Who was Norman Cousins? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 75

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Ellen

children: Amy Cousins Candis Kerns, Andrea Cousins, Sarah Kit Shapiro

Writers Journalists

Died on: November 30, 1990

place of death: Los Angeles

More Facts

education: Teachers College Columbia UniversityTheodore Roosevelt High School, Columbia University

awards: 1985 - Helmerich Award

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Childhood & Early Life

Norman Cousins was born on June 24, 1915 in West Hoboken, New Jersey. Despite the fact that he was really athletic when he was a young boy, doctors had misdiagnosed him with tuberculosis and placed him in a sanitarium when he was 11 years old.

He studied at Theodore Roosevelt High School and graduated from the institute in 1933. During his time in school, he was the editor of the high school paper, ‘The Square Deal’.

He then studied at the Teachers College, Columbia University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. Right after he graduated from college, he joined ‘New York Evening Post’, in 1934.

Quotes: Life, Death

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Career

In 1935, he was hired by ‘Current History’ as a book critic. He was later made the managing editor. Five years later, he joined the office of ‘Saturday Review of Literature’.

In 1942, he was named editor-in-chief, a position he would hold for a long time. Under his direction, the circulation of the publication increased manifold. During his time with the organization, he worked assiduously to sponsor liberal causes, such as nuclear demilitarization and world peace.

He wrote an extensive editorial on the bombings at Hiroshima titled ‘The Modern Man is Obsolete’ in 1945. The response the next day following the publication of his article was immense. The story was circulated in the country and was also reprinted in a number of newspapers.

In 1949, he wrote ‘Writing for love or money: thirty-five essays’ which is a collection of some of his writings.

In 1953, he authored the non-fiction book, ‘Who Speaks for Man’. During the 1950s, he also became tremendously active in arranging for medical treatment for around 25 Hibakusha in the United States.

From 1960 to 1967, he penned, ‘Dr. Schweitzer of Lambarene’, ‘In place of folly’, ‘Great American Essays’ and ‘Present Tense; an American editor’s Odyssey’. During the 1960s, he also commenced the ‘American-Soviet Dartmouth’ for peace processes.

He worked for the board of trustees for Science Service, which is currently known as ‘Society for Science & the Public’ from 1972 to 1975.

In 1979, he wrote one of his most important works, ‘Anatomy of an Illness as perceived by the patient: reflections on healing’. The same was adapted for film. Two years later, he wrote an autobiographical best-seller titled, ‘Human Options’.

Through the q980s, he published a number of other works including ‘The Physician in Literature’, ‘The Words of Albert Schweitzer’, ‘The human adventure: a camera chronicle’, ‘The Pathology of Power’ and one of his last works in his lifetime, ‘Head first: the biology of hope and the healing power of the human spirit’.

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Major Works

‘Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient’ was written in 1979 and is considered one of his best works. The book became a best-seller as soon as it was released and it became a trailblazing classic on battling lethal diseases through comicality and ‘patient participation care’. This is largely regarded as one of his major works.

Awards & Achievements

Cousins was presented the Eleanor Roosevelt Peace Award, in 1963.

He received the Family Man of the Year Award in 1968.

He was honored with a ‘Peace Medal’ from the United Nations, in 1971

He received the Helmerich Award in 1985.

In 1990, he received the Niwano Peace Prize.

He received the Albert Schweitzer Prize, in 1990.

Quotes: Life, Death

Personal Life & Legacy

He suffered from heart disease and arthritis during most part of his life, which he included in his autobiography, ‘Anatomy of an Illness’.

He had four daughters; Andrea, Amy, Candis and Sarah Kit Shapiro with his wife, Ellen.

He passed away of heart failure on November 30, 1990 in Los Angeles, California.

Trivia

During his lifetime, this political journalist and author’s life was portrayed by Ed Asner in the television movie, ‘Anatomy of an Illness’.

Norman Cousins Biography