Services Books

This is a compact but detailed practical manual of trauma care. The text is clear and supplemented by high quality tables and illustrations, and is comprehensive. A particular strength is the discussion on advantages and disadvantages of various practical procedures, and I have found this book invaluable as a quick reference in the resuscitaion area. Highly recommended to all emergency medicine trainees.

This is the book you want!

If you are doing any kind of Trauma Surgery / ER medicine, this is the boook you want. It is concise, yet beautifully balanced enough to give you what you want at a moment's glance. It can make you look really smart on rounds. All you do is find the injury your pt has and look at the bulleted lists. The lists tell you everything from incidence to common associated injuries to treatment.

Cannot say enough good about the book.

This was great, I love to diagrams and the step by step procedures. The break down of Traumas and body systems are beyond compair. You will love this book if you are into TRAUMA>>>

Excellant book, lots of usefull information, would recommend it for anyone in the medical field

All the information about the management of trauma from the pre-hospital phase through the resuscitative phases and on to the treatment phase. Easy to read with hundreds of illustrations. A must for residents and student doing emergency and trauma rotations.

This book is for my daughter who says it is a great help to prepare her for the Ntl. test.

Great product that has really helped me out alot in class and preparing to take the national registry exam! It comes with a detailed look at the skills you are required to complete as part of the exam, with common mistakes made on them, and a practice exam with answers.

This is the closest to the NR that I've seen (I haven't seen them all) but despite its small size it had the best content.

This book outlines the areas of EMT testing at both State and National Level. It's a sure way to review all the areas that will be covered on the exams. I highly recommend it for anyone just out of school or preparing for certification.

This is an excellent review for the NREMT exam for EMT-B certification. It is well organized, helps you pinpoint areas where you need to study more, and is written very much like the actual test.

The questions in these practice tests are much more difficult than those found in online practice tests, which tend to be over-simplified. Just as important, this book is from an authoritative source; I found some answers in the online sources which were just plain wrong.

The NREMT exam is as much about test-taking ability as it is about subject matter knowledge, and that's where this book really helps. In particular, there are many questions on the actual exam where the choices contain information which looks very simple at first glance, but which in fact contains very subtle differences. The questions in this book give you those types of choices, and train you to read each question carefully looking for those nuances which are the difference between a right answer and a wrong answer.

Your first time through the questions in this book may be a wake-up call if you don't really know your stuff. But it's better to get a wake-up call before the test, rather than during the test. I passed on the first try. Good luck!

A great learning tool for a trainee Nail Technician and a great reference point for qualified Techs who need to brush up on certain areas. Good photos, easy to understand explanations, great step-by-steps and a large amount of topics covered. Very helpful and worth the money.

This book offers a great deal of information. However. It was written in England and that is the main focus of the information in this book.

Great book with up-to-date information. Book goes into some detail about starting a nail business as well. I was impressed with the quality and the extensive information, techniques, tech tips and excellent pictures. The heavy, glossy pages mean durability when returning back to the book for reference. I would highly recommend this book to any nail tech or nail tech student. It's a book well worth the cost and a priceless addition to my collection.

This book is a very informative guide for students as well as professionals. Very interesting for me as i am a nail tech in Australia and like to know about the standards around the world. The Chapter on nail art is very involved and has some amazing pics. I am very happy i bought this book!!

I bought this book halfway through doing a nail technician course and I found it fantastic. Great tips and hints, gives good advice and explains everything clearly.
My favourite parts were the trouble-shooting pages with explanations for common problems and how to solve them. There are also good sections on learning to be a trainer, nail art and entering competitions.
If you are a complete beginner like me then this book is perfect.

I wanted to start my own virtual assistance business but didn't know where to start. This book was the best investment I could have made. It is an easy read and walks you through step-by-step with ease. While reading the book, it boosted my confidence level by adding quotes from other virtual assistants who have successful businesses. Have a highlighter in your hand because there is some excellent advice from start to finish. After reading this book, I was able to finish my website, came up with a great name and tagline, and have the confidence to move forward with my business. If you are looking to start a business, this book is for you!!

