F Books

This book was given to me as a birthday gift from my mother-in-law. I absolutely love this book. There are many beautiful photos. There are places and subjects that I never knew had so much beauty. Because I am already a huge fan of art and architecture, it was fun to learn about the many influences to Filipino style. I liked it so much that I had to buy a copy for my father (Born in Las Pinas - Metro Manila, Philippines)

This book is a great book for young Filipino Americans who need some inspiration. As a Filipino American growing up in USA, I never really felt any connection with the Philippines. I was brought up by knowing only the stereotypes that sometimes make a Filipino American want to shy with embarrassment. Stereotypes are everywhere within any culture. By reading this book and flipping through the pages, I saw that Philippines is a beautiful place. Everyone needs take a look at this book. It's a great eye opener for Filipino Americans who have problems accepting their own skin.

I'm an Architectural Designer that lives/works in Jamaica and Bermuda and I'm also a fan of modern/contemporary architecture. I own a number of books on the subject, but few tend to address basic climatic issues that we in the Tropics face (and rightly so, since they are about projects north of the tropics). I've just received the book from my freight forwarder and had a chance to browse thru it. It really looks interesting and certainly provides inspiration for projects that can be successfully executed in our hot, humid climate.
The inclusion of architectural drawings (Plans, Sections, Elevations) is also welcome - too many books on Architecture neglect this very important point. I think this may be the telling factor for deciding whether this is to be another one of my coffee-table books, or a serious informative reference for ideas and inspiration. For now, I'm leaning to the latter.

I bought this book for myself. It's a true treasure trove of visual treats. Have you wanted to know how the homes of the rich and/or famous in the Philippines look? The variety of materials available for buidling and furnishing homes in the Philippines is astounding--rich woods, a wide spectrum of fabric, ethnic carvings and woven work. Linger over the detailed photographs in this book! Now I know what to get for my sisters and in-laws for Christmas!

Finally, a book on Traditional and Contemporary Philippine Interior Design by a reputable author/photographer. It will give the reader a good sense of Native Interiors to Traditional influences of Spanish-Colonial Interior Design and Architecture. Very superb photographs. Beautiful renderrings in the Furniture Dictionary.

I order this item and it said that it was out of stock and I receive it 2 weeks latter. I thoght that for out of stock items I was going to wait at lest 3 weeks.

This is more of a guide book that fits quite nicely in your lab coat pocket. As nutrient and medications are explained, there are many more advantages such as references to specific lab values and thier normal limits, nutrient and micronutrient food sources, height-weight tables, ideal body weight calculations and more. A must for any health professional not directly working with medications.

I purchased this book because it's a standard reference book for us dietitians. Even so, my family and friends also use this book to research their current prescription medications. The information is easy to follow, even if you're not a healthcare professional. The back of the book contains additional handy reference pages, such as the normal ranges for many blood tests and common causes for out-of-range test results; dietary sources of vitamins, minerals, oxalates, and phytic acid (especially important for people with certain chronic illnesses to know); and a list of meds that are affected by grapefruit. I feel this book can be very helpful for people who need to cope with chronic illness(es) that require dietary adjustments and/or multiple prescription medications.

This book was required for a nutrition class, and it's quite a wonderful resource. Everything is neatly labeled and in order, making it easy to find the medication and all interactions/warnings. A great resource for anyone who wants to understand more about the meds they are taking, or for those who care for them!

I'm currently a Dietetic Intern. This book has been, and still is, a useful pocket book guide that I use everyday for my internship. The book has almost all the medications that I currently deal with in my clinical rotation. The type of information that this book gives are as follows:

1. Alternative Name(s)
2. The drug's affect
3. Diet (with our without food), what foods to avoid with the med (ie. grapefruit)
4. Oral/GI affects
5. S/Conds
6. Affects on Pregnancy
7. Blood/Serum affects
8. Urinary affects
9. What to monitor
10. Ways to be adminstered (the drug)
11. and more

Additionally, the book provides (what I find to be very useful) are Lab Values, their normal ranges, and reasons why they might be elevated or below normal limits.

