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Norman Cousins

ノーマン・カズンズ

Nōman Kazunzu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1915-06-24 （West Hoboken, New Jersey (now Union City), U.S.）
Died
1990-11-30 （Los Angeles, California, U.S.） age 75
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
West Hoboken / Union City, New Jersey, U.S. → New York City (Bronx), U.S. → Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Career

Occupations
political journalist, editor, author, professor, peace activist
Active Years
1934-1990
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), World Federalist Association, SANE (Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy)
Memberships
World Federalist Association, Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy (SANE)
Influenced
Peace activists and anti-nuclear campaigners

Education

Teachers College, Columbia University
Degree: B.A.
Country: United States
Earned a bachelor's degree. Graduation year not specified in source material.

Awards

Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award (inaugural)
1985
Organization: Tulsa Library Trust
Result: 受賞
Eleanor Roosevelt Peace Award
1963
Organization: Unknown (award organization)
Result: 受賞
United Nations Peace Medal
1971
Organization: United Nations-related
Result: 受賞
Niwano Peace Prize
1990
Organization: Niwano Peace Foundation
Result: 受賞
Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism
1990
Organization: Albert Schweitzer-related organization
Result: 受賞
Family Man of the Year
1968
Organization: Unknown
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Modern Man Is Obsolete

1945 Essays / Editorial

A collection of essays questioning the condition of modern man in the atomic age and discussing nuclear weapons and humanity's future.

nuclear weaponsethicsfuture of humanity

Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient

1979 Memoir / Health non-fiction

A firsthand account of Cousins's illness and recovery, arguing for a connection between attitude and health and describing his 'laugh therapy' approach. Later adapted into a television film.

healingemotions and healthself-care
Adaptations
  • [television movie] Anatomy of an Illness (TV movie) (1984)

Who Speaks for Man?

1953 Political / Philosophical

A collection arguing for world federation and nuclear disarmament, addressing postwar international order and human responsibility.

world federationnuclear disarmamentinternational politics

Bibliography

  • Modern Man Is Obsolete (1945)
  • Writing for Love or Money (1949)
  • Who Speaks for Man? (1953)
  • "In God We Trust" (1958)
  • Dr. Schweitzer of Lambaréné (1960)
  • Present Tense; an American Editor's Odyssey (1967)
  • Improbable Triumvirate (1972)
  • The Celebration of Life (1974)
  • Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient (1979)
  • Human Options: An Autobiographical Notebook (1981)
  • The Physician in Literature (1982)
  • The Healing Heart (1983)
  • The Words of Albert Schweitzer (1984)
  • Albert Schweitzer's Mission: Healing and Peace (1985)
  • Nobel Prize Conversations (1985)
  • The Human Adventure (1986)
  • The Pathology of Power (1987)
  • The Republic of Reason (1988)
  • Head First (1989)
  • Mind Over Illness (1991, posthumous)

Adaptations

  • Anatomy of an Illness (1984 TV movie, starring Ed Asner)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, persuasive essayistic stylejournalistic and argumentative tone
Recurring Motifs
world peace and nuclear disarmamentethics and humanityhealing and mind-body interaction

Health

  • connective tissue disease (collagen disease)
    1964（急性発症）
    Suffered a severe acute attack in 1964; pursued high-dose vitamin C and 'laugh therapy' and reported recovery, describing the experience in his writings.
  • ankylosing spondylitis (diagnosed)
    1964〜（診断時期）
    Chronic condition requiring long-term management; his illness experience influenced his subsequent research and publications.
  • heart disease (died of heart failure)
    晩年〜1990
    Treated with exercise, vitamins, and dietary measures; ultimately died of heart failure.

Legacy

As an editor, author, and peace activist, Cousins had wide influence through his advocacy of nuclear disarmament and world federation and through his illness memoir promoting 'laugh therapy'. He impacted both academic discussions and popular discourse on peace and alternative approaches to healing.

Museums

  • Monument to Norman Cousins at Hiroshima Peace Park Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan

Academic Societies

  • World Federalist Association-related academic and civic groups

In Popular Culture

  • Portrayed by Ed Asner in the 1984 television movie 'Anatomy of an Illness'.

Quotes

  • "I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep."
    Source: Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient (1979) (1979)

Trivia

  • Served as editor-in-chief of the Saturday Review from 1942 to 1972, greatly increasing its circulation.
  • Helped bring the 'Hiroshima Maidens' to the U.S. for medical treatment.
  • Promoted 'laugh therapy' based on his personal illness and recovery experience.