Fitness Books

The births of my first two children were both very painful--They were induced with Pitocin, and the epidurals didn't work properly. With my third child, I was really hoping to do things differently. I read this book, and used a program called Hypnobabies, and that third birth was a BREEZE! I got to the hospital thinking that perhaps I wasn't really in labor because I wasn't in ANY pain--and they told me that I was already 7cm!!! This book is quite old, but the basic process of having a baby really hasn't changed since the beginning. All his stories of other women who were able to have pain-free births were very encouraging to me. It gave me the confidence to believe that I might be able to do it too--And I did--even though my baby was nearly 9Lbs! I highly recommend this book, and Hypnobabies (http://www.hypnobabies.com). Good luck to all of you!

This book explains a natural approach to child bearing.

I guess I am the second generation of mothers who have read this book. A friend gave me an old copy 5 years ago before the (natural) birth of my first child, and I read it again last year after the (natural) birth of my second child. It made childbirth a wonderful experience. Now I want to buy a copy of this short paperback that should cost about $10 for my expecting sister, and it's out of print and selling for up to $200?!!?? Publishers, obvously there is a market for this book. Please reprint it!

I don't know why this gem of a book is out of print. It is simply the best book on childbirth ever written. In the 1940's Dick-Reed went out on a limb and was WAY ahead of his time on the subject of natural childbirth. He pioneered the idea that childbirth does not have to be a painful and awful experience. As a result, he was ridiculed (and worse) by his peers in the medical community.

The theme of this book is that childbirth is a natural and normal process, and can be pain-free if fear is destroyed. Fear causes the body to produce adrenaline, which causes the uterus and cervix to tighten, which causes pain. And the vicious cycle begins. Dick-Reed explains how to overcome fear to prepare you for a pain-free enjoyable birth for you and your baby.

Dick-Reed backs up his theories by studying natural childbirth in other countries, places where women are not brainwashed into thinking childbirth has to be painful. He witnessed these women squat and have babies easily without much fuss or discomfort, because they did not expect pain.

Modern methods of pain-free natural childbirth, such as hypnobirthing based on Dick-Reed's research. So why not get it straight from the horse's mouth?

What a shame this book is not available to all the young mothers-to-be. As a very young, new, about to be mother in 1955, I read this book and managed to go through my labor without any medication. I entered the hospital at 9AM, and delivered my first son six hours later. This book was absolutely the reason that I understood what was happening, and following the directions it suggested, was able to work with my body to make the experience an empowering one. Perhaps someone will be able to see that it is accessible to pregnant woman again.

Wow! This book throws a lot of data, facts, and clinical trials at you. Some may say it is disorganized. However the feeling I had coming out of reading the book was an unwavering faith in how diet is related to Acne that I previously only suspected. And with that - a new-found conversion, no-TOTAL COMMITMENT to change myself 180 degrees and to beat the pharma and cosmetic industry that feeds off this illness. A strong commitment needs a strong conversion as the seed and this book is the catalyst. Wish I found this sooner. 5 Stars and bravo!

Wonderful book. It brings everything together for you so you can see the big picture.

Basically, this book attempts to confirm most people's suspicions about certain types of food causing acne (ex. milk and cheese). As expected, the book immediately launched into various theories about how milk, dairy, and generally inflammatory foods all can cause acne through hormonal changes, insulin reactions, and sebum modulation. It's all very logically sound in the way it is presented.

The book then goes into foods that prevent acne, mostly centering around those with omega-3 fatty acids. The basis for the argument is omega-3's anti-inflammatory effect.

However, up to this point, it is still information pieced together from various credible sources and made into a sort of "acne theory."

The book then goes into a dietary plan and list of foods for avoiding acne.

To my great dismay and confusion, the book confirmed my worst expectation: this is a general "eat organic, exercise, widen your diet to more exotic food" plan, based on health fads and feelings more than science.

After condemning milk and dairy for half the book, the author then recommends CHEESE as an anti-acne food! He then goes to list all kinds of flavors, with a caveat of "May worsen acne in some people" at the end!

"May worsen acne in some people?" For God's sake, you just spent half the book convincing us that dairy was the Devil's own conspiracy to create acne!

Then, he recommends Olive, Sesame, and Canola oil, all of which are Omega-6 dense, omega-3 scarce oils, which he just spent the last 100 pages trying to convince you were the Devil's second conspiracy!

The rest of the list is made up of common sense fruit and vegetables, with exotic carbohydrates such as hummus and quinoa thrown in for good measure.

Now I agree that avoiding dairy helps avoid acne, and also that eating large amounts of Omega-3 fats provide many health benefits, as did both before I read this book. I'm just disappointed in the consistency of the author.

The recipes at the end are great templates to make exotic meals one might not normally think of, but are just generally healthy foods, not some kind of special anti-acne food concoction. In fact, many of them use milk and omega-6 dense fats!

If one is a complete novice to health issues, I would recommend this book, however most people who have spent some time researching on the internet will not find anything new, and may actually find contradictory information.

Perhaps a version 2 is in order?

I have to applaud Dr. Logan for this wonderful book. I'm normally not that interested in the science and don't really care for biology that much but this book presents the findings and studies in such a straightforward, concise and clear way. After reading this book, it is hard to debunk that diet somehow affects a person's proneness to acne.

This is something that anyone with some skin problem should read. Although it is a non-fiction, this book is not boring at all. It presents a wealth of relevant information throughout the book and is well worth the money.

I have struggled with acne for the past 19 years. During this time, I have tried almost every imaginable medical treatment. While I found some success, my acne always returned as soon I stopped the medication. I felt that there must be some connection between diet and acne for this problem to persist. However, I was never able to find a dermatologist to support this suspicion or point me in the right direction.

The Clear Skin Diet provided me with the research and understanding I had sought all these years. The research is thoroughly presented and accessible to the general public. After incorporating many of the authors' suggestions into my daily life I have seen a significant difference in the severity of my acne! I would recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with acne and hopes to make a lasting change in their lives.

"...a masterful job of presenting the multiple aspects of caregiving in a format that is both comprehensive and reader-friendly. The important focus on physical aspects of giving care are missing from many other publications in this category."

I am the Director of The Waud Patient and Family Resource Center based out of Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. I am a nurse by career choice, and a caregiver by nature. I have provided home care and hospice care to a number of family members. I found this book useful to teach family members how to take care of someone at home. It has clear illustrations, step by step instructions for those tasks caregivers do every day, and a resource listing for those items that help make the job easier. It also has introductions to other areas of care which are very informative. This book empowers people without any healthcare education or experience to understand the mechanics of taking care of another person - no matter where they live. If you have family in a nursing home, this book will help you evaluate the care they receive. Both personally and professionally I would recommend this book to any person with a loved one who needs care.

I am an Illinois legal aid attorney and owner of Southwest Medicals, an online medical supply and equipment business. If you are planning on providing home healthcare for a famiy member, you need this helpful book. The cost saving tips are especially useful. I also recommend the American Medical Association's Guide to Home Caregiving by Angela Perry.

This book was very easy to read and contained a lot of practical tips on a wide variety of subjects. I liked the tips on how to make items yourself, cutting costs on things like hair washing aids and for making your home safe and navigable. The simple illustrations make the instructions easy to follow and the abundance of listed resources for more information and support was a nice bonus.

It is a 'must have' resource and tool for anyone assuming or considering the caregiver role.

I was introduced to this book by my doctor. I believe this is going to be exactly what I needed. I read the book 2 weeks ago and have lost 8 pounds already, very easily. This really is not a diet, but a lifestyle change, so far one which is very reasonable, not extreme like most "diets". I feel like this book is jump starting me into a new life of health. I can't wait to get all 10 steps into full swing.

THE BOOK IS WONDERFUL. I ACTUALLY HAVE HAD MY OWN FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY DAUGHTER. OUR SON HAS A KIDNEY DISEASE AND HIS DOCTOR RECOMMENDED THIS BOOK. OUR SON LIVES IN CHARLESTON AS DOES
DR. ANN. THE DOCTORS AT THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY RECOMMEND HER BOOK. IT HAS DONE WONDERS FOR HIS CONDITION AND HIS OVERALL HEALTH. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE AS THEIR "HEALTH BIBLE". YOU CAN USE HER BOOK AS A WAY TO EAT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND NOT FEEL DEPRIVED.

This book is fabulous. I have recommended it to many of my family and friends, and we all follow it as much as we can. I don't think of it as a "Diet" (although it works) as much as a guide to overall healthy eating. As a physician, I am wary of these things, but I am totally sold on Dr. Ann's. (Ignore the somewhat cheesy cover, though!)

This is not a "diet" plan, but rather a clear explanation of healthy eating and lifestyle. I have given it to others who also have found this book very helpfull, and have then purchased copies for friends.

Dr Ann's 10 step plan is great. It follows the same glycemic index model that the South Beach diet does, but Dr Ann's explanations of the role of blood sugar and insulin in the body really helped me understand why this diet works and is so healthy. She has a section in the book about various diseases and conditions, and specific foods to focus on. My husband has lost 15 lbs and I have lost 10 lbs in the 5 weeks since we started the diet, and we are eating healthier than ever before, and enjoying it.

This is a must read for anyone interested in non-conventional medicine.

A couple of illnesses in the family triggered my fourth re-read of this wonderful book.

I agree with all the positive reviewers here.

Dr. Fulford had wonderful insight into the medical field, questionable medical practices, life, living, and the afterlife.

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the reviews is the exercise section of the book. It has 8 unique exercises that are for overall health, nothing to do with athletic ability or conditioning.

This book is a keeper for sure, and one that you will re-read, too.

This is an excellent book reviewing the amazing Doctors way of using his Ostopathic training. It is a profound reason to consider Alternative Medicine over the oft accepted Allopathic way. A most enjoyable read.

A friend of mine who is a massage therapist and is exploring cranio-sacral work gave me this book. I have had pains in my lower back and neck for several years now; i've also been through some painful events 20 years ago, and again 10 years ago with the loss of my respective parents. My current life is very busy with famile (children), work and projects and emotionally difficult at times with a strained relationship with my husband. Overall though I'm a positive and upbeat individual believing in the spiritual and soulful nature of humans, beyond just mind and body. I've been more and more interested over the years in the relationship between body, mind and spirit since the death of my mom which has been a very difficult and painful event for me at a time that I was just starting in life (I wasn't 20 yet).
I am considering seeking treatment with a DO for my back and neck pains, and reading this book has emphasized the importance for leading a balance life and not just 'patching' some areas with perhaps a visit to the chiropractor's office that will mostly focus on the spine or taking muscle relaxant medicine or simple pain medicine. This is a great book, with a lot of food for thoughts and practical exercises for anyone to do. I am thankful to my friend for giving me this very valuable book and wish that I would have received it while Dr Fulford was still alive so that I could have thanked him for giving this testimony to us.

The reviews explain this short book very well. I really enjoyed the first few chapters. His transition into more philosophical healing ideas in the later chapters didn't do as much for me, but if your a fan of Weil or even Chopra you'll appreciate them.

Dr. Fulton really makes the reader consider Osteopathy as a medical alternative.

My discovery of Edward Bach's Flower Therapy came on me suddenly. In the midst of writing a novel, my lead character decided to enhance her floral shoppe inventory with self-sewn natural plants and seeds. Within twenty-four hours of beginning my search for herbal practices, I ran into Bach's 38 key plants employed for prevention and cure of a multitude of ailments. This book is a beautiful reference and has been an endless reference for me while developing plant and human characters. I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone who wishes to discover how your personality quirks might be tamed by God's wildflowers.

I am a Reiki person, A massage person, An Herb person, A Gardner, So Bach just seem to be the next natural course of events. This is a good Starter book. It talks about each indiviuial flower. The basics. The foundation. This will be a reference book for the future. I am intending on buying other books about Bach.

This book truly is an "encyclopedia."
Everything you could want or need about the Bach Flower Therapy system.

This is an excellent companion for anyone who uses bach flower therapy. It is very informative providing in depth information on each flower, history, photos, the negative as well as positive side aspects the particular flower is used for and what I find particularly helpful are the focus ideas at the end of each chapter for refocusing your thoughts. Extensive questionairre, index, glossary.

It may be a bit more than a person needs if you are just curious or have not begun using bach flowers.

I found this a difficult read. There was never anything to really get excited about and no new amazing insights. It simply repeated the accepted wisdom on Bach flowers. Her description of each flower remedy was a long discussion of the negative state given in the Bach Flower brochure. It's her opinion that it is the separation from the higher self and not listening to your inner voice that causes this negative state.

For instance, when it comes to Chestnut Bud she focuses on the fact that they make repetitive mistakes. Chestnut Bud people have laser like focus, and can obsess on a tiny area of the universe. This makes them brilliant, but they miss many things outside of their field of interest, hence the mistakes. They are like the classic "absent minded professor". They have extreme talent in one area, but very little common sense. Many people with Asperger's will benefit from this remedy.

If you ask a Chestnut Bud if he makes repetitive mistakes, he will answer with an emphatic "No!" because if he makes a mistake in his area of focus, he learns from it, and does not make the same mistake twice. Where he makes repeated mistakes is outside his area of focus, which he doesn't see, and often doesn't care about. But if you ask him "Can you focus intensely on something you're interested in, finding answers that no one else can think of?" He will answer, "Absolutely!" So yes, he makes repeated mistakes, but that's not how you need to approach him. Instead focus on his intelligence and problem solving capabilities, and show him how to balance it.

She is very picky about how many drops to use, what kind of alcohol, and how to drink the water. They are flower remedies. They're an energy medicine. Finding the right remedy is much more important than how many drops to use.

When it comes to selecting the correct remedy she treats it like a homeopathic consultation, with a long interview process, and questionnaires that once again focus on the simplistic negative states given in the brochure. She off handedly dismisses any type of energy testing, saying that people new to Bach Flowers use this approach. I have used Bach Flower remedies for years, and I find energy testing to be quite important. Just because somebody has Asperger's does not mean they need Chestnut Bud. Contrary to popular belief, a flower remedy can be wrong, and can stress a person.

Frequently energy testing will point to a remedy that I dismissed, and when I look at it more closely I think, "Oh, I hadn't thought of it that way." Energy testing has actually taught me more about the remedies because I've learned what types of people can benefit from certain remedies outside of the simple issues in the brochure. It's fun to meet a client for the first time, with basically no knowledge of their personality, and be able to describe their most pressing issue. They say "Wow, how did you know that?" It also increases their faith in your ability to help them.

The focus on the negative aspects also felt over emphasized. Natural leaders will often test for Vine, which does not mean they are tyrants. It means they are natural leaders and it strengthens those qualities.

If you are interested in the Bach Flowers, I recommend Advanced Bach Flower Therapy: A Scientific Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment. I also really like Practical Uses and Applications of the Bach Flower Emotional Remedies.

I'm at something of a loss as to what to say about this book. I couldn't decide if I should give it five stars or one, so I cut the difference and gave it three. This book is bizarre. If you can wade through the sections of repetitive, juvenile, slang-ridden, poorly written diatribe there is a lot of very helpful medical information which every endometriosis sufferer should know. I learned so many useful and helpful things about reproductive endocrinology, the immune system, the digestive system, and endometriosis itself. Yet the authors could easily have gotten the same amount of information into the book using half the words. Some parts of this book are clearly and concisely written and very helpful, while other sections of the book read as if the authors wanted to make the details understandable to a five-year old. I was definitely annoyed and somewhat insulted, as I think the authors ought to assume that the people reading it are going to be adults with functioning brains. However, I cannot help but recommend this book. The information in there is good, if you can put up with the useless junk and find information in the midst of verbosity.

After three years of infertility due to endometriosis, we had given up hope. After eight months on this diet we were expecting our first child with no medical intervention. Even if you aren't trying to conceive, this diet DOES help you feel a lot better.

As a stage IV endometriosis sufferer, the diet recommendations dramatically alleviated menstrual cramps and especially bowel pressure and pain through the removal of wheat/wheat gluten, minimizing red meats, and maximizing vegetables, fruits and nuts. I found that starting this diet within a few months post-laparoscopy was most helpful.

I've been reading this book since before I had surgery last week and am going to give the diet a try. The explanations of unbalanced hormones and lack of certain vitamins/minerals causing my symptoms and horrific PMS make alot of sense. I dropped out of biology in college because it seemed to be over my head, but this book explained body chemistry and cell production in a way that I can relate. Through the nutritional advice in this book, I am hoping to get pregnant and not have to have surgery again.

This book is written in a friendly and easy to read manner. It has a lot of information to absorb, but is what every woman with Endo should know. If you want to learn more and want to follow the guidelines provided then I strongly recommend this book. In only three months my life has changed. I understand my body like never before and am excited that following the suggestions in this book will lead me to my dream - pregnancy. After having purchased numerous books on Endo, it was nice to have one that finally answered my questions and was enjoyable.

This book is full of scientific information on the purity of essential oils and how to tell the difference between adulterated oils and pure therapeutic grade oils. It teaches the use of Young Living essential oils as following the French model of usage being that of ingestion, topical application and inhalation. Very safe guidelines for safe usage are well detailed so that anyone can teach themselves how to use them. This book covers subjects such as single oil data, oil blends, dietary supplements containing pure essential oils, the health benefits of Ningxia Red wolfberry juice, cleansing the body, hormonal balance, Raindrop massage technique, and there is a comprehensive section from A to Z on almost every health problem and how to use Young Living essential oils to help with these.

It is well written and claims are backed by research studies. I do not believe it would be wise to apply the information in this book to the use of oils other than Young Living's essential oils for reasons which will become obvious when studying the opening chapters about the importance of purity. This book should be used by all those who want nothing but the best information on how to use pure essential oils for complete health of mind and body.

The material is very easy to understand and the oil recipies work extremelly well. I use the book weekly with my children and for myself.

This book is essential for anyone using Young living essential oils. There is a bounty of information about its use and just knowledge of health in general.

I find this book very useful when I am looking answers about using essential oils. There is everything in here for health and feelings of well being and also information concerning pets. I would recommend this book.

I love this book. It is my favorite reference book to refer to for all my health and wellness needs. I have referred many of my friends and clients to this desk reference. It is Super !! Diane

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2YKHSV7PL40Y9 Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training

Learn the right forms for power lifting and weightlifting so you don't injure yourself when lifting. Even a 75-year-old woman will find this reference guide a useful fitness tool.

What I liked: coverage of the different types of weight training (power lifting, body building, etc.), great description of body shortcomings (too stiff, weak arms, shoulders) and possible remedies, form for different lifts, interesting Egyptian history and training methods over time (40+ yrs), Q&A section

What I didn't like: 1st edition binding unraveling, small print, overwhelming size of information, sometimes dry writing style

Who should buy this? those looking beyond the basics and wanting something more integrative & descriptive approach - whole body lifting

Although I am currently not in the best of shape, at one time I worked as a personal trainer and by education I was trained as a research scientist. I have graduate education in both physiology and biochemistry and have worked with some high end athletes including one Olympic level powerlifter. Currently, I am looking to use strength training again myself because I was sidelined for a number of years by a back and neck injury, this is the context for my interview.

The first thing I would like to say is that I own and have bought many books on strength training and most of them are not even in the same category as this book. Of the books that are out there, most of them say the same thing in different ways, make unsubstantiated claims or set unrealistic expectations. In short, this book is a welcome exception. It is well-organized, detailed, thorough, well-written and dense with valuable material.

A lot of the focus here is on training for powerlifting. However, it's also a great strength training text with lots of references. The scope of the book is ambitious and covers the proper way to perform important exercises, information about periodization, explanations of how different types of programs affect the body, the importance of coordination, etc.

In addition, this title has many useful diagrams, training ideas and references to actual studies. The information in it is very credible and much more than one person's opinion. I was also extremely impressed with the detailed descriptions of how each exercise works, the anatomy involved and the sections on physiology.

One might assume that a book like this would read like a text book in accounting or calculus (not that there is anything wrong with either of these subjects).... However, it sometimes difficult to be technically precise and at the same time engaging to the reader. On this account, Dr. El-Hewie has certainly succeeded.

Although this book is quite expensive, it covers a TREMENDOUS amount of ground in a reasonable space. It was clearly a labor of love and it is well worth every cent. Rather than wasting money on more of the same, I recommend getting a few good books. This is one I would NOT like to be without.

Another book that I saw recently for hard-gainers had a lot of good content in terms of building mass. I think it fell down a bit in the nutrition/supplement area, but it is much less expensive than this and covers a subset of this material that is most important to training properly for mass. This book is called From Scrawny to Brawny. There are a FEW other books I saw that I thought were quite good and I will be reviewing them in the near future. I will most likely be reviewing the ones I thought were quite bad as well.

