August Quote of the Month - I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then - Lewis Carroll

This month, we have selected our August inspirational message from a great Classic (book and author!):

"I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then."

-- Lewis Carroll in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

In 1865, English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, wrote a fantastical adventure story for the young daughters of a friend. The adventures of Alice-named for one of the little girls to whom the book was dedicated—who journeys down a rabbit hole and into a whimsical underworld realm, instantly struck a chord with the British public, and then with readers around the world. Dodgson's playfulness—with language, with mathematical puzzles, with testy creatures such as the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts—still confounds and teases lovers of fantasy fiction today.

Alice acolytes continue to unravel the book's strange riddles, and constantly find new meaning in the unexpected underlying themes, from the trials of early adolescence to the value of nonsense. The conundrums and delights of Alice ensures its ongoing influence over modern pop culture. This unabridged replica edition features the original illustrations by English artist Sir John Tenniel, and is a treasured addition to any library.

August eBook of the Month: Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion - and the US healthcare debate

This month Cosimo presents Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion by John Brown, Ian Maclaren, and John Raffensperger as our August eBook of the Month.

We recently featured Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion as our June Book of the Month, and the editor of this book, John Raffensperger, MD, who re-discovered two classic stories, "Rab and His Friends," by John Brown, and "A Doctor of the Old School," by Ian MacLaren, offered his comments explaining the humanity of medicine as it was supposed to be and lessons for those who are now determining the future of US healthcare:

In this day of commercialized, impersonal medical care that is fraught with political meddling I had hoped that these stories of Scottish medicine in the 19th century might have an impact on the medical profession and the delivery of health care. Each story was popular at a time when the world was more literate. "Rab and His Friends", written in 1861 is at first glance a dog story. When I re-read it after becoming a surgeon, I realized that it is about an operation for breast cancer performed prior to those two medical blessings, anesthesia that banished the pain of surgery and antisepsis that prevents bacterial infections in surgical wounds. The surgeon in the story was James Syme, the father in law of Joseph Lister who discovered antisepsis. Dr. John Brown, the author of "Rab" was a beloved Edinburgh physician and author. When Samuel Clemens visited Edinburgh, Dr. Brown was his wife's physician. The story also influenced William Osler who became Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford to become a physician.

Dr. MacLure, in "A Doctor of the Old School" was a doctor for every organ as well as an accoucheur and surgeon in the highlands of Scotland. This is the story of how a 19th century physician brought gruff but compassionate care to his patients with little more than his bare hands, a few instruments and basic drugs, that included whiskey. At the good doctor's death, his friend, Lord Kilspindie said, " I pray that doctors everywhere may share his spirit."

Each of these stories reflects the Scottish system of medical education that combined science, bedside teaching and the humanities during the 19th century. Every doctor, indeed all those who are now determining how medical care will be delivered should pause, read these stories and reflect on how distant we now are from the ideals of medicine.

About the Authors
John Brown, M.D. (1810-1882) was a well-known Scottish doctor and writer from Edinburgh. He attended the medical school at the University of Edinburgh before becoming apprentice to James Syme at the Minto House Hospital. His experiences at the hospital influenced his writing, including "Rab and his Friends," the short stories in his book Horae Subsecivae, and others.

Ian Maclaren (1850-1907) was the pen name of Highland-born John Watson. Watson studied for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh and at Tubingen in Germany. In addition to serving at the Parish of Logielmond in Perthshire and the Sefton Park Church in Liverpool, he was well known as a writer and speaker, culminating in several speaking tours in the United States. His works include "A Doctor of the Old School," Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush, and The Days of Auld Lang Syne.

John Raffensperger, M.D. was a surgeon-in-chief at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a professor of surgery at Northwestern University. He has authored surgical textbooks, a history of the Cook County Hospital, a collection of short stories, and a "surgical thriller." He currently lives in Sanibel Island, Florida.

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August Series of the Month: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

American freethinker and author Robert Green Ingersoll was born in August of 1833, therefore, we at Cosimo are celebrating by reading The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll as our Series of the Month!

Ingersoll was a notorious radical whose uncompromising views on religion and slavery (they were bad, in his opinion), women's suffrage (a good idea, he believed), and other contentious matters of his era made him a wildly popular orator and critic of 19th-century American culture and public life. 

