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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> >I've long thought that Scott Nearing would have lived longer if he had  
> done less grunt work and had more fun. By Helen's direct declarations  
> to an editor friend of mine, Scott was a sourpuss.

I have about twenty books written by Scott Nearing and five about him (or 
Helen), I'd have a tendency to agree.  I think two other things lead to his 
early 
demise (at the age of 100):  He was in the habit of not drinking water under 
the misguided impression that too much water washed out the body's minerals.  
He only took what water he got from a morning cup of mint or molasses tea and 
what was in his soup.  Second, he ate way too little fat.  He had a stroke at 
99 when he was otherwise quite healthy and such brain anomolies are 
associated 
with poor management of fat.

Helen promoted the idea that she pretty much built the Maine house by herself 
and Scott intimated that he dug the pond single handedly.  Both are myths.  
During their time in Maine they played host to a score or more of people 
daily 
and a great deal of the hard work was done by visitors who are never 
mentioned 
in the writings.

James