Fitness Books

The book is user friendly and offers specific recommendations for pain relief based on the location of the pain in the body. The exercises are quite simple and helpful when one is trying to avoid surgery and/or when other options are not feasable. A real life-saver.

GREAT book and easy to use, has really helped me with my problems. I have shared the book with everyone I know that needs to know how to help themselves at home.

This book is truly a "Do-It-Yourself Pain Relief." I found myself using the book as one would use a dictionary to look up a word but instead I am looking up the right recipe for the terrible pain. The illustrations are very easy to follow as well as the short narrative describing each activity. The book format is user friendly. I highly recommend this book for anyone intersted in learning good stretching techniques.

I am a 100 percent, true believer in the program set forth in this book. I was training for my first marathon with the Team in Training program set up by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society when I was introduced to the book. I had injured my IT bands (on both legs), and was having great pain in my hamstring as it attached to the outside portion behind my knee with just 2 months until race time. These injuries had virtually shut down my training. I was relegated to cardio workouts on my stationary exercise bike.

Being cautious about these injuries that wouldn't go away, I saw an orthopedic doctor one month before the marathon. I was diagnosed with bad IT band inflammation and told myleg muscles were really tight - thus causing some of the additional pain. I was released to go back to running, but told I needed to start stretching my hamstrings and quads. By this time, the pain had subsided a little bit, but not much. When I tried my first run, the pain immediately returned, by this point I started thinking about opting out of the marathon.

Luckily, my doctor had given me the number of Kim Ortloff, one of the authors of this book, to help me stretch. At this point I had already been stretching the traditional way (you know by holding each stretch for 15-30 seconds) with no reduction in pain. I was getting little to no benefit from my efforts so I decided to set up an appointment with Kim.

I was able to professionally work with Kim (3 times before my Marthon) and use the exercises and stretches in this book at home. I was completely surprised, that in a couple of days of following this program I was actually able to start exercising again (walking and jogging 2-3 miles) with greatly reduced pain. During my second session with Kim, and just as a stroke of good luck, she told me that they had just released a DVD version of this book showing the different stretching, exercises and self massage techiniques of the book. I bought the DVD right away.

My injuries had almost completely resolved themselves within 3 weeks of starting this program. I met with Kim one last time, 3 days before the Marathon. By this time my injuries were completely resolved. I was amazed that in three and a half weeks of starting this program I was back to 100 percent.

Less than one month after starting these stretching and exercise routines, I finished the Marathon. I did it my using a technique of walking and running at set intervals, because I felt I had not trained sufficiently and didn't want to reinjure myself.

Additionally, using the techiniques in this book made my post-marthon recover a piece of cake. I was completely recovered from all sore muscles within 3 days. My IT bands are fine, my hamstrings don't hurt at all, and I was walking better than most marathon runners at the post-marathon celebration.

I could not have even thought about competing in the marathon, let alone finishing the marathon had I not followed the techniques that are being taught in this book. I am so excited at the immediate and lasting results that I got from this program, that when anyone asks about my marathon, I make sure to plug this book (and DVD). I even gave 2 copies of the book to my Team in Training run coaches, in hopes that they would employ the principles used in their coaching.

My wife has even used the principals for non-sports related injuries she had in her feet.

As I started off saying, I am a true believer in this program.

"Pain is the No. 1 reasons for doctor visits. If you live with pain, you are not alone--it is estimated that 100 million Americans live with chronic pain."

These various pains, the authors say, leads to $60 billion in lost productivity and missed workdays.

This is a book that will be handy reference for me as it contains stretches, self-massage and exercise, as well as hundreds of pages of sound advice.

The two expert authors have written an excellent guide to help you and me achieve a life that is active, healthy and free of pain and learn to regain control over our health.

When we are in pain, we are not ourselves, and usually are crabby, can't see or think clearly and get stressed out. Our productivity and personal relationships are affected.

Did you know? The human head weighs 7 to 12 pounds, depending on the individual. No wonder neck and shoulder muscles get tired and weak.

Computers, couches and reclining chairs contribute to poor posture and pain. Sitting--which most of us do a lot at work, and then again at home watching TV or on the computer--places eight times more pressure on the lower back than standing does.

Of the two basic types of pain, acute is when you have an immediate pain from injuring yourself. Chronic, such as arthritis, hangs around and sometimes never goes away.

Several of their chapters deal with specific areas of pain. Those particular chapters make sense if first you read, "Why the Body Hurts," and "How to Manage your Pain." Each section helps us become advocates for our own health and pain-free living.

The last chapter, "If Your Pain Doesn't Go Away" includes questions for when you should see a doctor; what to ask; how to work with your doctor; and how to prevent your doctor from putting you off.

Armchair Interviews says: Even if you get one tiny helpful hint toward your pain control, this book is worth it. Their simple-to-do exercises and strategies have proven to be effective in relieving aches and pains in others. Whose body is it anyway?

If you're looking for a gimmick, a quick fix, or a flashy fad diet, keep looking. 10 HABITS THAT MESS UP A WOMAN'S DIET is a book based on solid nutritional research and the author's interviews with people who have done a lot of thinking about women and weight.

Elizabeth Somer, RD, has a funny and engaging style, but she's not afraid to serve you the facts straight up. The result is one of the smartest guides to nutrition for women that I've come across in years.

I enjoyed this book because it was not specifically about weight loss. The focus was on nutrition and it really made me want to be healthy!

The author explains the situational, chemical and emotional contributors to overeating or poor eating. She recommends different strategies that fit the different triggers or causes. Read this book to get the right tool for your situation. Maybe it will be a food journal, healthy munchies, calorie tracking, ways to love veggies, but it definitely won't be a fad diet.

Habit 1: Mindless Eating
Invisible Calories
Eating on Auto-Pilot: The Down-Side
Nibbling Is OK
Mindful Breakfasts
Kick the Habit
Choose a New Habit
Mindful Eating
Habit 2: Putting Other's Needs Ahead of Our Own
Love 'n' Marriage: Together in Eating
Babies and Weight Gain
Mealtime Peer Pressure
Dining Out Can Do Us In
Kick the Habit
Keep Your Diet in Perspective
Habit 3: Not Being Honest
Fessing Up Is Hard to Do
Portion Distortion
Kick the Habit
How Much Exercise Is Enough?
It's Within Your Grasp
Habit 4: Skip the Broccoli, Eat the Fries
Nothing Is Better for You than Produce
How Much Are You Eating?
Which Ones Are the Best?
Produce to Avoid
Kick the Habit
Ya Gotta Love 'em
Habit 5: Setting Off Without a Plan
Kick the Habit
Outside the Box
Two "Must-Have" Habits
Practice, Practice, Practice
The Only Way to Get Better Is to Change
Habit 6: Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
You Can Change
Kick the Habit
Take Responsibility
Habit 7: I'm Moody, Let's Eat!
Food for Solace or Sustenance?
Food and Mood
Dieting = Weight Gain
Kick the Habit
Your Mood Is More than Just Diet
Habit 8: Give Me the Quick Fix, Now!
Tell Me Again Why Diets Don't Work
Diet Myths Debunked
Kick the Habit
Commit to Health
Habit 9: Drinking Away Our Waistlines
Silent Calories
Cola Calories
Josephine Six Pack
The Dark Side of Alcohol
Kick the Habit
Think Moderation
Habit 10: The All-or-Nothing Approach to Dieting
Why the All-or-Nothing Mentality Fails
All-or-Nothing and Your Weight
Self-Talk: The Inside-Your-Head Chatter
Kick the Habit
Give Yourself Some Slack

I checked this book out at the library and liked it so much I puchased it. Not anything I don't already know, but to see, in actual print, all the reasons why and how you cheat on a diet is much more motivational than you would think. Ouch! The truth really hurts but it's also really helped.

Finally, a book about diet that isn't a diet! Instead, it's a compilation of all the information about losing weight and keeping it off through lifestyle changes. Easy to read, nicely presented, this book set me on a one-year plan to lose those last 10 pounds -- one habit at a time.

I bought this book over five months ago. I was looking for a plan that fit into my busy schedule but would allow me to complete my first half ironman. Yesterday, I crossed the finish line at Ironman Florida 70.3. In a nutshell, the plans in this book work. I hit every training session AND followed the strength training religiously. I am a stronger athlete because of it. The rest of the book is filled with great information on how to prepare, execute, complete, and recover from triathlons. If you are looking for information on how to complete your next tri, and you don't have twenty hours a week to train, then this book is for you. Simple enough.

If you haven't competed for a while and need guidance to get you to the finish line then this is the book for you! I had no idea how to properly train for a triathlon until reading "The 12-Week Triathlete". The book is easy to read and offers a step by step approach for competing at all levels, from the beginner to the advanced triathlete. After not competing for almost ten years I was able to successfully complete my first Half Ironman following his program! I look forward to improving on my personnal best at the next race and Tom's book will be my guide/coach again.

I cannot recommend this book more highly. Not only did it help me accomplish my triathlon goal, but I also actually enjoyed the experience and can't wait to do another. As an out-of-shape, 42 year old, mother of 2 I needed not only a training plan, but the confidence to actually believe that I could make this happen. Tom's book was the perfect blend of honest, funny, realism that I needed to separate what was truly important for me to focus on and what I could just not worry about. I carried this book around with me and reread the last 3 chapters about 12 times the weekend of my race just to help me calm down. If you've never done a tri and think you couldn't possibly....then this is the book for you. Because you can!

Tom Holland's "The 12-Week Triathlete" is a truly amazing guide for anyone who wants to get into the sport of triathlon or improve their level of performance. I finished my first tri last month after following Tom's program and essentially using the book as my training bible and "coach". It is very comprehensive across all the necessary physical, mental and nutritional preparation, such that I was truly able to go from ground zero to feeling well prepared and confident on race day. Detailed workout plans are matched with great anecdotes that help you understand the sport better. I found that it is written in a great voice for those of us who almost certainly never plan on becoming elite triathletes but who really want to get into great shape and get involved in a very exciting (but otherwise daunting) sport. Thanks Tom!

I bought this book as a guide for me to get ready for my first triathlon. It is much better than I expected. The author gives an account of his first triathlon and how unprepared he was. He then tells you everything you'll need to prepare for. There is also a training plan in the book which I find very helpful.

This is a must-read for those who want a fresh, new perspective on weight-loss and "permanent fat removal"! I recommend it all who are looking for a new way to love ones self.

Janice Taylor is simply delightful! She is cheerful, creative, and super-spirited about her work...and all of this comes across in her writing. There is no way to look at, listen to, or read Janice Taylor and be unhappy. No way! I am not on a personal quest for weight loss but "All is Forgiven", I have discovered, encompasses so much more - it's about renewing your outlook on life, your journey and, most of all, your esteem. It is the type of book that I like to take a little bite out of everyday - just for a boost of inspiration or a little yummy food for thought. The art work (graphics as well as Janice's artwork, present throughout the book) is an added boon. Even if I'm not reading, it's fun to just peruse the pictures, marvel at Janice's art, and enjoy how beautifully formatted the book is. If you are battling with your weight however, as many of us are, this book is a MUST READ before you even THINK about starting another diet! Everything about "All is Forgiven" will make you feel good, and better about what might have seemed an impossible journey to "Sveltsville." Sometimes you simply need a change of perspective :-)

I am in the middle of this book and I can't put it down. I am enjoying it so much, I just ordered her first book as well.

This is one of the best books I've read. Kept me laughing whole way through.I'm not your "typical reader" but this book I could read. Janice is such a delightful, charming Weight Loss Coach. I admire her style and just found this book to be so enjoyable. Janice Taylor, is so down to earth, and REAL, about weight loss. It's the kind of book you could read more than once. I ordered several of them and gave them to all my friends for their birthdays!! Now I just have to get them signed by Janice herself!!! Congrats to Janice for such a superb book. I commend you!! From Holly V. Long Island

Witty, heartfelt and truly inspirational! Janice Taylor teaches us how to silence that self-defeating inner voice and replace it with a confident one that envisions success and prosperity in all areas of one's life. Highly recommend!

Another Morning is a very powerful, moving and inspiring book. As a retired manager of a radiation oncology center, I believe that this should be required reading for all health care professionals who work with mothers dealing with cancer while raising their children. I admire these mothers for their courage and the volunteers and Linda Blachman for their compassion.

Linda Blachman's project (Mothers' Living Stories Project) is a brilliant idea, enriching the listeners as well as supporting the mothers. As a reader, I became something of a listener too. Another Morning is an important and moving work.

This book slows down and allows the stories of these women to unfold. As each story is told and as each woman goes through their individual journey with illness, the reader is brought into each life and bears witness to the gravity of daily decisions - of preparations for life and for death. Linda Blachman deftly guides the stories, providing insight and context, but allows these real, three dimensional, flesh and blood women to tell their own stories in their separate and unique voices. This book was obviously a labor of love and the time and care taken by the author with each of the featured women is evident from the the first word to the last.

With dignity and eloquence, Linda Blachman tells the stories of mothers challenged by serious illness. What they reveal is a gift for everyone: sick and well, male and female, parents and non-parents. The mothers' passion, grief and wisdom elucidates the true meaning of courage and selfless love. I laughed and cried and, in the end, regretted leaving them.

I was able to listen to Linda Blachman at an author reading in Menlo Park. I was struck with her personal history of dealing with pain and of being a mother while undergoing excruciating treatment for her ailments. Here is an author who can listen and convey empathy without being overbearing and who can transmit the stories of mothers, leaving their voices intact.
I am a Stage IV cancer patient with two boys, ages 8 and 11. I have long struggled with the knowledge of my imminent death and how to deal with my feelings of guilt over the abandonment of my kids. Even though I will leave a very caring and compentent father in the care, I still cannot shake my guilt over leaving them motherless. Linda's book has given me the stories of mothers in the same situation and feelings. It has been a great relief for me to find a place where I can find understanding for my own feelings. Linda's book has prompted me to work on my Ethical Will (I have, long ago, together with my husband, signed a Living Will) and to reflect on my own life story and my expectations for my children. Thank you Linda for one of the most worthewhile books I have ever had the pleasure to read!

As the parent of an adolescent child with Asperger's, I found this book to be just what was needed -- a no nonsense approach to helping our kids with a sense of humor. This is the second book by this author that I have purchased. I will purchase more, I am sure.

This book is one of the best I've seen about the transitional issues that arise when someone with Aspergers reaches their teens. With my son, we find each developmental step has its own challenges, but the movement into middle school, with the increased expectations of self-management and the early teen student issues among peers has been a bigger challenge than most. This book helped me frame these issues as they apply to my son, improving my understanding. Then I could apply many of the ideas provided both directly and through the school. My biggest problem is that this is such a slow read ... not because it is hard to read (to the contrary, its very understandable and straightforward.) Its a "slow go" because of all of the underlining and page marking I am doing to track the "good stuff." Dr Bolick has done those of use living in these situation a major service with this work! I fully recommend it.

More and more books are addressing the problems ASD kids encounter in their latter years . Teresa Bolick has written a well thought out and structured book that answers many of the concerns that parents and teachers have. Would you need another book dealing with this area ? I would say...yes. It is such an important time in these kids lives that a comprehensive knowledge is needed by all those that care for these yound adults.


reviewed by Special Education Teacher and father of ASD child.

I have a son with Aspergers. This book is a great help!

I haven't finished reading this book, but so far what I've read completely fits. My AS teen needs all the help he can get with organization, social skills, etc. This book gives real life examples and excerps from real parents and adolescents with AS. This book is helping me to better understand my child and to help him develop strategies and coping mechanisms so he can have a successful life. Definitely a good addition to my AS library!

He has done it again. I love this man. I can relate to him so much. He has given me the desire to change my life.

Pray it Forward: Spiritual Growth Meditations

Pray it Forward: Daily Meditations

I've come across this Jewel of a book after reading "The Greatest Salesman in the World" This little handbook of rules to live by is the only set of rules you will ever need to lead a wonderful life. I laughed and cried while reading because his writings ring so true. How fortunate of me to have come across such a wonderful little book that can transform anyone's life for the better. Read it, enjoy it, apply it to your life and enjoy all that life has to offer you.

Og Mandino is the greatest inspirational writer of our time! This book is just another example of what a fine human being he was! I just hope there's someone out there to continue his legacy. A really great read!

Illustrative with many of his inspiring and life changing stories, Og Mandino tells us in this book, that "we have forgotten one of the basic facts of life. When we were given dominion over this world, we were also given dominion over ourselves. We are our own navigators. It was never God's intention to chart a map for each of us." "Life is a game" he also says, "it's spiritual, mysterious and precious." But in order to play the game you have to know the rules.
Seventeen rules (to be exact) to live by in order to lead a better way to live.
This book can easily be read in one afternoon. As you start the book you will be invited by the author to sit down and relax in his company as he takes on the role of a racconteur, as only Og Mandino does best.

I have read everyone of Og Mandinos Books and all I can say is that he writes with brilliance, clarity, enthusiasm, and spirit. You can never go wrong with any of his books. He points out the path to success and motivates the spirit within to achieve all that we as human beings are capable. He helped me to tap into my innate genuis and create a life of prosperity and creativity. If you havent raed his books, start now and your journey of the spirit will begin. He was a born writer and even after his passing continues to have a great influence on many people old and young. He truly lived a purposeful and divine life. Go buy all his books and enjoy the growth and enlightenment. After that Buy my Book " Your daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present". Enjoy and rememeber you are capable of great things in your life.

As someone who has dealt with this horrible illness during pregnancy before, this book helped me to realize that I am not alone and that there are some other medical options for any subsequent pregnancies. My daughter is now a beautiful 5 year old and I have been fearful of getting pregnant again. I want another baby more than anything! This book gave me the hope that I can do it again. It also informed me of some options such as steroid treatment which I discussed with my doctor. He is aware of this treatment and seemed to know a great deal about it. My doctor was always very understanding and helpful during my pregnancy, and I hope the next time around will be more bearable. Thank you to all the women who shared their stories!

This book is a must for anyone suffering from HG (if you are able to read during HG- many are to sick to read). After 3 losses i felt this book made me feel that i was not alone. It also gave me some great suggestions to put fowards with my doctors.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of "morning sickness" which is characterized by one or all of the following: unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting, dehydration and/or malnutrition, rapid weight loss, and the inability to keep food and/or liquids down (or even eat at all).

If you are reading this review, you are most likely suffering from HG, a past sufferer from HG, or the friend, relative or caregiver of someone suffering with HG.

If that is the case, here is my recommendation: Before you read any further, stop, go back to the top of the page, and order "Beyond Morning Sickness: Battling Hyperemesis Gravidarum." You need this book.

As a matter of fact, order a couple. One for you, one for your doctor or caregiver, and one for family members. If you're exorbitantly rich, buy a small stack and hand them out to every insensitive person who says, through word or deed, "Oh come on. We all dealt with morning sickness. Stop whining and get over it."

After my own relatively-minor bout of HG, I started looking for answers. Where does it come from? What can we do about it? Well, no one knows the answer to the first question (theories abound), and there are multiple answers to the second (although each person requires specialized treatment - what works for one may not work for another). This book deals in depth with treatment options for HG, from the minor to the life-saving, giving details, risks, procedure descriptions, drug information, and oodles of personal testimonies.

I first found Ashli McCall through her excellent blog, which details her fourth trip through this fiendish disease:

http://www.hyperemesisgravidarum.blogspot.com/

There is literally no experience having to do with HG that this amazing woman has not dealt with, from the amusing to the tragic. She is truly the be-all-end-all in terms of knowledge about this disease, because she has dealt with almost every drug, treatment and procedure for HG that currently exists.

One of the best parts about this book is the realization that "Oh my gosh, someone FINALLY understands!!" HG sufferers know firsthand the infuriating comments that we get by the handful:

"Oh yeah, I had bad morning sickness too. Couldn't eat bacon for weeks."
"Go outside and get some fresh air. You'll be fine."
"Stop thinking about yourself so much. You're making yourself sick. Just snap out of it."
"Eat crackers and drink ginger ale."

Due to the rarity of this condition, most people have not heard of it. When you combine that with the fact that most women have dealt with some sort of morning sickness at one point or another, that adds up to a bad combination - and the result is that HG sufferers almost never get taken seriously, by friends/family/coworkers/general acquaintances or by doctors and caregivers. By outsiders, HG is seen as the subject of an amusing joke. "She's really making a fuss over such a common thing. She needs to get over it." etc. etc. etc. This book is incredibly validating in that it gives me something to give to people and say, "Here. Read this!" For myself as well, it was a very healing process to learn that there are other people out there who have been through this nightmare (and, let me say, with versions of HG that made mine look like a bad sneeze).

I recommend that one have this book in hand whenever one is dealing with the medical community. My husband and I are thinking of trying to get through a second pregnancy, and I will be taking this book with me everywhere I go.

Especially helpful are some of the appendices - There is an appendix of antiemetic drugs, with all of their classifications, alternate names, and information. There are also lists of books and websites that are of invaluable assistance to address the needs of HG women.

This is the best book that I have read on the subject, and I HIGHLY recommend it. You cannot afford to be without this book.

Thank you, Ashli!!!

I wish I would have gotten this book while I was pregnant. It is extremely helpful with not only the physical aspects of HG, but also the emotional aspects as well. I loved that it contained personal stories of suffering from other women who have gone through this disease. I would absolutely recommend it to other women who are currently suffering or have suffered in the past from HG.

I found this book to be very helpful, I found everything & then some for all my questions reguarding HG.

not a bad book but since i already knew most of the information in it, it wasn't as interesting as i hoped. Yeah, FDA is joke, most doctors prescribe antibiotics without even considering your illness or your medical history, sort of like free candy. Modern medicine became a sham since there are plenty of "alternative" or "natural" cures that work as well as most of medications that are being supressed. I have also had a negative reaction to antibiotics before and because of it stopped taking it altogether. Nothing new there.

"Bitter Pills" is the real-life version of "Strong Medicine" by Arthur Hailey. With a very personal beginning resulting from his wife's near death and slow recovery from taking ONE PILL (Floxin), author Fried went on to find whether there were other victims (many), and why the drug was approved in the first place. Interviews in profusion show why the FDA has its problems. Examples are given of the tendency of drug companies to defend their drugs at any cost regardless of evidence. The end of the book contains addresses of many drug companies, organizations to whom to report adverse drug reactions, and a sample form to send to the FDA. Well thought-out advice for patients (or their helpmates) to investigate drugs are given. A number of other good books on the subject are listed.
Fried is to be congratulated for doing a very accurate job with a minimum number of accusations. I did not find a single technical error in the entire book, and I have about 12 years exploratory drug development and teaching about it as a professor of medicinal chemistry.
Even Fried may not have realized how many drugs not discussed in his book shorten life, because they are tested and accepted based on surrogate endpoints for short periods. This may not be so bad for antibiotics that are taken for two weeks, but can be very destructive for drugs intended to be taken for 20-40 years.

This book begins as a personal story. One day journalist Stephen Fried was forced to rush his wife, novelist Diane Ayres, to an emergency room, when she suffered a severe seizure. She turned out to be suffering an adverse reaction to an antibiotic, Floxin, which she had been instructed to take for a minor urinary infection. "Bitter Pills" grew out of Fried's attempts to understand what had happened to his wife.

Fried, and his readers, soon discover that Diane Ayres' case was not unique, or even rare. Floxin is only one of legions of prescription drugs which can cause severe adverse reactions, which cause at least 45,000 deaths per year in the US (some estimates go as high as 200,000). It is a tribute to Fried's excellence as a reporter that he is able go beyond his dramatic personal story to give a comprehensive picture of what he calls " the hazardous world of legal drugs."

Fried reviews the history of drug regulation in the US, and ably documents the shortcomings of the current regulatory system, as well as the inordinate influence drug companies have on the process. Two of the many specific "hazards" he identifies are the desperate need for doctors to have an independent, reliable source of information on the drugs they prescribe (almost all the informatin they currently have comes from drug manufacturers), and the equally crying need for an effective system for reporting and cataloging adverse drug reactions.

I put this book down very impressed with Fried as both a reporter and a writer. He has clearly immersed himself in an important issue long enough, and deeply enough, that he has mastered it. He has then turned around to convey the complex issues involved to readers very effectively and without losing their interest. I look forward to work of similar excellence from Fried in the future.

I didn't know about Stephen Fried and "Bitter Pills," much less quinolone antibiotics, until I myself was, like Mr. Fried's wife, "Floxed," just a few weeks ago. I began my search for information on reactions to quinolones after four days of gatifloxacin (brandname Tequin) left me with tingling and weak arms and legs, difficulty swallowing and breathing, visual disturbances, headaches, dizziness, and more. I seriously thought I had a stroke or Guillain Barre syndrome or rapid onset multiple sclerosis, I was so sick.

Let me say that first, Stephen Fried's book is an excellent overview of the circumstances of adverse drug reactions to quinolone antibiotics. And with the increased visibility and use of Cipro, and the ease with which doctors dispense heavy-hitting antibiotics like Levaquin and Tequin, I'm sure I'm not going to be the last person to suffer a reaction and end up being "Floxed" and needing the information and reassurance provided by this book.

But it is also much much more. It's an expose of the pharmaceutical industry's fast and loose way of dealing with drugs, drug safety and the American public. This is not a rant -- it's an impeccably researched and detailed presentation of the intricacies involved in drug approvals and tracking of adverse reactions that exposes the limitations of the system, and the dangers those limitations present to us as patients and consumers.

As a patient advocate and spokesperson for thyroid and autoimmune disease patients, I know all too well the feeling of being held hostage to big pharmaceutical companies at the expense of my health and wellness.

Stephen Fried has finally exposed and explained -- clearly and without rancor -- how the drug industry really works, and his book, including the excellent appendix on how to contact pharmaceutical companies, report adverse reactions, protect yourself against bad drugs, and generally protect yourself as a consumer -- is must-reading for every empowered patient or health consumer.

I highly recommend this book to doctors, patients, and anyone who prescribes or takes prescription drugs.

I am another victim of a Fluoroquinolone, just like the author's wife. Take this book very seriously, because what doctors tell you is 'rare' is in fact extremely common. Levaquin (one of the fluoroquinolones) caused me to develop Fibromyalgia. For a time I had to use a walker. I was in constant pain for nearly one full year. Although the doctors say this is 'rare', three other women in my office of 30 people also developed Fibromyalgia after taking one of these pills. In my realm of family and friends, I have discovered nine others...each and every single one had a doctor telling them they did not know the cause of their pains. Each and every single one took a Fluoroquinolone pill before getting these terrible pains that never go away. No doctor will admit to it, and so therefore it goes unreported, and continues to falsely be considered a 'rare event'. There is a group of victims on yahoo that number more than 1600 from all over the world. Some have died or have family members who have died from these pills. Others are permanantly in wheel chairs or confined to bed from the pain. The pain these pills can cause is not like anything else you have ever felt. It's new and extraordinarily tortuous. I have been suffering for almost two years because of ten Levaquin pills. I am only in my 30s and before Levaquin was in great health. The information in this book is worth reading, because the Fluoroquinolones are the most prescribed antibiotic out there, and chances are you will be handed a prescription for one. You need to know the truth about these pills before you even take just one. The first pill nearly ruptured my eyes! The third pill decayed my ankle. The list goes on forever, even long after I stopped the last pill, and you can never be entirely the same after you're affected.

The author is very knowledgeable and gives a thorough background of each herb that he describes. He includes a lot of scientific information, as well as more mystical/spiritual and historical uses of each herbs, giving the book a nice balance. It was recommended to me by a fabulous herbalist and naturopath, and I must say that I'm very glad I listened to her advice as it's one of the best herb books I've seen.

I really enjoyed reading Matthew Wood's herbal book.He weaves a good amount of history with his scientific herbalism.After i read his book,i felt that he was another former modern christian rediscovering his connection with the good Earth.He may have been labeled as a former 'Quasi-Pagan',or seemingly pagan,now a 'true Pagan'.Nevertheless,he presents the global history of the herbs quite well,in relation to what these plants and herbs can do to benefit people.It's an engaging reading that will please any serious herbalist-ethnoscientist.The more you know,the more you will later reap.-Alma Hutchens wrote,'Indian Herbalogy of North America',which has more medical information about 'Native Medicines'.Ms.Hutchens' book does not have a good historical perspective,yet does have many good medicinal antidotes.The bottom line is that any modern ethno-herbalist will more likely enjoy reading Wood's text on the history and uses of homeopathic shamanic botany.

Matthew Wood's book is a must-have for your bedside table and/or bookshelf. It's a serious and studied approach to healing through plants. This book and its contents have made a difference in our lives. Don't hesitate to buy it right away and read it; you won't regret having done so, and will feel better. My health has improved rather quickly, thanks to some of the recommendations made by Wood in this wonderful manual for health.

Matthew Wood is literally a wealth of information. He has done an excellent job of providing information on several different types of herbs with usages, and just good information to have as a ready reference book. The diagrams, while they are not in color, still are excellent. This is one of my useful reference books that I would recommend to anyone who is serious about using herbs in their life.

Matthew Wood brings a variety of his gifts together as writer, historian, herbalist and a man of prodigious memory and herbal storytelling. This book stands out as my favorite herbal reference because it treats each herb to a whole chapter. Any lover of plants knows that there is much more to describe an herb than the usual sort of important lists of information most commonly shared in herbal reference books. This book helps one to get to know these 41 herbs much as you would know a friend or relative in their habits and ways of helping.

I pick up this book over and over simply because it is such good reading and I don't remember everything. If you like to learn through story and beautiful prose, this just may be your book! It fills a very unique niche of herbal literature.

The 41 herbs are quite available in the Midwest habitat and many overlap into other areas.

My only disappointment is that there is not a second volume to cover the many other herbs that didn't fit into the first volume.