Historian Tony Judt's struggle with ALS

March 9, 2010 3:47 PM

Historian Tony Judt has been the subject of MetaFilter posts before. He has also written an essay on his struggle with ALS that has been debated here. However, it may have taken an article in the mass-market magazine New York to put his race to complete his latest book into perspective.
posted by huskerdont (6 comments total)

ALS (aka motor neurone disease)
posted by bhnyc at 4:45 PM on March 9, 2010

ALS, aka Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's disease, aka the disease that eventually leaves your entire body paralyzed except for your mind leaving you unable to eat, drink, talk or sing, aka the disease that some people think they would rather die than endure, aka the incurable disease that affects as many as 1 in 200,000 adults each year.
posted by jabberjaw at 6:55 PM on March 9, 2010

Large portions of Postwar guided me through my undergrad thesis. I had an image of being an elder statesman of history, in his 80's and wearing the same tweed jacket to work every day. Turns out he's only a year older than my mother, which I'm not willing to admit is old yet.

I'm tearing up reading this.
posted by piratebowling at 6:58 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]

Goddamn that guy is sharp. More like him (without the ALS) please.
posted by lalochezia at 8:31 PM on March 9, 2010

Wow, thanks for sharing the previous links. Had no idea of his works. Great mind, great insight! Thanks for sharing!
posted by dealing away at 9:08 PM on March 9, 2010

Fabulous interview. Thanks for posting.
posted by immlass at 9:17 AM on March 10, 2010