M Books

I loved every word printed in the book. I am a big fan of Victoria Johnson's and I can not wait for her next book, I will buy that based on her love and appreciation of the romance field.

The author put her love of writing in this book It is obvious to me that Author Victoria Johnson did tremendous amounts of research and cares deeply about the romance genre and about human beings.

I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed this book. The research and the information that I recieved from this book was awesome.I am recommending the book to all of my friends. All I need to Know in Life I Learned from Romance Novels is a must read for Romance Lovers all over the World!

All I need to know in Life I learned from Romance Novels by Victoria Johnson was a pleasure and a thought provoking experience. The things that the author talks about are the things that interest me. I can not wait for her next Book!

I was amazed with all the positive comments from other readers regarding this book. I want to join in praise for Victoria Johnson's book All I learned in life I learned from Romance Novels.I loved the how to book on successful relationships.I loved the quotes from the famous Romance authors. Her advice is genuine and you can tell that the author knows her subject matter.Her book is positive and uplifting.

This is an excellent and informative book. As a person who suffers from I.C. it has given me many insightful moments and lots of advice and ideas. It is well written and easy to understand book. I was very happy I purchased this book.

This book gives a lot of good advice and information on dealing with i.c. I was not formally diagnosed, but have a lot of the symptoms.
I have done a few things that were recommended and have gotten so much better. I would say that it was worth the money spent and it's good to learn from someone who has been there before.

This book has been a blessing to my life. Within a short period of time I was able to get off the antibiotics that I have been on for over 15 years. Ms Simone's insight and wisdom is a gift from God. I would highly recommend this book.

This book is a MUST for anyone that is suffering from IC. I was at the lowest (and in the most pain I'd ever been in) when I stumbled across this book. It literally has changed my life. I was in SEVERE pain and had just spent 6 days in the hospital and was still in pain and doing no better. After reading Along the Healing Path, I completely stopped ALL medicines, began drinking Marshmallow Root Tea (with Catnip and Raspberry Leaf) and acidophilus and within a few days I was COMPLETELY OUT OF PAIN!!! It was amazing! I have been suffering with IC since I was 16 (took two years to get diagnosed, which is so common for IC sufferers) and had recently been in a flare for over 6 months. I'd had three bladder distensions, several painful bladder distillations and was on 22 pills a day. My life was changed dramatically by this disease. I was unable to attend classes and work and felt like my whole world was collapsing. I cannot say ENOUGH about this book. Thank you, Catherine, for helping so many of us find our way out of pain!!!! You are amazing!!!!

I truly love this book. It makes so much sense to me that IC is not just a bladder disease but the result of a toxic body. I reaize how toxic my body has felt in the last few years and how now I can change that. My only wish is that she would have included information on diet. She has so much knowlwdge and I would love to hear how she feels diet plays a roll in healing. From all I have read, diet is a key factor in healing.

I have seen many Calculus books in which the authors tend to focus on pretty pictures or mere formula memorization. On this book the focus is on understanding the concepts and reasoning beyond the computational aspect of the Calculus. Considering the ongoing research in mathematics today, this book will prepare those interested in becoming pure mathematicians.

Both this book and the second volume were used in my Honors Calculus classes, and let me tell you, it's not for the faint of heart!! The book is very good, but unless you're willing to get into it and really go at the problems and theorems, it's not going to do you much good. If this is your first calculus textbook, don't expect detailed explanations and pretty summaries of the chapter, since it doesn't have them; do expect lots of theorems and complicated proofs.

This book, unlike most Calculus books out there, is meant to be read and understood. The way that Calculus is taught nowadays, people use books that are 90% problems, exercises, and examples, with an emphasis on computation. This book is 90% prose, and the emphasis is on cultivating a deep understanding. In addition, the book does away with the gap between "Calculus" and "Analysis", choosing to begin with a more mathematically mature perspective...but providing ample explanation for students who have not seen the material before.

This book is exceptional for self-study. I would recommend it to anyone learning calculus on their own, who actually wishes to understand it. This would make an excellent supplement to one of the standard Calculus textbooks, since it addresses just about all the classic weaknesses of these texts. I wish colleges would use this as a textbook, but alas, that would require a drastic restructuring of the curriculum.

This book may come across as "hard" to students, but this is only because it is structured in such a way that one cannot not get through it without understanding the material. Also, a student finishing this book will be ready to dive into more advanced analysis courses, whereas students using basic intro calculus textbooks will find themselves very poorly prepared for these things. The current calculus books with their emphasis on mechanical computation, allow students to get through without understanding the material, and that is why they come across as "clearer". In reality, they are much less clear than this book.

This is one of the best math books I have ever used; Apostol does a great job of giving you intuition and telling you why the topics are important. The exposition is very clear.

However, this is not your usual Calculus I book. The level of approach is halfway between an intro to calc class where you learn HOW to calculate derivatives/integrals, and a real analysis class where you learn why derivatives and integrals are related and their axiomatic foundations.

Bottom line: this is a great book if you want to understand calculus deeply. It is a warmup for real analysis. However, there are probably better books if your only interest in calculus is for using it to solve engineering or physics problems.

It's a shame that most high school and college students read whatever garbage they read nowadays to learn calculus. Fortunately, Apostol wrote his wonderful texts (you'll notice that this book hasn't had a new edition in about four decades, which means the author is under no pressure to artificially introduce new content to keep the sales up) for us to read.

This book is not only well-written, but has numerous quality exercises, and presents the material in a coherent and logical fashion. There is none of the typical clutter we see in many calculus texts nowadays, which makes the reading experience much simpler. Because Apostol writes so clearly, he can cover material significantly quicker than most other calculus texts. Even though many students are puzzled at the notion of understanding theoretical proofs and concepts, that understanding will often trivialize whatever homework problems and tests they will need to write in their classes.

It is true that this book is more abstract than other calculus texts, and the general consensus is that some knowledge of calculus would be helpful before tackling this book. However, a mathematically inclined student, given a good background in pre-calculus, should be capable of reading this entire book with little outside assistance. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to have a more experienced student or teacher available to answer any questions the reader may have.

Another advantage of this text is that, by adding linear algebra, Apostol can more cleanly integrate linear algebra with multivariable calculus (in volume two). In addition, he covers some topics in differential equations and probability, which are natural extensions of all the earlier material in the book.

The exposition is clear, the covered content is thorough, and the exercises are numerous and varied. If you want to learn calculus, this is the book (well, this and the second volume) to get.

I could not put this book down. I found it to be extremely helpful and therapeutic.

This book gave me clarity and peace after suffering from 2 miscarriages. I refer to it often when I need some guidance and explanation. A must for all women who have experienced one or more miscarriages.

