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elizillaOver the last several days I have been reading something called "The Tall Book" by Arianne Cohen. It turned out to be far more interesting and engaging that I expected.
She starts out with a lot of statistics and research. On average, tall people have higher IQ scores, make more money, are healthier, live longer, etc. But when they unpack this further, "tall" isn't a cause, it's an effect. Populations that get the early childhood thing right, get all the goodies together - brains, wealth, health... and height. In fact scientists can use the average height of a population as a proxy for its general health and welfare.
There's a funny anecdote about being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in a hospital in Bangkok, because her pancreas was enlarged. Eventually the doctor says "You don't have cancer. You're just tall." The insurance company denied her claim, saying accidental cancer diagnosis due to height was not covered. They didn't cover her mental health claim either.
Then she gets into some of the other hazards of being tall. Airline seats, drinking fountains, standing up from low chairs, the difficulty of finding clothes to fit and the premium prices you pay for them. Hitting your head on things other people walk under. A mathematical analysis of why some exercises become more difficult when you have longer limbs than other people. Tall women are less likely to marry. (On the flip side, tall men are more likely to marry.) Medical treatments to tall children to prevent them growing to unacceptable height - yes, this was/is done in the USA and other western countries, mostly to girls, though it is less common today than in the 50's and 60's. She talks about being offered such treatment herself as a kid (she declined), and her mother who had the treatment and still feels it was the right choice.
She talks about various individuals who have been known as tallest man or tallest woman at different times, and how it affected their lives. She talks about going to tall conventions and makes them sound pretty appealing. (I am barely tall enough to qualify, so I'd be a shorty there. Might be interesting!)
I'll have to seek out some of the clothing retailers she names. And maybe send her an email with some more that I know of, that she doesn't mention.
She starts out with a lot of statistics and research. On average, tall people have higher IQ scores, make more money, are healthier, live longer, etc. But when they unpack this further, "tall" isn't a cause, it's an effect. Populations that get the early childhood thing right, get all the goodies together - brains, wealth, health... and height. In fact scientists can use the average height of a population as a proxy for its general health and welfare.
There's a funny anecdote about being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in a hospital in Bangkok, because her pancreas was enlarged. Eventually the doctor says "You don't have cancer. You're just tall." The insurance company denied her claim, saying accidental cancer diagnosis due to height was not covered. They didn't cover her mental health claim either.
Then she gets into some of the other hazards of being tall. Airline seats, drinking fountains, standing up from low chairs, the difficulty of finding clothes to fit and the premium prices you pay for them. Hitting your head on things other people walk under. A mathematical analysis of why some exercises become more difficult when you have longer limbs than other people. Tall women are less likely to marry. (On the flip side, tall men are more likely to marry.) Medical treatments to tall children to prevent them growing to unacceptable height - yes, this was/is done in the USA and other western countries, mostly to girls, though it is less common today than in the 50's and 60's. She talks about being offered such treatment herself as a kid (she declined), and her mother who had the treatment and still feels it was the right choice.
She talks about various individuals who have been known as tallest man or tallest woman at different times, and how it affected their lives. She talks about going to tall conventions and makes them sound pretty appealing. (I am barely tall enough to qualify, so I'd be a shorty there. Might be interesting!)
I'll have to seek out some of the clothing retailers she names. And maybe send her an email with some more that I know of, that she doesn't mention.
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Date: 2012-09-21 09:59 am (UTC)If you decide to buy something, let me send you a coupon for $25 off your first purchase.