Paul Brodeur
Encyclopedia
Paul Brodeur is an investigative science writer and author, whose writings have appeared in The New Yorker
, where he began as a staff writer in 1958. He lives in Cape Cod
. For nearly two decades he researched and wrote about the health hazards of asbestos
. He has also written about the dangers of household detergents, the depletion of the ozone layer
, microwave radiation and electromagnetic fields from power lines. In 1992 he donated 300 boxes of papers accumulated during his research to the New York Public Library
. In 2010 he was informed that the NYPL had finished culling the papers it chose to retain in its collection. Brodeur publicly objected, stating that the materials to be removed were essential to understanding his investigative process. Science writer Gary Taubes
has said Brodeur's writings on electromagnetic radiation are part of what inspired him to switch from writing about bad practices in physics to epidemiology and public health.
Brodeur's short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Saturday Evening Post
, and Show Magazine. His 1970 novel The Stunt Man
inspired the Academy-Award nominated 1980 film of the same name starring Peter O'Toole
as a egotistical movie director. The novel is about a military deserter who is offered the chance to hide his identity by becoming the stuntman on a movie.
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, where he began as a staff writer in 1958. He lives in Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. For nearly two decades he researched and wrote about the health hazards of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
. He has also written about the dangers of household detergents, the depletion of the ozone layer
Ozone layer
The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone . This layer absorbs 97–99% of the Sun's high frequency ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to the life forms on Earth...
, microwave radiation and electromagnetic fields from power lines. In 1992 he donated 300 boxes of papers accumulated during his research to the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
. In 2010 he was informed that the NYPL had finished culling the papers it chose to retain in its collection. Brodeur publicly objected, stating that the materials to be removed were essential to understanding his investigative process. Science writer Gary Taubes
Gary Taubes
Gary Taubes is an American science writer.He is the author of Nobel Dreams , Bad Science: The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion , and Good Calories, Bad Calories , titled The Diet Delusion in the UK and Australia. His book Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It was released in December...
has said Brodeur's writings on electromagnetic radiation are part of what inspired him to switch from writing about bad practices in physics to epidemiology and public health.
Brodeur's short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
, and Show Magazine. His 1970 novel The Stunt Man
The Stunt Man
The Stunt Man is a 1980 American film directed by Richard Rush, starring Peter O'Toole, Steve Railsback, and Barbara Hershey. The movie was adapted by Lawrence B. Marcus and Rush from the novel by Paul Brodeur...
inspired the Academy-Award nominated 1980 film of the same name starring Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
as a egotistical movie director. The novel is about a military deserter who is offered the chance to hide his identity by becoming the stuntman on a movie.