Medicine Books

If you like to track your energy to promote your health and/or vitality, this is an excellent reference book.

Touch for Health can help anyone, from physical to emotional. A must-have resource for anyone who wants an alternative to, or compliment Western medicine. This book is for the novice to the experienced, and a great reminder of how our emotions regulate our physical health.

This book is comprehensive for anyone interested in healing, pain management and insights into the physical, mental and emotional triggers of the body.It is easy to understand, both visually and literally.Touch for health: the complete edition,is a must have for body workers, therapists, and alternative practioners.

This edition has been phenomenally improved! I owned the original published more than thirty years ago. The photos and illustrations clearly demonstrate various tests, point locations, acupressure principles, etc. The binding and protective cover have been completely redesigned. This manual contains a wealth of proactive health balancing and maintainence information, well organized for those who are being first introduced to the system. The acupressure sections of the book contain a wealth of traditional and innovative new information presented clearly and concisely. Highly recommended.

Excellent revision--I have the older version of manual. This is really clear, concise and I like the new color tabs. New additional information is just wonderful--This is a quality manual and a "must-have" for all the professionals in the field of Energy Kinesiology!
A. walton, N.D.

The very nature of this topic is difficult to accept given its sadness. However, with only the very-well-made movie to capture its subject, this book helps define everything, thereafter. Nothing can alleviate the weight of its subject matter; but, it does help one to interpret the man, more than the mystique. Ultimately, it makes you glad that Mr. Merrick did have a graceful exit from life given the dire physical deformity that shaped it.

This book cannot help but touch every human being who reads it! With so many disabled people in our world, and our pre-occupation with appearances and the body beautiful, the elephant man story covers all the physical and emotional aspects of living with an extreme disability with dignity and humility for all readers to experience. Of course the help and support he and others must receive all helps. Peter Ford presents his extensive research findings on those that came to the elephant man's aid in a personable way. Although the film is based on his life, the book reflects Joseph Merrick's life in reality, politely comparing the differences between his film persona and his real life condition. It helped me to fill in the gaps left after watching the film and left me with a thankfulness of how well off my family and I are.

'Tis true my form is something odd
but blaming me is blaming God,
Could I create myself anew
I would not fail in pleasing you.

If I could reach from pole to pole
or grasp the ocean with a span,
I would be measured by the soul -
the mind's the standard of the man.

I bought this book many years ago, unfortunately I made the mistake of lending it to someone and I never got it back. This is a remarkable book. I was touched by Joseph Merrick years ago. For the past nine years, I have been running the Joseph Carey Merrick Tribute Website. It is a site dedicated to Joseph, the person - not Joseph, the disability. I'm presently heading a London and Leicester (UK) campaign to have a commemorative plaque erected in his honour. He deserves to have a permanent tribute. He has done a great deal to advance medical science, through his skeleton, and thanks to him, there will one day be a cure for Proteus Syndrome. It's time the world said 'thank you'. Please give your moral support by visiting the site. I'm not sure if web addresses can be mentioned here, so simply type the following in your web browser: Joseph Carey Merrick Tribute Website

With twelve viewings so far, David Lynch's "The Elephant Man" has been my favorite movie for about twenty years, indeed one of the very few movies I would call a masterpiece. So it is quite a mystery why I should have waited so long to read this biography of its protagonist, Joseph Carey Merrick, whom the movie, following errors in the source material itself, incorrectly names John.

Having already seen a decent BBC documentary on the subject ("The Curse of the Elephant Man"), I was not totally unaware of the facts of the case, and I already knew for instance that Joseph spent some time in the countryside, something which Lynch decided not to depict in his film so as to achieve a more complete immersion in his bleak, black and white vision of Victorian London (indeed, one type of shock a fan of the movie will encounter while reading the book comes from its occasional touches of colour : I remember being struck by the blue bunsene light that lit the Elephant Man's face when Treves first met him.)

What is most surprising about the book, is how the film managed to be so faithful to Merrick's psychology (Lynch's John is the true Joseph, not some Hollywood fantasy), while altering many elements in the background, most of the secondary characters being dramatically different.

To mention a few of the changes from reality to film :

Joseph's manager as a freak, Tom Norman, was turned by the screenplay into Freddie Jones' very Dickensian Bytes, who beat and exploited his freak. Actually, Tom Norman was one of the few decent persons whom Joseph encountered before his change of fortune, enabling him to save as much as £50 (enough to live for a year without working) over his short career. The true evil was in fact the British government, which decided to ban all exhibitions of freaks as indecent (and references to Joseph's "nakedness" suggests that they may well have been), thereby forcing them out of the market and depriving them of their livelihood. To the writers' discharge, though, it might be argued that the fictional Bytes was a composite of Norman and the evil Austrian impresario who robbed Joseph of his savings in Belgium, which somewhat minimizes the gratuitousness of an all-too-typical Hollywood slur on the entrepreneur.

One of the famous scenes of the movie, in which Joseph attends a pantomime, is asked by Treves to "stand up" before the audience and is applauded by them, is a complete reversal of the true incident. Actually, Joseph attended the show incognito, and the most stringent precautions were taken to keep the rest of the audience unaware of his arrival, presence and departure (but then, the screenwriters needed their second "stand up" scene for dramatic reasons.)

