Today he is known as Dr. Q; an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who leads cutting-edge research to cure brain cancer. But not too long ago; he was Freddy; a nineteen-year-old undocumented migrant worker toiling in the tomato fields of central California. In this gripping memoir; Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa tells his amazing life story--from his impoverished childhood in the tiny village of Palaco; Mexico; to his harrowing border crossing and his transformation from illegal immigrant to American citizen and gifted student at the University of California at Berkeley and at Harvard Medical School. Packed with adventure and adversity--including a few terrifying brushes with death--Becoming Dr. Q is a testament to persistence; hard work; the power of hope and imagination; and the pursuit of excellence. It's also a story about the importance of family; of mentors; and of giving people a chance. Becoming Dr. Q recently won first place in the 14th International Latino Book Award for Best Biography.
#899148 in Books Michael Flower 2008-01-07 2009-03-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.80 x .82 x 5.90l; 1.05 #File Name: 0520259939326 pagesThe Seer in Ancient Greece
Review
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. At last; "The Seers" are getting justiceBy terje gerotti simonsenVery good and important book; underscoring the importance and integration of "the Seers" - and thereby also what we probably often would call ESP (extra-sensory perception) - in ancient Greek culture. As E.R. Dodds in his classic work The Greeks and the Irrational (1951) once demonstrated the Greek openness towards;- and embracing of the non-rational aspects of human life and experience; this book does some of the same with respect to phenomena and practices that within our world-view (but not necessarily within the ancient Greek's) would best be described as "paranormal".Due to the overwhelmingly strong Greek philosophical tradition; constituting also the starting-point of modern European rationalism; both these aspects - i.g. different phenomena of "irrational" and "paranormal" types (to use our terms; not necessarily fully fitting for the Greek experience) - all to often have had a tendency to be underestimated or forgotten (or right out repressed) when modern; post-Enlightenment "rational" academics are dealing with ancient Greek culture and mentality. Thereby there is acute danger of losing out some of the culture's very essence. E.g. Socrates; the archetypical Greek philosopher; was not at all the die-hard rationalist as some philosophy-courses are fond of portraying. This can clearly be seen by the esteem in which he held the "irrational" and "paranormal" divination of the Oracle in Delphi.This book is providing a much longed-for justice to the importance of the institution of "The Seers"; and being a historian of ideas by education myself; I consider it a must-read for anyone interested in an in-depth understanding of the ancient Greeks' mentality and perception of reality.