After his wife miscarried four pregnancies, author Jon Cohen poured effort into assembling a comprehensive, accurate, and user-friendly repository of information on miscarriage. Now in a new paperback edition that corrects a few errors found in the original, Coming to Term: Uncovering the Truth About Miscarriage explores the latest research and findings on the phenomenon, debunks myths and hype, and shines a spotlight on real problems that could be making the occurrence worse in today's world - such as federally unacceptable nitrate levels (which fluctuate seasonally, often influenced by agriculture and animal waste disposal) found in some American wells. Cohen also explores a diverse array of medical treatments, from drugs to surrogate parent contracts to "touchy-feely" emotional therapy methods that can offer surprisingly positive results. Steeped in compassion as well as wisdom and solid information, Coming to Term is highly recommended.

this is definitely the best book that I've found on the subject of miscarriage. I have had three miscarriages and one child and have been told many differing opinions from doctors. When I suffered my last miscarriage at 37, a doctor told me that I had only a 40% chance of having another successful pregnancy. As with any medical condition, you have to be your own advocate, and this book is the best starting place that I've found to make the journey.

Since my last miscarriage, I saw a doctor that suggested IVIG. the procedure would cost me $9000. I consulted another doctor in the book, who gave me a better explanation of my situation and now I feel comfortable trying to move forward without expensive interventions.

When you experience several miscarriages you are faced with a maze. I found this book essential in figuring out the best way for my husband and I to proceed.

There are several reasons why this book does not deserve its present "five star" rating which are explained in this detailed review. The primary criticism is that the author demonstrates a lack of understanding of the scientific literature. He also shows a lack of scientific insight, and fails to recognize how immune issues can play a role in reproductive failure. He also uses a (now widely considered) flawed study to support his central arguments. Finally, he criticizes reproductive immunologists for their use of anecdotal evidence, yet relies on heavily anecdotal evidence to support his own views. In more detail, here are the weaknesses in this book:

On IVIG treatment for recurrent miscarriage

Cohen chooses to elaborate on the negative sides of the IVIG argument, yet fails to elaborate on the positive arguments, a disservice to the reading, investigating audience trying to understand all sides of IVIG issue.
For example, he agrees that elevated natural killer cell levels can be associated with miscarriage. On page 95, he says: "...studies suggest that women who repeatedly miscarry chromosomally normal babies produce higher level of natural killer cells." Cohen also agrees that IVIG may suppress natural killer cells. Page 95: "Some experiments show that IVIG suppresses natural killer cells" Yet, despite his acceptance of an NK miscarriage connection, he still chooses to scare patients away from lifesaving IVIG treatment that many clinics offer. On page 95 Cohen says "IVIG inadvertently infected people with hepatitis C" and "no amount of screening can test for a pathogen that science has yet to discover." Also, Cohen fails to mention the fact that modern IVIG preparations are screened for all known viruses, past and present. And fails to emphasize that IVIG is completely FDA-approved and thousands of patients are using it routinely with no ill effect for dozens of common autoimmune diseases. For a professional reporter supposedly reporting all sides of an issue, Cohen's investigation seems surprisingly one-sided.
Finally, Cohen seems to criticize the mental state of any patient choosing the IVIG option. At the end of page 95, he states: "untried options can have an intoxicating effect, leading them (women) to throw caution to the wind." I think Cohen's personal bias against reproductive immunology is clear. His ability to report on IVIG with logic and impartiality is sacrificed.

Th1:Th2 theory

On page 79, Cohen states that Th1:Th2 (immunological rejection) theory is a "hugely controversial hypothesis." However, most people who read scientific reproductive journals today would wonder how Cohen arrived at this understanding of the miscarriage literature. If he had a proper grasp of current theory he would not see that the Th1:Th2 theory is not only not "hugely controversial," but it is actually one of the freshest and most accepted new research developments in reproductive immunology medicine today.
How does Cohen arrive at his "Th1:Th2 is controversial" conclusion? In the book, Cohen cites only one single Th1:Th2 review study by Laird SM et al. (he apparently ignores the rest of the rest of the supporting studies in the literature) Yet, interestingly, upon reading carefully, this study actually seems to support Th1:Th2 relevance to miscarriage. It states: "Immunological rejection of the fetus due to recognition of paternal antigens by the maternal immune system, resulting in abnormal immune cells and cytokine production, is postulated to be one cause of unexplained pregnancy loss...there is some evidence for an alteration in the ratio of Th1 and Th2 cytokines produced by peripheral blood monocytes."
Note the phrases: "evidence for an alteration in the ratio of Th1 and Th2 cytokines" may be the "cause of unexplained pregnancy loss." So Cohen's strongest study against Th1: Th2 theory actually seems like it does not bolster his argument much at all?

Antiphospholipid Antibody (APA) Issues

On page 96, Cohen implies that APA positive recurrent miscarriage patients are like a "Black Swans" meaning that, although these patients exist, they are not as common as people might think like (they are rare and over-sensationalized). Again, it appears Cohen is "off the mark" here too. In fact, any layperson who does a cursory Pub-Med search through the literature would find that APA miscarriage patients are actually very common in the recurrent miscarriage population. In fact, one study shows that APA positive patients are present in almost a third of ladies who suffer unexplained recurrent abortion. See study by Cubillos J et al, Incidence of autoantibodies in the infertile population." Obstet Gynecol. 1997 Sep;90 (3):364-9 which states: "In the group of patients with a history of miscarriage, 38.2% (p < 0.05) (tested positive) for APL."
In addition to failing to state the truth about APA frequency, Cohen fails to address the fact that very few centers do the proper APA testing. This may account for why so many APA patients are missed in many infertility clinics. Few local laboratories test for all 6 classes of APA, causing many APA positive patients to be missed: See study by Coulam CB et al: Antiphospholipid antibodies associated with implantation failure after IVF/ET. J Assist Reprod Genet. 1997 Nov;14 (10):603-8. Study quote: "A complete APA panel using seven isotypes is necessary for diagnosing implantation failure associated with RAFS. If only anticardiolipin antibody is measured, 4% (13/312) of the positive APAs are detected, and 81% (56/69) of women with implantation failure associated with RAFS will have the diagnosis missed." Cohen never addresses any of this.

