Women's Health Books

The book was very good. An alcoholic woman can relate and has good information in it to change, but I still feel AA or some support is needed to stay on track.

I couldn't put "Turnabout" down. Dr. Kirpatrick shares the details of her struggle with alcohol, and how she overcame her addiction. It's written with honesty and truth - no soft-peddling what alcohol can do to a person who is alcohol-intolerant.

She also wrote "Good-bye Hangovers, Hello Life", which was another page-turner. This companion book to "Turnabout" is a little less personal, and more of a self-help book for women who are struggling.

Both books changed my life, and I am grateful to Dr. Kirkpatrick for writing them. Her books are easy to read and her concepts are easy to grasp. She understands the alcohol-related issues that are unique to women.

Jean Kirkpatrick and Women for Sobriety saved my life and my self-esteem. No one should deny herself the strong and wonderful program that WFS and Jean Kirkpatrick provide. I am a huge fan, and have and will read this book over and over again.

She is offering a new way of recovery, based on 13 statements of Women for Sobriety that she developed to help her stay sober and now she is sending this message out to other women who want to stay sober and don't like to attend AA meetings. WFS is similar to AA but it is based on self-esteem statements that make a woman more competant in themselves. Definitly a new way of life to see things in a new light and move on with your life with out alcohol and drugs.

Keep in mind that I'm a tad prejudiced, being a co-editor of the book -- but in my opinion, it is absolutely fabulous, and the very best book that our nonprofit International Scleroderma Network (ISN) has published in this series!

This book series was written by over 100 site visitors to our sclero.org website along with leading world experts in scleroderma, as well.

For patient story content, it features over 100 stories, from people in 16 countries, and in 5 languages!

For medical content, it begins with an outstanding article on Systemic Scleroderma by Dr. Marco Matucci-Cerinic and Dr. Irene Miniati, both from Italy. Dr. Matucci is founder of EUSTAR, the European league of scleroderma centers, and VP of the SCTC (its American/European counterpart of experts), and he serves on our ISN Medical Advisory Board.

There is also a terrific article on Juvenile Sclerodema by Dr. Fernanda Falcini of Italy, complete with wonderful illustrations for children by Sherrill Knaggs. Sherrill is our ISN News Guide. Her inspiring story is in Volume 2, and her mother, Ione Bridgman, who is 89 years old, painted the book covers for this series.

We also drew in a world expert in scleroderma-like illnesses, Dr. Laszlo Czirjak of Hungary, for an overview of the many illnesses that are in the category called "scleroderma-like". Many of us have illnesses that are quite similar to systemic or localized scleroderma, but perhaps with a different underlying trigger or symptoms.

This book series is the best of both worlds -- both patient and medical aspects -- with quality information and top notch support, from people who really know what it is like to live with scleroderma, as well as stories from people who have lost their loved ones to scleroderma or related illnesses.

This book series is not biased, in the sense that the stories are not selected for representing either the best or the worst of scleroderma. Rather, the stories express the full range of possibilities from (comparatively) mild to severe to fatal. It's not just happy stories from people who are doing great in managing their illness, nor is it entirely filled with folks who are down in the dumps about it, either.

Each of the books in this series includes chapters on other autoimmune diseases as well, including those who are still undiagnosed.

Reading this book, or any of the books in this series, should make anyone with scleroderma or similar autoimmune or arthritis diseases (or chronic illnesses) feel like they are truly not alone. And, even if you feel educated and supported enough by being a member of our online website services or support groups -- just imagine the enlightenment a book like this can make for your friends, families, co-workers -- and doctors!

In a few weeks there will be a "Search Inside" feature activated on Amazon for this book.

Don't even hesitate -- Get this book and/or get the whole series! It's an outstanding labor of love and expertise from all your friends at the International Scleroderma Network (ISN) at www.sclero.org, which features over 1200 pages of scleroderma information, in 22 languages, and online support groups 24 hours a day.

