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Seductive Illusions Remember the Invasion of the Body Snatchers or the Stepford Wives? There’s an ominous similarity between science fiction horror films and the spread of institutional control over our individual thoughts and behaviors. We may unwittingly be the cast of millions, starring in a marathon horror film with institutions from our space instead of aliens from outer space. (Prologue, Page xii) Why have we experienced such astonishing technological while our humanity is still stuck in the Stone Age? (Page 10) In essence, words create our beliefs. Yet words have no substance, no reality of their own. Words are just representations of representations of reality—smoke and mirrors. So, in communicating essentially through words, institutional realities are also just well organized, more traditional distortions—smoke and mirrors! The pen may be mightier than the sword, but rarely as honest. (Page 17) This may be the subliminal mantra echoed throughout the book. The Chant begs us to snuff prejudice, soften discrimination and heighten personal responsibility by simply judging the behavior of people not the appearance of people. (Page 98) Death and dying seem to be welded together so inextricably, it’s nearly impossible to view one without glancing at the other. Dying is the big prelude, the ultimate announcement that there may be plenty of forgiveness but no reprieve. Your death is imminent and dying is the only thing you can do about it. (Page 197) …as long as humans continue to be incapable of conflict resolution, the military will continue to flex its hired gun muscles to ward off the bad guys, whoever they are…What you see is what you get, costumed gunslingers with a rigid pecking order, all equally committed to laws against common sense. (Page 161) The medical institution is slow but not comatose. Finally, with the pressure from overwhelming evidence, medicine is beginning to concede that external stressors and one’s mental condition can be as deadly as any killer virus or more healing than any physical medicine. (Page 152) We are as capable of killing as we are of loving. We can be tenderly compassionate and ruthlessly cruel; generous and greedy. We literally have the power to move mountains and alter the course of rivers, which seem like power over nature. But nature is neither arbitrary nor confused with its power. Nature knows what it’s doing while we humans don’t. (Page 229) “Life is hard and then you die” was written for those folks whose life is shackled to the struggle… For those less advantaged humans, church becomes their salvation, their redemption, and certainly their hope… …It offers them the promise that “life is hard, but when you die, you go to heaven.” (Page 89)
San Francisco Tenderloin …all the stories are true, all characters are real, and all their memories have profoundly impacted my life… (Prologue, Page x) The Tenderloin’s reputation has become its identity—its people are guilty by association. (Page 29) …When she left my office, she had walked straight to her apartment and jumped off the roof to her death. (Page 100) …Ody decided to just hurt the guy…he methodically broke the guy’s two thumbs and eight fingers… (Page 103) …when those great plumes of water covered the O’Brien in a rainbow mist, I knew that Eduardo was somewhere on deck… (Page 152) …Just what did he and the President of the United States say to each other? Eduardo flashed a mischievous smile and his answer should have been obvious to anyone who knew him. (Page 152) Jake’s affection for Popeye taught me something about pride and the uniqueness of individuals that I’ll always remember. “I yam what I yam, I’m Popeye the sailor man.” (Page 209) Wow, I thought, the most important part of therapy for Jody was something I didn’t do. (Page 224) …Herman had beaten me again, this time with a dose of scabies… (Page 239)
The Ultimate Evil …a head surfaced within inches of Don’s face. It was Harry with wild, bulging eyes staring vacantly in terror. He was dead and Don was very sick. (Page 7) Nelson was still bundled up, yet with a huge block of concrete freeway embedded in the ground where there was once his head. (Page 8) Lieutenant O’Shea must have been the only person in San Francisco who cared about all of Wednesday’s eight victims… (Page 15) Carlos dried his hands on his legs, reached across the bed and grabbed the old .38 revolver his father had given him. He put the barrel in his mouth, pulled the trigger and heard a click… (Page 27) It was Ellis’ time to tear up in frustration. So close, yet too far to aid his comrades. O’Shea was quietly biting his upper lip, praying Drocco was OK. (Page 82) Carol was humming along with the rock music when she felt the sharp jolt. The truck had gently rammed the Mercedes trunk lid. “My God it’s pushing us” she cried. (Page 122) …Occasionally he left the arena, or walked to the $105 front row seats and stared menacingly as the audience screamed. Even Sgt. Ellis was amazed. My God, it is a real giant, he thought, with feet to match. (Page 209)
Minding Your Matter This may be life’s most baffling mystery—a miraculous whole far greater than the sum of all of its parts, yet it can be reduced to nearly two-thirds water and a dozen or so chemicals, all once valued at about $1.98. (Prologue, Page xvii) Following the teachings in this book won’t cost you the frustrations or expense of special diets and grueling exercise regimens. You will just look and feel better than ever. That’s a promise. (Prologue, Page xx) HAD is not really a mental disorder and therefore doesn’t warrant an excusable illness label. It’s simply a mind problem that’s pandemic in the modern urban world. (Chapter 5, Page 33) You sophisticated seniors and concerned parents of vulnerable overweight kids please pay attention. Since both groups have plenty to learn or unlearn about urban living, this is one of the most important lessons in this book crammed with important lessons. (Chapter 7, Page 51) Defining what you actually are by what you do is the clearest, most defensible assessment of any individual. (Chapter 8, Page 62) As long as you’re alive, you cannot—not behave. (Chapter 10, Page 87) If you happen to feel a few twangs of bloat or heartburn after your healthful, sensible meal, don’t despair. (Chapter 14, Page 156)
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