Endometriosis

On page 44, Cohen asserts that no miscarriage/endometriosis connection exists.
Cohen's words: "...controlled, randomized prospective trials later convincingly showed that no such connection exists." However, the truth is, there are dozens of studies in the literature citing the connection between endometriosis to immune issues early pregnancy loss. Does Cohen simply not know these studies exist? Or just he just over-look these studies, instead? Doesn't Cohen ever wonder about the "coincidence" that endometriosis is closely tied to immune issues and is also connected to recurrent pregnancy loss? Has he ever thought that there may possibly be a connection between endometriosis and miscarriage? Once again, Cohen seems naive to the literature and totally naïve to the larger interrelated implications that individual, so-called "unrelated" studies can present. Not only do Cohen's assertions about endometriosis seem naïve, but his assertions seem weak as well. His arguments are based on one single study: Vercammen EE et al: Endometriosis and recurrent pregnancy loss. Semin Reprod Med. 2000;18(4):363-8.
Upon reading the fine print of the study, you find that the argument against the recurrent miscarriage/endometriosis connection is not even that strong to begin with. The authors (countering what Cohen might imply) actually suggest that endometriosis is associated with implantation failure...yes... the very study Cohen uses as his argument against such a connection makes such a connection! See study quote: "...some studies have shown that the decreased number and quality of oocytes, the fertilization rate, and the implantation rate per embryo may be reduced in women with endometriosis"

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Issue

On page 114, Cohen states "The largest studies to date of pregnant women with PCOS estimate miscarriage rates of 40 percent and 60 percent." Yet, Cohen misses the connection between PCOS miscarriages and immune issues completely. There is one important immune-PCOS study that he omits entirely by Jakubowicz DJ et al: Reduced serum glycodelin and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 in women with polycystic ovary syndrome during first trimester of pregnancy. J. Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Feb;89 (2):833-9. Study quote: "These findings are significant in that they may provide a mechanism for first-trimester miscarriage in PCOS. Because glycodelin inhibits mixed lymphocyte reaction and natural killer cell activity, impaired production of glycodelin presumably allows a maternal immune response against the embryo." Cohen misses the PCOS immune connection completely.

Incompetent Cervix

Cohen's lack of understanding of the miscarriage literature comes through again in discussions about incompetent cervix as well. On page 138, he states "factors that cause the cervix to weaken largely remain a mystery." Yet he also says "some studies have shown links to other uterine anomalies, exposure to DES, and even antiphospholipid antibodies"
Why doesn't Cohen dig deeper here? If indeed he says incompetent cervix is linked to APAS, DES and uterine anomalies, how has he missed the fact that cervical incompetence is also associated with Th1:Th2 cytokine imbalance and that Th1: Th2 cytokine imbalances is associated with incompetent cervix? Doesn't he want to solve this cervical incompetence (as he puts it) "mystery"?
See supporting incompetent cervix studies that Cohen completely misses in his book:

1. Mohapeloa H et al HLA-DR typing of women with recurrent late spontaneous abortion and unsuccessful cervical cerclage. Hum Reprod. 1998 Apr;13(4):1079-82.
"The results suggest that HLA-DR-associated immunological factors might play a part in recurrent late spontaneous abortions and extremely preterm births under a cervical incompetence-like picture, at least in the subset of cases not treatable by cervical cerclage."

2. Lee KY et al: Interleukin-6, but not relaxin, predicts outcome of rescue cerclage in women with cervical incompetence. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Sep;191(3):784-9.
"Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 is increased in patients with cervical incompetence, which suggests that subclinical inflammation may contribute to cervical incompetence. Further, an elevated interleukin-6 level predicts a cerclage short-latency interval between cerclage and delivery. In contrast with interleukin-6, amniotic fluid relaxin does not appear to contribute to cervical incompetence-induced cervical dilation."

DES immune connection

Also, Cohen misses the fact that families who have used DES to prevent miscarriage may indeed have a higher incidence of immune issues (causing the miscarriages) that this "family tendency" to immune issues may be why "DES daughters" have more miscarriages, not the fact that they have been exposed to the DES in the womb? This possibility is never even considered, brought up or discussed in the book. Cohen, again, fails to address the possible immune connections in families who have used DES, leaving the total DES discussion more confused, not less.

Environment

On page 172, Cohen seems to agree that a few environmental factors may affect pregnancy outcome in certain instances: Nitrates in well water (page 172), and Bisphenol A in plastics (page 173). Nonetheless, Cohen seems uninterested in following up with these studies, he instead still prefers to dismiss the environmental idea overall. On page 174: "... miscarriages, as far as science can now determine, rarely occur because of what a woman eats or drinks, where she lives and works, and what air she breathes."
In fact, Cohen uses a (frankly, ridiculous) description as an example of pregnancy environmental durability: he describes how his grandmother jumped repeatedly off a chair in an attempt to induce a miscarriage. (page 174) This anecdote is (somehow?) used to support the idea that "the uterus, amniotic sac, and the placenta marvelously work together to prevent harm." Quite frankly, this is an embarrassing example of the typically non-scientific arguments that Cohen uses to support his journalistic angles.

Infection

Similarly, Cohen uses faulty logic when he discusses infectious agents. He admits that certain infections possibly may increase the incidence of miscarriage: page 166: "Infection may cause miscarriage "...rubella, syphilis, genital herpes, mumps, toxoplasmosis, malaria, possibly gardenerella." Yet, despite conceding this, Cohen still manages to glide over the infection/immune problem connection. (page 166: "...a few pathogens may account for a small percentage of miscarriages, although their sporadic nature means they play no important role in recurrent loss.")
In addition to pushing the infection miscarriage connection "under the table", Cohen never mentions how infectious agents may possibly stimulate the immune system to cause immune related miscarriage? In fact, the infection- immune connection is never even addressed at all? This is a glaring fault in Cohen's research, especially considering the fact there are several studies implicating the immune system as the ultimate cause of infection-related miscarriage. In fact, Dr Attila Toth of New York City has devoted whole career to this infection/miscarriage issue. Yet apparently Cohen knows nothing of Dr. Toth's research? Or if he does, Cohen chooses not to discuss it? A few infection -immune studies that Cohen misses:

1. Korbel DS et al: Natural killer cells and innate immunity to protozoan pathogens. Int J Parasitol. 2004 Dec;34(13-14):1517-28.
"Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphoid cells that mediate significant cytotoxic activity and produce high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to infection."... "NK derived interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production is also essential for control of several protozoal infections including toxoplasmosis, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and malaria."

2. Ashkar AA et al: "Interleukin-15 and natural killer and NKT cells play a critical role in innate protection against genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection." J Virol. 2003 Sep;77(18):10168-71. "This study demonstrates that IL-15 and NK-NKT cells are critical for innate protection against genital HSV-2."

3. Jensen JR et al: Fluctuations in natural killer cell activity in early syphilis. Br J Vener Dis. 1983 Feb;59(1):30-2. "In primary syphilis natural killer cell activity was increased, especially in patients lacking circulating lipoidal antibodies."

