Norman Cousins

Norman Cousins (1915 – 1990) wiki

"Cousins was born on June 24, 1915 in Union Hill, New Jersey; attended Teachers College, Columbia University; began working at New York post as the education editor, 1934-35; worked at Current history as book reviewer, literary editor, and managing editor, 1935-40; married Eleanor (Ellen) Kopf in 1939; executive editor (1940-42), and editor-in-chief (1942-71) of Saturday Review Of Literature, later known as Saturday Review; editor of World (1972-73), Saturday Review/World (1973-74), and Saturday Review (1975-78); worked on editorial board of Office of War Information during World War II; he was involved with organizations fostering world government and control of nuclear weapons, serving as president of United World Federalists from 1952-54 and as founding member of the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE); founded US-USSR and US-Chinese Writers Conferences; served as a diplomat during 3 presidential administrations; produced numerous books on political, social, and medical issues; adjunct professor of medical humanities, UCLA, beginning in 1978, where he initiated the Task Force in Psychoneuroimmunology; received many awards, including the United Nations Peace Medal, the Albert Schweitzer Prize of Humanitarianism, and nearly fifty honorary doctorate degrees; he died on Nov. 30, 1990 in Los Angeles, CA."

"After retiring, he became well known for his best-selling book, "Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient" (1979), which presented his contention that a patient's attitude can combat a grave illness. ...

"He also became involved in the business side of the magazine industry. The wealthy oil geologist Everette L. De Golyer, who had owned the Saturday Review since 1942, transferred its ownership to Mr. Cousins before his own death in 1958.

"Mr. Cousins then retained a controlling interest and passed out the rest of the stock to other Saturday Review staff members. But before long the magazine was sold to the McCall Corporation, which made Mr. Cousins a director and gave him senior editorial posts, and which was itself taken over by Norton Simon Inc. in 1971. Born in Union City, N.J." Interview

He is survived by his wife, the former Ellen Kopf.

Affiliations

 * Former President, World Federalist Association
 * Former Chair, Committee for Sane Nuclear Policy
 * Founder, Dartmouth conferences
 * Founder, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology
 * Cofounder, Americans United for World Government
 * Former Trustee, Samuel H. Kress Foundation
 * Former Chair, National Educational Television
 * Activist, World Federalists of Northern California

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