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Tall World

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Six-foot-three-inch tall Arianne Cohen takes us on a tour of Tall World. In The Tall Book, she travels from endocrinologists' offices to the annual European Tall Club Convention, and meets the tallest couple in the world to unlock the mysteries about tallness.

Guests:

Arianne Cohen

Comments [31]

becky from greenwich ct

I immediately ran out to buy this book simply to feel the comradarie of sharing my 6'-3" femininity with another... and was sent into a sneaky chuckle when on the way home I pulled over for gas and was told "wow you're tall" - followed by "do you play basketball" - lol!

If only they knew how often we get that... if I wasn't so broke, I would have donate my new book to that gentlemen behind the counter then and there. I'm a little behind on the statistical $700+/inch pay increase!

Jul. 02 2009 09:52 PM
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Peter from Allamuchy, NJ

My wife and I are quite different in height, I am 6' 4" and my wife is 5' 1'. As you can see I am much taller, Well one day I was out shopping with her and was accosted by a woman who was at least 6'. She claimed it was my duty to be married to a tall woman and how it was a mistake for me to be married to my wife. I was stunned by her statement!

Jul. 02 2009 08:49 PM
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anna

"Taller people live longer and are smarter? I'd love to see some of these claims backed up with solid facts."#12
Diane, you seem to be old-fashioned. Who needs facts when only money matters - she'll sell her books.
The same "intelligent" tall population which watches Oprah, admires Trump, elects ... whomever ... will buy.

Jul. 02 2009 02:24 PM
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anna

Well, only an American can use the words "intelligence" and "business leader" in one sentence. I can assure you they don't go together.

Jul. 02 2009 01:49 PM
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Short, Bright,Beautiful and a natural leader. from Connecticut

No, Randy Neumann was wrong. It is pure RACISM against height. No one can control how tall they are and I wouldn't advice taking some sort of supplement to control height any more than I would love it if someone would write a book about how wonderful it is to be petite. The only advantage being tall is reaching high shelves.

I don't know why this wouldn't be considered a red flag to have her speak and plug her book due the racist element!

Jul. 02 2009 01:46 PM
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Tallish from NY

To Anne from Manhattan:
Try out: Tall Size Shoes of Fifth Ave, 32 W 39th St(west of 5th Ave,(212) 736-2060.
The styles still don't match those made for smaller feet. Big seems to translate into less stylish.

Jul. 02 2009 01:36 PM
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Short, Bright,Beautiful and a natural leader. from Connecticut

I was very upset by her chat. The talk sounded tall biased to the point of maybe racism against short people. The Queen of England is not particuarly tall and she is born to one of the richest families in the world n'est pas. I think the states are particularly UNKIND to short people. I have worked with some very affluent and successful short people. I would hate to think that children in school could be judged by their height "oh, they are short they can't be too smart." Can you really, really back th so called substance of your book? I am short and trust me I am no wallflower and I am a leader, I am noticed and never missed and people are surprised when they find out how petite I am. Short people require less fabric, food possibly, use less water to wash their clothes and body hence short poeple could be considerable eco-friendly. I hope your book doesn't HURT shorter people getting jobs. People cannot control how tall or short they are like their race. So, your book is RACIST and I wonder what the ACLU think about it. I don't think you are going to make a lot friends with your book. Oh and Randy Newmann's song should be banned because it is racist. Can you imagine someone writing a book about Green eyed people as smarter, living longer etc. and having the opportunity to talk on Leonard's show. I think you wrote a book for two reasons to be unkind and to make $$$.

Jul. 02 2009 01:36 PM
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anna

Leonard, can you check the meaning of the word "intelligence?" It looks like Americans differ here (like in any other aspect) from the rest of the world.
Can you also inform Arianne that she shouldn't confuse aggression and self-promotion with intelligence.
There is more to life than grabbing, pushing, grabbing and pushing. Arianne doesn't know that.

Jul. 02 2009 01:29 PM
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Lori M from Weehawken, NJ

I'm with Marie! Tall people make up 30% of CEOs, and make $700+ more than short people? Gee, that's a tough life...

Double whammy, being short and a woman. Do I make like 50% of what my taller male peers make? Maybe Randy Newman was right...

Jul. 02 2009 01:25 PM
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Amy from Manhattan

I don't think people who aren't tall think we have some advantage in being able to "hide"--certainly it never occurred to me, esp. when I was a major teasing target in 5th & 6th grades. This probably happened mostly because I was the new kid, but it very often focused on the fact that I was short & skinny. Didn't help me avoid the negative attention.