You'll be very glad you did!

Love & Warm Hugs,

Shelley Ensz
President
International Scleroderma Network
www.sclero.org

As a scleroderma patient I needed to tell someone and found the International Scleroderma Network. A website that lets one tell their scleroderma/auto-immune stories. I became involved as a volunteer and with suggestions and collaboration with the President and founder of the ISN we started collecting stories. The results are three volumes of personal, heart warming, tragic, amazing personal stories from all over the world.
We gathered medical articles from the most renown scleroderma specialists around the world also. The results speak for themselves- Three terrific books.
Everyone has a story to tell. These are personal scleroderma stories with lots of helpful tips and medical information.
If you have scleroderma or know someone with scleroderma, this book, Voices of Scleroderma Vol 3 (and Vols 1 and 2) are worth the read and/or gift.
Help spread awareness of scleroderma. Buy This Book Today!

This is Dr. Seibold's introduction in Voices of Scleroderma Volume 2. Dr. Seibold is Chair of the ISN Medical Advisory Board. He is Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the University of Michigan Scleroderma Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

We welcome you to Voices of Scleroderma, a major contribution from the International Scleroderma Network (ISN). Scleroderma occurs in only around thirty people per million per year. Therefore, since it is so uncommon, patients have great difficulty finding access to expert care or even another similarly afflicted patient with whom they can share their experience.

Access to high quality reliable modern information is crucial to patient well-being and outcomes. The realization that "you ARE NOT alone" has therapeutic value in its own right.

I am Chair of the ISN Medical Advisory, a scleroderma researcher, and a member of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium. The SCTC is an international charitable organization of academic centers dedicated to elevating the pace and quality of scleroderma research. The SCTC works closely with the ISN in the education of both patients and caregivers.

I have been interacting with the ISN on a variety of fronts, most notably in our shared goal of providing up to date and accurate information to the scleroderma community on a worldwide basis. Over the past six years, I have watched the amazing development of the site that Shelley Ensz created at www.sclero.org. I have seen it evolve from her personal site of one page to become the ISN site, now encompassing over one thousand pages in eighteen languages.

The ISN site has brought together both the medical and patient communities from throughout the world. According to the recent TrustGauge Report of Internet traffic, it is in the top one hundred thousand of all Web sites, far ahead of all other scleroderma-related sites.

In my view, the primary reason for this stellar success is the high quality of site content, as well as the multilingual, international reach, which is also an important driving force.

Remarkably, the ISN has a small team of committed, dedicated volunteers who have seized the amazing capabilities of the Internet to provide exceptional, worldwide service and assistance to patients with scleroderma.

More notably, from this enterprising site, the ISN has in turn developed into a thriving nonprofit organization. It is really a classic example of reversing the order of development. Rather than an established organization simply developing a Web site, a remarkably effective Web site developed into a full-service charitable organization.

The ISN expands upon its cyberspace outreach by publishing Voices of Scleroderma. Every volume in this book series features articles from esteemed scleroderma researchers as well as over one hundred patient and caregiver stories, from sixteen countries, and in five languages.

The ISN enjoys a well-deserved reputation for top-notch medical and support information and services from both the patient and medical organizations throughout the world. Today, over five dozen dedicated volunteers, including many doctors and translators, operate the ISN.

Our ISN Medical Advisory Board includes illustrious experts in this field, such as Dr. Luis Catoggio of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dr. Marco Mattucci-Cerinic of Florence, Italy; Dr. C. Stephen Foster of Boston, Massachusetts; Dr. Janet Pope of London, Ontario; Dr. Frank van den Hoogen of The Netherlands; and Dr. Shinichi Sato of Kanazawa, Japan.

Dozens of other renowned leaders in their field also generously lend their expertise to the ISN, primarily as contributing authors, medical editors, scientific advisors, and translators. All of our ISN volunteers met and work only through the Internet. Their efforts have made quality medical and support information on this rare disease available worldwide.

