don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

You probably think I consider Howard Stern a crass, sex-obsessed, book-selling machine, a disgusting violator of cultural norms and mores, a scumbag of the first rank who combines shock with crud. Right? Furthermore, I’ll bet you assume I’m wildly jealous, since he’s rich, famous and influential and I’m not? Well, you could be on to something there. After all, I’m prettier if not taller, a lot faster, I have less body fat, a better sense of humor (in my opinion) and, unlike Howard (or Deepak, about whom I wrote the same line), I have the capacity to walk into an empty room and blend right in. Given all this, I think I have a right to be jealous. I’m entitled!

But I’m not jealous. Stern has a lot going for him, including a pretty good sense of humor, a wild imagination, boundless creativity, the courage to say what he likes regardless of the offense that will be taken by easily outraged censors and varied defenders of political correctness, immense curiosity, drive and ambition, terrific wit and deft timing, a few political friends in high places (such as the Governor of New York, whom he helped elect) and more. Stern’s books (Miss America, for example) and movies are actually funny, in certain places. The other places are at least interesting.

Of course, books and movies by Howard Stern are not written for a wellness audience and definitely not primarily about things good for your health. Still, it’s curious to speculate on what accounts for the popularity of Stern among his dedicated fans all over the world.

For a lot of people, Stern is funny. I enjoyed his book, for example, because I found it highly amusing. This is the case with his radio show, which I occasionally tune in while driving. Most of the time, the show is just plain stupid, in my opinion, except when he is on a rant about one annoying celebrity or another, such as Michael Jackson, OJ, Rush Limbaugh and the like. I also enjoy his commentaries about campaigning for governor, battling with the FTC and revealing the tales about his personal life, particularly the nature of his mental illness and unique recovery program.

That’s just what I find amusing. I suspect the wider appeal of Stern is based on the fact that, as Howard himself emphasizes, his books, movies and radio show have “no big words, are loaded with pictures and dirty words and, last but not least, his competitors suck!” This man understands his audience.

Enjoy what books, movies and shows give you pleasure, take it all with lots of salt grains and look on the bright side.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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