There is more within this pocket guide.

The only thing I don't like is that it says "Pocket Guide"; it's not really that small, it's quite big. Don't expect it to fit in your pant pocket. It will fit in your lab coat pocket, but it's quite still big. I suggest to carry it with your binder. Just don't misplace it; I've done it many times already on the different hospital floors.

I highly recommend this food and drug medication guide -- especially those in the dietetics profession.

As a book of quotes designed to inspire, this well-designed and user friendly text offers a practical yet unique approach to any challenge life offers. The author's Native American world view enriches by overlaying traditional thought onto contemporary life.

These inspirational messages cover everything from of personal concerns such as love, family, creativity, fear, death to the broader social and political matters. Carefully avoiding the familiar "New Agism" often found with American Indian philosophical treatment, the book also provides some never before expressed views of Indian issues that demystify while clarifying.

In putting the text into four categories that represent each the sacred aspects of the hoop -- generosity, fortitude, bravery and wisdom -- the editor brings us a truth teacher who does not dance around serious matters, let alone wolves.

Rather, he enables us to find our place within these aspects at any given time, and go out into the world with a different, and refreshing perspective.

As a book of quotes designed to inspire, this well-designed and user friendly text offers a practical yet unique approach to any challenge life offers. The author's Native American world view enriches by overlaying traditional thought onto contemporary life.

These inspirational messages cover everything from of personal concerns such as love, family, creativity, fear, death to the broader social and political matters. Carefully avoiding the familiar "New Agism" often found with American Indian philosophical treatment, the book also provides some never before expressed views of Indian issues that demystify while clarifying.

In putting the text into four categories that represent each the sacred aspects of the hoop -- generosity, fortitude, bravery and wisdom -- the editor brings us a truth teacher who does not dance around serious matters, let alone wolves.

Rather, he enables us to find our place within these aspects at any given time, and go out into the world with a different, and refreshing perspective.

As a book of quotes designed to inspire, this well-designed and user friendly text offers a practical yet unique approach to any challenge life offers. The author's Native American world view enriches by overlaying traditional thought onto contemporary life.

These inspirational messages cover everything from of personal concerns such as love, family, creativity, fear, death to the broader social and political matters. Carefully avoiding the familiar "New Agism" often found with American Indian philosophical treatment, the book also provides some never before expressed views of Indian issues that demystify while clarifying.

In putting the text into four categories that represent each the sacred aspects of the hoop -- generosity, fortitude, bravery and wisdom -- the editor brings us a truth teacher who does not dance around serious matters, let alone wolves.

Rather, he enables us to find our place within these aspects at any given time, and go out into the world with a different, and refreshing perspective.

As a book of quotes designed to inspire, this well-designed and user friendly text offers a practical yet unique approach to any challenge life offers. The author's Native American world view enriches by overlaying traditional thought onto contemporary life.

These inspirational messages cover everything from of personal concerns such as love, family, creativity, fear, death to the broader social and political matters. Carefully avoiding the familiar "New Agism" often found with American Indian philosophical treatment, the book also provides some never before expressed views of Indian issues that demystify while clarifying.

In putting the text into four categories that represent each the sacred aspects of the hoop -- generosity, fortitude, bravery and wisdom -- the editor brings us a truth teacher who does not dance around serious matters, let alone wolves.

Rather, he enables us to find our place within these aspects at any given time, and go out into the world with a different, and refreshing perspective.

This inspiring book offers a uique approach to any and all of life's challenges by overlaying the author's Native American world view onto contemporary life concerns. Written in the format of quotes taken from a series of talks, this makes a handsome gift that can be opened and enjoyed quickly.

Organized in four general categories (each covering an aspect of the sacred hoop; bravery, fortitude, wisdom and generosity) each chapter within offers hope for such personal concerns as love, family, creativity, fear, death...to name a few.

Broader social and political matters are also covered, especially as Little Crow demystifies and clarifies current American Indian issues with a refreshing avoidance of trendy "New Agism".

