Child Health Books

Countdown to My Birth is a very exciting way to keep up with the development of your child. There are all kinds of interesting phases that take place throughout the pregnancy and this calendar was a fun way for my wife and I to wake up each morning and "connect" with our child. We never read ahead and just looked forward to each new day when we could flip the date and see what our baby was going to "say." There is also a place to take "notes" on events that occurred each day as well as stickers with major marking points in the pregnancy (Hurray! You know I'm here, You hear my heartbeat, You see me in an ultrasound, etc.) I think what I really like about this is that it makes me (the father) feel more involved in the pregnancy and keeps me really excited to see my first child. I also think this will be a wonderful gift for my son when he is older so he can read what his mother and I were thinking/feeling during each stage of the pregnancy. I would buy it again.

Easy way to include hubby in daily baby growth in utero without getting out the heavy hitting books. Simply flip the calendar daily (after filling it out for your due date) and it tells you everything from being the size of a pea to suggesting eating finger foods 'cause I'm growing fingers today...

We cherished ours and still have it as part of our baby collection. I highly recommend it as a congrats on your pregnancy book.

I purchased one calendar for myself and one for my girlfriend who is currently pregnant. It's cute, especially for first time mothers. I haven't used mine yet, but I plan to once I get pregnant :)

This calender is so much fun. What a way to get daddy involved. We flip each page every morning and read what each day says. It gives you a great idea of what is happening inside of you each day of your pregnancy. It fun facts. My husband loves it. I plan on buying this calender for all future friends who get pregnant. It's worth it. This calender is probably most fun for first time pregnancies.

Some of you may think that this concept of a daily pregnancy calendar 'written' from the baby's point of view sounds familiar. That's because "Countdown to My Birth" is the newest version of Countdown to a Miracle: The Making of Me (2nd ed) by Julie B. Carr. While the cover is different, the interior concept is still the same - each day your baby describes what is happening from conception to birth, complete with a due date countdown, a place to put today's date, room for notes, and bonus stickers to mark special 'firsts' - first kick, first hiccup, etc. The stand-up, spiral bound format is also the same.

If you loved 'Countdown to a Miracle', you'll love this new version!

Julie Carr, author

Every parent of a newly diagnosed child with Fragile X should read this book. Mary Beth and Megan each have two sons with Fragile X. Their letters tell the story of two families' lives: the heartbreaking experience of searching for and finally finding a diagnosis, the simple joys of appreciating these children and their individual accomplishments, and the stories of husbands and wives adapting to their own kind of "normal." The difficulty of raising 2 children with Fragile X cannot be overstated. The coping methods shared by these two women are sometimes difficult to read, and sometimes just hilarious. But the overarching message is that you can find and new "normal", and that life gets better. When you think no one has experienced what you are going through, pick up the book and read about how alone these women once felt and what they each did to connect to other Fragile X families. Their individual accomplishments are astounding.

It is simply a WONDERFUL BOOK.
Many thanks to the authors for their courage to share with the readers their inmost feelings and unique personal experience of fragile x challenges.

Dear Meagan was an interesting read regarding Fragile X. The form of the book is through letters written by two women, both of whom have two sons with Fragile X. It is very personal, and the letters give information and research-based facts regarding Fragile X; however, it is intimate as it describes family situations, concerns, and details.

I've just listened to Mary Beth and Megan on the Diane Rehm Show and was very moved by their openness in describing their sons with Fragile X and their life with them, how they parent these sons, searched for the best education and medical care for them, and how they have found meaning and joy in their sons, despite their severe disabilities. Their book is an inspiration to all parents with disabled children.

This is the book that all of the families in the Fragile X community have been waiting to read. These letters between two women tell us the story of their personal griefs and triumphs; but they tell us so much more. The chapter called Dropping Bread Crumbs explains Fragile X for the layman more clearly than you've ever heard it explained before. We will all relate to the devastating news of the diagnosis in the chapter called Diagnosis and Dealing. And we will admire the courage of Kelly Randels' chapter on the hearbreak of facing an abortion. These women have the courage to tell us what we need to know; and the talent to keep you riveted throughout their journey in a world that has been defined for them by Fragile X. A extraordinary accomplishment.

Bill Stillman writes with exquisite sensitivity and calls the reader to share that respectful approach. This helps the reader learn how to support the person(s) whom they love who happen to have autistic experiences. Further, this approach leads readers to examine their interactions with all other people.

Bill writes about his own experiences as well as the lives of others. These vignettes were wonderful illustrations of how those with autistic experiences live. One of the greatest gifts of this book, however, is its tacit invitation to all readers to examine our own lives. This is especially poignant for those who are "typical."

I found myself asking if we wouldn't all be better off by recognizing and embracing the autistic features that lay dormant in each one of us. Being sensitive, saying what we mean (and meaning what we say), and recognizing our own difficulties in communication (especially when frustrated) could make life more pleasant for everyone.

Those with an autistic experience have much to teach; we all have a responsibility to learn.

This is, overall, a great book on autism. It presents autism in a positive light, and describes why we do things instead of dismissing us as uniformly defective and inappropriate. I don't have my copy at the moment -- because I've loaned it out to a support worker, along with a few other books, in order to teach her more about the way I work.

Many books by autistic people are dry and difficult for me to read. This book is easier to read, and uses clear language. Unlike _Autism - An Inside-Out Approach_ by Donna Williams, this book does not make it sound as if those of us who are happy with ourselves either lack insight or aren't autistic enough to appreciate how disabled we are. This book does not overgeneralize from one person's experience as much as _Through the Eyes of Aliens_ by Jasmine Lee O'Neill (which I would recommend highly despite this fault). Unlike _Understanding and Working with the Spectrum of Autism: An Insider's View_ by Wendy Lawson (which may be a good book, but it's so hard to read that I'm having trouble finishing it), it doesn't read as a dry and slightly modified version of what non-autistic theorists are saying.

To my knowledge, these are the four main manuals about autism for non-autistic adults, published by autistic people. I think it would be interesting and informative to read all of them together, and that the strengths of each would balance out the weak points of the others. However, if I had to choose one out of this four, I would choose this one without thinking twice. It requires less explanation of my own when I hand it to someone to explain myself to them.

The section on augmentative communication is particularly good. I use augmentative communication, and was thankful to see a section that went beyond facilitated communication. Most books describe facilitated communication, or they describe PECS, and they kind of leave it at that, but this one covered all sorts of things. I may have had a few quibbles with a few little parts, but that's it.

There are only a few problems I have with the book:

One, the author makes it sound like autistic people are incapable of malice. While we are often accused of malice when none is there, it would carry things too far to imply that we are incapable of it. We are just as capable of it as any other group of people.

Two, the author insists that "autistic person" and "stimming" are disrespectful terms, and that "person with autism" must be used. Like nearly all the autistic people I know, I deliberately and with forethought call myself an autistic person, and like some of the autistic people I know, I use the word stimming to refer to autistic mannerisms. It would be a better idea to ask first -- lots of people like "autistic person", some like "person with autism", some use "stimming" and some don't. I think it is more respectful to call people what they want to be called than to force "person with autism" on us as the only respectful choice.

Three, there's a section in which the author appears to claim that certain kinds of autistic behavior reinforce stereotypes and should be avoided. However, it's unclear whether he actually claims this, or if he's simply describing a dynamic between autistic people and non-autistic people. If he does truly mean this, then I would have to disagree with him -- certain kinds of behavior are things anyone should avoid, but looking stereotypical is something we sometimes can't help. :-) We shouldn't be penalized for other people's myths about us.

These and a few other things aside, this is an excellent book. Don't be fooled by the length of my descriptions of the problems with the book -- it is often easier to describe in detail something I disagree with rather than something I agree with, the same way having a bad day often makes a longer story than having a good day. I like most of this book. I would recommend it (as an autistic person) for people wanting to find out more about autism.

As a parent of a twelve year old child with autism, I have read just about everything out there to help me make sense of this often complicated and confusing disorder. Much of the books I have read were redundant in their information and many just didn't apply to my child or our situation. I found myself able to relate possibly to a chapter or two at the most, before I would get discouraged and begin to look for another answer. This is not the case with this book. Bill Stillman is a gifted writer. His intention is to teach those who love someone with autism, how to accept, understand and embrace these precious children. His affection toward children on the spectrum is so evident. His information and explanations are refreshing. Bill has put together a book that is a MAJOR piece of the autism puzzle. His insights and intuitions, as well as his personal experiences and the loving and candid way he shares them are priceless. I am happy to have him on "our" side. If I could keep only one book about autism as a reference manual, it would be this one.

Dymystifing the Autistic Experience is one of those 'must reads' in autism. It is one of the rare books that offers a true look into autism. Bill grew up before Autism was diagnosable and like Temple Grandin and others hidden in the spectrum his story is one that explains an autism were one struggled quietly and alone to make sense of the world. Our Lives were strange and different but yet we came out well.

His event per event account of his autisitc life is true science and a lot of luck in action. His old time account of autism before it was a well 'known' condition is like a fine wine, getting better with time. He proves autism is not this wild unmanagle condition that requires massve intervention. His book is also another (unknowingly) report on Splinter Skills and Obessions and how well they serve the autisic person. They are our Learning Hallway and link to the world. Autisitc obessions have given the world the computer, (Alan Turing 1912-1954) and even Bill's own Wizzard of OZ obession has given the world a perfect Oz experience, in another book he co authored.

Bills' inside information and common sense experience from working in the field are 'just what the doctor ordered' and better yet is is based in reality and struggle of an era gone by. Concerned caring folks in the spectrum appreciate books like this.

This is a must-read. Highly recommended. I am a parent of young child who has high-functioning autism, and I have gained some very good insights from Mr Stillman's writings. He also helps us see ourselves through the eyes of those we think of as 'different' -- not always a pretty sight!

I got this book for a reasonable price at a quick shipping services it took about a week to arrive and shipping was free WOW I'M LUVN IT!!!!!!!!!!

I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the development of children. This book covers a wide spectrum of theories and real life examples from conception till late adolescence. What is more, it is very easy to read and every single chapter is incredibly knowledgeable and attention-grabbing to go through. It was one of the best psychology books I've read so far!!!

Overall it's a well written, illustrated and researched book that keeps with the most contemporary of scientific and specialist knowledge within this area and sustains throughout right from the chapters on conception and prenatal development through to the formative years outside the womb that the roles of environment, culture and the human organism itself, all in their different contexts, work together and in sync to create the overall eventual development of the human being. One such example in the book where these forces come into play focused around the fact that exclusively looking for genetic causes for intelligence and other psychological and physical attributes is flawed. Geneticists have found that many genetically related diseases and other diversities arise from genetic anomalies and mutations that are not inherited e.g. Down syndrome. This goes some way to questioning the validity of Eugenics programs that in part aim to `breed out' genetic code or traits from the human gene pool that is seen to be unhealthy.

Other information that was of interest;
1. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and some of the research done in this area and ways to help prevent it, there is a program called the "Back to Sleep Campaign" run in the USA by NICHD, The Back to Sleep campaign is suitably named for its recommendation to place healthy babies on their backs to sleep. Placing babies on their backs to sleep reduces the risk of SIDS.

2. The Utilization of what they call `Kangaroo Care' as a means to help premature babies thrive.

3. One thing I found intriguing was the suggestion that infants who are allowed to simply actively engage and explore their environment progress better psychologically, cognitively and socially.

4. The beginnings of a sex role identity start to occur around 3 years of age when children's strong attachments to their mothers weaken. During this period of early development, "wanting to be near" (their parent) that is the dominant force in infancy is taken over by "wanting to be like".

5. The in depth discussions to do with schooling and the different modes and forms that this takes on in modern times and also the types of influence that formal education exerts on both the social lives of children and also their academic faculties.

6. The beginning of the reasoning of moral issues and Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of the six stages of moral development.

