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"You Better Not Cry" author Augusten Burroughs treats fans to a second Big Think interview this week, just in time for the holiday season. Famous since his 2001 bestseller "Running With Scissors" as a memoirist of the humorous, painful, and bizarre, Burroughs shares his view of Christmas as an essentially tragic holiday with a tiny nougat of joy inside the bitter candy coating. … Read More
November 20, 2009 | In Arts & Culture
Are you an eligible prospective immigrant to the United States? Are you feeling lucky? If so, you have 10 more days to apply for the random selection process conducted annually by the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program—in other words, the "green card lottery." The entry window, which opened October 2, closes November 30, and your chances of winning are a sobering 1 in 240: 12 million will enter, 50,000 will win. … Read More
November 20, 2009 | In Politics & Policy, World
Jim McManus visited Big Think today to talk about the poker habits of the men who have inhabited the White House. The stories he told come from his new book "Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker." We'll post our video interview with him in the coming days. In the meantime, if you like poker, take a look at our conversation with female gamester Annie Duke. … Read More
November 19, 2009 | In Arts & Culture, Politics & Policy
"Stitches" Win Would Be No Small Feat
Later this evening, the literary community finds out whether David Small's "Stitches" will be the first graphic novel ever to win a National Book Award. This morning, Big Think asked Mr. Small what the honor would mean to him personally and whether he believes (as some of his fans do) that his book was nominated in the wrong category. His answer, which will be posted prior to the ceremony, revealed much about which side he takes in the eternal conflict between young people and grown-ups. … Read More
November 18, 2009 | In Arts & Culture
Special: George Halvorson Interview
Big Think conducted a special interview today with George Halvorson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente. As the world's largest nonprofit health plan and hospital system, Kaiser Permanente is a micro-healthcare system unto itself. As CEO, Halvorson has a uniquely commanding perspective on the challenges America faces in its current healthcare crisis. Throughout this year, Halvorson has emerged as a leading voice on the issue, crusading to eliminate the price differential for healthcare costs between America and other countries. In a previous interview with Big Think, Halvorson outlined his ideal healthcare system and revealed how his own company balances massive size with enviable efficiency. … Read More
November 18, 2009 | In Health & Medicine, Politics & Policy
