Drawing Life: Surviving the Unabomber

by David Gelernter

In 1993, Yale computer science professor David Gelernter opened what he thought was an unsolicited doctoral dissertation. It exploded, destroying his right hand and eye and making his torso resemble a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684839121
• ISBN13: 9780684839127
• Release Date: September 1997
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

A theory of why the common man often does not recognize evil

While interwoven with the story of his comeback from a horrific explosion by a "hutman" (author's word) whose ideas will not work, he explains the rise of an "intellectual class" into positions of power in our society and the effect of this rise on the American people by this same class whose ideas also will not work. The author has fascinating undeniably true insights into the reactions of various segments of our society (the media for instance) and how these twisted and passive views came about.

I simply cannot express what an important book this is.

Gelernter's endictment of America is dead on. He addresses problems here that the proponents of popular culture, rather threatengly I think, have told us to ignore. Thank god that David Gelernter chooses not to.

Terrific; buy it now

One of the most powerfully written and elegantly thought out books I have ever read. Should be mandatory reading for every American. I used to think only Vietnam veterans had this kind of sane view of the world after adversity. I was wrong. Buy it, read it, pass it along.

A Brilliant Examination of America in the 1990's

Gelernter, an associate professor of Computer Science at Yale who has little use for computers, wades into the current "politically correct" acedemic world with guns blazing and a "take no prisoners" attitude that is all too often lacking from those on the political right, who seem too intent on appearing moderate and in the process lose all sense of outrage, said outrage being Gelernter's primary stock in trade. Along the way, the author delves into religion, music and art with a seriousness and grace that are all too often lacking in political discourse. This is a thin, tightly written book which could and should be discussed for years. BRAVO!

I wish every American would read this book.

This is an outstanding example of inspiration without the saccharine that afflicts most inspiring books today. Professor Gelernter survived the nearly fatal attack by the unabomber through gallantry, the ability to find something to be grateful for even in the midst of tragedy, and the support of his family, his friends, and his faith. He has shed nearly all of his bitterness, and his story is a text for recovery from tragedy. It is more than that, though. It is also in the tradition of authors like George Steiner, seeking to diagnose the ills of a society in which, using Gelernter's own words, the twentieth century has become itself a crime scene. Gelernter writes sparsely and bluntly about the transformation which has taken place in America since the 1960's. Traditions and restraints have been broken, and putting things back together will take a long time and a lot of perseverence. We have spent our grandparents' moral capital and have surrendered traditional values to the new intelligensia. Whether you accept all of Gelernter's social criticism or not, you must read the book for the stirring recitation of recovery which rejected victimization in favor of redemption. The tale of a gallant and noble soul.