Luteal phase defect and progesterone

In addition to missing the infection-immune connection completely, Cohen also seems to miss the hormonal-immune connection as well. Though he says that an association may exist between luteal phase defect and miscarriage, Cohen misses (yet again) the possible immune relationship that may exist between these two issues. On page 99, Cohen states: "If the lining becomes inhospitable too early, as happens with what's called a deficient luteal phase, the embryo will not burrow, leading to a miscarriage, or it will not borrow currently, causing preeclampsia later in pregnancy"
No discussion is made about the fact that patients with poor luteal phases often have low progesterone in the latter half of the cycle...or the fact that progesterone has been shown to have an immunosuppressive effect. This immune factor may contribute at least in part to progesterone supplement's immune healing effect in recurrent miscarriage patients. See more studies that Cohen apparently misses in his book:

1. Szekeres-Bartho J. Immunological relationship between the mother and the fetus. Int Rev Immunol. 2002 Nov-Dec;21(6):471-95. "Another protective mechanism operating in favor of pregnancy is progesterone-dependent immunomodulation. Due to stimulation by fetally derived antigens, pregnancy lymphocytes develop progesterone receptors and in the presence of progesterone produce a mediator (PIBF) that, through altering the cytokine balance, inhibits NK activity and exerts an antiabortive effect in mice."

2. Laskarin G, Tokmadzic VS, Strbo N, Bogovic T, Szekeres-Bartho J, Randic L, Podack ER, Rukavina D.Progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) mediates progesterone induced suppression of decidual lymphocyte cytotoxicity. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2002 Oct;48(4):201-9. "The results indicate possible role for PIBF, as a mediator of progesterone in regulation of Decidual Lymphocyte cytolytic activity at the maternal-foetal (M-F) interface."

Preeclampsia

Lastly, on page 99, Cohen successfully makes the connection that patients who suffer from luteal phase defect may also suffer from preeclampsia at a higher rate. However (yet again) he totally misses the possible connection that exists between preeclampsia and immune issues (even more surprising considering the number of studies supporting the preeclampsia- immune connection that exist out there). How can Cohen miss this? Again and again it seems Cohen is totally unable to put the complex pieces of the miscarriage puzzle together. Again and again he fails to see the immune connection, failing to see how it can clarify so much of the "muddy water" that exists in this recurrent miscarriage field today. Here are some more immune/reproductive studies that Cohen completely misses:

1.Saito S, Sakai M. Th1/Th2 balance in preeclampsia. J Reprod Immunol. 2003 Aug;59(2):161-73. "Th1 predominant immunity is closely related to inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and poor placentation."

2. Makhseed M, Raghupathy R, El-Shazly S, Azizieh F, Al-Harmi JA, Al-Azemi MM. Pro-inflammatory maternal cytokine profile in preterm delivery. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2003 May;49(5):308-18.
"These data are suggestive of a maternal type 1 cytokine bias in preterm delivery".

3. Simhan HN, Krohn MA, Zeevi A, Daftary A, Harger G, Caritis SN. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha promoter gene polymorphism -308 and chorioamnionitis. Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jul;102(1):162-6.
"Carriage of the TNFA2 allele is associated with a more than three-fold increased risk of clinical chorioamnionitis, even when accounting for important clinical and microbiologic risk factors."

4. Kaplan D. Fetal wastage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 1986 Oct;13(5):875-7.
"Ninety-six women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were found to have an abortion ratio higher than that of a comparison group (p = 0.005). This was true even before the onset of their RA (p = 0.007)"

5. Sergent F, Verspyck E, Marpeau L. [Crohn's disease and pregnancy. About 34 cases. Review of the literature] Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2003 Jan;31(1):20-8.
"When the disease (Crohn's) is active, the risk of abortion and prematurity increases."

3. Cohen's flawed anti LIT arguments

Gullible patients

On page 58 Cohen begins: "Many couples plug their ears and firmly believe that because of the treatment, they have babies - and no amount of scientific data can shake the power of that conviction." From the beginning of the book, Cohen seems step off on the wrong foot about a typical reproductive immunology patient's psychological nature. He apparently accusing anyone who choose new or controversial treatments (like LIT or IVIG) to be emotionally gullible, unwilling (or unable?) to make sound scientific decisions. In fact, in my personal experience (through my many years watching these types of treatment programs) I have found that reproductive immunology (RI) patients are probably some of the most clear thinking, well read, well researched medical patients out there, able to pull apart any study to find its strengths, weaknesses and its flaws. Certainly most RI patients are not types to ignore solid scientific data. Already Cohen seems "off base" about the patient population he is writing about.

The REMIS LIT study by Carol Ober

Regarding the Carol Ober REMIS study Cohen states on page 69: "Because of the lack of benefit, we recommend against this intervention (LIT) as a treatment for unexplained recurrent miscarriage' concluded the researchers." It is already known that the REMIS study "proving" LIT ineffective was flawed in many ways. Dr. Beer outlined these flaws in detail in his Letter to the Editor sent to the Lancet. Among the REMIS study flaws that Dr. Beer cites are:

1. Failure to recruit an adequate number of study patients.

2. Failure to induce immune responses. Only 26% of women who received lymphocyte immunization developed HLA antibody response. (The immunization must have been prepared and/or given incorrectly to elicit this low response.)

3. 21 of 59 abortuses received genetic study. All (total 11) abnormal fetuses were from treatment group but this data was not reflected in the outcome analysis.

4. A higher proportion of treatment group had a previous live birth (P=0.054). Yet a previous meta-analysis had shown that lymphocyte immunization more effective in women with primary abortions. This was not discussed or considered in the REMIS study.

I know Cohen, through his LIT research, must have read the miscarriage support sites and Dr Beer's Lancet letter (available online to anybody), yet he makes no mention of this letter or any of its arguments in his LIT chapter. Why does he seem to avoid addressing this issue? This reporting bias not only does injustice the LIT, but also to those trying to find the truth about this LIT medicine. And frankly makes one wonder about how "impartial" Cohen's journalistic intentions really are.

Poor patient selection

Many of Dr. Beer's criticisms of the REMIS study similarly apply to other LIT studies. A common flaw found in negative outcome LIT studies is the failure to test subject's LAD (blocking antibody) levels before and after the LIT injections. As a result, researchers never really know if LIT patient:

1. Really needs LIT
2. Has achieved a proper LIT response before conception is attempted

In addition to these flaws, some LIT studies fail to use fresh donor cells (such as the REMIS study), making LIT less effective. Other studies fail to follow the timing and dose requirements that Dr. Beer recommends (i.e. some studies only do LIT once preconception, some studies do not wait the 3- 4 weeks necessary for the proper immune response take place). Lastly, those who understand reproductive immunology understand that LIT should be not be used as the sole immune treatment. Other immune problems need to be identified and independently treated as well (e.g. APA issues, ANA issues, cytokine imbalance, etc). Essentially, patients need a full immune work-up before doctors decide how LIT will fit into their total immune protocol. See Christiansen et al: Evidence-based investigations and treatments of recurrent pregnancy loss. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 83, Issue 4, April 2005, pages 821-839. Study quote: "Current meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy of treatments of RPL are generally pooling very heterogeneous patient populations and treatments. It is recommended that future meta-analyses look at subsets of patients and treatment protocols that are more combinable."