The editor has brought us a truth teacher who does not dance around serious matters, let alone wolves. Rather, he enables us to find our place at any moment, and thus we are encouraged to go about our lives with a new and optimistic perspective.

This book offers hope to the babyboomer generation who recognizes that we are slowly becoming our parents. By following the comments and advice offered in this helpful book, we know that we no longer have to follow in our families genetic past. The authors create the view of a cheery healthy future with sound nutritional advice. Highly recommended.

Deb Landry
Certified Parenting Coach & Children's Author

Bryson Taylor Publishing
Books with Character
199 New County Road Saco, Maine 04072
[...]

I have followed and learned from Dr. Giampapa's work for over 20 years. He has always been well ahead of contemporary medical practitioners in his understanding of the human aging process and possible therapeutic interventions to extend meaningful human lifespan. The Gene Makeover-The 21st Century Anti-Aging Breakthrough describes an exciting new approach to the field of Medical Age Management and lucidly translates a very complex subject into language that the average person can easily understand. This book provides an opportunity to understand therapies which you will read about in the medical journals of the future.

Brooke R. Seckel, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Asst. Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Chairman Emeritus
Plastic Surgery
Lahey Clinic Medical Center

I have followed and learned from Dr Giampappa's work for over 20 years. He has always been well ahead of contemporary medical practitioners in his understanding of the human aging process and possible therapeutic interventions to extend meaningful human lifespan. The Gene Makeover-The 21st Century Anti-aging Breakthrough describes an exciting new approach to the field of Medical Age Management and lucidly translates a very complex subject into language that the average person can easily understand. This book provides an opportunity to understand therapies which you will read about in the medical journals of the future.

Brooke R. Seckel, M.D., FACS
Asst. Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Chairman Emeritus
Plastic Surgery
Lahey Clinic Medical Center

A Bully Grows Up: Erik Meets the Wizard

As the baby boomer generation reaches the 'new middle age' we search for new information to assist in creating a more healthy and viable future for us, our parents and our children. The connection between our daily environmental and personal stressors and our overall health is important. Studies have proved that stress has a significant effect on our longevity. As an author of a children's book regarding bullying behavior and frequent speaker regarding the topic of bullying and stress, I am keenly aware of this connection. This book offers a vast understandable quantity of information regarding our predisposition to DNA damage and offers easy to follow steps on how to hold on to or improve our health. A great navigational aid for our journey into the future.

I have been an anti-aging patient of Dr. Giampapa's for over 5 years. My energy levels are high, my body is muscular and my skin is the best it has ever been. I look and feel fifteen years younger then my acutal age. Dr. Giampapa is well ahead of many medical practitioners in his understanding of the human aging process and therapeutic interventions to slow it. The Gene Makeover-The 21st Century Anti-Aging Breakthrough describes the newest findings in the field of Medical Age Management and explains very complex information in a plain simple language that everyone can easily understand. This book is a must read for all who want to remain healthy and active.

I read the Crosswick Journal series before being buying this treasure as a Christmas gift to myself a few years ago. I was already a fan of Ms L'Engle. However, this book brought her into a new realm. I followed the readings quite faithfully during two yearly cycles. I must say that they provided my those glimpses of grace that were needed during that very difficult time of my life. These are only glimpses because they are relatively short and easy to digest over breakfast. However, as so often happens, glimpses open doors that reveal so much more. My faith in the God of Creation was reaffirmed through this book. This God accepted me as I was (and am) and affirmed me as good. What more can one ask from a book of daily reflections?

Thank you Ms L'Engle. I'm proud to call you a fellow Episcopalian!

This is a beautiful devotional, and a glimpse of the way a brilliant mind works at something we all aspire to: understanding God. It is refreshing to read something that doesn't pretend to have all the answers about Him, but encourages us to "learn to love the mysteries". I don't know about you, but that is what I am trying to do. Instead of simplifying who God is and reducing him to the level of an idol, the author encourages us to see him as Omnipotent God, Creator & Sustainer. It is a breath of fresh air to me, and a wonderful encouragement.