Lastly, this book covers lots of nuances like nervous system adaptation, relationships between strength, mass and power. The importance of coordination and how to plan a path forward depending upon your goals. It's really one stop shopping for an athletic approach to strength training vs. bodybuilding. Bodybuilders will find a lot of great material here, but this is NOT the emphasis of this particular book.

The descriptions of the reviewers: Slavisa Nesic and Larry Wagner "Athlete, Analyst, Coach, Dad" in this list do an excellent review and detailed description of the book. I just wanted to add my voice, as a woman, that I found his book incredibly useful too.

As is stated, the emphasis of El Howie's book is on weight-lifting and power-lifting (which focuses more on strength) as compared with Bodybuilding (to get those shapely muscles that make our stomach flat and the rest of us curvaceous.) Women in general want to look great in a bikini and the Bodybuilding orientation is the way to go.

But he gives enough coverage to Body-building and nevertheless, he is meticulous about form.

The other two books I have liked in conjunction with this is Delavier's Strength Anatomy and his Women's Strength Training Anatomy (I recommend getting both whether you are male or female.) Those books give you very clear basics for form, lots of detailed diagrams and so forth. El Howie's book is extremely comprehensive.

There are various debates as to how often to work out, whether you should focus on just parts of the body each day at a time or workout the whole body in each session. There are also differences of opinion as to best plan your meals, whether and when you should do cardio in conjunction with the weight-lifting. It would be useful, if you are a first-timer, to go for Body for Life or some other program that involves lifting weights. At bottom, in my experience, how one comes out on the various debates invariable is what works best for them, whether physiologically, psychologically or schedule wise.

I just want to say to any woman reading this, if you don't already know, you will never get back or achieve that girlish figure if you don't lift weights and lift heavy weights. And you can no matter what you age.

Though I do not want to provide a link on an Amazon post, if you google John Stone 42 the first link that comes up should be "Fit Women over 42- 89 on parade." If you go to that link you will find tons of stories with pictures of women going through fantastic transformations starting at age 50, 60 and older. Don't ever believe you are "too old" or "too out of shape" to achieve this.

And El-Howie's book is a great reference for getting form down correctly to get the best results and not injure yourself.

The first edition of "Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy" was recommended to us some ten years ago and we decided to update to the 5th Edition. This volume contains nearly 50% more information on the advances in detection, treatment and prognoses of the various types of cancer. Not being a physician, I have found that the references are easily read and understandable. It provides insight on prevention and treatment.

Great strides are being made and this book gives inspiration and hope that our doctors will continue to attack cancer in all forms.

I recommend this reference book to all who want an authoritative source to understand the types and stages of most common cancers.


Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy; Revised 5th Edition: How Cancer Is Diagnosed, Treated, and Managed Day to Day (Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy)

Higly recommend. Great to have around so when you have questions this book will answer them, as we often have questions when a doctor is not around to answer them. Sometimes we may may not want to ask a question well this book lets you find your answers in the privacy of you home. I had 2 previos versions and I preordered this one as the others were very useful and this one has been also.

While working in a very large private hospital in Omaha, I worked in Radiation Oncology. Finding myself alone, without a nurse to teach me how to teach my patients, a friend suggested this book. I purchased it, devoured it and put the information to use, teaching my patients about treatment protocols, systems involved in their treatment process, in terms that they could understand. I recommended this book to many of them, they always returned to thank me for suggesting the book. CC

It is a wealth of information - that every person diagnosed with any type of cancer can benefit from. Having had 2 bouts with breast cancer, I have bought many books. This one is the best resource book I have found. I have loaned it out many times and everyone is thankful for the information.

It is written in an easy style, such that an average person can understand the language. It presents many questions for the patient & family to ask doctors, along with the many options available.

I highly recommend this for anyone who needs any type of information about cancer and it's treatments.

This book is a one stop guide to so many things involving therapies that it is hard to know where to start. Cancer nurses feel this is the best consumer book out there. Information is in plain English, simple terms, with lots of illustrations. Tons of referrals to agencies that may be helpful.