Cohen criticizes the use of anecdotal evidence yet uses anecodotal evidence himself

On page 74 Cohen criticizes the LIT studies as being flawed saying, "the fuzzy scientific rationale behind theories often makes it difficult to select patients who indeed may benefit from a treatment." Yet at the end of the same chapter, on page 82, he uses the example of a solitary successful pregnancy (Jess') that succeeded without LIT use, saying this success "casts further doubts about whether the value of lymphocyte immune therapy"
So Cohen uses one solitary pregnancy success to "further cast doubts" on the value of LIT? He admits the success is anecdotal, yet still uses it as an emotional tool to bash LIT at the end of his chapter. Again Cohen seems to push non-scientific thinking here. How are readers supposed to respect the author as a scientifically unbiased journalist when so much emphasis is placed on the emotional power of the single success story, to pull the emotions of the reader at the end?
Also, it should be noted, if Cohen had any true understanding of LIT, he would recognize that blocking antibodies built of from Jess's previous successful pregnancy would have alone explained her second pregnancy success without LIT. Yet this possibility is not even touched upon in the chapter because Cohen apparently does not understand the LIT science (either "does not understand" the issue or chooses to skip over the issue altogether?) In either case, from a reproductive immunologist's point of view, this LIT chapter ends on a very weak note.

The Tender Loving Care (TLC) argument

Last but not least, we must talk about the author's focus on "Tender Loving Care" (TLC) Cohen's "beloved" argument that he seems to like to use to dilute the validity of many miscarriage studies in the book. Throughout the book, it is evident that Cohen has been rather "sucked in" by the Tender Loving Care argument, the idea that offering extensive psychological support and emotional support to a patient can significantly increase a patient's likelihood of pregnancy success.
On page 175, Cohen calls the Liddell TLC study, "a study with spectacular powers." In a RESOLVE Interview Cohen calls Dr. Lesley Regan's 1997 TLC study "an amazing study. I learned more from it than maybe any single paper (and I have read maybe1000). I highly recommend it." Essentially Cohen has three studies to back his TLC argument:


1. Liddell HS et al: Recurrent miscarriage--outcome after supportive care in early pregnancy. : Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1991 Nov;31(4):320-2.
86% success with TLC (38/44)
33% success without TLC (3/9)

2. Clifford K et al: Future pregnancy outcome in unexplained recurrent first trimester miscarriage. Hum Reprod. 1997 Feb;12(2):387-9.
74% success with TLC (118/160)
49% success no TLC (20/41)

3. Stray-Pedersen B et al: Etiologic factors and subsequent reproductive performance in 195 couples with a prior history of habitual abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1984 Jan 15;148(2):140-6.
86% success TLC (no actual pregnancy numbers given in this abstract)
33% with no TLC

At first glance, these success numbers seem surprising, even shocking and impressive considering the "vague", "touchy-feely" nature of the TLC subject matter. But looking deeper in the methodology of these studies, we find the statistics are probably more deceiving and more flawed than we know. First, all the patients in each of these studies were "self selected" to receive TLC from the clinic. Populations were not randomized at all, which, of course, is a Big Red Flag to anyone trying to get meaningful scientific results. So you have to ask yourself, given the fact these TLC populations are "self selected", what reasons could cause one patient to "select" to discontinue medical care while another patient chooses to continue it? Could it be that patients whose pregnancies succeed may be more inclined to stay with the clinic, while those that are having negative experiences tend to drop out of a program with higher frequency? This is not TLC are we are measuring here. It could be a measurement of an interesting tendency to "hide" and "grieve" in human nature.
Also, another point to note about these TLC studies: in not one of these TLC studies is the actual "Tender Loving Care" procedure exactly outlined. What does this TLC actually involve physically? There may be factors involved in these TLC pregnancy successes apart from the TLC itself, factors we could never pick up on because they are not outlined for us? This description deficiency is yet another red flag with these studies.

Dr. Beer's success due to TLC?

Last, but not least, it appears that Cohen sees Dr Beer's program through "TLC tinted glasses" as well. See Cohen's quote on page 82: "I suspect that he (Dr. Beer) does offer tender-loving care, and that its benefits may confuse the results his patients experience with experimental treatments." In making this statement, Cohen clearly reveals his lack of familiarity with the day to day running of Dr. Beer's program. One thing most of Beer patients know, only a small percentage of Dr. Beer's registered patients actually ever meet Dr. Beer in person. Most of Dr. Beer's consults are conducted by phone or by email. In fact, Dr. Beer only meets about 5% of his registered patients "in person" at all. Many of these patient meetings are "one time only" personal meetings with later consults being done over the phone or through email. Certainly, Dr. Beer does not have ongoing basis face to face relationship with most of his patients, unless one considers emails "TLC." All in all, Cohen puts these TLC studies on a pedestal in a way he rarely does with other studies in the book. Cohen's later words about the TLC studies are even more revealing:
Page 179: "Just as scientific research can never prove that love exists, I suspect it can never arrive at rock solid evidence that expert care prevents miscarriage or helps people come to terms with their reproductive fate. But as one researcher said to me, If you witness a talking dog, you do not need a control group to believe it. In three different recurrent miscarriage clinics around the world, I have seen the equivalent of a talking dog"
How can you argue with someone who has decided that controlled studies are no longer necessary to prove a theory valid? This is the same man who says we should dismiss LIT because the studies are flawed? A man who believes that TLC is as obvious because it is like a "talking dog"? It scares me, frankly, that Cohen is writing a book we are supposed to take seriously, that the world is supposed to take seriously, when he openly admits to using a "talking dog" type of reasoning.

Finally, Cohen's most heartfelt speech in his book, making the strongest veiled attacks on any miscarriage patient's decision to use immune therapy are found on page 129: "Women and men who want babies, especially those who have tried and failed, would benefit if they recognized how intense desires can lead them to take unnecessary risks. It bears repeating again and again and again. Most women who miscarry even three or four times, will carry to term if they become pregnant again...they (millions of women) may logically end up in the delivery room praising an intervention that, years later, they will come to curse." What does this mean, praising an intervention "in the delivery room" that, years later, "they will come to curse"? Does this mean, even after delivering our "Beer babies" using immunotherapy, we will feel we made the wrong decision to do LIT and IVIG? Please! I just hope that others can see through the facade of this book the way that I do.