As a new virtual assistant, one could easily be overwhelmed when trying to find information about the VA business on the 'web. Entrepreneurial Freedom presents all of the must-have information a new VA needs, and does so in a frank and factual manner. I love WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) information, and this book is jam-packed with just that. It's down-to-earth info that every VA needs, and you will race through the book absorbing all of the terrific information you've been seeking. It's ALL here, in one place, and it answers your questions honestly and completely. There are quotes from twenty successful virtual assistants sprinkled throughout the book, and this information drives home the fact that this is truly an industry that takes hard work, but that can be very rewarding.

Entrepreneurial Freedom, published in 2006 by former IVAA President Jeannine Clontz and Lauren Hidden of The Hidden Helper LLC, is a great book for anyone interested in beginning a virtual assisting career or growing their VA practice.

This guide is small in size but packed with information. Clontz and Hidden begin with a self evaluation section to help readers decide if they have what it takes to be a virtual assistant and small business owner. The guide also goes into detail on business planning, branding, marketing, growing your business and more.

Entrepreneurial Freedom contains an entire chapter on finding, and more importantly, keeping clients. The book discusses tough issues like how to say no to a potential client and how to fire a client.

Of particular interest is the chapter on Ethics. Clontz, an IVAA EthicsCheck(tm) Virtual Assistant, outlines her 3 standard questions for helping anyone make an ethical decision in any situation.

This book contains references and lists pointing you to trusted resources for almost any need for your VA business. While it's small in size (only 166 pages including index), Entrepreneurial Freedom is a trusted resource for any new or established Virtual Assistant's bookshelf.

I've been a virtual assistant for a while but when I learned of this book I purchased it. Wow, was I glad I did. The information in here is invaluable. In fact, I've had to repurchase the book a couple of times because I keep giving it away. (I think I've purchased three copies so far.) I HIGHLY recommend this book to any new or veteran VA or small business owner. The book gives you so much information. Lauren and Jeannine really did their homework here. Some books are borrowers, this one is a definite purchase. You'll refer back to this book often. They also offer an workbook to go with it -- great purchase as well. [...].

As a veteran of the Virtual Assistance (VA) industry, I can absolutely say that this is THE book for VAs. I've read most of them and while they touch on many important things, the authors have managed to really capture all of the things you need to know - it doesn't matter if you are brand-spanking new or looking for a "boost" to get you moving again. If you only read one business book this year, THIS should be the book you read -- and have a highlighter handy!

The Evidence-Based Practice Manual (Roberts & Yeager, 2004) provides an invaluable resource for social workers who want to be on top of their game. Of the many challenges I face as a social worker, two of the most daunting are: 1) Sorting through the plethora of literature to find the most salient practice wisdom, and 2) applying the findings in evidenced-based practice in my work with clients. This compendium provides the kind of clinical direction and empirical support clinicians rarely find in the field.

Each of the 104 chapters in this volume presents the "best of social work" in a thoughtful and informed context. Section I provides an overview of evidence-based practice and reviews critical issues in how practice becomes evidence-based. Section II reports on research ethics and step-by-step research grant guidelines. Rather than being dry and boring, these chapters sparked my imagination about ways that my own practice could contribute to the academic knowledge base. Sections III (Diagnosis, interventions and outcome research), V (Measurement), and VI (assessment tools and measures), are the equivalent of a clinical master class. The 36 chapters in these three sections provide the best information for practitioners that are available in a single edition. Sections IV (Epidemiological and Health Research), VII (Program Evaluation Skill Development), VIII (Qualitative Research Methods and Exemplars), and IX (Quantitative Research Exemplars) address the state of the art in social work research. Section X (Establishing, Monitoring, and Maintaining Quality and Operational Improvement) has particular relevance in this day of managed-care and 3rd party reimbursement. The editors have done a remarkable job at pulling together 10 sections of top-notch writing and research on topics which accurately reflect the multi-faceted nature of social work practice.

Perhaps it's most important contribution is that the Evidence-Based Practice Manual celebrates the power and diversity of social work practice not through touchy-feely, friendly-visitor rhetoric, but rather through 104 chapters which demonstration empirically-based approaches to making our world a better place. I believe that the general public would gain respect for the profession by reading this book. I also believe that graduate schools of social work should require their students to purchase this book. There is no class offered in graduate social work that does not benefit from these readings. I wish I had such a compendium when I was in school. As a professional in the field, I'm grateful to have it now. Perhaps this compendium will provide a stepping-stone into the next phase of the profession's development.

Roberts & Yeager have accomplished a book that represents the most comprehensive treatment of evidence-based practice---it's the standard, bar none. There is everything in here between 2 covers. The book traverses a vast expanse of territory with surprising depth and clarity, all the way from treating the individual psychotherapy client to evaluating the outcomes of complex community programs. I especially believe every program evaluator or outcomes researcher will want this text on his or her bookshelf. The Evidence-based Practice Manual will be the standard in this field for years to come

Drs. Roberts and Yeager have clearly outdone themselves in one of the most informative books for professionals published in the past 10 years. This incredible volume contains specifcs on best-practices, evidenced-based models, assessment tools, research exemplars, research ethics, and more. These cutting-edge protocols are a must for all professionals and are presented in one practical book. Experts from multiple disciplines have contributed to make this a manual tailor-made for busy professionals. Go ahead and throw out those useless books on your shelves and replace them with this incredibly helpful and easy-to-use volume. You'll wonder how you've worked without it all this time.

The authors of this book have compiled a series of chapters by renowned scholars and practitioners to explore the use of evidence in practice decisions. For its breadth, the book delivers substantive discourse on the state of evidence, its accessibility, its continuing development and its utilization by practitioners. Competing discourses can be found on the merit of quantitative vs qualitative research methodologies, the nature of evidence and the criteria for assessing its strength. The book contains practical exemplars of practice-based research as well as chapters on the evidence for particular clinical conditions. Chapters on process and outcome program evaluation are also included. Practitioners, academics and researchers who are concerned about best practices, should have a copy on their desk. Reference librarians should have a copy on their shelves.

Roberts and Yeager hit the mark with this indispensable desk reference, which caters not only to professionals in a variety of fields, but to students and informed citizens alike. The Evidence-Based Practice Manual is the ultimate guide to information ranging from issues in public health to psychology to criminal justice. With the broad spectrum of topics, which the manual covers, as well as, the in depth view into the scope of the issues, finding answers to your questions is inevitable. This versatile manual truly takes the concept of evidence-based practice to the next level. If only I had a copy of this book during my senior year in college, it would have saved me numerous hours in the library searching for the latest evidence-based and practice research articles to document in my term papers. Thus, I strongly recommended it for experts and novices, as well as, everyone in between.

WOW. This is hands down the most informative and well written book on this subject ever. If you are going to read anything on this topic begin with Eyes Wide Open. I have given this book to every woman in my life. I also use much of this book when teaching basic safety and self defense and I urge all my students to get a copy. Ms. Kilgore's style is such that once I began, I couldnt put this book down. Outstanding.

There are very few people of any gender that are really able to seperate Martial Arts Fantacy from REAL WORLD Safety. There are even fewer female Martial Artists that can seperate idealistic feminism from pragmatic female survival.

Kristie Kilgore is one of the few who CAN.

In short, if there is a Woman of Girl that you love..... Read this book, then give it to them!...

WOW! What a great book. Extremely informative. I do not have to be a karate expert to save my life. Ms. Kilgore does a great job at providing techniques that anyone can use. I was very impressed with the real life stories that people were willing to share with the readers on things that happen everyday, that I take for granted "this won't happen to me" well,they do. I also was amazed at the things people actually do to your personal identity, on vacation, at home, at school etc...... Thank you for all of the great information that you have provided me!

This is an amazing book. Author Kristie Kilgore has carefully examined the causes of violence in our society, and offers advice on how to avoid being a victim of violence. I recommend it for every young person between 12 and 25 years old, because those are the times in our lives when we make the most foolish mistakes and lapses in judgement. However, this book has great techniques for ANYONE to tighten up their "personal security plan." I especially like the stories that Kristie included in this book--it brings a human perspective to cold statistics. All in all, a GREAT book!

"Kristie Kilgore has performed a great community service to every woman in America. This should be required reading and I am giving a copy to my teenage daughter as a present. As a former bodyguard, father, manager and soccer coach, I can honestly say that her message is right on the mark! Good job!"

To face: to confront directly and boldly, to meet bravely. This is what eight women did when their husbands were stricken with dementing illnesses. Not only that, they agreed to be interviewed by Sebastopol author Patricia Brown Coughlan, to share their words with others facing similar chalenges. These women, and their insights and experiences, stand as role models to others in Coughlan's book, "Facing Alzheimer's." Coughlan's personal experience began 16 years ago when her grandmother's behavior began to change. There was the afternoon she got lost during a walk near Patricia's home, the day she held a garden hose but could't find the water faucet, the time she couldn't find her way to the bathroom. Coughlan's interest grew while attending an Alzheimer's support group in connection with her gerontology studies at Sonoma State University. It was through this group that she met the eight women who form the backbone of her book. "Facing Alzheimer's" strikes me as an indispensable resource for anyone who has a friend or family member with Alzheimer's, for the disease can be a web of confusion, not only to the patient but to the caregiver as well. The book discusses the often frustrating dealings with the medical profession. It covers nursing home placement and how to choose if placement becomes a necessity. It includes financial and legal considerations. But it also gives specific, helpful advice on how to manage day to day and this may be its most

beneficial gift. With all the information contained in its pages, the book is never overwhelming. It feels like a support group between your hands or a conversation over tea with a dear friend. The sensitivity with which Coughlan writes and the honest words of the eight women should give renewed faith to those dealing with Alzheimer's and other dementing illnesses. Coughlan is careful to point out, however, that although there is wonderful support learned from others' experiences, the road

of caregiver is one you must travel yourself. Finding your own way, making your own decisions, and having faith in your judgment may be frightening at first, but as the women in the book share, these are eventually empowering. As one support group leader said, "People... have within themselves the skills and knowledge to problem-solve... they just need encouragement and some guidance." That's exactly what Coughlan's book gives. Our community doesn't lack for creative writing talent, but I'm particularly impressed by the dedication and diligence shown by our own Patricia Brown Coughlan. She's taken an intimidating subject and made it accessible.

My mother was so amazed when she saw that she was on the internet. she prefers to work in smaller ways. She recently assumed a position on the Marin county, CA alzheimer's association board of directors. She is currently working on nursing care reform, and is trying to get another writing project going. She has been involved with alzheimers research since I was a child, and her passion has grown no less. She admits that if she were to begin writing her book now, it would be different, but I believe it is still valuable to those who need it, or even those who are just interested.

The fiber of this excellent book is woven together with the voices of experienced family caregivers. In chapter one, we are introduced to eight such family members and follow them throughout the pages; examining different aspects of the disease process and individual coping skills for the evolving issues. For instance, during a discussion on sexuality, caregiver Bonnie responds, "As far as the body next to me in bed, my main concern was that he not wet it!", while Mary is quoted as saying, "There's the void. The feeling that there's a huge chunk of your life that's been plucked out, and has ceased to be a comfort and joy. It becomes either something that's mechanical, or nonexistent, or an added frustration."

This book is never preachy and always compelling. It is a warm marriage of factual information and anecdotes that are at once witty, emotional, and realistic.

In "Facing Alzheimer's", Ms. Coughlan has presented us with a clear outline of disease stages while taking a step beyond the usual textbok approach to caregiving. Her commonsense outlook in a chapter addressing "The Basis of Coping" is typical of the entire text. Coughlan states:

"A person who insists that everything must be done in a certain way will have a harder time dealing with a dementia patient than someone who is willing to be flexible and overlook unimportant things. If the dementia patient is sitting quietly in a chair looking at a book that is upside-down, the flexible caregiver will forego acting on her own response. She will not risk a bad reaction by going over and turning the book right side up. The more she is able to overlook, the more contented everyone will be. Finding new ways of doing things, and working with the patient, rather than against him, facilitates daily management."

An omnipresent theme is the need to care for oneself in order to be the most effective caregiver possible. The families herein openly discuss methods of dealing with stress in order to caregive more salubriously. The personal accounts are interspersed with Coughlan's text:

"At that time Louie was very combative. In the middle of the night he would, if I would get up and say, "Louie, come back to bed", he would just grab my shoulders and he'd say, "What are you doing in my house?" He thought I was an intruder... Oh, it was terrible. And my son thought maybe one night I wouldn't be able to get through to him who I was, and he might hurt me..."

"In order to do what is truly best for her husband and for herself, a dementia patient's wife must develop the ability to rely on her own determination of what is correct. Perhaps what makes placing a spouse in a nursing home the hardest decision of all is that she must learn not only to rise above the judgments of others, but above her judgments of herself, as well. She must grant her own needs as much legitimacy as those of her husband, and this is something that is virtualy impossible to do in any rational, systematic way."

Family caregivers, support group leaders, dementia specialists and listeners... all would benefit from adding "Facing Alzheimer's" to the bookshelf. Remember to pull it out frequently as a quick reference as to why he behaves as he does and as written validation of your own caregiving skills.

A man with Alzheimer's disease was making his wife crazy, every night getting out of bed and dragging his pillow and blanket to the floor. Awaking several times throughout the night to return him to bed was ruining her sleep, she said, as well as his.

Finally, another woman in her support group spoke up to say she saw nothing wrong with him sleeping on the floor, if it made him happy. The exhausted woman thought about it and, gratefully, agreed.

Anyone who has ever scoffed at a support group doesn't understand that such a gathering may be the only place where a person in crisis can get advice like that. It is also the only place you'll come across a collection of people like the eight women profiled in "Facing Alzheimer's" by Patricia Brown Coughlan.

People whose worlds have been turned upside down by a loved one's dementia learn that coping calls for creative and unorthodox measures, often different from what medical professionals might suggest or the neighbors approve of. The best instructors are often people with 24-hour experience, like the ones in this book, women who took over the primary care of husbands diagnosed with the progressive brain disease.

The book grew out of Coughlan's graduate studies in gerontology at Sonoma State University and her personal experience with her afflicted grandmother.

Coughlan's women talk about how it is to suffer the loss of a mate to Alzheimer's disease, what some call a "never-ending funeral."

"He's here, but he's gone," says Angie, of Hugo, her husband of 30 years and a once-successful businessman. Bonnie, whose husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 60, shares the despair of being with a partner who still looks the same, but whose personality has disappeared. "I still wanted him to talk to me, and the poor man couldn't. And I'd just plead, you know, 'Please, Henry, talk to me.'"

But, just as the women counsel others in their situation, they learned how to move beyond despair and dread in order to care for their husbands and save themselves. They represent a generation of women raised to be "nice" and "not complain". Yet, when their husbands got sick, they got tough. They became ferocious advocates, taking on unfeeling doctors, surly nursing home attendants, rude health insurance processors. Caregivers, says Coughlan, eventually recognize that they know better than the professionals how to individually handle thier Alzheimer patients.

Sonoma County readers can take pride in this book, not only because the author lives in Sebastopol, but because her eight wonderful subjects also live in the region. The agencies and programs they turned to for support are local, including the Sonoma County Alzheimer's Task Force, Catholic Charities Alzheimer's Respite Center, and the Sonoma County Ombudsman Program. Surely there will be many people across the country who will read this book and wish that they had the same kind of services in their community.

All the caregivers in her book are women, and Coughlan explains that reflects reality. "At the present time, caregiving is still something that falls most heavily upon women." She does, however, note that there are many men who provide care for their sick wives and parents, including her own grandfather. No matter who does it, it's a full time job.

Not only is Coughlan respectful and admiring of her subjects, she obviously likes them. So will the reader. After all the nightmare years ending with her husband's death, Bonnie wishes her late husband well. "I hope Henry's in a great body somewhere, having great sex."

The women were obviously willing to speak frankly, on just about every subject. "Have I ever had self-pity? Yes. I felt cheated, and abused, and all the other unpleasant emotions", says Mary.

As much as the women show great sensitivity for their husbands' tragic changes, so does Coughlan sympathize with the women. "If Hugo's vision of his future self was destroyed by the specter of an incompetent man being pushed in a wheelchair, then Angie's vision of her future self was destroyed by the vision of a woman pushing one."

Coughlan also interviewed leaders of Alzheimer support groups who offer special insight into how this memory-robbing disease is different from ordinary forgetfulness. "It's not: 'I've lost my keys'; it's 'What do keys do?'"

The book includes a list of Alzheimer's organizations, how to do a living will, financial planning strategies, and a good bibliography of other resource books on Alzheimer's.

There's also a reminder to enjoy the present, because while these eight women are very special there is nothing exclusive about a disease that affects more than 4 million Americans. Aileen's advice: "Take time to do what you want to do. My neighbors, ever since Louie got sick, and they saw what happened, they go on a cruise every year."

On a personal note, I'm familiar with the Santa Rosa Alzheimer's support group and recognize some of the women in this book. The first time I met the group I was a reporter doing a story on the disease and how it affects families. A year later I was back, sitting in the same circle, minus my notebook, not a journalist but the daughter of a newly diagnosed Alzheimer patient. I'm not sure if it was Mabel or Mary, but someone very kind passed me the kleenex.

In the fall of 1988, Patricia Brown Coughlan enrolled as a graduate student at Sonoma State University, and found herself drawn to classes dealing with gerontology, the study of aging. As part of her studies, she began attending meetings of a Santa Rosa-based Alzheimer's support group.

A dozen years before, Coughlan's grandmother had begun to show symptoms of Alzheimer's, a neurological disorder with psychological fallout. Already sensitized by her own personal experience, Coughlan was touched and inspired by the compassion, bravery, humor, and sheer practicality that characterized the women in the support group.

She requested permission to interview some of them for her master's thesis on women in the caregiving role. Her extensive interviews with eight of the group members eventually became "Facing Alzheimer's", a remarkable mixture of oral history, demystification, and practical information for anyone dealing with the disease. Although the book deals primarily with women, specificaly wives, as caregivers, much of the information it contains is applicable to anyone placed in a similar situation.

In spite of its sobering subject matter, Coughlan's work is never grim nor gloomy. In fact, once one has taken the mental step of deciding to "face Alzheimer's", the book is pretty much of a page-turner, as the reader connects with each of the eight storytellers, becomes familiar with her situation, and begins to understand the indomitable spirit that, in spite of varied life circumstances and personality differences, characterizes all of these women.

On one level, this is a rich emotional document, with the words and stories of Aileen, Mary, Bonnie, Helen, Irene, Edith, and Angie woven throughout the text to give the reader a deep and personal look into the actual life of an Alzheimer's caregiver. In chapter after chapter, we see through these women's eyes, following their stories from the first appearance of symptoms in their husbands, through diagnosis and attempts to learn abot the disease, through responsibility-shifts and mutual emotional turmoil when a once-independent spouse can no longer drive, deal with finances, find his way home, use the toilet. They speak of their own struggles with practical matters, their own emotional changes, their widowhood, their grief, their healing. Their words are ordinary, their spirit astounding.

On another level, by means of text that interacts with these stories, Coughlan traces the emotional and social factors that affect Alzheimer's patients and caregivers, and offers information and coping techniques for every step of the way. There are clearly laid-out sections for identifying early signs of the disease; dealing with its advancing stages and gradual physical and mental degeneration; managing day by day; handling friends and relatives; understanding changes in marital roles, sexual relationships and fiancial responsibilities; and maintaining through death, bereavement, and beyond.

On yet a third level, "Facing Alzheimer's" is a practical and accessible handbook for caregivers, providing informatin about dealing with doctors, nursing homes, family complications, financial matters, and legal considerations. It includes overviews on coping strategies, information on support groups, interviews with support-group leaders, an appendix of resources and recommended reading, an exhaustive bibliography, and a comprehensive index.

While there's a lot of information in the book, Coughlan emphasizes that "I'd like to make it very clear that this was never meant to be a scientific or sociological study. There are plenty of those out there", she says, "and while they serve a valuable purpose, most of them really aren't that helpful for people dealing with the disease on an everyday basis. I wrote this book primarily as a way to pass along the enormous quantity of information these women had acquired just by making their way successflly through the Alzheimer's scenario. I wanted to write something that other people in the same situation could use, and that someone unfamiliar with Alzheimer's could learn from."

Typical of Coughlan's approach is one of the more telling chapters that reveals the limitations of the medical profession in dealing with Alzheimer's. Since there's currently no cure for the disease, many doctors feel defeated and frustrated by Alzheimer's patients. In addition, Coughlan notes, they are often dealing not only with harrassed and bewildered caregivers, but with patients who may be in full denial and whose grasp on reality may vary widely from visit to visit.

Acknowledging the sources of both doctors' and patients' frustratons, Coughlan writes: "What is necessary for effective caregiving is not an adversarial relationship with medical personnel, but a recognition of the inherent limitations of available treatment." She does point out, however, that it is often in dealing with doctors and nursing-home personnel that women begin to emerge from frightened and passive roles and begin to take charge for both themselves and their spouses. Helen, faced with her doctor's unfeeling attitude, finally took action:

Helen: I reported her. I did. I just thought, I didn't want anyone else to get that sort of treatment. I can remember thirty or forty years ago I would have been a whipped puppy, with her attitude. Not any more.

The chapter suggests ways for caregivers like Helen to become the patients' advocates, asserting temselves appropriately when necessary and working with doctors as partners, rather than adversaries. It also includes such information as standard procedures for a good and complete diagnostic work-up for Alzheimer's.

Equally eye-opening are two chapters dealing with the heartbreaking issue of putting an ill spouse into a nursing home. Once again, Coughlan lets her narrators tell their own tales of making decisions and surmounting difficulties, and then quietly supplements them with the kind of information and criteria that can make those processes much easier to deal with.

Coughlan is, in fact, the ninth remarkable woman in this book. her clear and compassionate eye, her extremely readable writing style, and her crisp and cogent presentation of facts and information surround and reinforce her interviewees' stories without ever overwhelming them. In the end, in spite of its practical nature, "Facing Alzheimer's" has an almost tribal feeling to it, as the voices of these kind, strong, and very human survivors unite to pass on the hard-won knowledge that will enable others to survive as well.

This author (Patrick Carnes) is the most knowledgable person on the topic of Sexual Addiction. This book is good for people who like to have a workbook. There are a lot of quizzes and journaling places, so you can really get to the bottom of your problems. If you are not going to want to journal or take quizzes in the book, I would reccommend some of his other books. I hear great things about his original "facing the shadow" book. I kind of wish I had bought that one actually.

The book is comprehensive, well-researched, and well-presented. I did learn a lot from the book, and I would recommend this book to other people beginning recovery from SA. The book talks about the ten types/stages of courtship and how sexual addiction can affect an addict, so you can diagnose yourself and where you're having difficulties from the charts. It also talks about how slips are like boulders falling off a hill, and there's a great illustration to explain that and how bottomlines can help you.

What was missing for me, and hence the 4 stars, was the lack of content regarding "Relationship Recovery" part. There isn't much indication on how to go about dating the right way for S&L addicts - for example, if you saw the chart and realized you have problems with "seduction" phase of the courtship, you know you have this, but the book doesn't help you to revert this, or suggest what you're supposed to do with the diagnosis, other than "abstinence".

I would say this is a great resource for Sex Addicts in Recovery, but if you are a Sex AND Love Addict in recovery - this book won't fulfill all your needs. I don't know; perhaps Carnes has written a separate book for Love Addiction that I haven't checked out yet.

I would say I'm about 85% satisfied with the information provided by the book, and roughly 70% satisfied with the purchasing of this book.

Dr. Carnes is a noted authority and perhaps the premier researcher in the area of sexual addiction. His work goes back easily some twenty years. I have studied with Dr. Carnes and I can say with some authority that this may be his finest work. It is the fruit of much thought and labor. It is reality. Carl Rogers said: "Until we can accept ourselves as we really are we can't change." This book, really a work book, helps the addicted person do just that. But it doesn't stop there. The addict is able to see through the work he does that he is able, through healthy activities, to regain control of his life. This is the second edition. Dr. Carnes demonstrates not only his high standards of authorship, but his humility and ability to accept constructive criticism both from within himself and I think perhaps others, in the changes he has put into this second edition. They are well worth the effort. Dr. Carnes comes at the sexual addiction issue with clarity, research, and above all empathy. His other work "The Recovery Zone," will I think prove to be as well received as this work.