In the film, Anne Bancroft's Mrs Kendal is shown visiting Joseph regularly at the hospital. Actually, the actress never met him in person, though she did send him her photograph and other presents. On the other hand, Princess Alexandra, who is shown much more sparingly in the film, did visit him several times, and send him Christmas cards.

The scene in which Michael Elphick's night porter introduces a bunch of drunks and prostitutes into Joseph's rooms may also be an exaggeration from much more minor real-life incidents. Also, on his return to London, Joseph did not find refuge in the toilets, but in the waiting room of the railway station. As for the model church he made, Lynch hides the fact that Joseph was actually using commercialized cut-and-assemble models from the local bookstore, which the nurses helped him assemble. The film makes it appear that Joseph had some wonderful artistic gift and was very dexterous, whereas his enormous right hand prevented him from even working in the cigar industry.

One thing I was curious about was Joseph's religion, as the film has very little to say about it, or about religion at the hospital in general. His mother was a Baptist, and the Bible was a book he had read several times over. When at the London Hospital, he was "confirmed" by an Anglican "bishop" (I am using scare quotes because as a Catholic I believe Anglican "bishops" are not validly ordained and, being mere laymen, do not have the power to confirm anyone) and allowed to participate in church services at the chapel.

Howell and Ford's book is truly a biography everyone should read. It gives an excellent picture of Victorian London, conditions in Poor Houses, the whole milieu of country fairs and freak shows and life at the London Hospital. It also contains a two-page autobiographical piece by Joseph himself, and the relevant extract from Treves' famous "The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences", but it is well-researched enough to point out the few errors and inaccuracies in these primary sources themselves. It also corrects erroneous interpretations in Ashley Montagu's earlier book on the subject.

All in all, this is a superb read, which could serve as concrete argument against a culture of death which is too ready to consider some lives not worth living. "Happy every hour of the day", after all, was how Joseph himself described his life at the hospital. And his happiness is one of the things most readers will paradoxically end up envying him.

Very good and in-depth book on the life of not only Joseph Merrick, but also Mr. Treves and many other people who happened into his life. Can you imagine even for one minute being in this guys shoes? I mean can any of us even begin to grasp the sort of life Joseph must of had to deal with? Can you imagine being so utterly repulsive looking (sorry, but he was) that just one glance at your face would make people flee, children cry, and women pass out, I mean think about just how horrible that would have been. He also suffered from chronic pain, and smelled something awful. Yet, beyond that he was such a kind, gentle, shy, caring, lovable and curious individual, who by all accounts would of been completely normal and was highly intelligent. What a life, what a great true story of a very strong determined soul.

Mr. Alton does a commendable job of combining Eastern and Western medicinal philosophies, with easy-to-understand chapters and diagrams. I've been fortunate to live in Charlottesville and study with Mr. Alton. This book gives everyone not located in the Charlottesville area the opportunity to take advantage of "Unified Fitness". The system is easy to follow and well laid out in the book. The ultimate result does depend on the individual. "Unified Fitness" has to be incorporated into your life to obtain the most benefit.

"Unified Fitness" combines mind and body exercises that really work. Alton also touches on diet and coping with stress in the modern world in addition to examining the micro-biology of his program's effects. Mr. Alton has an extensive background in Qigong, Martial Arts, and Eastern/Western medicine. For someone who is looking for peace of mind and body, I couldn't recommend a better book for your overall health.

Mr. Alton does a commendable job of combining Eastern and Western medicinal philosophies, with easy-to-understand chapters and diagrams. I've been fortunate to live in Charlottesville and study with Mr. Alton. This book gives everyone not located in the Charlottesville area the opportunity to take advantage of "Unified Fitness". The system is easy to follow and well laid out in the book. The ultimate result does depend on the individual. "Unified Fitness" has to be incorporated into your life to obtain the most benefit.

"Unified Fitness" combines mind and body exercises that really work. Alton also touches on diet and coping with stress in the modern world in addition to examining the micro-biology of his program's effects. Mr. Alton has an extensive background in Qigong, Martial Arts, and Eastern/Western medicine. For someone who is looking for peace of mind and body, I couldn't recommend a better book for your overall health.

I have read all the gushing glowing reviews and thought I would add my 2 cents, as a nonchalant reader of this book. If you take the "35 days" in the title seriously, you should be prepared to spend most of your waking hours with this book during those days.

I have been less dedicated, and more attached to my normal life habits, and therefore haven't persued the whole program. I'm also not sick, just slightly out of shape. I used to practice tai chi daily for several years, but have fallen out of practice.

That being said, I have benefited from the stretching routine that John recommends in the beginning of the book. I haven't ever seen any other regimented stretching program which does a good job for the shoulders and trunk of the body. There are also a lot of good ideas for stretching the legs and lower back. So I have found a lot of value from just the first ten pages of the book.

Be careful. Anybody reading this book should trust their own body before trusting John's authoritative writing style. If you follow his suggestions mindlessly, you will probably hurt yourself.

I deducted a star from the rating because of the poor quality of the binding of my copy of the book. Pages were falling out. I had to take it to a print shop and get it rebound with a spiral. Now it is much easier to lay it flat and refer to it while stretching.

Unified Fitness is awesome! As a high stress, type "A" person, I've tried every mind-body practice out there: biofeedback, mindfulness-based meditation, yoga, etc. Unified Fitness is the only practice that has provided tangible results and real, lasting benefits. By combining traditional exercise with mind-body techniques that actually work, John Alton has created a program that resonates with those of us who are not completely comfortable with many of the new age or purely spirituality-based practices that one typically finds. It takes some effort and time, but the results are nothing short of astounding! Buy it, read it, practice it and you just might change your life.

John Alton's Unified Fitness presents a powerful new practical vision of traditional Asian healing and contemplative practices. Working with an intimate knowledge of traditional Chinese practices, he has reformulated the entire system from the ground up based on its core principles to create a new process designed to suit contemporary lifestyles and realities. The book cuts through the difficulties of traditional presentations, as well as the superficiality of so many contemporary "manuals", to achieve a rare and powerful synthesis with potent results for personal physical and mental health. Despite being an associate Professor at the University of Virginia in Tibetan Buddhist Studies specializing in contemplative systems with many years of research in Tibet itself, I have seen few contemporary models so deeply based in Asian healing-contemplative traditions, and yet so precisely and powerfully reorganized for a contemporary audience. I highly recommend Unified Fitness.

A wonderful collection of wisdom from a man who never ceases to amaze me.

Easy to read, profound thoughts that take just enough time to start the day. Wise reminders of how to live.

I have spent several years reading the Bible daily and various "thoughts of the day" pamphlets that you get through church. At least where I am in my spiritual development (at this time, looking inward for God vs. externally and learning about other philosophies such as Buddism to see what insights I can gain), I find this to be very rewarding and inspirational. I particularly like that Tolstoy used Christianity as the basis but also looked to other philosophies, which he includes.

I bought this book as an afterthought when I purchased Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is Within Us. I'm so glad that I bought it because it's easy to pick up and read each day, and I'm getting a lot out of it. The Kingdom book is more intensive read in terms of actual reading so other books have caught my interest first. This book is one of them.

Tolstoy's words resonate among those who have suffered and sought truth within the human condition. He has a way of pulling hope from the cruelest times and peace in dashing the sorrow when we think we suffer alone.

I had the fortunate job of proof reading and minor editing of this book, for translater Peter Sekerin. As I spent the many hours doing so, I found that Tolstoy's thoughts and wisdom, as you continue to read him over and over, almost permeates your thoguhts and come to mind as you go through out your day. He was a very wise and learned man, but also a very practical one. This project in its entirety are the deep thoughts of a man willing to be changed by his God, who examined and reflected thoughtfully on the world around him. In Tolstoy's footsteps, I find Peter Sekerin on a similar journey. He was and is the right man to take on this book. May you be blessed as you read Tolstoy's writings as rediscovered and presented by Peter Sekirin.

This beautifully written book is a tremendous help for cancer patients, family and friends of cancer patients, and anyone interested in good health. Carol's courageous attitude is an inspiration to all. You will not be disappointed with this book!

I read this book to gain insight into what it is like to live with advanced breast cancer. It has given me a new-found empathy. The author writes in an open and extremely honest way that is both informative and enlightening. Her tone is positive and encouraging. This book stresses the importance of being involved in one's medical decisions and challenges patients to educate themselves from a variety of sources. I think this empowerment concept can be applied to many medical conditions people face. Learning about endobiogenie is intriguing. Also, the included resource and recommended reading lists are very helpful.

I found this gem quite by accident when attending a conference on breast cancer. The title caught my attention because I have long felt that the beaurocracy of the FDA and other parties in the US have reduced alternatives available to those who hear "You have cancer."

This book is informative, yet reads somewhat like a novel. It is not only applicable to breat cancer but to almost anyone who has cancer or a family member or friend that does.(this likely is the entire population)
It details that you have to be your own medical advocate and the author's courage is an inspiration to all.

We are definately going to check out the alternative method in the book. I like the fact that there is science involved. A search of the web has so many snake oil salespeople that would want you to believe they are the next Jonas Salk, this book is informative real life, real answers.

Thank you Carol!!

I don't normally write reviews, but this book warrants one wholeheartedly. My mother was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 BC and I bought the book for myself, with the intent to read a patient's own life story and learn more about alternative treatments. I read the book in one sitting and immediately sent it off to my mother. It has been a source of TREMENDOUS comfort to her because this book is like having a friend who's 'been there' and makes everything just a little less scary because she's read about it ahead of time. A lot of books out there are targeted towards women with early stage BC (1 or 2)...this is a GREAT book for women with Stage 3 and 4 BC. I wholeheartedly recommend it. My mother references it all the time...I'm buying a replacement copy for myself.

This book would not only be a very informative read for any woman dealing with breast cancer, but truly would be helpful to nearly any cancer patient. The author has written the book from her perspective and experiences with advanced breast cancer, but she touches on issues that many cancer patients face (the initial shock of diagnosis, the disparity in examination and treatment thoroughness among doctors, chemotherapy, decision making and long-term treatment options, alternative treatments, etc.). Being someone close to a cancer patient/survivor, I found the book to be very informative and helpful in gaining some insight as to what a cancer patient goes through (mentally and physically). Mechanically, the book flows nicely and is an easy read. It can be finished in an afternoon. The chapter on endobiogene is worth the price of the book alone and should be read by every cancer patient and every doctor and/or med student.

The book's title might be "Learning How To Do Yoga Without Turning Yourself Into A Pretzel. No doubt, Mastering the Basic is a better choice for the book's title. The trick to doing yoga is knowing the preliminary moves that eases one into the posture without strain or exertion. This book does just that with illustrations and concise easy to follow text printed next to the illustration.

Make no mistake about it, yoga can become "entwining" but this book stops short of that. From the most elementary posture one progresses to more complicated postures in what seems effortless. The result is, "Hey, look what I can do.".

Therefore knowing what to do and how to do it makes all the difference in the world in sticking with your yoga practice and this book does exactly that. If you ever wanted to learn how to do yoga this book would be a big help in getting you started down that path.

I am reviewing the DVD which has two programs: Flexibility Strength and Balance and Deepen & Strengthen.

This dvd is great for beginners. You are lead through a series of warm-ups that are basic to all yoga moves. You learn how to move and hold the body which is essential for a good yoga foundation. There are two sessions. I prefer the Flexibility session to the Deepen and Strengthen.
The 2nd session makes you hold the positions for long periods. The young woman demonstrating the moves is Amazing! This is probably "old school" for many people, but without the foundation, you might as well just be exercising. Not for every day use, but great when I don't feel like twisting my spine into a pretzel.

I feel this book does what it says, covers the basics. It's easy to read and the pictures clearly show each pose. There is more to read than expected, and it is all beginner-friendly & not over-kill at all. A good book that provides exactly what it says it will.

This Hatha Yoga manual is authentic, clear, thorough, precise and well illustrated. For each posture, there is at least one illustrative photo. All the postures are scientifically sequenced. As a Yoga student of the same tradition, I recommend this book to all Yoga students and teachers without reservation.

This is an excellent and thorough introduction to yoga including the philosophical foundation and context for a meaningful practice. It has a great progressive program and provides a complete and comprehensive rationale for following it. It is well-organized, contains a lot of material, is very readable and very accessible to anyone. It is also printed on very quality paper, has excellent illustrations and is quite a bargain at this price. Highly recommeneded by this reviewer and I see a lot of yoga books!

Where would we be without humor in the world? Would you want to live in a world without humor? I don't think so!

The author begins by giving us a definition of a "highly humorous person". He describes this type of person as someone you will be drawn to and want to spend time with. You will enjoy their company no matter what your surroundings might be. Most people possess these traits; however, few reach their potential of being a highly humorous person.

The author then goes on to explain the 7½ habits of highly humorous people. You will find it interesting that the first one listed is only "The Half Habit" - Mastering your thoughts. David explains that you don't need the whole habit in order for it to be effective.

On a very personal note, when the author talks about the ½ habit, he tells the readers that ten years ago psoriatic arthritis seized many of his joints and as a result changed his self-image. He entered a bicycle race which was a fundraising event and managed to cross the finish line after 115 miles. He received the Jim Elliott Award which is given to someone with a chronic illness who is not the normal type of person to compete against healthy individuals. David also received a silver medal. Due to all the media attention, he was considered the person the next year to win the gold medal. However, on David's first training ride the next year, his knees and back prevented him from going past one mile. David began to feel depressed. After all, he was the inspiration to many and now he could not ride the bike for more than a mile. Also, his ego was involved. For a moment, David felt his only choice was to give up. This was a negative thought and he had to bring in some humor to help him out of this situation. It didn't take David very long to come up with the idea of riding a unicycle in the race. His goal was to ride the unicycle 50 miles. It was difficult because of the cold and wind and after 48 miles his body told him it was time to quit. Did he? No way. David's humor came into play and he told himself to go another couple of miles and he could laugh and tell his grandchildren about this one day!

I found the chapter on Self-Effacing Humor very interesting. The author states that you should know your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Poke some fun at yourself in order to open some communication. When you laugh at yourself, it is a very healthy form of humor.

There are many other interesting parts of this book but I don't want to spoil it for anyone so I will stop here.

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew I was in for a treat! Did you ever give much thought about the meaning of humor? David M. Jacobson has written a guide to humor and this book shows the reader just how talented this author is when it comes to writing. As you go through each section of this book, you will find them both funny and serious at the same time. The author has delivered a book that is written in a very clever manner. He has incorporated some ideas that I never would have thought of doing such as adding a backward instead of a foreword, a preface that lists things we can do with this book if we don't like it, a postface and a fast foreword. David Jacobson does an excellent job of showing the important role that humor plays in our lives. This is a very well written book. What I really enjoyed most about it is the way the writer includes many of his own personal obstacles in life and added the results of how humor has helped him work his way through it all. It just goes to prove that no matter what happens, we need to just sit back, relax and try to put some humor into our thoughts. Maybe things won't look so bad after that. As you read through this book, you will come across many statements made by David that make so much sense. You will find yourself thinking "Wow! That is so true." This is an inspirational read as well as one that you will find thoroughly entertaining. This is a fast paced book that you could read in a couple of hours so get ready to sit back, relax and enjoy David Jacobson's humor "therapy". I highly recommend "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People".

I could tell by the silly man on the cover of the book, it was an unusual book -112 pages of extremely good advise.
The reader needs to know this is not a joke book. There are plenty of them in bookstores. No, this is a serious humorous book, if that is possible. Jacobson has been a very ill person and he used humor and other special qualities to get him through to where he is today: brilliant, vibrant and living a life of "helping others" and making people laugh.
He believes that humor can change your life for the better; that humor can get you through the most catastrophic events of your life. Jacobson says that "a highly humorous person is the most resilient person on the planet."
The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Humorous People will make you smile, laugh and find more inspiration than you can imagine. For many occassions buying a few of these books will be the "perfect" gift!

Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (3/08)

David M. Jacobson, MSW, LCSW is a professional speaker, licensed psychotherapist and social worker. He is a self-proclaimed international expert in humor and health and is also President of Humor Horizons. Among his other affiliations is the National Speakers Association. David received the National Hero Overcoming Arthritis Award and the Arthritis Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been presented with the "Joy Mask" for his work with the Korean Broadcasting System, The President's Award from Flashnet Marketing and the Jim Elliot Award for his fund-raising, 50-mile unicycle ride. David also served on the Arizona's Governor's Office for Children's Justice Task Force.

Mr. Jacobson's book was a pleasant surprise compared to some of the other comical editions by others. His mixture of poetry and prose brought a refreshing tone to this little 120-page volume.

David explains the seven and a half habits in this way, beginning with "The Half Habit." "The half habit: This is a half habit because you don't need the whole habit in order for you to be effective." He goes on to say that it is the most difficult habit to maintain because it is the habit of changing your thoughts.

Habit number one he says is to treat humor as a necessity. As much as using the bathroom is a necessity, so is humor--placing an importance on treating your sense of humor as high up as a basic bodily function.
Habit number two is termed "Use Self-effacing humor."
What it is and how to use it, when making yourself the butt of a joke.
The third habit is very self-explanatory. "Keep your eyes open for humorous situations or create them with your imagination."
Habit number four begins with a cute poem and is titled, "Use the Power of Humor and its positive influence on your own self and that of others."
Habit five goes into detail on how to use your humorous imagination to improve your communication. This chapter deals with the ability to communicate with others.
In habit number six, David throws in his own words that are not in Webster's.
"Humorize with Humorgy," he professes that your whole life will change.
The grand finale comes in habit seven when David says, "Act like the highly humorous person you've become or are becoming."

I enjoyed "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People," and think it would make a nice addition to a library. It's a well-worded, funny little book that would make great reading on an airplane. I gave it a B and that was only because I did not find all the photos as funny as the verbiage.

The book "The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Humorous People" by David, M. Jacobson is good reading and very funny. I enjoyed reading it and it is improving the quality of my life every day by looking for the humor in stressful situations.

Life is funny if you let it be. Even when you feel like it shouldn't be, deep down in your spirit there is humor waiting to giggle out into the world. David M. Jacobson reminds us to let the laughter loose in his book, "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People." It isn't a joke book, but it is a delightful reminder to watch for the jokes in life, even, or maybe especially, the ones that are on you.

David has had his fair share of jokes played on him. Is he bitter? Not that I could tell. He emits happiness through the pages of his book. He shares joy and it's contagious. Be warned that you will not be able to read this book without cracking a smile and likely will come away from it a better person. Of the 7 ½ habits you'll learn about, I think the half habit is the most important and the best way to get started on changing your life. Simply, it is to change the way you think. Not a simple task! Turning the negative thought into a positive one is challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable. What finding the positive does for yourself is life changing, and the thoughts you share with others can have a profound influence on them. The other 7 habits are equally reflective and uplifting, from realizing that humor is a necessity to humorizing with humorgy (you'll have to read the book to find out what that means!); the lessons within this book are not meant to simply help a class clown to develop his style but to show the world the power of laughter.

David uses his self proclaimed necessary self-effacing humor to open his world to the reader. It becomes very easy to understand how he needed to let out those giggles and how it changed his life. Throughout the book he throws in one liners and obtuse observations and this made me laugh out loud. It is a funny read, but also a wonderful life lesson guide. Would you go to a guru who sits atop a unicycle? Maybe you should. This book is well written and easily accepted as truth. It holds deep insights regarding inner spirit and higher powers, and interpretations of classic comedy. This is a mix you cannot miss! (this book review was written by another person ... i found it on the internet ... but you must buy this book today ... it is a must read!!!)

This book has proven to be an excellent resource for interfacing with other Therapists who are unfamiliar with hypnosis. Many traditional counselors fail to see the relevance of hypnosis in their practice. This book is very easy to follow and provides a great set of tools for use with over-reactive clients. It can help Hypnotherapists understand how to interact with traditional counselors to improve results with their clients, as well as the therapist themself, to whom it is directed.

As Daitch explains, people who are over-reactive pay dearly for their emotional styles in the untold sacrifice of their peace of mind and the diminished satisfaction in their lives. They find it difficult to do one or more of the following:
* Make decisions using rational judgments
* Remain calm and clear in the face of stress
* Observe and reflect on their emotions and behavior
* Tolerate uncomfortable, "negative" affect or concurrent conflicting emotions
* Tolerate criticism without defensiveness
* Suspend judgment
* Soothe themselves or their partners
* Consider positive, objective interpretations of events or communications

A stress reaction is triggered very quickly. One must offer an intervention that is powerful enough for the person to gain control of inappropriate or excessive response. Simply providing insight or teaching them to reinterpret triggers alone is often insufficient. One must consider diffusing the stress response first before a change in reaction is possible.

Immediate benefits of Hypnotherapy to clients include:

* Stop escalation of conflict with others
* Have tolerance when experiencing difficult emotions
* Handle a juxtaposition of different emotions
* Remain calm and flexible within stressful situations

Long term benefits to clients include:

* More resiliency in the face of long-term stress/conflict
* Significant reduction in symptoms of stress disorders
* Increased maturity and spiritual development
* Greater receptivity to the wisdom of others
* Increased trust and connection with others and self
* A healthier sense of self (self-esteem, productive perspective)
* Elevated positive affect

By working with a Hypnotherapist, a variety of quick and easy to learn techniques can be learned that help clients maintain, in their daily lives, the dramatic emotional shifts they experience in the therapists office.

This compelling new book bridges the gap for therapists who may not have specialized training in hypnotherapy. Dr. Daitch's overview of the origins and dynamics of emotional and physiological arousal are a potent prelude to a comprehensive array of interventions that can be used to enhance the client's ability to quiet the mind and reduce emotional reactivity. She also effectively outlines scripts that strengthen the client's capacity for self-reflection without judgment and shame. Affect Regulation Toolbox is a wonderful contribution from a seasoned psychologist and deserves to be a part of every therapist's essential library.

"Affect Regulation Toolbox" by Carolyn Daitch PhD
March 1, 2007 (ISBN 10:0-393-70495-5)
Review by Dr. Sandra E. S. Neil

As Claire Frederick M.D., says in her foreward to Dr. Carolyn Daitch's book" `Affect Regulation Toolbox' is a clinical classic". It seems appropriate to comment that these affect regulation skills are used as part of hypnotherapy by Dr. Daitch in her own practice. However, as presented by Dr. Daitch at the International Council of Psychologists workshop in Kos, Greece in July 2006, these skills can also stand in their own right, and could easily be used in non-hypnotic therapies.

The book comprises a collection of therapeutic interventions, consisting of four components, or as Dr. Daitch calls them "Tiers". Tier 1 is recognition of an overreaction, and initiation of a brief pause to interrupt it. Tier 2 is standard hypnotic induction and deepening techniques. Tier 3 is a set of tools aimed at shifting unhealthy reactive styles. Tier 4 comprises tools to address therapeutic transfer of suggestion and practice.

Dr. Daitch describes symptoms of anxiety disorders including the following: uncontrollable worry, panic attacks, poor concentration, addictive behaviours, obsessive thoughts and phobias (page 25). Further, she describes anxiety in relationships; she sees overly reactive behaviours to be at the core of many troubled relationships. These typically include: escalation and conflict, disconnection from each other emotionally, inability to access positive affect and inability to practise beneficial therapeutic behaviours. This augurs poorly for the future of the relationship when two people experience such negative states every time they enter a conflict situation.

In Chapters 4-6, Dr. Daitch looks at ways of diminishing over-reactivity, by using a set of skills, and I recommend the reader read these themselves (page 28). It makes excellent reading and excellent clinical practice.
1. Identifying the start of an overreaction and responding appropriately,
2. Calming and focussing.
3. Mindfulness.
4. Somatic awareness and cues.
5. Impulse control.
6. Co-existing affective states.
7. Resource utilisation.
8. Positive affect development.

Dr. Daitch says that it is the mastery of these skills, in the midst of stress and conflict, that will truly enable patients to experience freedom from the heightened emotions and reactions that keep them trapped for so long.

In Chapter 9, "Application of Tools with Severe Anxiety Disorders", Dr. Daitch uses tools from Tiers 1 and 2, before using tools from Tier 3 to address a Panic Disorder. Further the patient is given strategies from Tier 4 that she can implement in her daily life. These include tight fist, mindfulness with detached observation, mindfulness and releasing, sensory cue/anchor, age progression short-term and long-term, imaginary support circle and parts of yourself (very reminiscent of Virginia Satir's Parts Party).

In Chapter 10, Dr. Daitch applies these rules within a marital, committed relationship. These include Gottman's description of the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" as applied to couples - the four main destructive behaviours which are often evident in failing marriages: criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling (Page 186).

Dr. Daitch's gives an example of a couple at marital war with each other, Jonathon and Janice, who attend for therapy. Dr. Daitch lays out her treatment goals as follows:
* Diminish defensiveness by each taking responsibility and owning their parts in conflict
* Practise active listening or mirroring
* Validate and empathize
* Practise using visualisation to rehearse effective communication
* Help the couple learn from each other's adaptive style
* Contain verbally damaging exchanges
* Increase empathy
* Close `exits' (that is, activities which are designed with the express purpose of avoiding each other)
* Establish `date nights' away from the children
* Develop positive expectations about the relationship and experience regular positive affect
* Increase the awareness of the impact of verbal and nonverbal communication

The tools which she used for Jonathon and Janice were `Arm and Leg Heaviness', and `Parts of the Self'.

Chapter 12 is called "Roadblocks and Challenges". The most significant challenge to a therapist's successful implementation of the Toolbox is getting the patients to practise. She also talks about working with those who have low hypnotisability, managing resistance from different perspectives, and matching tools with client needs and styles.

In the epilogue, in which she focuses on the therapist, she describes how we have to learn to trust our own voice and style. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and self-acceptance for the therapist. Daitch quotes Louise Hay, stating that the most important thing the therapist can do for their patients is to love themselves, and stop self-criticism.

