It’s about the cause of cancer. There are two competing theories, the somatic theory and the metabolic origin theory. The first posits that cancer comes from mutations. The second is that cancer comes downstream from metabolic illness in the mitochondria of the cell. I had always assumed the first was true, but am now inclined to the second theory. Cancer cells preferentially eat glucose, up to 200 times more than regular cells. Ketogenic diets seem to help people with tumors. The book is a popularization of Thomas Seyfried’s work.
No, I don’t have cancer, as far as I know. I got interested after the medical event of last year (stroke caused by a congenital heart defect; I’m fine) and deciding to eat better for general health. Casey Means’ appearance on Tucker drove me into metabolic science, which has connections to regenerative agriculture, and led me to Seyfried’s work on cancer.
THERE is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Thus I have found as a tutor in English Literature that if the average student wants to find out something about Platonism, the very last thing he thinks of doing is to take a translation of Plato off the library shelf and read the Symposium. He would rather read some dreary modern book ten times as long, all about “isms” and influences and only once in twelve pages telling him what Plato actually said. The error is rather an amiable one, for it springs from humility. The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers face to face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him. But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest student will be able to understand, if not all, yet a very great deal of what Plato said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on Platonism. It has always therefore been one of my main endeavours as a teacher to persuade the young that firsthand knowledge is not only more worth acquiring than secondhand knowledge, but is usually much easier and more delightful to acquire.
I heard about The Intellectual Life on the Ascend the Great Books podcast and have some friends reading it with me. Sertillanges is laying out a beautiful vision of the use of our intellect and gives many fraternal corrections in the work. An example: “As to newspapers, defend yourself against them with the energy that the continuity and the indiscretion of their assault makes indispensable.”
The Two Towers - JRR Tolkien
I keep revisiting Tolkien and always find him an oasis in the desert. In this read through I am marveling at how wonderful Faramir is.
Soon to be starting: The Physics - Aristotle
What is left of my OGB group soldiers on with 3 members and a modified version of the reading list. We just had our discussion on Plotinus last night and are going back to Aristotle.
Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain - Reading along with my son (11) for our Father-Son book club.
Greater Hippias - Plato - I’ve been taking a deeper dive back into Plato before moving over to Aristotle. I had just wrapped up with the Republic before I took a break from OGB. Planning on going back through some of the dialogues covered by OGB (I just re-read Protagoras) and some not covered (Greater Hippias, etc.) over the next 6 months or so.
The New Organic Grower - A Master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener - Elliot Coleman - In preparation for the spring garden. My garden was decimated by rabbits and other pests this year, so looking for inspiration and practical advice.
Good for you reading Tom Sawyer. Are you doing it out loud? I like how Mark Twain preserves rural Missouri speech patterns. It’s a snapshot of a long-gone time. I like Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster stories for the same reason. Read those out loud too!
We’re a few chapters in and my son asked me to read out loud with him, so we’ll tackle some of the accents and speech patterns tonight together. Should be good fun. I’ll check out the Jeeves and Wooster stories, I have that on my list from the OGB podcast you did with Scott on that one.
-Just re-read City of God by Saint Augustine
-Re-reading Introduction to the Holy Bible for Traditional Catholics by Tim Flanders
-Easy reading: Fellowship of the Rings - find more and more here each time I return to it
Very interesting. Have you heard of Dr. Jack Kruse? He’s in the decentralized medicine circles and has much to say about light, mitochondria, and cancer. Fits nicely with metabolic theroy.
I am honestly not sure yet. I just discovered him myself. Seems smart, though very confident in his own excellence…ideas seem plausible, and it does seem like metabolic solutions to our health crisis get the least attention. I am always interested in hearing “alt” perspectives, even if I walk away skeptical. They’re usually right. He comes down hard on “actually you probably need much more sunlight and cold.”
Due to his personal life misgivings and mismanagement of his ministry later in his life, people are quick to write off Ravi, but I still find a lot of his early work, a wealth of apologetics and theological wisdom.
The Two Towers - JRR Tolkien
Just finished Pilgrims Progess by John Bunyan and Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien .
Also starting an Advent devotional that looks interesting by Scott Erickson titled ‘Honest Advent’. Scott is an exceptionally talented artist.