Legendary as a speaker—he memorized his speeches and could talk for hours without notes—and as a proponent of freethought, Ingersoll is an American original whose words still ring with truth and power today. His most important works are gathered in this 12-volume collected edition, first published posthumously in 1901.



The paperback retail list price for this series is: $215.88, but now our price is: $174.99 (you save $40.89 or a 19 percent discount)

The hardcover retail list price for this series is: $407.88, but now our price is: $324.99 (you save $82.89 or a 20 percent discount)

Prepare for the Total Solar Eclipse!

On Monday, August 21, all of North America will be able to witness a total eclipse of the sun! This is a big deal for many citizens of the US, since the last eclipse many Americans were able to experience, happened back in 1979. To refresh your knowledge on all things space, see our list of books to keep you company until you whip out your eclipse glasses on Monday!

Astrology for All by Alan Leo

He is considered the father of modern astrology: Alan Leo opened up the secrets of divination by the stars to the general public in the early 20th century with a popular line of astrology manuals that set off a craze for horoscopes that continues to this day. Here, in this replica of the 1910 fourth edition of his essential primer, Leo teaches us: the basics of astronomy required for an understanding of astrology, the nature and character of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, complete breakdowns of the affect of the Sun and the Moon on each house, what a horoscope is and how to cast one, and much more!

The Story of Astrology by Manly Palmer Hall

In this concise book, one of the preeminent metaphysicists of the 20th century gives us an extraordinarily informative and entertaining survey of the astrological disciplines and beliefs of the ancient Chinese, Tibetans, Hindus, Greeks, Romans, Aztecs, and Arabians. Then, his discussions of astrology as science, religion, and philosophy bring this paranormal system into the contemporary world, and he explains how, in his estimation, that the heavenly bodies, acting as the "foci of intellectual energy," dramatically sway the course of civilization itself. A classic of supernatural spirituality is a must-read for those fascinated by the influence of paranormal belief in the 20th century.

The Reading of the Stars for Those Who Love Them by A.M. Wrey

This charming introduction to astrology, first published in 1913 and difficult to find in print again until now, initiates the novice into the mysteries of the zodiac through a series of questions (with answers, of course!), such as: "Why should Astrology be known as the Law which governs the Solar system, and consequently our individual lives?", "Is it not supposed that the Pyramids were built especially for Astrological purposes?", "Which planet is said to represent "Evil" in the greatest degree?", "Is it not true that Planets have to go through the same kind of Pilgrimage as Humans"?, and many more. Discover the power of reading the stars... or get a new perspective on this ancient art.

From the Earth to the Moon and 'Round the Moon by Jules Verne

This is the legendary novel of technological speculation and social satire that launched an entire genre of adventure fiction: Verne's From the Earth to the Moon and 'Round the Moon is the first story of space exploration and remains a beloved work of daring exploits—and surprisingly accurate scientific conjecture. When the members of the Baltimore Gun Club—bored Civil War veterans—decide to fill their time by embarking on a project to shoot themselves to the moon, the race is on to raise money, overcome engineering challenges, and convince detractors that they're anything but "Lunatics." With this work, Verne inspired the first science fiction film, 1902's Le Voyage dans la lune, and accurately predicted that that ideal location for a spacebase is in Florida.

Congrats Henry David Thoreau!

This month, Cosimo is celebrating everything Henry David Thoreau with the recent release of the brand new United States Post Office Thoreau Forever Stamps!

“Thoreau was one of the great thinkers in this country’s history on a wide variety of subjects, and the expression on his face in the stamp image captures his introspective and inquisitive nature,” said U.S. Postal Service General Counsel and Executive Vice President Thomas J. Marshall. “Thoreau encouraged everyone to lead more thoughtful and considered lives. Given the pace of today’s world, the many demands on our time, and sometimes conflicting priorities, I am sure we could all benefit from his advice.”

Congrats Thoreau!