I hope you find this book of value, and that you also consider offering support to the ISN. It is only with a partnership of patients and scientists in a concerted worldwide effort that we will solve the riddle of scleroderma.

My elderly mother and I, have recently received our copies of Voices of Scleroderma: Volume 2. Although my mother had seen the copy I purchased earlier, she didn't borrow it as she said she'd wait for her copy. Now she has it she can't leave it alone! She keeps reading it, and then thinking she'd better go and do her household chores! The latest news was that she'd lost her spectacles and couldn't find them to read some more!

We both appreciate our copies immensely, and see the tremendous amount of work which obviously went into the book! My mother wants to say that she, along with me, realizes the huge amounts of time and effort which were involved in such a book, and we are finding it very interesting.

I personally have scleroderma of the diffuse, systemic type, and although I have told my mother a great deal about scleroderma, it seems to be hitting home more now that she is reading the book. She agrees that she has almost certainly had a limited version of it most of her life, and that her father probably did too! He was never a really well man, and had dreadful Raynaud's Disease, stomach problems, lung problems, migraine headaches etc. Need I say more? I wonder if his father also had it? My mother has similar problems to those her father had, plus a few more. While I am not able to walk due to the scleroderma, have very disabled hands, and am on kidney dialysis, with other issues also, all caused by the scleroderma.

My story, along with many others is in this volume, and I heartily recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about scleroderma, be they patients, relatives, friends, caregivers, or just someone wanting to know what it is! It is a total life changing disease, and everyone who has it, or knows someone with it, hopes fervently a cure will soon be found!

Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice
This book is so good it hurts. Barbra Minar has suffered from Lupus Erythematosus, a disease of the immune system, since 1960. Before that she suffered from residual effects of rheumatic fever. Despite her illnesses, Barbra has lived a full life, sustaining a marriage and raising 3 children. She has written four books, worked, lead retreats, and helped fellow sufferers. Walking into the Wind is Barbra's latest and most personal book. I was hooked on page one, read Walking... nonstop. I laughed, cried, and wished Barbra had written 50 books. This simple, elegant volume presents letters and journal entries from 1985 to 1997. Tips on handling almost every situation a physically challenged person can face are beautifully woven into a poetic fabric. This should be a best seller. Barbra writes from a Christian perspective.

Although written as a journal, Walking into the Wind is more than a diary. Through the days -- good and bad for Barbra with lupis symptoms lurking in the background -- we find a woman who decided to look for silver linings. She demonstrates God's grace to see beauty, be inspired, find hope and enjoy wholeness, whether "well" or not.

Those whose life journey includes physical and/or mental challenges will discover in this book new ways of loooking, new ways of thinking, and perhaps, the Giver of all life itself.

What a wonderful, candid book! Barbra Goodyear Minar so transparently shares her experiences about living life in spite of dealing daily with chronic disease. Since I don't live with the challenge of a chronic disease or disability, I wasn't sure how the book would affect me. In truth, it is a refreshingly wonderful view of living a great life in spite of challenge. We all face challenges, living life as imperfect beings in an imperfect world. But we can, no we must, choose everyday to get up and move forward when we've been knocked down. It is our choice whether to live in joy with a positive attitude regardless of our circumstances. Barbra shares her journey, both the joy and the struggle, in a refreshing, candid manner that is encouraging and relatable. You can see how, despite her significant health challenges, her daily habits of walking with God, choosing joy, getting up when knocked down, going forward instead of playing the victim, have produced great fruit in her life. I have been encouraged to re-examine my attitudes and habits, to choose joy and be thankful despite any circumstance and to seek a closer walk with God. A great read!

