Metta Spencer
My blogs
Blogs I follow
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education |
| Occupation | Emeritus Professor of Sociology |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Introduction | Before retiring from the University of Toronto, I coordinated a program in peace studies. My introductory textbook, Foundations of Modern Sociology, was published in nine editions. Since retiring in 1997 I continue as the editor of Peace Magazine. My 2006 book, Two Aspirins and a Comedy: How Television Can Enhance Health and Society, deals with the impact of entertainment in human affairs , ranging from our health (dramas stimulate emotions that can make you sick or healthy), to our ethics (as we empathize with good or evil characters) to our social policies (as we learn to handle social problems). I hope to stimulate use of entertainment for personal and societal well-being. My new book. The Russian Quest for Peace and Democracy, involved 28 years of research. I interviewed hundreds, especially Gorbachev's advisers, showing how the global peace movement influenced Soviet military policies, and promotes democracy. |
| Interests | communication, culture, movies, television, disarmament, nonviolent action, environment, Northern Exposure,psychoneuroimmunology, oil, Gorbachev, health, literary and dramatic criticism, empathy, global warming, economic development, Buddhism, ancient civilization |
| Favorite movies | Gandhi, early Woody Allen comedies, City Lights |
| Favorite music | Blues, Jesse Cook, Fado, Beatles, Verdi operas, Ravi Shankar |
| Favorite books | Emotional Intelligence, Everything Bad is Good for You, The Shape of Ancient Thought, The Company We Keep, Waging Nonviolent Struggle |
You laughed so hard you can't catch your breath. Stick out your tongue and show us what's funny:
What are you doing to save the world?