I've found the perfect solution to scary plane rides. Humorous books! Think about it. If you're plummeting to the earth, wouldn't you rather be laughing than screaming in terror during your last seconds alive?
Anyway, quite some time ago Marek recommended a book titled The Antidote: Happiness For People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman. Loving the title I purchased that book and another of his: Help! This latter I read during my last trip east and laughed my head off. And The Antidote I began yesterday. Not quite as funny as Help! but funny enough and both books full of wonderful insights based on his own observations and also science and the observations and insights of others. For example, for The Antidote he interviewed the famous psychologist Dr. Ellis, once voted even more important than Freud! Burkeman also talks about Seneca and Marcus Aurelius and Xeno and the original Stoics. He also devotes a whole chapter on Buddhism and being the sky cuz the weather just comes and goes. There's also a wonderful chapter, full of research, about the futility and even harm of setting goals. And a wonderfully light hearted chapter about his fascinating interview with Eckhart Tolle. Ok, my ride to my Mom's will be here soon. Maybe more later. Remember to be the sky cuz the weather will just come and go anyway (-:
