Medicine and Health Books

This book by David K. Wolpert is a must read for anyone contemplating
Scoliosis surgery. It has all the Medical Jargon explained in clear terms easily understood by an average person. It is informative and facinating from page 1 to the end. I am scheduled for surgery and could not put it down. It covers all the things you couldn't think of to ask the surgeon. I can't wait for my husband to read it so that we can discuss it. I think this book would benefit anyone with scoliosis even if they are not thinking of immediate surgery. It would help them to realize there are options should their scoliosis progress. Chapter three completely covers alternatives to surgery. I highly recommend this book.

This book covers something of almost everything I would want to know. I bought one for a friend, and have thought about buying a couple more for her mother and other friends, to help them understand what she and her daughter will be going through.

The book fits a specific need - how is someone supposed to get their mind around all of what scoliosis surgery will entail - what to ask, what to do in advance, what to expect. I can't imagine anything more terrifying than handing your daughter over to a back surgeon. This book gives you a place to start - comprehensive but so easy to read, and straight to the point.

This is the perfect book for anyone considering scoliosis surgery or who has a loved one who is considering the surgery. It discusses all the little details from the technical terms of scoliosis to what sort of things you need to prepare to make your recovery easier. It's written from a patient's point of view which is just what most people need.

I had 2 scoliosis surgeries 2 years ago, and this book did a great job preparing me for the surgeries. I highly recommend it!

What a blessing! I read this book over and over and over--so many times, prior to my surgery--and also referred to it afterward! I even took it with me to the hospital. It contains a wealth of information for scoliosis patients and their loved ones. I felt calm and at peace (relatively!) heading in to my surgery "adventure," both due to my faith and because I felt so well informed. I also felt prepared for my recovery time at home, thanks to his appendix: Getting Your House and Life in Order.

During the time I've been a member of the NSF Forum, this has been the most talked about and referred to book on scoliosis in the posts, being recommended wholeheartedly by many of us "post-ops" as a "must have" to those looking for information. Many have commented on how they could just not put their book down when it first arrived. While not a riveting best-seller for the general public, it does indeed make a fascinating "read" to those of us with the desire to know more. MANY THANKS to David for sharing his personal story, for doing extensive research, and for taking the time to pen this invaluable source of information on scoliosis surgery!

This book is perfect for anyone wanting to understand this controversial subject. It provides a very scientific look into many long-standing myths associated with the plant and drops humorous comments along the way.

Dr. Earlywine's book "Understanding Marijuana" explains the uses of marijuana on a level that can be understood by all readers. Remaining unbiased, he combines the political aspect to the benefits of decriminalization the substance as well as the harmful effects and beneficial uses. The long term research becomes clear as the author takes you into a world not clearly understood by most in everyday society. This book comes highly recommended to those who can benefit from Dr. Earleywine's years of dedicated research into the variations of the legalization of marijuana and in my opinion, the end of the tireless "war on drugs".

I first experienced pot at age 16 and soon learned that what little I was told was NOT TRUE. This book lays it out in all its splendor. It is not a harmless drug- but it is the next best thing. The pharmacology section was very useful as it explained the way THC is produced and broken down by the plant. On the way up to THC Cannabidiol is produced. Cannabinol is produced as the plant starts to break down. The medical section is fabulous. I was not aware of its medical applications fully until I became a Medical Assisting Student and was placed as an intern in a Multiple Sclerosis practice. This drug does wonders for them! Few knew about it. More need to learn about it. That and I just love the look of those leaves! They are Serrated!!

With all of the misinformation circulating about cannabis over the last 70 years its nice to have a refreshing, scholarly, intelligent review of the subject. I wish everybody in the country who had anything to do with the War on Drugs - from both sides of the debate, would stop bantering about unsupported nonsense and old cliches about that vegetation and look at the evidence, the history, and see the nonsense that is currently floating unabashedly about on that subject. Thanks Dr. Earlywine for your significant effort to try to get out the facts. Del

Yep. Another book that's packed full of research to support this incredible little herb. SIGH! We really need to get "with it" and make this available for health and well being for our people and our planet.

Please reprint this wonderful book so that everyone can get a copy. I know that low carbing is "out" these days, but only a month on this program will show such great results in your body and energy level. It's basically a pure protien diet, with little to no fat or carbs, so you can imagine how blah the food choices are (eggs and lean meats). Also, I do think that this should be a short term program, followed no more than one month (all that protien is hard on the kidneys!). I had about 40 pounds to lose and lost 28 in one month. During that month I researched what healthy eating entails so that I could keep losing and not gain anything back. That worked fine for me. Will power is needed, the food choices are silm ang get old quick, but the fast track to health with ease makes it worth it. Please reprint this book so that every dieter can enjoy it!!

Folks, Dr. Stillman died of heart disease in the 1970s. He's been gone a while. However, this diet is still hands-down the best thing out there to drop the weight. I use Stillman intermittently with a carb-up carb-down approach to match my activity level, and I've been maintaining for 5 years. (In that time, I've run 9 marathons and done 5 triathlons.) My blood work is always excellent, and my doctor always says, "keep up the great work."

I'm currently training for a 50-mile race, so I'm carbier than usual these days, but I see runners all the time who have guts, paunches, and excess body fat. It's inevitable as you get older even if you exercise a lot. I credit the Stillman plan with keeping me lean all these years. I've got nice ab definition and great muscularity.

Couldn't have done it without Stillman as my baseline plan.

This is the most motivating and postive experance I've ever had with a diet. Lost 30 lbs in 8 weeks. In fact evertime you go to a scale, you find you have lost another one or two pounds! I love turkey breast, and cottage cheese, and I could drown in it, and still lose! The water is not so hard to drink. you just keep a water bottle with you, and take sips throughout the day. The only negative I had was my clothes started smothering me, and I had to buy new ones! This is the easiest diet, if you have alot of weight to get off. Anyone can do it!

If you are TRUELY motivated and serious about losing weight,(and quickly to boot!),then this is the diet to do!I lost almost 30 lbs in a month..that's just insane!

The Stillman's diet is very easy to follow...low carbs,low fats like eggs,tuna,chicken,fish,spices,and tons of water!YES,the diet is severe and at first hard to follow..but after a few days,your hunger is gone COMPLETELY and you have to FORCE yourself to eat!

I agree with the other reviewers that there's a reason why people are still doing this diet after all these years...because it's the best and it works!

I started out at about 180 lbs, and I lost about 45 lbs very quickly, in about 4 wks. back in 2003. Not only does this diet help you to loose weight, it literally melts the fat off your body! it's amazing! I actually got the book at my local library so check your local library to see if they might carry it.

This book is a "must have" for ANYONE whom is either dealing with a liver disease, has a relative that is, or even a medical professional! Considered the "liver bible" by those of us dealing with liver diseases.

Excellent book to help those who have liver disease or family and friends of those with liver disease. The books answers questions
that arise when your personal doctor may not be available. Or that
you may forget to ask during your office visit!

This book is very insightful. It explains a lot about what is going on with several different liver diseases. It answered some questions that general physicians were unaware of about rare diseases.

i bought this book for my mother who has cirrohsis and recently had a ct scan show up with what appears to be a tumor on her liver. There are no heptologists in our area and the dr's around here don't even seem to care. this book gave my mother some concrete advice how to eat and how to
live. Since going on a super reduced salt free diet, my mother is feeling 100% better. She has lost 30 pounds and has really been encouraged. i am extremely grateful this book was written.. Overall it was written in easily understandable terminology.

Since being diagnosed with Hepatitis C, I've read Dr. Palmer's book, & continue to review it as questions come up. It is irreplaceable as a resource book.

This is a GREAT book. The authors have done an outstanding job bridging the EMS and medical aspects of disaster management with the IMS system. Surely a must include text in any disaster training program

As I scrambled to meet the direction of my CEO to get our disaster plan updated in order to deal with the pressing threat of terrorism it was recommended to get this text by a peer. After reading this book, I can say without a doubt, that it is one of finest disaster works I have ever been exposed. It has taken complex issues and presented them in a real world method that makes comprehension and application quite easy. Frankly this is a must have reference for emergency service and management personnel in public and private sectors. Outstanding work!

This is a GREAT book. The authors have done an outstanding job bridging the EMS and medical aspects of disaster management with the IMS system. Surely a must include text in any disaster training program

Outstanding work that takes you through a logical and sequential path concerning the application of Incident Command for EMS/Ambulance/Rescue operations.

Without a doubt the best text on the subject that I am aware of. Great reference and operational manual.

Well written and informative. Good review of incident management system. The information provided regarding disaster medicine is from the EMS response point of view and is useful for Emergency Physicians and Disaster researchers from the point of view of understanding EMS response in disasters. This book should be part of the overall collection of any physician working in area of Disaster Medicine.

This book provides an excellent information source for people with epilepsy and offers vital information to help them control their seisures.

I bought this book back in 1995, and I still use it. It has chapters on foods and chemicals to avoid, exercises, relaxation... It is very helpful and my seizures have lessened. I cannot guarantee if they lessened due to this book, but I think so (o:

I have always had seizures since I was a small child. I had no idea I could do more for myself than take the pills I was given by my doctor. I no longer have seizures since reading this book. I have lost my drivers on occasion due to seizures!!!

The information in this book should be more available to everyone!!! Doctors should be telling people some of the information in this book during their visits. The nutrition section was extremely important to me.

I have a completely new life now after reading this book and Treating Epilepsy Naturally by Patricia A. Murphy. These two books have so changed my life that I can hardly believe it. I wish I would have had these books over 20 years ago. But now, I have them and am so grateful. After having a seizure every week I am almost beside myself now that it has been over 6 weeks. And I haven't even tried everything in these books. Just a few. I wish I could give a medal to the authors. I wish I could express my thanks properly. If you have epilepsy or know someone who does, you won't regret reading these books and applying their advice. They are an answered prayer.

In spite of no new edition for ten years, this book is still highly relevent. The information on medication is a bit dated but everything else seems to be timeless.

In a world full of medical miracles people often expect a simple solution to their medical problems; i.e., "take a pill and everything will be alright." With epilepsy that is often not the case. There is so much more to the condition than just seizures. There is so much more to treating the disease than just taking pills. Most physicians are so pressed for time because of managed care and too few specialty providers that they rarely have time during an appointment to discuss the many aspects of epilepsy let alone the finer points of treating it.

This book addresses the many facets of epilepsy and suggests ways that individuals can take control of their disease. Most of the ideas are backed up with anecdotal evidence, but the concepts are extremely cogent and intellectually appealing.

Rather than listing the contents of the book I think it is sufficient to say that the book advocates a holistic approach to the person with epilepsy. I heartily endorse that idea. It will be up to the individual and their family to make that happen. Physicians can help by directing people to resources outside of the traditional "just take your meds" approach. It is good to have a balanced approach to this condition.

I highly recommend this book. It is extremely well written and is a joy to read. Of all of the books I have read on epilepsy (so far), it more than any other paints a broad picture of the disease and advocates a balanced approach (between traditional medicine and alternative methods) to helping the person take control of their disease process.

I had open heart surgery at 47 years of age and never had a heart attack. With my head spinning I entered cardiac rehab where I was introduced to "From the Heart." Kathy shares her personal journey with heart disease and snippets of the journeys traveled by other women of all ages, races and cultures. The reader can truly relate to the triumphs and challenges women with heart disease face each and every day. Filled with emotion, truth, struggles, options and resources this is a must read for all women living with heart disease, as well as those around them. The psychological benefits are truly therapeutic for the reader and the educational information is empowering. Written in understandable language this book will help you to live a healthy, happy and productive life with heart disease. Heart disease is a women's disease and you are not alone.

This book is a must read for those travelling the heart journey - meaning both the survivor and the caregiver. Heart disease never goes into remission and the roller coaster ride this #1 killer of women in this country plays, needs to be understood. This book brings knowledge, understanding and compassion to the reader. Although this book is great to keep for reference and re-read, DON'T pass it along to everyone you know and make this a chain-book - a must read!

Kathy Kastan's, From the Heart: A Guide to Living Well with Heart Disease,
brings awareness and understanding to women who are facing emotional challenges AND living well while in the process.

I wish this book had been available to me after my heart attack. I also live with the aftermath of 16 coronary artery stents and a quadruple bypass surgery. This book gives women with heart disease "peace of mind" and validates that you are not alone. While reading this book, you will catch yourself nodding and thinking, "This happened to me. That is where that feeling came from! Now I understand."

One of many messages emanating from this book is to take care of the mind-body-spirit connection: that it will promote healing and assist in living a healthy life. Every woman should be given this book before any heart procedure or surgery, to better understand what to expect emotionally and how to deal with their challenges.

Thank you, Kathy Kastan, for this wonderful book!

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. If you are a "survivor" like me or someone wanting/needing to provide compassionate support to a family member or friend, you want this book. Ms. Kastan provides facts, practical advice and emotional support. I constantly recommend this book to other survivors and health care professionals.

This book what not what I felt was a guide to living with heart disease. It gave me much more to worry about which I didn't need. And alot of the helpful information that is in this book you can get on the American Heart Association website. If you really want a great guide, read "TAKE A LOAD OFF YOUR HEART: 109 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT, HALT AND REVERSE HEART DISEASE by Joseph C. Piscatella. This books is Great! and has just about everything you need to know to help empower you and take control of your health and life.