Jul. 02 2009 01:24 PM
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Maya from Brooklyn, NY

I hate seeing any woman, short or tall, slouching. Or worse: in the supermarket, walking with their elbows on the shopping cart handle as if it were a walker. STAND UP STRAIGHT!!!

Jul. 02 2009 01:24 PM
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Joanna from Brooklyn

Ugh. I am an average height woman from a tall family. I am torn between the pain of reliving all the "this is my 'big sister'" jokes and schadenfreude of giving this book for xmas gifts ... (see? YOU'RE NOT REALLY THAT TALL!)

Jul. 02 2009 01:23 PM
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Tom

Little and large: Why Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum think their height difference is no big deal

He is 5'4" and she is 6ft.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1192162/Little-large-Why-Sophie-Dahl-Jamie-Cullum-think-height-difference-big-deal.html

Jul. 02 2009 01:21 PM
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Becca

this argument frustrates me and not just because i'm short. self Indulgent and poorly researched. why not study both tall and short people? doesn't this argument just reeify stereotypes?

Jul. 02 2009 01:21 PM
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Marie from Brooklyn

So glad the author is tall enough to lift the great cross she's been forced to bear. A tough life.

Jul. 02 2009 01:20 PM
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Lori M from Weehawken, NJ

I appreciate Leonard's tall guest, BUT - As a short person, the ability to remain 'invisible' is totally overrated.

Try walking down the sidewalk in midtown at rush hour, or getting onto a subway train at 5-foot one-inch. Being short is an invitation to get shoved, pushed around, walked into, and generally unnoticed in public crowds. People just don't see you and assume you should move out of their way, because they are bigger.

Not to much sympathy for all those six footers out there....

Jul. 02 2009 01:20 PM
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the truth from bkny

I am 5' 6" without heels, am I tall or average?

Jul. 02 2009 01:20 PM
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tom from nyc

how can we get tall women (and tall men) not to slouch?!!!

Jul. 02 2009 01:18 PM
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Jill from Brooklyn Heights

Short person here. Tall people tend to overemphasize the importance of their height and the author is misguided when it comes to tall women: the ones I know often feel uncomfortable with their bodies. Tall people who crow about their height may be overcompensating and lacking in some other area.

Jul. 02 2009 01:17 PM
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Diane from Manhattan

Taller people live longer and are smarter? I'd love to see some of these claims backed up with solid facts.

Jul. 02 2009 01:17 PM
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tom from nyc

How ‘bout bullying – is that an issue?

I’m tall, our baby is tall (and skinny) and I said I’m worried about him getting bullied (by short kids who are 2 – 3 years older, which i dealt with in 7th grade). Did anything like this pop up in your research?

TF

Jul. 02 2009 01:16 PM
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the truth from bkny

If you see a short man with a tall(er) woman, those are two very well adjusted individuals.

Jul. 02 2009 01:16 PM
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Randy

What does she think of some of the tall women fetish websites or amazon women websites.

Jul. 02 2009 01:16 PM
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Anne from Manhattan

Thank you for your work this topic!

I'm a taller woman and am wondering - Where do you buy shoes (other than online)? A size 11 is hard to find in women's shoes. And sometimes the styles that are in the stores are really ugly.

Another topic is body image and weight. So much of a woman's body image is attached to "the number" on the scale. Those numbers are IMPOSSIBLE to attain as a tall woman. Did you see more body issues in tall women?

Jul. 02 2009 01:15 PM
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the truth from bkny

Ohhh is that what it is? and all this time I was thinking my parents loved me because I was their child!

Jul. 02 2009 01:13 PM
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Laurence from Manhattan

When I was growing up, my mom thought about getting me a t-shirt that read:

"No. Do you play mini-golf?"

Jul. 02 2009 01:12 PM
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the truth from bkny

Wowee! the steretypes are really flying now! Way to go Len!

Jul. 02 2009 01:11 PM
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the truth from bkny

Wow Leonard! Did you really just call her a "freak"???! LOL

Jul. 02 2009 01:10 PM
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Yvonne from new york

The Dutch are considered the tallest people in the world. Would your guest know what is the cause of this - so specific to a culture?

Jul. 02 2009 01:10 PM
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Martin

How do you lead when dancing with a tall women? I would have a problem twirling her.

Jul. 02 2009 01:07 PM
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JJ

What does she think of short men who are with tall women like Tom Cruise, Sarkozy, Bernie Eccelestone and others. Even Nicole Kidman remarried a guy who was shorter than her.

Jul. 02 2009 11:00 AM
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