My only complaint is this; given that I am colour blind it was quite a job to often try and distinguish one line from the next on the graphs and tables throughout, so that would be my only criticism but its relatively negligible. Obviously the views of both psychology and early childhood development do overlap so I would recommend that anyone interested in this area of study read Psychology 7th Edition (Myers) first, you don't have to by any means but it does make some of the concepts and text in this particular book seem easier to understand which makes the flow of reading the content much smoother, though having said that, the authors who as it turns out also have children of their own, have done an excellent job of explaining theories and ideas first then following up by giving a working and easy to understand example in laymen's terms of where those theories and ideas have been put to work, both under scientific conditions or in the real world. Furthermore the authors have somewhat followed the basic format of briefly talking about what they are going to discuss at the start of any particular section of the book, then discussing it and finally at the end of each chapter they review and summarize the content which helps to round out the discussion.

The reference sections at the back of the book containing the definitions of the different terms used throughout the text were a nice and helpful addition to the hardback. This was my second book purchase from the `Worth' Publishing press and the style of their books, in particular the pedagogical features seem to be uniform throughout their range, also in addition to this is the accompanying website that is full of didactic features and a great way to learn interactively about this subject. Overall this book is a fascinating insight into the development of children and certainly worth reading if you're planning on starting or already have a young family as the knowledge will help give you an idea of what to expect as a parent, but it would be equally suitable to others that may be simply interested in academia or just have an interest in this general area and want to add to your knowledge about the human condition.

As a final word I'll say that although the book was mainly meant for academic study which usually makes these class of texts somewhat cold, prosaic and uninspiring, all of which I might add this books suffers none of, you can't help but come to the conclusion that the underlying message in my view is that the more children are nurtured, shaped and prepared both psychologically and socially in a positive and interesting way, then the chances of a superior eventual outcome for the child in question and society at large are improved enormously. To the casual reader of this review that previous sentence may seem blatantly obvious, but to arrive at a greater and much deeper understanding of the what, when's, where's, why's, and who's of childhood development and advancement, then one would be wise to invest some time and money into this book because it is surely worth it. Conversely, this is not a `how to' manual, rather it may be best viewed as an intense analytical overview of the different theories, conclusions, studies and the people who have influenced this area of scientific enquiry over the last 100 years or so.

Edward Gibbon wrote the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" and Mike Cole and his colleagues have written a work of equal stature on the making of human beings. This is an encyclopedia of human development from single cell to adolesence. Though a leader of the cultural psychology school of development, this work includes every theory and subtheory of development around, each bringing its particular insights at the appropriate point in the story - part eclectically, part critically, but always comprehensively. Frequent break-outs take up issues of controversy, the photographs and illustrations are magnificent. Each chapter is constructed with study questions, summaries etc, making it suitable for systematic study, written by a consummate educator. This book will do you for life; use it from your first lecture in your "Early Childhood studies" course, or for that matter, libguistics, anthropology, neuroscience, till your first research project, keep it while your kids grow up, use it when composing your journalistic articles about social issues, and re-read it for sheer enlightenment. I can't say that this book is the last word on the topic, because I know that the Coles will put out a sixth edition before long and the story will go on!

Cole & Cole's work is by far one of my favorite textbooks. The reason? The authors methodically lay out child development from a biopsychosocial perspective, which is no small feat.

They write with a thoroughness and efficiency that you will rarely find in a textbook. Their treatment of child development is evenhanded, not privilaging either the bio, psycho, or social perspectives.

THIS A TRULY WONDERFUL BOOK, ABOUT AN AMAZING WOMAN.THE AUTHOR DELIVERS A GREAT STORY.THIS IS ONE YOU SHOULD NOT MISS. WELL WRITTEN AND TOUCHES THE HEART.DON'T MISS THIS ONE!!