My friend & I traded water books. I am finishing The Holy Order of Water now and she is finishing Fresh Water: Women Writing on the Great Lakes by Alison Swan (Editor). The Holy Order of Water is a great, great book although it's a bit science heavy in parts for me. At one point I thought, "Hmmm, I haven't read so much Latin since high school!" Anyway Marks is a delightful person. I researched him a little on line. There are more books in him. I hope he does not keep it all inside too long. I look forward to hearing more from him. He has so much respect for nature.

The book tries so hard to be relevant and interesting. Vortex energy, spiritual nature of water. I'm just not buying it. Don't get me wrong. I love water; I think it's important. And, sure it's mysterious. But it's not that mysterious. Some people may like the author's ideas, but I find them to be science-lite, a bit disappointing for a book on water.

I am an artist and read The Holy Order of Water about three years ago when I was painting a body of work about water. This interesting mix of personal anecdotes, mythology, and science, supports the realization that I've had after living on a lake for 14 years that water is alive. It gave me lots to ponder while working and I've since decided to focus all of my work on water. Thank you, William E. Marks, for your efforts to raise awareness and preserve water resources.

Hello H2O Lovers,

As a layperson on the path of being a true leader in the H2O movement, I am very glad to have been offered this book to open my eyes about the elixir of life.

This book is astounding in its clarity and authenticity. Its fun to read and brings home my actual deepest feelings about water.

It brings you a masterful tapestry from the authors life story, the science, the philosophy and even the spirituality of water.

Read it. I promise it will trasform your life and it will transform your relationship with water.

You will never relate to a cup of water in quite the same way again.

Truly,
Leslie Gabriel aka WaterMan
Host Of "And So It Flows"
WBCR 97.7 FM Great Barrington, MA

This book is as important to the Earth as Water itself. Many of us are increasingly concerned about what we are doing to the environment. Our concerns about the plight of water and its importance to the survival of life on this planet are addressed magnificently in this book that describes powers of water of which even I was unaware!

Water is a mystical, magical substance, and oh how we take it for granted; filling it with carmel coated sugar substances for profit; tossing our waste products into it as if it had no value of its own, wasting it on "the perfect lawn" which servies absolutely no purpose or function, or even washing our cars, which cry the death knoll of Earth daily.

Care enough about Water to read this book. Pass it on to your friends. Give it as a gift for Arbor Day, Earth Day, Valentine's day. It's the most important book you will read this year.

This is a very interesting book. It features in one part a detailed description of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank, who used microloans to help Bangladeshis, especially women, get out of poverty and earn for themselves. By issuing very small loans, the people of Bangladesh are able to build their businesses or working conditions and change their lives. I recommend this book.

Hope's Edge is a Must Read for Everyone! The book puts it all together in an easy-to-understand, personal and honest fashion: the connection between consumerism, 'brainwashing', oppression, global economy, poverty, exploitation etc. etc. The concepts presented in this book are sophisticated and have depth. I liked the personal tone of the book, the story telling. The book is very honest, the stories told utterly inspiring. Frances and Anna never 'whitewash' the porlbmes the projects they are describing are facing. This truth-telling makes the stories even more impressive, more credible. The very existence of these projects defy the global systems as we know them. The way they do 'business' defies the global system of exploitation and competition. This book makes us take an honest look at ourselves, our values, the daily choices we make, what we consume, how we live. This is not just 'about food' or poverty or world hunger, this is truly food for thought and inspiration of how to create a better world."

I won't say much here, because the other reviewers have described the book well. All I will say is that this is one of the very best books I have ever read. Not only does Lappe have an incredible way with words, but she summarizes her profound insights in such a way that really organizes one's thoughts for genuine reflection. Add to that a well-documented and researched approach, as well as fascinating stories of different communities around the world which they themselves visited.

Good copy. Excellent vegetarian recipes. Explains why we need to eat lower on the food chain. If we do, we can feed the world's hungry people.

Thirty years after the publication of the highly acclaimed "Diet For A Small Planet", Frances and her daughter Anna Lappe have come out with a potent sequel and a beautiful statement of hope for a more equitable world through the world-wide spread of organic and sustainable agriculture techniques and locally controlled "fair" market modalities now challenging the status quo of chemical fed, toxic pesticide/GMO laden crops, and the lopsided "free" market capitalist WTO agenda that has been reaping havoc on the environment and small farmers everywhere.