Barbra Minar's latest book will not disappoint those who have come to know and love her work. In Walking Into the Wind, she again shares her heart in every paragraph. Using her own journal entries and correspondence with friends, she reveals her day-by-day struggle as a wife and mother dealing with the effects of the disease that invaded her body on her honeymoon. Chapter after chapter we watch her achieve victory over the depression that often accompanies chronic illness. When my own daughter was diagnosed with the same condition, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, we found great comfort in the shining optimism of one who had been there. Chronic illness seems more widespread than ever, affecting friends, neighbors and members of our extended family. I'm grateful to this author for a book I can recommend to help and encourage them. Walking Into the Wind is an inspiring read for anyone, but especially one challenged by such an illness.

The best way to succinctly describe this book is as a "How-To" manual for dealing with the grief of infertility. Each of the three authors have walked this journey and they combine their experiences and expertise (they are professional ministers and a professional counselor) to walk along side the reader through the ins and outs of grief.

The book is divided into 2 sections. The first section deals with identifying the stages of grief and how it manifests specifically in infertility grief. Each chapter identifies a new stage and offers constructive, biblically sound suggestions on navigating it.

The second section focuses more specifically on overall coping and healing, rather than stage specific exercises. It concentrates on the wounded woman's possible necessity to reconcile with herself and her identity in Christ, with God, with her spouse, her family and/or her friends. The authors challenge the reader to reach beyond her grief out to others around her and encourage the reader to really internalize that God's plan for her life is not limited by infertility. My favorite line in the book is at the very end and states in a prayer,

[God,] help me to realize that the purpose of my suffering far exceeds the pain of my suffering.

While I don't agree with the authors that infertility is a "special calling" (a minor part of the book so don't dismay if you also disagree), I do know that God can redeem any pain by making His glory known through it. There is great purpose in evidencing God's glory throughout the earth, and this specific challenge from the authors stirred my heart to search beyond, rather than dwell in my pain.

At the end of each chapter, the authors offer challenging questions designed to nudge the reader to introspection. These questions would make excellent prompts for journaling, or, with some modifications for privacy, a spring board for a small group discussion. The authors also offer a specific action challenge at the end of each chapter.

What I love the most about this book is how constructive and tangible the tools are. They are very prescriptive with "do this," and "think about that." As I said, it's almost like a "How-To" manual and at this stage in my grief, I found that very helpful because at times in my Infertility Grief Journey, I found myself almost being afraid that I was doing things out of order, or too quickly or too slowly, and it was helpful for me to just have an outside reference as sort of a guide of what to expect, what to be on my guard for, etc. Of course, it goes without saying that everyone's process is different, but even in my limited interactions with other Infertility women (compared to the interactions of the authors), I noticed quite a few commonalities too, and this book draws on that. The solutions they offer are physical, emotional and spiritual changes. I appreciated this holistic approach and at this point in my journey, it's just so helpful to have someone say "Do this." "Expect that." "Guard your heart from this."

This book is very brief. They offer scriptural support for their claims, especially any about the nature and character of God and His will for one's life. However they are very matter-of-fact and do not dwell long on their point or on the exegesis of any scriptural support. The book is very simplistically written, making it easy to read and process.

My reason for pointing this out is that I think it is important that any potential reader identify where she is at and what she is ready to handle before picking up this book. The frank, matter of fact approach can come across as "rushing" you through the grief process if you're not ready to move on. It can almost come across as judgmental because an issue is so black and white and already resolved to these women, while you may be fresh and wrestling in your grief.

However, on the other hand, this might serve to equip you as sort of a road map of what to expect in the future, or as a good review of where God has already taken you. In my particular case, I was wishing that I had read it earlier so that I could have the book to accompany me through the various stages, but I can see easily how someone of another temperament might want to read this with a little more emotional distance from the situation.

I will say that I personally detected no hint of insensitivity or judgment from the authors, but I've also already digested and processed a lot of my emotions to date. If I were still reeling, I might respond differently. On the other hand again, this might have been doubly "useful" were I still reeling.

All of that to say, search your heart for the kind of tool that you need right now. If you need an empathetic, heartfelt, gentle encouragement, try something like Hannah's Hope. If you need something a little more clinical, or more of a kick in the bloomers, this is an excellent resource. The two books are not at all similar or interchangeable but are appropriate for different places in someone's Infertility journey.

I will say that I did not do the written exercises. I may find the book even more challenging if I go back and do them, but I also recognize what is realistic for my lifestyle and know that it is unlikely that I will prioritize time to complete them. However, I appreciate that I was able to learn from and be challenged by the book without the exercises. I can only imagine how much more I would be challenged if I were to complete the written questions.

This book is unlike any other Infertility book I've read or have in my ever-growing pile to read. I appreciate the fresh approach and the practical tools. Now knowing what to expect from the book, and preparing your heart accordingly for where you are at in your grief process, I would encourage you to trust the authors' virtuous intentions and their submission to God's leading as they wrote this and when you are ready, pick up this book and read it. Whether this will serve as a GPS for your yet to be arrived at destination or a chronicle of where God has already faithfully taken you, I assure you that you will be edified, equipped and challenged by this book.

Recommended: Enthusiastically

This book puts feelings and emotions (which are rarely discussed in society) into words to help couples dealing with infertility. The authors define stages of grief dealing with infertility and give ways to handle these stages in a positive way. It has been a great tool for me as I seek to sensitively deal with friends struggling with this issue. The book steers clear of medical and technical issues and addresses handling emotions (anger, grief) in a Godly way. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with infertility and for anyone who knows someone who is. It would be a great small group tool also.

I have read many books on infertility and this one is a definite must have. Every chapter touches on exactly what I have been through, or am experiencing right now. It's great to have a Christian outlook, and reflection questions at the end of each chapter. A+++

I would highly recommend this book for anyone going through or who has just gone through infertility treatment. It helps you understand the grief process and confirms that your feelings while going through the infertility journey are real. The chapters are 1. Denial/Shock, 2. Desperation/Panic, 3. Anger/Resentment, 4. Sadness/Depression, 5. Inadequacy/Guilt, 6. Hope/Peace, 7. Reconciliation/Integration, 8. Does Time Heal All Wounds?, 9. Relationship, Reconciliation, and Restoration, 10. Renewing Your Mind, 11. Refuge in the Rock. It is really a MUST HAVE.

This book is beautiful!
I love this book. I have my own natural beauty product business, and this book has so much to offer. I also love that it isn't sectioned by product type, but by the seasons, and furthermore, that it doesn't just have body care recipes, there are Teas, Elixirs, Soups and Tonics as well. It really brings home the idea that it's not just what you put ON your body, but in it as well.
Just looking at it and reading it really creates this atmosphere that urges you to be relaxed and creative.
Very good information on ingredients and Aromatherapy as well.
A great find!

I bought this on a whim when it was recommended to me and couldn't be more thrilled with this purchase! What a beautifully presented book, packed with rejuvenating recipes for inner and outer health and beauty, and written with the beginner in mind. It is very informative, easy to follow, and the ingredients can easily be found by anyone near a health food store or internet access. It's apparent that Barbara Close knows what she's doing as an aromatherapist and I can only imagine that her holistic spa must be absolutely wonderful considering the attention, care and fine taste that went into this book. I plan to give copies of this as gifts and am sure anyone who receives it will be as enthralled with it and ready to try their own recipes as I am. Five stars!

This is a wonderful book that teaches you how to use essential oils and herbs to cure common ailments. After reading this book and trying some of the recipes I truly believe that by sensibly using aromatherapy, herbalism, massage and healthy food you can live more naturally and improve your quality of life.

The book starts out with a brief history. Then you find first aid charts, one for herbs and another for essential oils. The charts include the name, properties, common uses and any hazards of each item. Instructions for preparing and using them in teas, infusions, decoctions, tinctures, ointments, inhalations and vaporization follow. There is also a great list of carrier and herbal infused oils.

