein uses this as well as other philosopher’s views of boredom to find the source of the problem. Epstein goes about using various resources to find the kinds of boredom, and their positive effects. Throughout the essay, Epstein uses various sources of research to show the reader that he is using valid information to make is point. Essentially, Epstein first shows the negatives of boredom through the eyes of intellectuals and then shows the positives effects of boredom. Personally, I think that Epstein’s organization and research greatly helped him in conveying his ideas and achieving his purpose. By the end of the essay, I felt as though Epstein had outweighed the negatives with the positives, and therefore he got his message across.

The Thinker By Auguste Rodin

Is he thinking? Or is he just bored?