On 17 August 2007 Ken Steele wrote in response to my posting on Drew Westen's recently published book:
>You have an interesting impression. I haven't heard of the book and > I notice that it is not among the top 35 in the NY Times non-fiction list. >Maybe this is another case in which the obvious finally to inside the beltway. Ken, could you translate the last sentence into British English, please. -:) Leaving that aside, it seems I have gained a false impression from over the water. Here's how it happened. The UK magazine "The Spectator" featured an article by Westen in the 14 July issue, which is where I think I first came across the idea that it had caused a splash in the States among politicos: the subheading to the article runs: "Drew Westen's book on the political brain is the talk of Washington..." Shows I shouldn't believe everything I read in a magazine. -:) Then the BBC 2 flagship nightly political programme "Newsnight" on 15 August featured a discussion on his ideas between Westen (in a studio in the States) and a British commentator. Newsnight: http://tinyurl.com/2jnh3m The Spectator: http://tinyurl.com/2qaeke On the other hand, the book *has* been reviewed by the a couple of the heavies in the States: New York Times, 10 July: http://tinyurl.com/2xj2gj Washington Post, 15 July 2007: http://tinyurl.com/2su52j And "The Week" has a piece on reviews of the book, 17 August: "Late last month, every Democrat in the U.S. Senate received a copy of Drew Westen's new book. By the following weekend, former President Bill Clinton had marked up a copy for his wife, Hillary. 'To say I think it's a very important book is an understatement,' he announced." http://tinyurl.com/2vgdg8 And "Political Affairs": http://tinyurl.com/357luk Maybe the book's impact is limited to Washington insiders. Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London http://www.esterson.org --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
