What would you think of a 74 year-old man who set out on the hardest, longest, most traumatic undertaking of his life? One that would physically and mentally exhaust him, and render him, after it was over, unable to think straight or do anything constructive for days? For the past two months I've been unable … Continue reading I’m back | The trauma of moving and saying goodbye | hope for the future
Rescuing Ourselves | Alzheimer’s and dementia
In case anyone wonders why there have been few posts here recently, for which I apologize, this is the reason. My wife/lifelong partner has been suffering from Alzheimer's/dementia for years, along with some severe physical disabilities. I am her chief caregiver. We have entered the late stages and as much as you can read about … Continue reading Rescuing Ourselves | Alzheimer’s and dementia
Autism and Shyness | Are they related?
In my novels The Birdcatcher and Skol, and in The Shyness Guide, I’ve said that I think shyness and autism are both usually natural. I've also suggested that, in some people, they may be connected. This perception of them isn’t supported by any research as far as I know. But when I was a boy … Continue reading Autism and Shyness | Are they related?
Autism | film review | Oops, Wrong Planet!
This 2010 film - subtitled "Understanding Asperger's Syndrome" - looks at first sight to be just another autism film, with a tour of autistic patients, much talk about symptoms and therapies, etc. But there is much more in the 55 minutes of this documentary. After suggesting that famous people like Einstein, Beethoven, Mozart, Van Gogh … Continue reading Autism | film review | Oops, Wrong Planet!
Autism | Could it be simple after all?
Long before I learned about autism, I was thinking about it. From the beginning I was a loner – when I entered school at 5 yrs old, I didn't keep to myself by choice, I did it by instinct. I was completely unable to have friends. As Chris Stone says in my novel The Birdcatcher, … Continue reading Autism | Could it be simple after all?
Who is Alan Conrad?
Alan Conrad is me, though Alan Conrad is not my original name. During my last years investigating accidents and personal injury claims, when I was about to publish The Birdcatcher, a book that reveals some of the dark side of the personal injury business, I had to use a pen name to keep a lower … Continue reading Who is Alan Conrad?
Rescuing Reality|Covid 19|mental health and the consequences of ‘stay-at-home’
This week I learned that UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says the stay-at-home policy invoked as a defense against Covid 19 has resulted in a “horrifying increase in domestic violence.” Was that a surprise to anyone? Well, it shouldn’t have been. After approximately 200,000 years as ‘Homo Sapiens’ (the 'wise hominid'), we ought to know ourselves … Continue reading Rescuing Reality|Covid 19|mental health and the consequences of ‘stay-at-home’
Rescuing Shyness| Joe Moran and the Secret History of Shyness
It’s time to look again at these secrets of shyness. Joe Moran, professor of English and cultural history at Liverpool University, is an accomplished writer who comes at shyness with personal experience, literary skill and a subtle mind. His portraits of the many shy characters in history – politicians, military officers, authors, artists, musicians, etc. … Continue reading Rescuing Shyness| Joe Moran and the Secret History of Shyness
Dreams | Robert L. Van de Castle – Our Dreaming Mind |all you wanted to know about dreams and more
Because I've been studying dreams since I was a boy, every now and then I think it's time for me to write my own book about dreams. But each time that happens I immediately think of psychologist Robert L. Van de Castle’s monumental book, Our Dreaming Mind and I discard the thought. It’s a book … Continue reading Dreams | Robert L. Van de Castle – Our Dreaming Mind |all you wanted to know about dreams and more
Alan Conrad 