Next, there are forty recipes arranged by seasons focusing of different aspects such as rejuvenation and sensuality. Spring includes recipes for a delicious pear elixir and calendula salve. Summer features a natural pleasant smelling insect repellant, a tea tree oil antiseptic and a citrus body splash. Autumn includes a wonderful grapefruit exfoliating paste and rosemary infused massage oil. Winter contains a tasty recipe for garlic soup, a chamomile face serum and a peppermint thyme inhalation.

Association, education, and resource directories are a nice bonus. I liked that the resource directory listed places to find herbs and oils as well as bottles and jars to put them in. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to pamper themselves. It is packed with information and is easy to follow. It would also make a great gift.

Great recipes and this book will be an inspiration for those long winter days and evenings. What a great way to take care of yourself!

This book discusses the REAL cause of preeclampsia-protein calorie deficientcy. It discusses the how and why and what to do for preeclampsia prevention. Any respectable midwife already knows this, and if you can find this book, you can too. If you've had preeclampsia and want good advice on not geeting it again call Dr Brewer at 1 802 388 0276.This author and retired obgyn is glad to get the word out on prevention of this lifetaking pregnancy complication.

I can't say enough good things about this book. The menus alone make the book worth the purchase price!!! If you can find it, buy it. The author knows what a pregnant woman needs to eat, and why, and what proper nutrition can prevent - eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, toxemia, underweight babies, poor breast milk production etc. This is a fabulous book. I read it first when my sister was pregnant in 1991. I've kept a copy ever since and given copies to several pregnant friends and relatives. Bravo!!!

When I was pregnant with my first child (25 years ago!) I read a gazillion books about all aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing. This book would be at the top of the list. The information about diet and nutrition for pregnant women (particularly in the prevention of toxemia) was easy to understand and backed by solid research/clinical observations. Assuming this edition is similar to the one I read, it also included a thorough list of the nutritional content of common foods.

Highly recommended!

Learn how to avoid toxemia (pre-eclampsia) in pregnancy. The main point is to eat salt and eat enough protein. The author's doctor husband did research for decades and cured toxemia by simply supplying the salt shaker and adding meat to the diet. Read the details. Get some recipes at the end of the book. Read example stories.

I found this book fun and insightful. Any Dads or partners to be can learn from this no nonsense guide to helping and supporting the woman in your life who is pregnant. The illustrations are delightful. It's really a must have for the guy who wants to help his pregnant wife, but doesn't quite know where to start. It should be called "the boyfriend's guide to pregnancy".

Finally, the definitive book for expecting fathers! Here Mr. Dunton combines the sensitivity of Spock with the writing talent of a modern Fitzgerald. I've read alot of baby books, but this one is the best. I recommend it to all Dads and Moms.

Most fathers-to-be have no idea of the changes taking place in the bodies of their wives other than what they have read in pamphlets about pregnancy.Even the most self-reliant woman needs babying while she is herself "babying".

Excellent, excellent, excellent! This is by far the best book available on this subject. A friend of my wife quietly slipped me a copy a few weeks back and I couldn't be more grateful. I've since bought several copies to hand out to all my "expecting" pals. I (and my wife) look forward to more from Mr. Dunton in the future.

This book was a good read for survivors of sexual trauma and abuse. There is very little out there that understands the triggers that a natural process like childbirth and pregnancy brings up in a survivor. This book really addressed survivor issues and needs. It also identified triggers and issues that may have been lurking in someone's mind but not necessarily identified. The book also differentiates the concepts between those people who have already disclosed and have gone thru some type of therapy and those who have not yet disclosed.

I found this book to be a great tool to add to my base of knowledge. As a CBE,Doula I come across women that have had previous abuse issues. This book gives you the awareness to handle (not treat) these issues in a sensitive way. It has different sections for Midwives,Doulas,CBE'S, ETC. I found it worth adding to the reference library.