L'Engle does something here that few devotional authors dare. She not only supplies answers and inspirations, she poses questions. Questions without easy answers. Questions that penetrate to the heart of true faith in God.

Does she qualify as a mystic? Yes, in that she moves outside the world of pure rationalism.

Is she a Christian? Yes, in the sense that she believes upon Jesus Christ as the savior and as the only begotten Son of God.

Is she an agnostic? Yes, by her own definition. She says that by confessing agnosticism, she is only confessing that she doesn't know everything. She refuses to lie or pretend otherwise. Yet, in the midst of not knowing, she still believes in the God that created the universe.

This devotional breathes life into a sometimes stale genre. L'Engle's openness might challenge, even offend, some. But for those on the limits of faith, those hanging in amidst life's tragedies and unexpected miracles, "Glimpses of Grace" gives a little more grace to move on. This is classic and poignant writing. One closes the pages filled with a greater awe and greater mystery regarding the love of God.

Since Christmas of 1995 my wife and I have used these fabulously interesting readings from GLIMPSES Of GRACE to buffet us from the storms of everyday life! As one quite perceptive reviewer speaks of her as a Mystic and Yes, she asks good questions. Her readings relate to the living of all life in the face of Belief and Doubt.

One reading from May 20th she is doing an afterschool seminar for high school students and is asked by a brilliant young lady from Harlem, earlier from Panama: "Mrs Franklin, do you really truly believe in God with no doubts at all?"

"Oh, Una, I really and truly believe in God with all kinds of doubts... But I base my life on this belief." Another topic that often arises in her readings is that of Death and Eternity. After one student is saying that it seems lately "there's death everywhere..." Another answers, "Is the price too high? Are you afraid?" These lead to the titles of "We Die Many Deaths and A Metaphor for the Afterlife." Her simple yet clear approach seems to come down from the power found in Creation... that Life is a Gift and where there's Life there's Hope!

This is truly one lovely, consistently inspiring devotional book by an awesome fearless lady! Sincerely retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

Madeleine L'Engle has written many wonderful books for both adults and children. Her work is very provocative and most thoughtful. You glean something more every time they are read... GLIMPSES OF GRACE takes the best passages from her books and reveals more contemplative insights. This Daily Thoughts and Reflections is cross-referenced by topic and title. GLIMPSES OF GRACE can be appreciated by Madeleine's fans as well as someone who is not familiar with her work. I keep an extra copy on hand as I have often given this book as a gift. Highly recommended!

What a good way to end the series. I've been taking my time with reading these over the past few years because sometimes I would get fed up with the plot. But this right here, was the icing on a very large, and very tasty cake. It kind of hit me hard that the Fearless series was over now, and the way it happened was kind of hardhitting for me.

As many others are, I'm a huge Ed and Gaia fan. I hope in Fearless FBI, they somehow reunite, because honestly, like Ed says.. "If there was such a thing as soul mates..."

This book is excellent. I read it in one day. After the bull drama Gaia had to go through to get here, she's made it. And even in this book, she doesn't get a break. But even though it was hard to say goodbye to all the characters, I'm prepared to meet some new ones in the new series.

i really loved! this book. There were closures and things coming together. some people whom whe hadn't seen in the last couple of books turn up in this book.the end of the book isn't all that surprising if think about it.If you've been following this series for years, like i have, then you have to read this book. It's a good ending for a great series and now we'll just have to wait for the second book of fearless fbi.I've read the first one and it's a great book. if you loved the fearless series then you will definetely love fearless fbi.

While this series had a few ups and downs along the way, it ended just perfectly. I read the last 5 books in a 3 day period. I cried and cried. To anyone who may have given up along the way, be sure to at least pick up this book to see how it all ends. I am glad that Francine Pascal put in details from the special editions in the last few books as well.

I could identify with Gaia all though her senior year, as irregular as it was. I loved these books. As sad as I am to see them go, I almost died of curiosity over the past 5 (or is it 6) years. I am not sure I can get on that roller coaster again with Fearless FBI. Then again, I would hate to miss out on further Gaia adventures.
I LOVE ED!!!!!

