Women's Health Books

This book gave me lots of ideas for natural pregnany remedies and healthy lifestyles cahnges. Especially helpful was the transition diet. If you're looking for a roadmap to being a vegetarian or changing to a more organic diet, this is very helpful.

I admit that I am bias. Beverly is a beautiful black woman and serious business woman. It is her older work but very much worth locating. It has excellent health tips as well as guide to utilizing herbs to gain a healthy life style. It is not an autobiography yet she shares many of her memories as a model and adds personal touches of her life. It is well worth the time. It is one of my health bibles.

Beyond, Slash, Burn, and Poison explains much about breast cancer and the history of its treatment as it chronicles women's long struggles for the right to have a voice in the treatment of breast cancer. Author Marcy Knopf-Newman focuses on the experiences of five women -- 19th century novelist Frances Burney, Rachel Carson, Betty Ford, Rose Kushner, and Audre Lorde -- each of whose conduct comprised a major step in empowering women with breast cancer. The book shows that struggling to make our voices heard can change the consciousness not only of victims of oppression, but of the dominant culture as well. Over the years, work for social change does succeed!

In the early days of breast cancer treatment, women experienced a terrifying conflict, here best illustrated in the experiences of Carson and Kushner. Though fully aware that the power over their health lay with the establishment that valued deference, discretion, and being nice, they honored their deep inner need to investigate treatment options, speak out, challenge the medical establishment, and be honest and open about the disease.

Thanks mostly to the work of people like these, medicine began to evolve in the early seventies so that information has become increasingly available to patients, multiple options for the treatment of breast cancer have been developed, and patients' needs are increasingly attended to. The book is not just a history; reading it makes one feel committed to becoming informed and assertive in exploring medical treatment options

Marcy Knopf-Newman's new book on breast cancer stories is an important intervention in this oft avoided topic. From Rachel Carson's "public silence," to Audre Lorde's very public examination of her own breast cancer, Ms. Knopf-Newman writes a history of mid- to late-twentieth century approaches to the act of telling stories about breast cancer. What makes Ms. Knopf-Newman's book so important, however, is the arc or plot of its telling: from enforced silence and acquiescence to the prevailing dogmas of medical science at mid-century, and the near complete and unquestioned predominance of the Halsted radical mastectomy, to the emergence of a critical questioning of medical practices and procedures as revolutionary medical practitioners, feminists, and even public figures begin to enable ordinary people to see breast cancer in new ways and seek new forms of treatment. Ms. Knopf-Newman is espeically good on Betty Ford and the public impact of her cancer and treatment, as well as on the history of Rose Kushner, a local Maryland activist who brushed history against the grain with her insistance on the short-comings of the Halsted procedure even before the US Congress. This is a well research, well reasoned, and well told story - one that is not told often enough, certainly. And it's refreshing, as well, because it's told in a compelling and straightforward language, one that does not rely on any overly wrought theoretical language. And finally, it's amazing, too, just for its sense of awe and admiration for the figures it treats - Carson, Ford, Kushner, Lorde. This is a book of heroes, not victims, and deserve a wide audience.

As a childbirth educator for over 35 years, I totally agree and understand where this book is coming from. I am deeply saddened by where the USA is in the birthing realm. Great book!!

Birth crisis was introduced to me after hearing Sheila speak at the 25th Australia homebirth conference in June 2007. Sheila is a very inspirational woman in reading this book has allowed me to be more forthright in my own midwifery practice in caring for women within the hospital setting. I have started to see the effects that obstetric management of labours more clearly and begun to question why we continue to abuse women in this manner. I will become more vigilant in my observations of obstetric management and ask WHY more often. Thankyou Sheila

Listening to BirthQuake changed my perspective about a great number of things, and is some remarkable and yet suttle way has shifted the very nature of my days. I tend to experience them differently now. The tapes were a gift from a friend and have clearly become a gift that just keeps on giving. I strongly recommend them.

"Birthquake comforts you while you listen, from the soothing voice of Tammie Fowles to the stories collected from experiences in her own life as well as others. It visits a number of issues that we deal with in our lives and brings joy, sadness, spiritual growth and empowerment. I highly recommend the series, it's a great learning tool for people in or coming out of crisis, as well as those who are healing or have healed from "quakes" in their lives. Birthquake is a stepping stone each time you listen to it, embracing you as you walk down different paths of life's journey."

SUPER FAST service great book to read. I like that it is geared towards black women. Thanks

This "must-have" manual for anyone considering or committed to breastfeeding is recommended for mothers, friends and family members, and community organizations, hospitals, and government agencies who interact with pregnant women and new moms. Well written and easy to understand, Ms. Barber's book is a culturally relevant how-to guide that offers information, resources, and encouragement to do one of the most natural, nurturing acts between a mother and her child. Far from preachy or pushy, Ms. Barber gently gives useful tips, real-life scenarios, and even a history about breastfeeding, particularly in the African-American community. A great baby shower present!

With so much out there about women's health it is difficult to know where to go. This book is excellent. It truly illuminates the importance of heart health and how to achieve it. The contributing authors represent myriad of fields in healthcare from cardilogy to public health. One of the contributing authors, Dr. Jennifer B. Campbell, provides wonderful chapters on how to best utilize community resources and talking points to cover on every doctor's visit. That is invaluable beacuse many of us forget!

Professor of Medicine Anne L. Taylor and The Association of Black Cardiologists present The African American Woman's Guide To A Healthy Heart, a health guide directed especially toward an ethnic group that is more likely to suffer heart disease and stroke at younger ages, and 69% more likely to die from them. Individual chapters address determining one's personal heart disease and stroke risk factors, how to prevent cardiovascular disease, how to recover and improve one's health if one has already survived heart disease or a stroke, how to work effectively with healthcare professionals, healthy living habits to adopt, and much more. Though written especially for African-American women the basic recommendations for taking care of one's health and heart is directly relevant to readers of all genders and ethnic backgrounds. The African American Woman's Guide To A Healthy Heart is down-to-earth, plain-terms, personal care resoure.

Though I have not had breast cancer, my Mother has. This book reminds me of the fact that when she was through her treatement my Mom told me she never wanted to hear "is your glass half empty or half full". This was what I would say when she was getting down. Now I would recommend reading something from this book. Ms. Lennon takes some very negative experiences and expresses them in a positive light. She has done a wonderful job with this book and I hope that it makes its way into the hands of all patients undergoing the same experience. I personally donated it to our church library to be used by our cancer support group.

Being a breast cancer patient myself I appreciate the fact that this book is an "easy read". Sometimes I simply don't feel like
reading a 400 page novel. These are short stories; you can read
just one. I can just identify with all the things this lady talks about in the cancer diagnosis process. But instead of
dealing with all the bad stuff about breast cancer, this lady
puts a positive spin on it. My favorite short story is the one
about "birds" and the way she "discovered" birds; then her cats
"discovered" birds. I have cats and I can just see them doing
as her cats did. The "Hair" story is certainly everyone who has
chemo can identify with....no hair! But the way the story is written has me laughing and laughing. I like to read this story
again and again. The author does not dismiss the seriousness
of cancer; but she has had some huge losses and has found a way
to look at her experiences with cancer in a positive fashion. I

am so glad I read it and encourage all to read it. You don't need to have cancer either. These stories are about "LIFE" and
all could profit and enjoy the storiese. A *THUMBS UP* from me!

This is a very thoughfull and well researched book. Very Helpful in understanding what is happening in medicine and poverty in our world today.

I really enjoyed this book. If you're interested in Race,Class, and Gender studies within the context of Colonialism and it's impact on Western Medicine, this book is for you. It's original in the sense that the author uses well written and popular fiction books by famous women of color novelists. She looks at popular works such as Beloved, Bluest Eye, Salt Eater and Almanac of the Dead by analysing them within the context of the politics of medicine and history of oppression in Western Society. It's and engaging brilliant piece of work that I simply could not put down. Anyone who is a practitioner of Medicine (physicians as well as psychiatrists and pscyhoanalysts) who is sincerely interested in understanding the social impacts of institutionalized racism within Western Medical world will enjoy this work.

I loved this book - I say "loved" - because I had it years ago, misplaced it, and just remembered the title, so I was able to buy another copy.
The authors take into consideration that not everybody has ideal proportions to begin with, and that not everybody has access to a machine filled gym.
This book explains the importance of muscle tone development throughout the whole body - and how to make the best of what one has.
One of the most interesting things I learned, was the importance of the development of the musculature of the woman's upper body; it is very well explained, and plenty of good reasons are given - i.e. increased muscle tone won't make you look like Dolly Parton, but it will make the most of what you do have, including a firmer bustline.
The authors also discuss "body proportions" - and how to increase definition and develop "better curves" (my words) - and how simple it is to decrease the waistline in order to do so.
All of the exercises are shown using the usual "gym machines," and achieving the same results by using alternative means, such as free-weights and body work. Very importantly, well detailed descriptions are given of the right and wrong ways of doing it all.
I've been wanting to buy this book again for well over a year, and I am so glad that, out of a clear blue, today - the title of this book suddenly popped into my head.

I realy recomend this book to all peaple who want to build their body nice and strong. This is the best book I have ever read on body shaping.

A must read for all Anne LaBastille fans! Author does a compelling interview with Woodswoman series author Dr. Anne LaBastille from her farm at the edge of the Adirondacks. Other stories include some really interesting stories about women in the wilderness overcoming negative feelings about their bodies. Very inspiring. Could also be used for coursework in women's studies or women's literature classes.

Not only am I thoroughly enjoying this book, but I am also lucky enough to know the editor. The stories are not only empowering and inspirational, but also sincere. Do yourself a favor and read this powerful book!