As I hold and play with my "Beer babies" each day, after suffering devastating losses, I feel blessed that I myself, at least I have put the scientific connections together. That I, myself, at least, have seen the patterns, seen the immune connections, as a result, understand the bigger miscarriage picture in a much more complete way.
Pity those who read this book and come away feeling more confused about immune therapies than they were before. Pity them. Pity Cohen for bringing this situation about. However, in the big picture, I am not worried. I honestly feel that so much progress has been made in this reproductive immunology field the last few years, that the blind, anecdotally-based musings of a sensationalist reporter will do nothing to hurt the field over the long term. The foundation of the RI science is far too reaching, far too strong to ever be marred by the non-scientific ponderings that are really so biased that most (if not all) true scientists will see right through them upon reading this very dangerously naïve and misleading book.

-An informed RI Advocate and Dr Beer patient

It would have been better if the description said this was a library book. Overall the item was fine, just had the library name printed on it, and I had to remove a plastic cover from it.

This series is going to be a regular drain on my bank balance for the coming decade, as that is how long it is going to take Fantagraphics to finish publsihing this collection, if they stick to their published schedule.

Be warned: The Sunday strips are not in colour unlike the Calvin & Hobbes and the Farside collection in which even the black and white strips are printed on colour pages. This quite pisses me off...

Finally, a Peanuts collection in chronological order and nothing left out. It's going to be a long wait indeed...

I've always thought of creating a bookshelf of hard cover with all my favourite comic strips, when I could afford them... Calvin & Hobbes, Farside, Tintin, Asterix & of course Peanuts.

I have the first two, and I'm on my way with Peanuts... It's going to be a long and interesting 11 years...

I'd give it seven stars if I could. As a kid, I would go down the street to the local store every week and buy the latest "Peanuts" book for 50 cents each. It was pure genius then, and it still is now. The cartoons are classic, timeless and wonderful.

When I read the comics page in the newspaper, I find some good strips and some bad ones. Often the most annoying are what I call "institutional" strips: they haven't been funny in years or even decades, but they've become institutions and no one is willing to get rid of them. Peanuts, however, was always something of an exception: it was an institution, but it remained decent, even if in later years it was not quite the same caliber as it once was. There's a reason that modern comic artists (for example, Matt Groening in this volume) write glowingly about Peanuts; it was good. I doubt there is similar appreciation for Marmaduke, Heathcliff or Momma.

The comic strips in this volume are fifty years old, yet with limited exceptions (such as references to Davy Crockett hats), they fit just as well today. Some of the characters have disappeared over the years: what every happened to Patty, Violet or Shermy (or the loud-talking Charlotte Braun)? Other characters have yet to appear, significantly Peppermint Patty, Woodstock and Sally. But the core characters are here in this book, with their identities still evolving.

Snoopy is beginning to develop his alternate identities, practicing with being various animals (pythons, alligators, etc.) which will (in future volumes) develop into full-blown alternate personalities such as Joe Cool and the World War I Flying Ace ("Curse you, Red Baron!"). Lucy is a world-class fussbudget filled with incorrect information that she loves to impart to others. Linus still has his bursts of childishness, but is showing the signs of his budding genius, able to erect massive snow forts and blow up square balloons.

In the end, however, it is Charlie Brown who is the centerpiece of this comic, the ultimate hard luck character who the world seems to conspire against; the other kids often treat him poorly and even things like kite-flying go awry when he does it. It is the Lucy-Charlie Brown relationship that causes the most aggravation for our hero; a typical series of strips will have Lucy debating an issue with him and instantly changing the subject as soon as she is proven wrong.

Deceptively simple in their presentation, the Peanuts strips actually is filled with dark humor and angst. Yes, the only characters are kids (and a dog), but Schulz never relies on cuteness. Both fun and funny, this is a worthwhile read for both children and adults.

There's almost nothing to complain about in this set of books - the print quality is great, the accompanying artwork good, the commentary insightful and useful!

I give this five stars, and yet I have some desires...

Color!! The Sunday funnies were great because they were longer and had color! Without color, they are just long daily strips. Reprint the color, guys, at least, if you can.

More history! What happened in those two years? How many more newpapers picked up the strip, and what other things did Sparky do during that time?

Even so, these books are very well done, nicely thought out, and bring back all the classic strips without any obstrusive other stuff. I am thrilled to have these on my shelf!

This well-written novel, though dated, tells the story of three young pastors coming to grips with how ministry works - and doesn't work. Highly Recommended.

During the years of its reign as the Established Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran Church grew increasingly abusive, unresponsive, liberal, and divorced from the lives of the common Swedish peasants. But, during the 18th century, the Pietism movement came to Sweden, calling people to individual piety and personal holiness. The Church of Sweden reacted vigorously against the movement, resulting in split congregations, persecution, emigration, and, finally, reform.

In this wonderful book, Swedish Lutheran Bishop and author, Bo Herald Giertz (1905-98), collects three stories (really novellas) that each tells the story of a pastor, learning to properly serve God and his fellow men. They are stories of learning God's holiness, but also His love and grace.

Overall, I found this to be a powerful and extremely moving read. The power of the stories keeps you reading, wishing you could be in the very churches that you read about. Now, the author was an unabashed advocate of the Lutheran Church, and the book contains a vigorous defense of the Lutheran Church's liturgy and theology. But, it is such a powerful look at serving God and serving man that I think it is a book that Christians of all sects should read.

This is a powerful book, one that is certainly a classic of Lutheran literature, and should be considered a classic of Christian literature for all believers. I give this book my highest recommendations!

This is an excellent book and much needed for evangelicals in our day. Although this is laden with some Lutheran thought that I theologically disagree with (being a Reformed Baptist), so that a small amount of discernment is required, from my point of view, the thrust of the book is about Christ alone as the sole foundation of our hope and the distinction between Law and Gospel. For one who generally does not read novels, this book is welcome both for these theological reasons and for the interest in the stories themselves. There is much comfort in this book for wounded souls and much to awaken the seasoned believer to about the nature of grace in comparison to our lowly condition.

This book was commended by a good friend who is also I believe one of the few remaining orthodox pastors in his church body. The treatment it provides of issues such as "simul sanctus et peccator" (at the same time saint and sinner), the long-ignored Office of the Keys ("Whatever sins you bind on earth will be bound in heaven"), Christ Only, the individual's mode of "participation" in justification, and a host of other doctrinal issues was tremendously refreshing. The Hammer is relentless, and the Gospel is sweet. The orthodox views of Christ, of Scripture, of Salvation, of Sanctification, and of Christian life are all made new as the morning. I loved it!

Bo Giertz' The Hammer of God should be read by anyone entering the pastorate. The book is divided into three novellas, each set in a different era in a particular area of Sweden. Each novella basically follows the same story: A nominally Christian pastor recently graduates from a modernist university and gets assigned, against his desires, to a country parish. He soon undergoes a kind of conversion experience as he is faced with the realities of parish life, especially with the existential questions of his parishoners, and finds that despite all his formal training, his faith is only nominal at best and he really doesn't know anything about God, until a simple parishoner witnesses the truth of the gospel to him. Newly converted and aware of his own sins, the preacher then begins to passionately preach the law of God bringing some revival to their churches, but as those revivals petter off, he is surprised to find that he is only half-converted, because he must also learn about the doctrine of justication by faith alone, which is the necessary complement to the law, and the heart of the gospel. At the same time, he discovers the richness of Lutheran orthodoxy over and against other modernist, pietistic and anabaptist movements happening around the parish.

