Paul Samuelson is Dead
And I didn't even know he was still alive.
It was probably 1962 when I was assigned Samuelson's textbook for a college course on basic economics. Originally written in 1948, it was a classic - well written, understandable. It was unlike any other textbook I had used before or since. Reading Samuelson's obituary a few days ago (he was 92), I learned that his book, edited and updated by others of course, continues to be used.
So I got to wondering, how many other textbooks could I remember? I came up with three, all of them written by my professors who taught from their texts.
First there was a text in Pitt's MBA program on "Managerial Accounting", written by Rossell and Frazier. (I think my professor was Rossell, but it might have been Frazier.) Managerial Accounting was accounting for non-accountants. Since I was an undergraduate accounting major, it seemed pretty simplistic, and was an easy grade. But Rossell (or Frazier) was pleasant enough
Next was another MBA text on Macroeconomics written, and taught, by Dr. Bela Gold. I think Dr. Gold was Hungarian or Romanian. I don't know what was thicker, his textbook or his accent. I didn't understand anything during the whole class. He was pretty old (he taught seated behind a desk) and seemed pretty bored by teaching a bunch of snot nosed Americans. The rest of the faculty seemed to treat him with some reverence, so I think he had an academic reputation of some sort. However, he was a pretty bad teacher.
Finally there was a law school text called Legal Process and Procedure by Cornelius Murphy. Murphy's idea was that he could teach new law students about the subject by examining the development of a new theory of damages for "loss of consortium." The theory is that if a married person suffers injuries, the uninjured spouse has a right to recover for the loss of companionship, comfort, sex, etc., that the injured spouse is no longer able to provide. I don't know how much we learned about legal process and procedure, but Murphy created a bunch of lawyers who are experts on "loss of consortium." Murphy was widely despised and was later terminated for some unseemly conduct involving a female student.
Nine years of higher education. Four remembered textbooks, only one of which was memorable.
Thank you Paul Samuelson.
It was probably 1962 when I was assigned Samuelson's textbook for a college course on basic economics. Originally written in 1948, it was a classic - well written, understandable. It was unlike any other textbook I had used before or since. Reading Samuelson's obituary a few days ago (he was 92), I learned that his book, edited and updated by others of course, continues to be used.
So I got to wondering, how many other textbooks could I remember? I came up with three, all of them written by my professors who taught from their texts.
First there was a text in Pitt's MBA program on "Managerial Accounting", written by Rossell and Frazier. (I think my professor was Rossell, but it might have been Frazier.) Managerial Accounting was accounting for non-accountants. Since I was an undergraduate accounting major, it seemed pretty simplistic, and was an easy grade. But Rossell (or Frazier) was pleasant enough
Next was another MBA text on Macroeconomics written, and taught, by Dr. Bela Gold. I think Dr. Gold was Hungarian or Romanian. I don't know what was thicker, his textbook or his accent. I didn't understand anything during the whole class. He was pretty old (he taught seated behind a desk) and seemed pretty bored by teaching a bunch of snot nosed Americans. The rest of the faculty seemed to treat him with some reverence, so I think he had an academic reputation of some sort. However, he was a pretty bad teacher.
Finally there was a law school text called Legal Process and Procedure by Cornelius Murphy. Murphy's idea was that he could teach new law students about the subject by examining the development of a new theory of damages for "loss of consortium." The theory is that if a married person suffers injuries, the uninjured spouse has a right to recover for the loss of companionship, comfort, sex, etc., that the injured spouse is no longer able to provide. I don't know how much we learned about legal process and procedure, but Murphy created a bunch of lawyers who are experts on "loss of consortium." Murphy was widely despised and was later terminated for some unseemly conduct involving a female student.
Nine years of higher education. Four remembered textbooks, only one of which was memorable.
Thank you Paul Samuelson.
posted by Crotchety Old Fart at 2:58 PM
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