An excellent resource for any women who has survived abuse and anyone who cares for women. The second section is invaluable to those who have a hard time communicating with or feel misunderstood by their providers. Recommended whether you are pregnant or not.

As health care professionals, we all encounter clients with a greater need to 'control' their experience, especially surrounding childbirth. Many caregivers find this situation difficult and wish that relationships could be more productive and less confrontational. Understanding why some women make more demands than others can help us to 'read' their needs in a more compassionate way -- as sometimes it is a healthy response to a history of abuse (acknowledged or hidden). We then stand a better chance of working with all women in ways that promote healing. I found this book very helpful.

I loved this book because it made sense. It told about Helen Keller's life and as a blind and deaf kid and adult . It also told about where she went to school and about the places she went .It told about who taught Helen how to read and write and talk! I also liked this book because it was hard to put it down when I had to go somewhere. This book also told about her little sister and how Helen got sick and turned blind and deaf and how her teacher died. This book was great! You should read it.

Wonderful introduction to biographies for the early reader set (6-10 yrs old, depending on reading ability). It provides enough info to be useful, but not so much that the child is bogged down and loses interest. The series is fabulous.

As a teacher of fourth grade, I have found this series to be indispensable when it comes to having my students create their biography pizzas. The information is presented in an easy to read format and contains pictures throughout. When I think back to my days in school, I always found biography books dry and dull. The authors of this series manage to present the information in an engaging manner. I often have children who read more in the series after their project is finished.

Great subject for a children book. I got this series of books for my daughter and she really enjoyes reading them. Great read and educational too.

"These remarkable volumes, edited thoughtfully and vividly by Ilene Serlin, provide a comprehensive view of the full potential of healthcare in the 21st century. Many of the most important voices in alternative medicine, mental health and arts therapies are represented and all attest to the profound importance of treating human beings as fully human, in body and spirit, in mind and emotion, not only as patients, but as active and creative partners in their own healing. This is a must-read for all practitioners and students in the healing professions." Robert J. Landy, Ph.D., RDT/BCT, LCAT, Professor of Educational Theatre and Applied Psychology; Director, Drama Therapy Program, New York University

21st century healthcare will come to embrace these rich modalities of mind-body-spirit healing, too long overlooked by many in the mainstream of modern Western medicine. Speaking as an M.D., I deeply thank Dr. Ilene Serlin and her collaborators for bringing together this broad collection of resources from major figures in the field today. Many patients and clients will benefit as a result. Here is the future!

The three volumes that comprise Whole Person Healthcare are an excellent and important source of information about health and healthcare. From Volume I Humanizing Health Care with its emphasis on treatments for patient populations, to Volume II Psychology, Spirituality, and Health which shows the intimate connection between mind and body, to Volume III The Arts and Health which reveals the role of creativity in wellness, the essays are both original and thought provoking. Dr. Ilene Ava Serlin, the General Editor of these volumes has done outstanding work in bringing this often cutting-edge information to health professionals and the general public.

This very readable compilation of opinion and guidance from the most eminent practitioners and thinkers is an excellent one stop source for information and guidance for alternative approaches to healthcare.

Today in the US there is more out of pocket expenditure on alternative wellness and healing products, services and practices than on traditional medicine. This category is becoming increasingly important as baby-boomers seek to have greater control of their own health care and seek alternatives to the pharma-industrial complex.

The editor, Ilene Ava Serlin, has done a great service for the field in providing this very timely and comprehensive series. It is an excellent resource to health care providers as well as informed laypeople.

The only criticism is the price of the series and that all three volumes must be purchased together. This will inhibit its distribution, particularly to individual healthcare practitioners and laypeople. It would be preferable if individual chapters could be purchased as pdf files or podcasts; most people are interested in certain approaches and may not want all. Hopefully, the publisher will make this series more adaptable so many more people can access this wonderful work by so many dedicated professionals who contributed to the effort.