Oh man, picked this up last week, stayed up till 2 in the morning to read it all, even the summary part in the back just for kicks. The book was sad and yet good all the same time, fitting for the end of this portion of Gaia's story. So while I've heard many people complain about this book sucking, I think they need to look at it more, see that it fits well with Gaia and her life. Anyway, onto Fearless FBI! Oh man, can't wait this should be good, I'm hoping some old characters pop up, and we find out what happened to Gaia's dad, because seemed like Francine sorta forgot he existed. And Ed, who doesn't want Ed to come back huh? Anyway, read the book!

While most high school seniors are getting ready for the prom, and preparing for graduation, seventeen-year-old Gaia Moore is trying to avoid the inevitable: death. Gaia has been trailing Skyler Rodke, playing up the helpless act to get him to believe that she's still scared of everything, when in reality, she's been watching him. Taking notes on his every plan for her. Gaia plans on getting back at the people who have hurt her, and plan to hurt her, then to escape from New York, for it is the home of bad memories.

I have never been so sad to see a series end. Gaia Moore has been one of my favorite fictional characters since the very first FEARLESS book was released over four years ago, and her character has only grown over the years. GONE is an exceptional book in the series that will bring a tear to the eye of all FEARLESS readers. And watch for the LOOK BACK section at the end, for it gives you an update on all of the characters past and present, lets you see bits of the Village School's Yearbook, gives you a peek at Loki's Files, and more. I am now eagerly awaiting the release of FEARLESS FBI. I can only hope that that series is half as good as FEARLESS.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Personally, this is no doubt the greatest book on the Tomcat thus far. All you want to know about the plane (and much more) are meticulously presented in this 1998 publication. The numerous photos and scale drawings shown in this masterpiece are not seen anywhere else. Minor errors here and there do not affect at all the editors effort in presenting to the public the true picture about the Tomcat, from the jet's inception through its sad beginning of the end. Wish the publisher will publish an updated edition of this fantastic masterpiece.

Jon Lake who is one of the most authoritative avaition researchers today has put together the most complete book on the F-14. This has all the information needed, from the preliminary designs, to the units served, to its combat record, the information is presented accurately and concisely. I have been a Tomcat fan for many years and I have had the opportunity to read quite a few books on the F-14, but this is by far the best book I have read. A must for any aviation collection. Another book to complement this book would be Tomcat Alley by David F. Brown, which has over 700 images and is purely a pictorial guide of all the F-14 aircraft built.

After reading many books on military hardware, this book is easy to read and informative. A must have for any F-14 fan. I learned a great deal about an aircraft that I considered myself as knowledgeable. A must buy.

This is THE book for Grumman's venerable F-14 Tomcat. Sure, some other books like Tomcat Alley by David F. Brown might beat it in the pictorial department, but overall the information in the articles plus the photos it already has beat any other book about the F-14 Tomcat. Everything about the Tomcat until the books date of publication is covered. From the early beginnings of the Navy's need for a Fleet Air Defense F6D Missileer and the VFX competition that Grumman won all the way to the combat record and current strike attack roles. Every F-14 variant is covered, even the ones that were only concept models. Plus great artistic renderings of historic F-14s. A lot of the articles here came from World Air Power Journal's F-14 cover issue back in the early 90s, but the information here is updated such as the squadron deployments, squadron disestablishments and the wars in Eastern Europe. All F-14 Squadrons in the US Navy are covered, and even some stuff about the IIAF/IRIAF F-14s. If all that isn't enough, there's a foreword by F-14 Tomcat pilot D. Stuart Broce, the VF-1 pilot who shot down a Mi-8 helicopter during Desert Storm. It's very interesting and heart warming to read. This book might be hard to find now, but if you get a chance, get it! 5 / 5 STARS!

This book is published by the same published who published World Air Power and Wings of Fame journals. Part of the pages of this book came from the articles printed on World Air Power before.