The Lappes traveled to 5 continents while researching this book and their travels are both fascinating and uplifting as they report on people all over the world demonstrating that going organic and controlling their own markets are reaping major benefits in healthy, abundant food production while cleaning up the environment.

The Lappes do not reject world trade or capitalism, rather, they demonstrate how unregulated "free" markets monopolized by huge international corporations have been inadvertently causing food scarcity, bankrupting and polluting people all over the world, yet with an injection of regulation in the form ethics, strict fair trade measures, etc., they believe capitalism can "evolve" to a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy method of food distribution- a similar optimistic view shared by Lovins and Hawken in their book, "Natural Capitalism".

The inefficiencies of nutrient and food distribution is brought home in quantifying the huge amount of crops, water, and land required to feed cattle. The amount of energy necessary to produce an ounce of meat could feed hundreds of people on a much healthier vegetarian diet, hence, the myth of food scarcity and the need to grow more food to feed the world.

Every chapter finishes with a recipe and there are many more at the end of the book along with several pages of resources and contact information on a host of organizations advocating social responsibility.

Our Mother recently passed away peacefully in the care of Hospice and my Brother. We had opted for Hospice in the final stages of her long and wonderful life. Last Rights gave us so much useful and comforting information during this time. We Highly recommend Last Rights!

This book is excellent for elderly persons and for those with serious illnesses. Kiernan's main point is that death in America is increasingly gradual rather than sudden, and is typically preceded by a long period of illness. Yet most doctors have almost no training at all in the care of terminal patients. The result is that patients frequently suffer unnecessarily. Be warned that some of the stories Kiernan tells of patients' last days in ICUs are nothing short of horrifying. I was stunned to find out that it is common practice for patients who are clearly already dead to have their clothes cut open and their hearts defibrillated and injected with adrenaline.

The American medical system is presently in a state of ever-diminishing returns. Costs keep rising, but health is not substantially improved; in fact, in many cases health is worsened by the aggressive medical interventions so common today. My husband and I spend a substantial chunk of our incomes on insurance for ourselves and our son. Are we getting our money's worth? I don't think so. Kiernan's book makes clear that a large part of the reason is that doctors are too cowardly to face a patient and admit that there isn't much more they can do. The fact is, though, that everyone dies sooner or later. I certainly hope that when my own time comes, I will die pain-free in peaceful surroundings, with music playing and someone there to hold my hand.

As a lawyer myself, I felt that Kiernan had too little to say on the contribution of lawyers to the problem of terminal illness and quality of care at the end of life. I think that one important change that needs to be made is a simple state or federal law that forbids suing a doctor for malpractice if he chooses not to implement certain treatments. I would propose that this list include: all forms of open-heart surgery, including cardiac bypass; heart defibrillation after cardiac arrest; CT and MRI scans; chemotherapy for persons who are over age 70 or who have other serious illnesses; and ICU treatment for persons over age 70 or who are terminally ill. Doctors would still be free to order these treatments if they felt that they were clinically necessary or desirable, but they would no longer have to live in fear of being sued if they don't take every step imaginable.

If you are considering surgery or other high-tech medical treatment, I would suggest pairing this book with The Last Well Person: How to Stay Well Despite the Health-Care System.

Everyone should read this book, especially those who like me, have had lifetime careers in the medical system.

This book was just what was needed to reassure our family that our decision for Hospice care was the right course for our elderly parent's end of life. It contained so many good suggestions that we were able to act upon. It helped us all cope with our loss, both before and after the actual death.

I recommend this book HIGHLY if you are facing a similar situation. The constant focus is on Quality of life and comfort during one's last days, just what my father wanted! Very reassuring!

This is a "Must Read" for everyone! As an R.N with 32 years experience (12 yrs critical care & 7 yrs In-Patient Hospice) it is my privilege to endorse this book. Mr. Kiernan has clearly and accurately documented what is a reality that will ultimately affect every single one of us. In both scope and depth Mr. Kiernan has spoken the truth. He has not embellished, exaggerated or dramatized any detail of his book. Every human being deserves to die in peace (spiritual and emotional) and free from pain. This is a goal which is attainable but I can assure you that your chances of experiencing this are not good in any of today's modern acute care hospitals or nursing homes. (There are always exceptions). Hospice care is the only option and that is primarily because hospice is not a place but a philosophy of care. All physicians can manage the care of an acutely ill person but only a few physicians are qualified to manage your care if you are dying because the vast majority of physicians do not recognize or they refuse to accept that there is a difference. Please read this book. It could be one of the most important things you ever do both for yourself and for those whom you love.

Barb Lyons, R.N.