Moskowitz has told the world her deeply personal story and in doing so, helps others to cope with the on-going loss of an aging parent. I am both a Geriatric Care Manager and the daughter of a mother who has Alzheimer's Disease. I found myself re-reading passages so I could remember them to share with my client's families. I also re-read parts to remind myself that I am not alone with the myriad of feelings that come with the role of caregiver. I intend to recommend that all of my clients' adult children read this book, it will give them great strength and comfort. Thanks Bette, for writing such a fine book!

This is a book that needed to be written and Bette Ann Moskowitz wrote if from the gut. The subject matter, the aging of a parent, may not be on anyone's most favorite topic list, but the author deals with it in a straight-forward, positive and honest way. In fact, the reader cannot help but admire the intensity of her honesty, especially in examining her own feelings, describing her relationship with Mary Solomon, her mother, and questioning what she thinks her mother might be thinking and feeling, if anything at all. The situation may be sad, but the book is not. It is a courageous, compassionate and deeply moving story. I would wish it were possible that no one would ever have to go through what Mary has, but realistically, as people live longer, we might. And if we must, then I wish that we could all have as strong, as gentle, as loving an overseer of our care as Mary has with Bette. This is a book that reaffirms the existence and necessity of The Golen Rule. I highly recommend it to everyone who is able to read and understand its very important message.

Moskowitz has captured in searing,honest and yet revealing candor the most private emotions and responsibilities we face. She's done this with full intent and determination - and as such has captured a private and public domain within each of us. She allows us hallowed moments to reflect privately, and that helps us accept our next giant step. What she speaks about is real and demands our honest reflection. She allows us freedom to see our destiny. Her nobility gives us a chance to once again see ourselves.

While different from my own, Bette Ann Moskowitz's personal story is quite familiar -- a story about the inexorable mental decline of one's Mother due to Alzheimer's disease.

My mother has been experiencing a definite, accelerating decline for a few years now. Through tests, we've ruled out pretty much every other possible reason; she's certainly got Alzheimer's. This book has provided some comfort by showing me that I'm far from alone in this kind of experience. And it has helped me know what to expect in the months or years to come.

I read this book at least once a year and learn new things every time. I just finished it for this year last month and implemented new things in my classroom that makes it even MORE efficent than it was last year. These ideas helped me spend more time teaching in my classroom.

This book is one of the most informative books that I have read addressing how to keep a class on track. It gives ideas for class interaction, homework, quizzes, group work, and others. I have found his ideas very helpful, this being my first year of teaching. There are also two more books that follow.

i've read books on classroom management, on how to handle the work load, and how to interact with my students, but his is one of the few books that has managed to answer all my questions, in under 100 pages. i read this book in one sitting, and it has revolutionized the way i teach my classroom. my colleagues come to my class, and wonder where i got such great ideas--that's when i loan them my well-worn copy of this book.

I read this book about 11 years ago before I started teaching, and this little booklet has influenced my teaching more than anything else I have read. I credit this book with much of the success I have had as a teacher.

Follow Mr. Johnson's classroom organization and teaching philosophy and you will have a math class that works. He tells you how to start your class on time with the bell and have nonstop learning the entire period. The books are very short (66-98pages) but packed with techniques you can use right away.
You can use his techniques on any grade level and with any subject, not just math.

I discovered this book three years ago, quite by accident, and it explained--in readable language and comfortable style--EXACTLY what had happened to my body when I came within moments of death in late '04 and early '05. Mine weren't burn wounds like Janice's, but treated the same--the result of a tiny (less than 1/2 inch), single dog bite that injected a bacteria into my bloodstream. My lungs "failed" (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome--ARDS)and began a process that led to a near-fatal clotting disorder, multi-organ failure, gangrene and amputation of four fingers and the front halves of both feet; skin and fat necrosis (blackening, rotting) from my waist down (eventually excised--carved off--almost to bone, from knees to ankles of both legs); extensive skin grafts (taken from my back), dramatic scarring, and limited ability to stand or walk. In a burn ward, like Janice in the book, there were brief moments of lucidity over a period of almost three months, during which I repeatedly asked, "What happened to me?" Thanks to Kevin Tracy's "Fatal Sequence," I now thoroughly understand the "domino effect" of severe sepsis and its all-too-common, tragic ending. Readers might accurately conclude, after reading this book, that in obituaries such terms as "pneumonia" or "brief illness" are euphamisms for SEPSIS that leads so quickly to demise. "Fatal Sequence" explores and reveals body functions and self-contained back-up systems of which few people are aware . . . until they fail. I cherish my two copies and highly recommend this book for folks still asking, "What happened?" and for any medical professional who has lost a patient to "infection," despite the best knowledge, resources, technology, treatment, and care. It is a simple, yet technically sound play-by-play account of the body's own dying process. Remarkable.

This is wonderful book for the general public and requires little knowledge of medicine. It is written as a journal followed by a discussion and relates how a physician's compassion for a dying child leads to an important discovery in neuroimmunology. The book also describes in relatively simple terms the process of science and the steps involved in this discovery. At the end, Dr. Tracey introduces a medical theory called "the cytokine theory of disease," to explain many therapeutic effects observed in conventional and alternative medicine. Overall, this is a formidable book that anyone interested in a becoming a healthcare provider should read.

About two thirds of this book is the story of Janice, an eleven months old girl who was admitted to the hospital with burns over 75% of her body. Her life expectancy with this much burn was about 25%, unlikely to survive the first night. But she did. She was recovering until her body began destroying itself. The name of her condition is severe sepsis.

Anyone with a child will shed tears as they read the struggles Janice's little body made against the infection and her own out of control immune system. But with Dr. Tracey this was a life changing experience as his experience with Janice's fight made him choose a life of scientific research into severe sepsis.

The remaining third of the book talks about the research Dr. Tracey and his associates have conducted in the subsequent years and serves as a preliminary finding as to what they have discovered, the status of the research, and the hope for the future.

This book, Fatal Sequence, is highly recommended reading for everyone. The information about sepsis is so pertinent that anyone who reads this book would benefit from the knowledge you receive. Dr.Kevin J. Tracey is world reknowned. He is a neurosurgeon, an immnnologist and a highly regarded scientist. Dr. Tracey's genuis is the ability to write about why sepsis happens in an understandable way. Sepsis is so common that it happens to someone in everyone's family. Many with non fatal illness or injury die of sepsis so often that it is the thrid most common cause of death in our hospitals. It is a must for understanding what happens to us when we get sick. This is a suspensful story that is so well written that you will savor each page. I believe,"Fatal Sequence the killer within", should be a must for all best seller list. Please read this book and write your own review.
Thank you, Dr. Tracey for making a difference
Sincerely,
Alice E. Oliva
580 Horizons West
Boynton Beach, Fl 33435
561-374-8957



Thank you, Dr. Tracey for making a difference.
Please read this book and write your own review.


I urge you to please read this book and write your own review.

Dr. Tracey,
Thanks for writing this book, and making the subject of sepsis into a reading experience that I couldn't put down. Its rare for a professional to be able to write about such a complex subject and make it both interesting and understandable to the non-scientist.

This is a book that I am passing on to my high school and college aged children, in hopes that it sheds some light on the human side of chosing research medicine as a career path.

I'm hoping that you keep publishing!

I just finished this book and have a couple thoughts. This author is incredibly insightful and the reader is given so many jewels of wisdom about parenting and the outcome. For instance she says: "The immature mother subconsciously believes that the magical trick is working and that the sacrifice of the child is appropriate to history and circumstances. It seemed to provide my mother with some sense of justice, of payback, "of now it's time to get mine." Profound and original stuff, and there is a lot of it in this book. Alexis Morgan has reached incredible insight and understanding here, but at what a cost to her life... it was simply horrific to read.The physical-mental-emotional torment this author went through was not only life-threatening but also stole her happiness and rippled through her family disaffecting the health and happiness of her daughter and it could not have been good for her husband and others. Ripple negative impact from a deliberately destructive individual. It made you want to reach through the pages of the book, go back in time and make the author a ward of the state at age four.

Yet, through it all... 60 years... the author's mother took pretty good care of herself.

