Pump Up Your Book Chats with R. Gregory Lande, Author of The Abraham Man

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R. Gregory Lande, DO is a physician and retired US Army Medical Corps Officer. Dr. Lande completed his medical education at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Lande was commissioned an officer in the US Army. During his career in the military, Dr. Lande was active in a wide variety of clinical, academic and administrative positions. Upon leaving the US Army as a full colonel, Dr. Lande was awarded the Legion of Merit recognizing his career contributions. The next phase of his career involved administrative positions in hospital management, research, and teaching at various civilian facilities. Dr. Lande is the author of numerous medical and historical works. He lectures widely on both subjects.

Visit Dr. Lande online at http://www.medicallegalhistory.com/

———— INTERVIEW ———–

Thank you for this interview, Greg! Can you tell us why you wrote The Abraham Man?

My interest in writing this book stemmed from an observation that piqued my curiosity. Malingering, the fraudulent representation of an illness or injury, has endured throughout time. Soldiers, from ancient to modern times, occasionally adopted the tactic to avoid battle. As societies grew more complex, and compassionate, the malingerer began to exploit the opportunities. In fact, the Abraham Man was borne nearly 500 years ago in these exact circumstances. In the nineteenth century, the malingerer encountered a new obstacle. Following the conclusion of the civil war, a veritable explosion in all manner of civil and criminal trials took place. Lawyers increasingly called upon physicians to bolster their cases. As they did so, the malingerer adapted, forcing physicians to explain the role of the Abraham Man. The relentless adaptability of the malingerer was a constant threat to the physician’s credibility. In these cases, the Abraham Man sought refuge from criminal culpability or sought an unearned reward, through guile and deceit. Through the back and forth antagonism between doctor and deceiver grew an ever more sophisticated clinical diagnostician. Even so, the question remains – can physicians infallibly thwart the Abraham Man?

Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

I must admit that the historical research was most difficult. Very few examples exist, particularly when considering the time span, of documented malingering. The pace quickened in the nineteenth century principally caused by the Civil War and the explosion in all types of litigation following the war.

Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

I would imagine that if you took a poll about malingering it would mostly trend towards the negative. Furthermore, that same poll would probably not consider that The Abraham Man’s central message is the paradoxical role malingering played in propelling the growth and development of psychiatry.

Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Write about what you know.

Would you like to tell us about your home life?

I am a busy physician, specializing in psychiatry. Fortunately, my “off time” interests such as writing and research blend well with my professional practice.

What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

I contacted my medical professional societies.

What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

All authors would like to think their work is worth reading. Even after writing a book though, no one will even know about unless it gets some sort of public airing.

What is the most rewarding part of being an author?

I enjoy the research. I learn a lot!

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How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

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