Walden by Henry David Thoreau

This is one of the most important works by the most important American philosopher: Henry David Thoreau, vital figure in the Transcendentalist movement, hero to environmentalists and ecologists, profound thinker on humanity's happiness. First published in 1854, Walden collects the penetrating reflections from the two years Thoreau lived in solitude on the shores of Massachusetts' Walden Pond. In lucid, poetic prose, Thoreau ponders the beauty of living simply and in communion with nature. It is a work of pastoral magnificence and wisdom that has moved generations of readers.






The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau

In 1846, Thoreau took the first of his three journeys into the woods of Maine, and each of his excursions, he pondered the allure of the wild, the impact of humanity, and on being a man moving through nature. Here, his thoughts on all three trips are gathering in one volume-first published in 1864-that is considered by some one of the best examples of outdoors writing ever. From the quiet of a lakeside to the campfire stewing of cranberries to surprising encounters with Indians, Thoreau offers us an intimate look at a landscape that is now all but gone, or radically different. His insights on his experiences, which have made him a hero to environmentalists and ecologists, are even more powerful today than perhaps they were when he first put them down on paper.

Walking by Henry David Thoreau

The philosophies of Thoreau—hero to environmentalists and ecologists, profound thinker on humanity's happiness — have greatly influenced the American character, and his writings on human nature, materialism, and the natural world continue to be of profound import today. In this essay, first published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and vital to any appreciation of the great man's work, Thoreau explores: the joys and necessities of long afternoon walks, how spending time in untrammeled fields and woods soothes the spirit, how Nature guides us on our walks, the lure of the wild for writers and artists,  why "all good things are wild and free," and more.

Cape Cod by Henry David Thoreau

The writer himself once said, "I am eager to report the glory of the universe," and in this delightful work—not published till 1865, after his death—he regales us with tales of his time on Massachusetts' Cape Cod, to where he journeyed four times between 1849 and 1857. While still profoundly philosophical, this is Thoreau's lightest work, full of amusing and reflective anecdotes about the wildlife, human inhabitants, and fishing industry that characterized the island of the day. Charming and provocative, Cape Cod will be cherished by readers of modern philosophies and armchair travelers alike.

August Classic of the Month: A Vindication of the Rights of Women

In the spirit of Women's Equality Day, (selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote.) Cosimo's Classic of the Month is A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft as our Classic of the Month.

This 1792 book is one of the earliest works of protofeminist thought and is the first published argument advocating for the societal elevation of women as the intellectual and emotional equals of men. Written during the time of the French Revolution, this revolutionary book reacts against the French Diplomat's, Charles Maurice's, statement that women should be educated only in domestic matters.

Well received in its day and still an important resource for anyone wishing to understand the history of feminism, this extended essay demolishes the sexual double standard of the day, offers a rational defense for the education of girls, and demands merely that women be treated as people.

A Vindication of the Rights of Women is available in hardcover and paperback at leading online bookstores, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. During her brief career, she wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book. Wollstonecraft is best known for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), in which she argues that women are not naturally inferior to men, but appear to be only because they lack education. She suggests that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagines a social order founded on reason.

August Book of the Month: Founding a Movement

This August, Cosimo is celebrating women all over the world with our Book of the Month Founding a Movement: Women's World Banking, 1975-1990, a detailed history of the first global women's microfinance organizations, run by women, for women. Its history is told by founder Michaela Walsh, who was president and CEO of the company from its inception at 1975 until 1990. Chock full of interviews from the organization's first board members and participants, it follows the difficult path WWB took to recognize its dream and make small businesses a reality for so many women around the world.

Founding a Movement shows how hard work and perseverance, not to mention a helping hand from fellow entrepreneurs and business owners, can help anyone take control of their economic destinies. In the words of Michaela Walsh, this book "shines a light on the value that women contribute through work, and when they support one another, to become full participants in the economy through access to financial institutions and services, and everything that goes with that access."

About the Author
Michaela Walsh is an activist, scholar, mentor, educator, and author. She has been a pioneer female manager for Merrill Lynch, the first female partner at Boettcher, and the founding president of Women's World Banking. She has taught at Manhattanville College, served on the Boards of several institutions, and was the chairperson of the 59th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference in 2006.She has received numerous awards, including in honor an honor in 2012 from Women's Funding Network for changing the face of philanthropy.