What's kind of disturbing is the pride with which this author describes her mother's career accomplishments and "good moments" of non-abusive interaction.

While the book is intensely personal and the author's analyses brilliant on many relational points, I was concerned for this author on one important point. When it is obvious that this author's mother is pathologically competitive, jealous and cruel, I just don't know why anyone would keep going back to the well for more... it just cannot be worth it. Ms Morgan speaks of geographical distancing and gradually setting boundaries, but clearly that wasn't enough because as she points out you cannot control what other people say and do and her mother continued to sucker-punch her with abject mean-spiritedness even when the author was in her 60s. She left the house at 19; why blow four more decades on trying to make her mother into someone she couldn't be?

It seems obvious to this reader that that the sooner this author walked away the better for her. She was destroyed over and over by this mother and the mother's influence on her brother... what's the point? I understand the time frame the thinking on this took place; the author is in her 60s. I think a more enlightened point of view nowadays would be to cut it off with someone this overtly cruel, even if he/she be a parent. The author repeatedly references the Fourth Commandment, to honor thy parents, as a guide to her behavior but it is the book's bad message. If the parent is narcisstic bully with no empathy or regard for her daughter, then how is honor the proper response? It just isn't. Unconditional love in return for deliberate life long cruelty/deprivation/neglect is not reasonable. Period.

And this point is easy to make in two quick arguments. While pretty much everyone can reproduce, not everyone is psychologically healthy/mentally balanced.Clearly, in the innumerable permutations of the human personality there are people who cannot wish for better for their children or even wish them well. And, there are those, like this author's mother, who actively wish to destroy them when they have power over their lives. I see total avoidance and self-protectiveness more than forgiveness and continuing interaction as the solutions here.

Secondly, what does "honor" mean? Refusing to deal with someone that uses every opportunity to do you harm, and/or historically has basically destroyed you over and over is not the opposite of honor. And there is one more point that the author seems to miss: this author's mother functioned better, even normally, in areas of her life like her civil service job, but not with her daughter. Her daughter, this author, consistenly triggered vicious jealously, competition and vengefulness. Evidently, this narcissitic mother saw her darling four year old daughter and felt mostly rage and resentment and retaliation and then with a sense of entitlement acted on those emotions... for a lifetime, refusing to recognize or be grateful to this child for all she was forced to do. Heartless. Nefarious. Unforgivable.

I would defer to Alice Miller's point of view on the "honor thy parents" commandment when dealing with a sadistic parent. When a parent is this destructive it is a pathology and that person needs to be cut out of your life. Go to the book by Alice Miller: "The Body Never Lies: The Lingering Effect of Cruel Parenting," in regards to the Fourth Commandment, Page 130: "... as soon as we opt out of this value system it would be absurd for an adult woman to be expected to honor her parents for either being brutally cruel to her, or for looking on and failing to intervene." Exactly. She goes on to say that the idea of most therapists is that success of therapy is forgiveness of the errant parent by the person in therapy and goes on to explain the ridiculousness of that position. I would hope that this is changing in therapy-world.

Page 53 of the same Miller book: "People who have done you such harm do not deserve your love or respect, even if they are your parents. The price you pay for such filial devotion is appalling, the terrible physical torments you repeatedly go through. You can free yourself from the Fourth Commandment."

Other than the constant trying to make a relationship work with her mother the book had some outstanding analyses. I wish Ms. Morgan the absolute best.

While ultimately I found the book inspiring, it was difficult to read in a continuous sitting. I found that I had to "digest" one chapter at a time. The writer's story made me feel uncomfortable at times. Perhaps because it reminded me of things I had experienced and would rather forget. I do believe her personal discovery has important messages for the reader. And the exercises or meditations at the end of each chapter are very helpful to someone on the road to recovery/discovery. However, this is not a book for someone who is not ready to seriously examine why they have used fatness as a source of protection. It can be quite painful to do the work the author has done. It was well written and well organized.

