"Sometimes I just thank the gods I’m an atheist."
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Letters to the Editor That Were Never Published
(And some other stuff) by Alex Caemmerer Jr., M.D. Trafford Publishing
book review by Sheila M. Trask
Over his career as a psychiatrist, Dr. Caemmerer has observed changing attitudes in the realms of psychology, religion, and even automobiles. He is not happy about many of them. Having published several "letters to the editor," Dr. Caemmerer was left with more to say about these subjects and has gathered his thoughts in these previously unpublished letters and essays.
Grouped by topic, Dr. Caemmerer's letters are both historical and current. Most were written in the last decade. All benefit, however, from the author's long experience. He has been "practicing psychiatry since the days when we had no psychotropic medication of any value at all." Today, he is pleased to be armed with medications he calls "brain normalizers." Still, he laments the under treatment of many mental illnesses and calls for a greater understanding of the usefulness of combined pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy.
Dr. Caemmerer takes the long view on many subjects, explaining why he thinks the Biblical ban on homosexuality is a myth, how the Catholic church has damaged children by covering up its priests' wrongdoings, and why cars should be designed for safety and not status.
Exasperated by the apparent illogic of his fellow man, Dr. Caemmerer hopes to set folks straight with his analyses. His irritation shows in the heavy use of exclamation points and the repetition of certain key ideas. He seems to feel that people would see the truth if they would just listen to him. And he's not going to stop writing until they do.