Over all, I thought this was a really good book, and I would recommend it to anyone, even to those who are not Lutheran (I'm still a Baptist). Unfortunately, this particular edition is riddled with typos, more than I've seen in any book by a major publisher. So I can only give it 4 stars, rather than 5.

I am from the Midwest and this book is awesome!!!! I love the way Mrs. Hampton change up her writing styles. I start reading her books and find it hard to move on to a new author!

A street novel written tastefully. Excellent read! It goes without saying who my favorite character was. Thank you Miss Hampton for showing that not all thugs are ruthless. Good job.

Whew! Amazing! "How Can I Be Down?" is one that needs to be in your library. Ms. Hampton has put her thang down with this one! Kiley Abrams is 'the man' that has no shame in his game. Be it in the bed, in the kitchen, on the wall, down the hall, he is definitely 'bout it' 'bout it.' He is the ultimate player in that you will love him for his courage, his love and concern for all around him, his business mind, and unequivocably HIS Unique Finesse! He has no problem wearing all types of hats from being 'thy brother's keeper', continuing 'thy father's legacy', stepping up to being 'thy super dad' and lastly 'thy luscious, lustful lover man!' Ain't no half stepping, no side stepping, nothing but doing that damn thang to the utmost! If you're smart, don't sleep, get your copy today!

Brenda Hampton is truly talented as she is able to go from a lover boy type novel (Two's Enough, Three is a Crowd), to this street filled novel. I really enjoyed both novels. Kiley is left an empire to uphold after his father was killed. While running from a secret of his past life, the reader goes into a life of streets, women, drugs, relationship drama, shiesty friends, true friends, and more. This was a well written novel. It makes the book so much better when you don't have any idea how the novel will unfold (to many readers give stuff away). As I said about Ms. Hampton's other review, people are not reviewing this book this well for nothing! Good job Ms. Hampton. I am starting her next book My Way or No Way tommorrow. Keep them coming!

How can I be down is a great book. I read this in one day and didnt want it to end. Brenda Hampton is a Great Author. I put her right up there with Zane. Keep up the great work!

I really loved the story. It's a very real story. Any one who's parents have ever fought will probably be able to relate.
This is the $25 hardcover edition. The book is dark green cloth. The title is on the front cover and side in gold. Cover seems well made. The print is usually okay, but maybe three or four times in the book one paragraph gets slaughtered. It's like the old ink-jet printers when the page jammed and you see part of the sentence which runs over another sentence and you can't read either, but the page isn't folded. It only ruins three or four paragraphs and you can read most of if. It's pretty annoying though at first. Other then that it seems like a sturdy book.
Still a worthwhile book to own if you like L.M. Montgomery.
Five stars for the story, three for the printing.

I enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables series of books. But, if you haven't read LMM's other books, you are missing out. I especially like "Jane of Lantern Hill". And my favorite "The Blue Castle" which is perfect romance.

Read these 2 books and her others. You may have to dig a bit but it'll be worth the trouble.

This was L.M. Montgomery's very last book that she's ever written during her lifetime. I own all of Montgomery's books, and after reading them over and over again, I have to say that this book is the best of her writings (right after the Anne of Green Gables series, of course...). I highly recommend this book, and encourage you to read it, for it shows what kind of inner strength and courage one can possess. Additionally, I recommend all of Montgomery's books to read, for being an avid fan, her books can teach us many lessons that we ourselves can apply during our lifetime.

As someone who spent many hours alone as a child, I found I could really relate to this book. I first discovered it when I was eleven or twelve. I loved reading about how Jane'e grandmother dominated her and made her feel out of place and about how people at school regarded Jane, because I was treated in the same way. If you've ever been pushed around as a child, or as an adult, read this book. I'm 21 and have been forced to grow up rather quickly in my life, still I enjoy this wonderful novel. I thought the character of the mother could have been more developed, otherwise it was absolutely a stunning work of art. Go SUPERIOR JANE! I can also relate to the way Montgomery portrays Jane's dad, and Jane's relationship with her dad. It's interesting how when Jane sees her father's picture in a magazine, even though she does not know it is him she cuts it out and keeps it, and it is heart-breaking how her grandmother takes it away from her. It is touching how Jane helps her poor orphaned friend and neighbor, and her grandmother's disdain for this makes one exceedingly angry. I also thought Jane's mother did not defend her daughter enough. Montgomery's own father made himself scarce to her when she was young, moving out West and remarrying. Montgomery seems to have never gotten over this, so when she describes characters like Emily's father, and Jane's father, she does a wonderful job of speaking of how intimate they are with their daughters. As a child of divorce I loved reading of how Jane played a role in getting her parents back together. .......

I read this in my early teens, after I had read most of the LMM books (the Anne series, the Emily series, etc.) I loved them all, especially the Emily series, but Jane of Lantern Hill is my favorite of them all. Jane Stuart is not, as many of LMM's other heroines are, obsessed with the idea of being a writer, storyteller, etc. There is no potential boyfriend/husband lurking in the story either. This book is more about the how understanding and love can transform an introverted, unhappy child into a confident, intelligent girl (the story ends when Jane is about age 14.) In that sense she's really one of the most understandable and likeable of LMM's heroines. She is also very modern. You can easily imagine her growing up to become a successful career woman, something you can't really say for many of LMM's other heroines, other than the at-home and time-flexible occupation of writing. If I had an early-teen daughter I would buy this book for her, especially if she has any self-confidence issues.

This is also one of the few books that deals with the subject of divorce or the separation of parents from the perspective of the child in an intelligent way. Given the time that it was written, divorce was a horrible taboo, and the resolution of the story is a bit unrealistic perhaps. That's the only quibble I have with the book.

Incidentally there was a television movie based on this book, by the same people who did the excellent Anne of Green Gables series (at least, the first two parts of that series were excellent). Don't bother with the Jane movie if you love the book..it only vaguely resembles it.

Arie provides a very good picture of companies that have sustained centuries of change. His research reveals what makes them click and what they aare doing that others are not doing. Some of his insights are packaged within the context of a company that truly has life time employment which some of us can not even imagine. His experiences in management and leadership will not necessarily ring true to many of us. Many of us simply will never have the opportunites that he has had. On the other hand, the work that he captures is excellent on sustainability and I highly recommend that if sustainability in business is an interest to you, that you read this book.