Roger L. Johnson
M.A, Th.M. LPC
Director, Day Program
Meier Clinics

Key strategy- work to FINISH THINGS! Addicts do not finish things- prefer to "keep options open." Thrives in unfinished business. Starting more than you can finish leads to CRISIS. ENDING THINGS adds substantially to recovery. Addicts avoid completing their conversations. Important feelings and facts are not communicated. Conflict not resolved. PAIN ACCUMULATES. Increase PAIN AND COST TO STOP. Childhood needed something you didn't receive- trust, security, safety, non-sexual affection, both parents together. Normalcy. RESPONSIBILITY TO THOSE YOU HAVE HURT. NEGATIVE EMOTIONS ARE TRANSFERRED TO CHILDREN. Addictive sex feels shameful, illicit, stolen, exploitive, and joyless. Healthy sex- adds to self-esteem, is mutual, intimate, fun, and playful. Fighting= act of trust- focus on issues. - Give outcome to God. Horniness = loneliness. When in doubt, don't. Secrets will separate you from others in recovery. Get a pet. Avoid the feeling that you are a victim. Be gentle w/ yourself about old tortuous conflicts. They are not about you! They never were! Recovery= burst of creativity. NURTURING- Learning how to care for themselves and to allow others to care for them IS essential RECOVERY TASK. Intimacy= shared experiences! FIDELITY TO YOURSELF is the ultimate act of faithfulness to the other. Trust yourself. It's as hared for your partner as it is for you! Admit mistakes. Share Spirituality. Have fun together- common experiences. Recovery- brings awareness of abuse. Sustain from sex w/o intimacy. Talk before, during, and after. Compliment your partner. Respect boundaries. Pay attention to feelings. See Sex as a legitimate joy! Take care of your body. Express attraction. Work on friendship and companionship. Fast-forward the relationship. This is even closer to a cure. Other excellent points in II Corinthians; The Message.

Working through this with group therapy has been wonderful and life changing. Cannot recommend it highly enough. Get Carnes' other books as well.

This book was on one of the "if you like this you might like this" things and I went ahead and picked it up on a whim. My friend grabbed the book I originally got when the order came in so I wound up reading this one first and was completely engrossed for two days! Letts is a terrific storyteller and I am so glad to find an author who writes so well about a controversial subject. This is women's fiction at its best and I've already ordered her next one.

This book grabs you on the first page and never lets go! Sweet, funny, sad and revealing - all in one readable book! It's great to read about the variety of people that make up most of our everyday world.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the quality of writing was great. So much attention was paid to each of the characters that I could picture each of them. The women in the clinic were my favorites. You could feel the camaraderie between them. I highly recommend this book.

What I love about Elizabeth Letts is how strong her female characters are, how supportive and understanding. While the suspenseful story draws you in, it's the characters and their tolerance for one another that stays with you long after you reach the last page. I can't wait to see what this talented author does next!

Family Planning is a novel that sucks you in right from the first pages. Letts has filled the book wth a well-drawn cast of quirky characters whom you'll wish you could hang out with. The story is heartwrenching, suspenseful, and beautifully written. I can't wait for the next one!

This story was nominated for the California Young Reader award last year, and I read it to my 6th graders who loved it. They were always anxious to hear the next chapter, and hated to see me put it down. It is a very heart warming story! I plan to read it again to my new class.

I found thies book loving,and warm.The charters are unforgetabel.Ther's Tyler and her Papa Jakob.Along with Tyler's friends Casy and Sissy.But when Tyler learns of her Amish relitives She rites to her Uncel Levi,and descovers a family. I do hope ther's a part TWO!!

I am a teacher, and I research my own family history. I loved this book. Children who feel cut off from their past will relate to Tyler's uncovering of her own past, and any child (or adult!) will love the well-woven story of Tyler's determination, courage, and eventual compassion.

I liked this book because it kept my attention. I like to read about the Amish. This book is from the viewpoint of an outsider. It touched many different topics; it was not just a one-theme story. I recommend it to everyone who likes realistic fiction.

Tyler's father has raised her with so much love and goodness that she has never pushed him for answers about her dead mother or his past. That changes with a school assignment about family trees. As Tyler uncovers her family history, readers are given many ideas regarding family values, immigration, what makes up America, tolerance, and the feelings people have about their heritage. The characters are very interesting and well-drawn; the plot moves quickly and pulls one along. A sequel would be delightful!