This is a courageous account of one person's journey to authenticity. The writter's struggle was with obesity but the concepts can be interchanged to apply to anyone suffering from any addiction. I would recommend this to anyone who is tired of living with the emptiness of trying to please everyone but herself and is ready for self-awakening.

This is one of the most powerful and beautiful books I've ever read. Ms. Morgan relates her issues with food addiction back to her often traumatic childhood. I have had problems in my own life with obsessive eating and always wondered why. The questions to the reader at the end of each chapter were so helpful to me in my own discovery of this question. This book is for everyone seeking an understanding into their addiction or a loved one's addiction. It is thought provoking and so beautifully written. You won't be able to put this one down!

This book details one woman's attempt to overcome both her health problems and her traumatic past. It is useful not just for those seeking to lose weight or overcome abuse but for those looking for their internal strength to overcome obstacles in their lives. This book is more than an autobiography, it is more than therapy. It is a journey of spiritual and personal growth for readers and how one woman found the courage to overcome the haunting memories of an abusive childhood and use that experience to help others.

I bought this book for both of my girls, one age 10 and the other age 12. They have had the book for over a year now. When they received the books, I thumbed through to share with them some passages that I found useful. After that, they began to read the book and use it as a reference source for those times they needed answers to and didn't want to ask ol' Mom. Often we discuss their findings and they seem confident in the knowledge that they have learned. This book is an excellent addition to any adolescent girl's parents toolbox. It has been a wonderful resource for us and has served as a foundation for many discussions.

I first ordered a copy of this for my daughter when she was 9. She didn't actually get into it until she was about 10, but I have noticed her going back to that book over and over again. She asks questions, and it has opened up the way for a lot of discussion. Everything is in it from manners to clothes to making new friends to schoolwork and bras. It's all in a neat organized manner and written so it's easily understood and followed. I bought another copy for a friend's daughter, too.

This book has so many facts about growing up about everything! I got this book and it's helped me so much! It has all of the advice I'd ever want and it can answer all of your questions! There are many stories from other girls that reasure you that you're normal, but special. If you read this book I'm guarenteing that when you finish it, you can answer anyone elses questions! Be sure to read everything becasue nothing's boring! Happy Reading!

I had wanted this book for as long as I could remember - when I got the book, all I could think was "WOW!" it goes everywhere from what to do when your body starts changing - to how to deal when a loved one or friend dies. If you are (or know of) any special Pre-teen girls in your life, this is the PERFECT reference book for them! They will find themselves referring to it over and over, and sometimes just reading it to see the comments other girls wrote in. If you like Girls' Life Magazine - you'll love The Girls' Life Guide to Growing Up!

This book just has EVERYTHING in it, and I mean everything, from friendships, to siblings, divorces, steparents, boys, dating, bras, braces, glasses, moving, and all the wacky stuff teenagers go through! It even has some really fun tests! I highly recommend it!

Instead of wasting time on What to Expect and the Girlfriend's Guide, this is what women should be reading. We all put "no episiotomy" on our birth plans - now read exactly why and how to set yourself up for a birth without one.

I have read Ms. Bruce's works in other birth publications and this is a great guide. It is a quick read - but a must-read - especially if you are birthing in a hospital, with an obstetrician.

THANK YOU MRS. BRUCE FOR WRITING THIS WONDERFUL BOOK. I HAVE FOUND IT SO HELPFUL AND SO EASY TO UNDERSTAND. PLEASE KEEP WRITING. MRS. CINDY STEVENS

I really needed this book when I found it on Amazon. I have read every word and it has been a help to me in so many ways. Thanks Mrs. Bruce for your time to write this book. I feel so much better now to know these facts you presented so clearly. Savannah Ga Gertie Moody

A friend suggested that I read a book by a childbirth expert and Get Through Childbirth In One Piece was the book I read. Elizabeth shares stories of other women who have their children at home. I want to thank Mrs. Bruce for writing this perfect book for women like me who want all the best up-to-date facts about childbirth. Rhonda Kent

This short book would be a great primer for a first-time mom. Elizabeth Bruce touches on home, birth center & hospital birth & her down-to-earth style is refreshingly honest!