World Air Power journal is a high quality military journal with excellent photos. This book has all the excellent quality from the journal plus new materials including the 1991 gulf war.

F-14 is a legend not only to Navy, but to all of the fighters current in service. There are some books in this field, but with latest information, this is the book to read.

everything you could ever need to know in an easy to follow format, dvd actually is useful

This book is a decent text however it's not an easy read. I had to reread some parts to totally get the concept. It's not the worst textbook I have ever been assigned thought.

Free shipping, got it on time, and way cheaper than what I paid at the school bookstore!

This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone learning to administer local anesthesia (dental fields)!! The author really knows his stuff!!

I believe this is an excellent review about this subject, especially for students. its graphics and pictures are very educational.

Doctors do not get any nutrition training at medical school. Dr Hauser is no exception, but with the experience of his wife as a nutritionist and his testing
using the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) they have put together a book that makes a lot of sense regarding the different types of people and the five different types of diets that they define. The one area where I think this book is remiss in their coverage of soy. Vegetarians who rely on soy as their only protein source are jepordizing their health. There are studies that show that a diet with soy as
their primary protein source results in osteoporosis. Soy tends to interfere with
the bodies ability to use calcium. Other than this, this book presents the most complete information on dieting than any other diet book that I have read. For a
very common sense approach to dieting, I highly recommend this book.

The Hauser Diet caught my attention because of Dr. Hauser's success using his injection technique to repair my knee (Prolotherapy). I got my leg strength back with no arthroscopic surgery. Now I'm looking for solutions to low energy. I want the energy of a finely tuned Ferrari.

Like the Hauser's, I too have completed marathons, triathlons, and century bike rides. I'm a 55-year-old student of nutrition and sports training. I learn from athletes like Lance Armstrong and his coach, Chris Carmichael. These athletes backup their ideas about nutrition and training regimens with astounding results.

Athletes write the Hauser Diet too. They research for ways to optimize health, energy and human performance. Research shared in this book broadened my awareness of foods' impact upon my energy. If I knew specifically what foods to choose to live fast and strong why shouldn't I choose well? The authors use a clever analogy to animals' diets to show that humans too must make food choices to optimize energy and health. Then they show in plain English why for my `diet type' certain foods are best for me. I am excited about implementing the research found in The Hauser Diet.

A very informative well written book. Although I am not a medical doctor by profession, this book provided the information I required so that I will be able to make an informed decision that will allow me to avoid surgery. I would strongly recommend (in fact I have done this with several friends) anyone who is considering any joint relacement or back surgery to read this book and explore the proposed alternative(s) before submitting to any form of surgery.
I plan to explore the use of prolotherapy to correct a back problem and am currently in the process of finding a practitioner of this procedure in Western Canada.

I found this book very informative. The recipes I have tried have been excellent. I would highly recomend this book to those who are concerned with healthy living.

This book is absolutely amazing! It not only gives simple to understand explanations of why your body needs to eat certain kinds of food for optimal health, it gives you sample menus and recipes to get you on your way to implementing this new way of eating. The icing on the cake (sorry) is that the recipes are fantastic! I have made several recipes and they are so delicious that now recipes from other cookbooks pale in comparison and are disappointing to the palate. Eating healthy can be a wonderful experience, and this book shows you how. It's a must have for any person wanting to improve their health.

This book is logic, well-reasoned, and has lots of footnotes pointing to research studies and reliable sources of data. Even if you disagree with their prescription for how to fix the problem, you will get a lot from this book by following along with their diagnosis of the problems facing our health care system.

The book's greatest strengths may also be it's greatest weakness. This book is "wonkish" -- filled with hard data and logic. If you're looking for entertaining anecdotes or emotional arguments, this is not the book for you.

...but only in the title. A well written book both describing (in surprisingly concise writing) the problem, as well as laying out a path towards fixing it. I can't say I fully agree with his proposals, but I am much better informed, and my views have been altered as a result of this book. In my mind, that is a terrific outcome for any book of substance.

