What is a good book to buy for a bright, elderly man who:
a.) has probably read everything, and,
b.) is experiencing some level of despair due to his rapidly deteriorating body (he has motor neuron disease)?
My partner's father, who I admire deeply, is turning 80 next month, and I'd love to be there to celebrate what could be his last birthday, but unfortunately I can't due to a university commitment. I'd like to send a book down as a gift, because he has such a sharp mind, and has always been a big reader. He is the type of man who would see a book as the best gift you could possibly give.
Being a 24 year old girl, I'm not sure I have read too many books that would appeal to somebody in his position. I'd like the advice of somebody perhaps a bit older or wiser than me, or perhaps a man!
To give you some idea of what he appears to like, I loaned him a book called
The Geography of Thought : How Asians and Westerners Think Differently...and Why, and he ate it up. He loaned me a book called
Blooming English, observations on the roots, cultivation and hybrids of the English language. He is Dutch, he loves spoonerisms and wordplay and he is very witty. He has retained his sense of humour even in his old age, except he finds it increasingly difficult to talk due to the MND.
Which brings me to my next point... I fear he may be battling with the "Integrity vs Despair" psychological stage. Last time I saw him, one moment he would be reciting poetry, but then the next he would be apologising for being "a baby"... i.e., needing to be helped out of his chair, unable to enunciate his words as quickly as his thoughts flew.
Does anyone know of any books, perhaps by some philosopher, which would help somebody in his position? I don't mean some kind of self-help book directly related to the topic, but something that would indirectly lift his spirits?
This may be a long shot but I'd appreciate any and all suggestions!
(p.s., This could be relevant -- his spiritual/religious leanings. He was a priest until he was 50 years old, I believe, but then he left the church and now he is an atheist. The way I've been led to interpret it is that joining the church, back in the day, allowed one to be a scholar? That was his main motivation.)
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If he belongs to the more Stoic school of thought, I would recommend William Bronk. Bronk's work is meditative, but is less lyrical in its exposition and much more blunt in his exploration of the transitory. Perhaps: Life Supports
Just my two cents...
posted by Chrischris at 5:47 AM on March 8, 2007