Read Books and Live Longer

New York Public Library/Wikimedia Commons

Reading books is healthy, according to a new study, "A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity", as reported in The New York Times.

"Book readers lived an average of almost two years longer than those who did not read at all.....“People who report as little as a half­hour a day of book reading had a significant survival advantage over those who did not read,” according to senior author of the study, Becca R. Levy, a professor of epidemiology at Yale...."

Also reading newspaper had similar, but weaker, effects. As a book publisher, we knew already that reading books is enjoyable and worthwhile, now we have scientific evidence that it also increases a reader's well-being. Visit a library, go to a bookstore, read a book - and live better and longer.

NYT Columnist Paul Krugman Highlights The Great Illusion and War in Ukraine

A recently published column in The New York Times entitled "Why We Fight Wars" by economic columnist Paul Krugman, refers to the 1910 Cosimo Classic, The Great Illusion. 


Krugman states: "A century has passed since the start of World War I, which many people at the time declared was 'the war to end all wars.' Unfortunately, wars just kept happening. And with the headlines from Ukraine getting scarier by the day, this seems like a good time to ask why." 

The Great Illusion, written by Norman Angell, argued that war destroys any wealth that conquerors may have wanted to obtain, making the whole enterprise pointless. This book was published just shortly before World War I began and obviously Angell's advice was not followed nor taken seriously then. Will Angell's and Krugman's advice be followed now before it is too late?

To read the full article by Paul Krugman, please visit The New York Times.

British journalist and politician Sir Ralph Norman Angell (1872-1967) was an executive for the World Committee against War and Fascism and a member of the executive committee of the League of Nations Union. Knighted in 1931, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1933. For more titles on war and peace, please see Angell's other titles, including: Peace Theories and the Balkan War and The Fruits of Victory.

Major General (ret.) Antonio M. Taguba writes on Torture in The New York Times

Retired Major General Antonio M. Taguba recently wrote an article for the The New York Times in which he discusses the torturing and inhumane treatment of prisoners, enemies, and military personnel that have been occurring since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

This article is spurred by the soon-to-be released report on the C.I.A.'s  detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects after 9/11 (which also caused the recent announcement by President Obama, acknowledging that "we tortured some folks" saying: "We crossed the line and that needs to be understood and accepted. And we have to, as a country, take responsibility for that so we don't do it in the future").

Taguba writes: "from leaks to the press and the statements of those familiar with the report, we know the committee has determined that C.I.A. torture was more widespread and brutal than Americans were led to believe."

To read more about the report, Taguba's past investigation and findings, as well as his proposed suggestions, please read the full article here.

About Antonio Taguba
Retired Major General Antonio M. Taguba led the initial investigation into abuses in the U.S. military prison at Abu Ghraib and has played a major role in the United States' global war on terrorism. Prior to his command in Iraq, Major Taguba served as the Deputy Commanding General (Support), Third U.S. Army, U.S. Army Forces Central Command and Coalition Forces Land Component Command. Released to the public in March 2004, The Taguba Report by Antonio M. Taguba provides specific findings and offers official recommendations on the subject of detainee abuses, prisoner escapes, and the military's accountability.