I am re-reading the book, and was compelled to share my love and appreciation of the deep understanding and unique approach to organizations and to the ways of dealing with change offered by Arie de Geus.

I'm undergoing through deep change in my life; my business is growing and changing. The book gives courage, foresight, support, tools and a map both to pass through the process holistically, and take responsibility for the future. I see how my whole company is taking responsibility for its future. I give credit for this movement to the ideas and concepts laid out the the book.

This is a must read for all those people who are interested in the subject of organizational learning. The book illustrates clearly the challenges companies face in encouraging its employees to learn. Also, it provides a lot of examples and strategies from Shell. Overall, it is an excellent for a any person, even if they are not in a managerial position in a company. If the reader is such a position, then this is a must read.

Companies die all the time. The current business climate favors short term profit over long term survival, and most companies don't adapt fast enough. De Geus explains why this is, and what we can do about it, but what makes this book an essential read is that he gives us a new way of looking at organizations and the meaning of work.

The problem is that, in management, you get what you reward. This is a well-known truth and explains the dysfunction we see in most companies. As de Geus puts it, "The difficulty lies in our definition of corporate success...the dominant school of thought in business administration measures success purely in terms of quantity: the maximization of revenues, market share, share value, or proceeds."

The solution de Geus comes up with is novel and revolutionary. It is to look at companies differently -- not as machines, but as living beings. In fact, he goes even further than this, saying that companies actually are living beings. It is only because they are living that they can learn and adapt and hence sustain themselves over long periods of time.

This view seems extreme, but it is soundly based in philosophical argument and it is preferable to the alternate view that companies operate like clockwork and their employees are simply assets. The complexity of organizations can indeed be understood better by analogy with human psychology and biological ecosystems. And a company is able to survive and learn only because it has an identity that outlives any of the people working within it.

de Geus draws on the work of leaders in the fields of psychology, philosophy, evolutionary biology and immunology. He agrees with other management writers like Drucker, Collins and Buckingham on basic management truths, like the need to focus on strengths and develop people continually so as to maximize their effectiveness. However, he provides fresh and original insights on management and helps us look at our organizations in a new way.

For example, the natural consequence of thinking of organizations as living beings is that a company's primary goal becomes survival. This in turn leads to a different way of looking at the company's people. The company will survive only if there is synergy and an underlying contract between the company and its members whereby the members are helped to reach their potential in return for support of the company's goals.

Many years ago, I read Peter Senge's book, "The Fifth Discipline," and its depiction of the learning organization became an ideal for me. I didn't expect to be as profoundly affected by "The Living Company," but the ideas are, if anything, even more basic to finding meaning in work, and will likely stay with me. This book is essential reading for any leader wanting to build a sustainable company, but it's also thought-provoking for anyone who wants to make change happen in any organization.

Graham Lawes

I found this book to be a relief and escape to the way the corporate world has evolved. By taking a look at long living companies, the author has extracted some timeless advice for corporations to pay attention to. The thing that "lowered the score," so to speak is that there were hardly any statistics or hard numbers involved to back up his claims, regardless of the intuitive excellence of their teachings. If this book is to make a difference and it has the ingredients to do so, I thought some hard results outside of the longevity would have to be produced and they weren't. What I particularly liked was how the distinction was made between living companies and economic companies. More importantly, how people need to realize that you can't run a company with some of one philosophy and some of the other. You'll have to pick this up and read it to understand this, but I think if you do, you'll see that most companies are attempting to mix oil and water today and unfortuneately, I agree that they will be "dead before their time." Overall, this was a very insightful book and upon reflection to my own life, sarcastically entertaining.

This book is very thorough and gives an in depth look into the most recent research surrounding manic depressive disorder and depression. Starting with the history surrounding mental illness, moving along to diagnosis, prognosis, course of the illness', physiological, biochemical and anatomical changes that occur along with up to date research in it's genetic component, this book gives great insight into mood disorders.

This month's long-awaited second edition recently hit the streets, and is well worth the wait. At more than 1,200 pages and with an impressive list of collaborators shedding light on all manner of matters melancholic and manic, the book represents a virtual Manhattan Project on mood disorders.

With our recovery riding on being as smart, if not smarter, than our treating professionals, it pays for patients to read what their clinicians are reading, especially a work of this magnitude. Don't let clinician-speak intimidate you. The authors went to great lengths to organize their subject matter into a meaningful and comprehensive whole, with clear transitions from one topic to the next. A few pages into the text, and one quickly becomes habituated to the polysyllables. Then it's clear sailing.

At $99, sales resistance is understandable. My two cents: You cannot afford NOT to have this book. Each day you struggle with this illness costs you money, already. The cost-benefit is a no-brainer. Stop paying your cable bill, if you have to, and make what could prove to be the best investment of your life.

Although a huge book along with a hefty price tag, this is probably the most up to date information on bipolar disorder (manic depression) available today. It offers a wealth of information that is usable to the clinician as well as the patient. In fact, I think this should be required reading for any clinician who deal with people with this condition.

I strongly urge the purchase of this book esp. for the consumer as self knowledge will be such an asset when communicating with your doctor. This book covers most everything from the most basic to the most complex information to date on this vexing condition. Though I am constantly searching the internet for the most up to date information on bipolar disease, I find the authors of this book to be the leading authorities presently.

Studying and treating Bipolar Disorder is a difficult trend. Since Kraepelin lessons became available in his book, perhaps "Manic Depressive Illness" is the first to try the almost impossible mission to launch new lights on the matter. And with an amazing approach full of eruditism as well as simplicity and warmth. Untill nowadays, extremely accurate, complete, precise and comprehensive. In little words: in all aspects, amazing!

I bought this book because someone I know has just been diagnosed with "Soft Bipolar" disorder. This is a "shadow" form of bipolar disorder. While I've dealt with people with bipolar disorder before ( I'm a retired minister), I never heard of "soft bipolar" or "bipolar spectrum" disorder before. This book is the classic text on Bipolar disorder. The only problem is that it is a little old ( about 10 to 15 years old) and discoveries about "soft bipolar" disorder are just coming into the literature now. If you are depressed or diagnosed as depressed, as the person close to me was, you might have soft bipolar disorder. It is much more common than you think. The problem with it is that it needs different medications than regular unipolar disorder does. As an example, if you take one of the SSRI's (such as Prozac or Zoloft) and have soft bipolar, the chances are very good that you will end up with hypomania, which is a mild form of mania. It feels good for a long time--just like alcohol. But at some point in time, it will begin to backfire on you as it did on my friend. She kept getting more and more hyper and angry. Finally, her therapist decided to try out this diagnosis on her. He switched medicines, and it made her mood much more stable. This book would also be excellent for someone who wants to know about bipolar I disorder--manic depressive disorder. The problem with the book is that it is very technical, but everything is there even if it could use a little updating.