Intellect with humility is hard to come by. Cannon and Tanner define a clear path for all Americans to have health insurance and they have the humility to believe in Americans as wise consumers. Different than politicians who 'know what's best for you,' they trust you to make prudent decisions for yourself. Free markets are healthy and they provide an excellent outline for cost savings and a healthier 'you' by putting you in charge of your own well being. I want to thank Cannon and Tanner for being Americans and loving freedom, especially in the face of fear mongering socialists. God Bless America!

"Healthy Competition" by Michael F. Cannon and Michael D. Tanner of the Cato Institute is a critically important book for both those interested in health care policy as well as for every American as we all eventually consume health care services.

Cannon and Tanner's book starts with a foreword by the Hon. George P. Shultz: "We begin with a riddle. What country's health care system offers the best health services in the world, is consistently criticized for not being accessible enough, and yet is so accessible that overutilization is leading to runaway costs?" The answer is, of course, America.

The following 147 pages offers a detailed analysis of what's wrong with American health care (government and insurance industry policies that lead to overuse of medical services) and what's right (the strong remnants of a free market system that encourages innovation, high quality, at an often lower cost). Both detailed and heavily footnoted, but also very readable at the same time, "Healthy Competition" strikes the right balance between a dense academic paper and a clarion call for action.

In concluding the book, Cannon and Tanner write:

"Despite its marvels, America's health care sector continues to present troubling symptoms: excessive costs, uneven quality, a lack of useful information for patients and providers, extraordinary waste, and enormous burdens for future taxpayers. An accurate diagnosis points to too much government influence and too little choice and competition. Proposals to increase the role of government would aggravate these symptoms. More subsidies or controls would drain from the medical marketplace even more of the dynamics that drive other sectors of the economy toward lower prices and higher quality. The only sure remedy is to restore those dynamics to the health care sector.

"Although there are dark clouds on the horizon, we are heartened by the creation and steady growth of health savings accounts. HSAs have already begun to change private-sector health care from within, and will enable a reexamination of the role of government in health care."

The last citation in "Healthy Competition" comes from a June 1, 2004 Harvard Business Review article by Michael Porter and Elizabeth Teisberg. It deals with the oft-heard argument that we somehow should not apply free market principles to the health care sector:

"It is often argued that health care is different because it is complex; because consumers have limited information; and because services are highly customized. Health care undoubtedly has these characteristics, but so do other industries where competition works well. For example, the business of providing customized software and technical services to corporations is highly complex, yet, when adjusted for quality, the cost of enterprise computing has fallen dramatically over the past decade."

Cannon and Tanner accept this argument while also embracing the argument of many of the proponents of government control of health care because it is special and distinct from other parts of the economy - they just come to the opposite conclusion, concluding in their last paragraph, "...Unlike software, wireless communications, or banking, health care involves very emotional decisions, which often entail matters of human dignity, life, and death. However, we do not see the gravity of these matters as a reason to divert power away from individuals and toward government. Rather, we see the special nature of health care as all the more reason to increase each consumer's sphere of autonomy. The special nature of health care makes it all the more important that we use the competitive process to make health care available to more consumers - and makes it all the more important to get started now."

Two side notes of a personal nature: on February 1, 2007, I introduced AB 245, a bill that would allow the tax deductibility of contributions to HSAs (California is one of only four states that do not treat HSAs as tax deductible); and author Michael Cannon is someone I have grown to respect from our first meeting in 2004 as Lincoln Fellows of the Claremont Institute. I suspect we will be hearing quite a bit from Mr. Cannon over the next few decades - and, if policymakers are smart, they will listen carefully to what he has to say.

Reviewer: Chuck DeVore is a California State Assemblyman, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard and the author of "China Attacks."

I enjoyed the book and found it presented a well organized argument for why it is so critical to allow the markets and consumers to experiment with new methods of controlling health care costs and improving access. I also appreciated the author's acknowledgement that health care is a special service that is critically important in our lives. That is what makes reforming the system so challenging.

The book makes clear that market based proposals to reform health care are designed to lower the cost of care and increase coverage. These are proposals that are critical to all Americans.