After 36 years of clinical practice myself, I believe that Dr. Daitch's therapeutic tools are very useful, and I have used variations of them in different ways and in different situations throughout my own career. "Affect Regulation Toolbox" is an invaluable resource, allowing patients to maintain a healthy response to stress, and facilitate effective clinical work for a happier life. Dr. Carolyn Daitch has done a service to the whole field of psychotherapy.


Dr Sandra E S Neil PhD, MA (Clinical Psychology), BA, BEd (Counselling), FAPS
Clinical Psychologist and Family Psychologist
Fellow, Australian Psychological Society
Past-President, International Council of Psychologists
World Area Chair, International Council of Psychologists
International Affiliate of American Psychological Association
Australian National Representative International Academy of Family Psychology
Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists
APS Division of Independently Practising Psychologists
Member, Australian College of Psychologists in Clinical Private Practice
Member, Avanta Virginia Satir Network and IHLRN

As the director of The Denver School Of Hypnotherapy, I am always looking for really good books on hypnosis/therapy to use as a textbook or to put on our recommended reading list, and this book fills both needs. About 1/3 of the way into the book, I had decided to use it as one of our main textbooks, replacing one we have used since the school opened. Ms Daitchs' professional easy to read style of writing makes this book a must for any psychotherapist who wants to expand his/her practice and offer the best support possible to clients. When Ms Daitch states, "For clinicians who are discouraged with unsuccessful traditional psychotherapeutic methods and want to be able to offer their over-reactive clients explicit strategies with long-term results, Affect Regulation Toolbox is an invaluable resource..." I couldn't agree with her more. This book gets two thumbs up and 5 stars from me

Pam Mills, CCHt
Board Certified Counseling Clinical Hypnotherapist
Director of The Denver School Of Hypnotherapy

This is a practical book that both seasoned and newly trained clinicians will love. Written by a highly experienced therapist, it fills a void that has existed in therapy literature on the topic methods for helping patients with affect regulation issues.

Dr. Daitch has compiled more than 30 specific self-regulatory skill sets. She describes them for the therapist along with the indications for their use, and then models the practical language in the form of a script. Therapists are not going to get bogged down in this book, but will be able to easily and rapidly begin using what they read. The techniques are specifically tailored for use with over-reactive types of patients-the population where traditional talk therapy commonly proves frustrating and inadequate. The methods are applicable to either individual or couples therapy.

A valuable table at the beginning of the book recommends which of the techniques may be most applicable in the treatment of conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, PTSD, and phobias. The table also guides the clinician to the most appropriate techniques for reducing various symptoms such as worry and rumination, counterproductive thoughts, self-criticism, hopelessness, fear of the future, irritability, insomnia, somatic distress, hypervigilence withdrawal, codependency, and feelings of abandonment. The practitioner is also directed to which techniques are most applicable for the enhancement of resiliency, self-efficacy and self-esteem, self-soothing, skill rehearsal, impulse control, positive affect, empathy, positive expectancy, detached observation, emotional connection, and mental flexibility.

The author begins by assisting other therapists to understand over-reactivity and then provides a scholarly overview chapter on the psychophysiology of emotional reactivity. The remainder of the book is very pragmatic. One chapter focuses on helping clients identify the start of an over-reaction and how to respond appropriately. Another chapter is on focusing attention and calming strategies. Still other chapters concentrate on healing strategies, behavioral and practice session rehearsal, tools for common anxiety disorders, tools for severe anxiety disorders, tools for use in relationship therapy, and tools for use in parent/child, sibling, work, and friendship relationships.

As each technique is introduced the author lists the 4-5 goals of the method. The practical wording of a script is then modeled for the reader, followed by a commentary and sometimes an example. Thus the book provides the therapist with techniques that he or she can begin to immediately use in treatment, providing the patient with new, practical skills for affect regulation which they may then be assigned as home work. A final chapter assists the reader in handling roadblocks and challenges (e.g., noncompliance with practice sessions and resistance).

Although many of the techniques have their origin in hypnosis and cognitive behavior therapy, a high level of sophistication in either of these approaches is not essential to finding the book useful clinically. An appendix provides therapists with further useful resources, including videotapes, books and sources of training, as well as resources for clients (workbooks, CD's). I highly recommend this book.

David Spero wrote a helpful and positive book for anyone facing life with illness. It was well written and covered all the key issues for living successfully with chronic illness. He offers a wide range of solutions to help others improve their quality of life as well as shift their attitudes about illness in general. I could see my own journey in the book and thought it captured the essence of illness as a powerful spiritual teacher.

The Art of Getting Well, by David Spero, is a very informative, enjoyable, and inspiring book for those of us with chronic illnesses. David has included many helpful examples, from his own and other's lives, of what works and what doesn't. He describes standard and alternative treatment options for the reader to consider. He also gives many valuable ideas to help the chronically ill have better lives whether or not their condition improves. I highly recommend this book.

One reviewer mentioned that the authors writes in a chatty, conversational tone--that's an accurate description. I found this book an easy read and very insightful and useful for helping me get on track to recovering and caring for myself, as well as preventing future relapses.

The author recommends useful tips for recovering from an illness: put your life before your illness, listen to your body, conserve your energy for healing, change the things that harm you, and get the help you need. His recommendations come from what's worked for patients, friends, family members, and a lit review of what other authors have written.

Thanks to the tips in The Art of Getting Well, I feel better equipped to recognize when I feel stressed, to calm myself down in a soothing way, to recognize the signs and ask for help when I need it, and visualize healing and becoming the healthy person I want to be, to honoring myself by putting myself first without negatively impacting others.

This is a book I will keep on my shelves to reflect upon for years to come.

Genre: Health/Self Healing

Title: The Art of Getting Well

Author: David Spero, R.N.

"Illness is the best teacher, awareness is the best medicine, self care is the best care." David Spero's health-coaching motto.

They say timing is everything, very true of the arrival of this book for my review. After lying awake most of the night with my throbbing limbs, hands and feet, I opened my package and thought "Oh no, not another self help book." Ultimately I quickly changed my mind as I started to read this practical and informative guide to a 5 step program for recovery. The aim of this book is to provide a key to improving our quality of life and even possibly improve our overall condition.

The book is based on science and medicine and readers will find references in the back of the book. David Spero's own professional and personal experience provides the background and basis. It has been written for the millions of people suffering from a "chronic" or "progressive" condition and all caregivers. I believe anyone that reads it would benefit.

Included are true stories, easy to identify with, where to get help, how to ask for it but most importantly, the book encourages readers to take responsibility for themselves. Educate yourself about your condition, identify your body's signals and be proactive in the course of treatment. Perhaps the first step is to understand that we DESERVE to be able to take the time to help ourselves, slow down and enjoy our lives. Pain is a personal experience and to each individual it is `very real.'

The author, David Spero R.N. has devoted over 30 years as an R.N./Health Coach, specializing in chronic illnesses. His goal is to maximize the quality of life of his patients. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis approximately 20 years ago. He has personally experienced illness and has learned how to help himself and improve his situation. His book is well written in a warm and caring way, inspiring readers to live their lives as successfully as possible. In this reviewer's opinion, he has achieved his goal. He shares his depth of knowledge and confirms his motto. After reading Chapter 1 your will want to finish it quickly, then reread it in detail as you set up your own program for wellness.

I Thank you David, for setting me on a realistic course and highly recommend this book. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Reviews

You don't have to have a chronic illness to get a lot out of Spero's "The Art of Getting Well." Maybe that's because living in our fast paced and relatively crazed culture qualifies all of us as chronically ill. Whatever the case, the accessible style and reassuring tone of this book give you the confidence and motivation to make real changes in your life. I'm especially pleased that Spero does not fall into the "blame the victim" camp. Getting sick is not our fault, although we can have a say in how or whether we get well, up to a point. Sometimes our luck runs out, but our spirit can still remain strong, furthered along by the compassion of bonafide healers and primo storytellers like Spero. Get two: one for yourself and one for a friend.

Most of us believe that emotions have an impact on health--emotional stress often leads to illness and bad environments definitely changes our moods and our health. But...just how do immune defenses work, does the brain really send messages to our body to protect it from the impact of stress or lead us to get sick? How do we get the balance of healthy performance and stress right? This extraordinarily well-written book describes the mechanisms relying heavily on current research and does so with exquisite references to history and descriptions of real situations. Sternberg writes so well that many of the emotions she discusses are evoked for the reader. It challenges mainstream linking without promoting simple-minded extreme new age therapies. It shows how a balanced life can be the healthiest lifestyle. This delightful journey through the body is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how stress and immune responses really work.

This is a beautifully well-written book. Mind body-books can be arrogant or too ethereal.
Dr Sternberg succeeded to write a thoroughly researched and referenced book that is also a fun book to read. This book is really helpful to understand how your mind functions. It is worth reading and re-reading.

I am a writer who is currently at work on a book on my living through colon cancer. I was diagnosed at age 47 with Duke's C-3 colon cancer. Because of the early onset of my disease, I was three years too young to be considered for routine colon cancer screening, which doctors are supposed to offer to patients when they reach age 50. I was lucky. Even with one year of chemotherapy (due to minor lymph node involvement) medical textbooks and doctors said my chances of surviving five years (a five year colon cancer survivor is considered "cured") were about 35 percent. Now, seven years later, I can say that Esther Sternberg's work validates some key elements of the survival strategy I developed for myself that links health and wellness and emotions.

Sternberg flies in the face of conventional medical wisdom by providing proof that stress can make you sick. She provides evidence that the immune system can be trained, citing the work of Bob Ader and Nick Cohen. And she offers evidence that nerve chemicals or hormones can affect immune-cell function in a physiological way.

This is ironic considering that when you ask a psychiatrist or even a psychopharmachologist how the latest generation of SSRI anti-depression/anti-anxiety drugs (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa etc.) work, the answer is that they are not exactly sure.

The medical establishment in the US tends to hive off the debate about health and emotions (the mind-body connection) to the area of alternative medicine. New age healing and some of the Eastern approaches tend to overlook the scientific connection. Sternberg taps history and science to frame the issue and if it were simpled down to the level of a mass market audience her book would be a best seller.

This well written & interesting book became my bible in learning how stress can influence and/or cause an autoimmune attack. Understanding the connection between mind and body, and learning to cope with stress, is paramount to a complete recovery, so well explained by Dr. Sternberg.

This book is useful for students, scientists, and those who are otherwise interested in integrative medicine. Sternberg augments her explanation of the stress-immune connection with interesting and relevant research studies. I found it useful as a student studying neuroscience and as an individual trying to understand and manage stress in my life.