Medicine and Health Books

In a world of instability where one of the only constants has become that of stress, the need to take control rises to the top of a daily "to do" list. Whereas geopolitical strategy is often left to the better judgement of our elected officials, the education and deployment of healthy lifestyle ones is up to the individual. In his book, CORONARY HEART DISEASE: A GUIDE TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, Dr. Cohen redefines an inherently complex area of medicine into a simple one which suggests small steps to follow on a daily basis for long term success. It is true that medicine and treatment options will evolve at a rapid pace leaving some specific procedures behind in the process. However, the text of CORONARY HEART DISEASE appears timeless in its ability to last as a resource in every household,to be referenced over the years with regard to family issues and in order to share it with anyone close to heart in an effort to strengthen their lives. Dr. Cohen should be applauded for having felt the committment to his field to find time away from surgical schedules and office visits in order to prescribe measures which, if and when followed, might lead to our paths never crossing.

The information in this book will decrease your odds of contracting coronary heart disease (CHD), thereby increasing your odds of living a longer and healthier life. This book does an excellent job simplifying a complex subject so that a non-medical person like myself can comprehend and benefit from it. I have purchased extra copies to give to my family members and am recommending that my friends read it.

My introduction to Barry Cohen was the Friday after I was diagnosed with CHD. As a woman who has taken good care of herself - eating right and exercising - I was shocked when a high score on a cononary calcium scoring test deposited me into the heart of a disease that only others had. I was in the 75th percentile - that's bad! The calcium burden was in my LAD. I needed infomation - more than offered on the internet and more than my present doctor had time to offer me. Dr. Cohen was recommended to me by a cardiologist who is a family friend. After consulting with him, I bought his book.

In this book, Dr. Cohen and Bobbie Hasselbring have presented a concise, readable, and informative block of information a newly diagnosed patient needs. Step by step they take you through the understanding, risk factors, symptoms (in my case, none) of heart disease. There is a chapter on WOMEN! written with an understanding not often experienced. The chapter covers how we present differently from men, our higher death rates than men, hormone replacement and many risk factors. There is a glossary so that we can better understand our doctor during consultations. This is a book I will read and reread. For those of us who want information - this is the ticket! The information in Coronary Heart Disease empowers us. Dr. Cohen was named one of the best cardiologists in New Jersey, 2007. After you read his book, you will know why. The information about medications, medical procedures, treatment and lifestyle changes gives both the patient and the family the tools needed to be more pro-active and powerful when facing CHD. Thank you for writing this book for humanity.

I have a shelf of books on cardiac care but when I realized that I would be taken to a hospital with angina, I took this book, and only this book, along for the ride. Hospitalized and awaiting treatment, I digested the 186 page book cover to cover.

"Coronary Heart Disease" provides a lucid explanation of diagnosis and treatment aimed at a lay audience. While I might use a big book for coverage of a specific topic, for a coherent, readable, up to date synopsis, this compact book is the companion I bring along.

Web authors use the term "information architecture" to convey the sense of the big picture hidden within complex structures and "chunking" to indicate the intelligible presentation of the information. So it is here. The design of this book gives the reader the orientation and the content needed to grasp coronary heart disease quickly and accurately. The handy glossary and appended list of resources provide supplemental tools for the reader.

Thus, the authors have achieved their goal: This clearly written and well organized book by Dr. Cohen and Ms. Hasselbring empowers the patient to partner with the cardiologist in the delivery of care. This is a book that you can, and should, use.

I promised Dr. Cohen that I would put his book to use. After he operated on me twice within the span of a year, we both know that there must be a better way. Dr. Cohen and Ms. Hasselbring have charted the course. The rest is in my hands, which is the point of "Coronary Heart Disease."

This book is great!! It is written to be read -- not full of jargon or complicated medical terms -- and the suggestions for prevention and heart care are really helpful and can actually be incorporated into every day life. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has or has had a family member with heart issues (and who hasn't???)

Lewis Mehl-Madrona reveals insights into traditional and non-traditional medicine. He is an interesting multi-faceted medical practioner. It is impossible to sum up his contributions in a sentence or two. He breaks the bonds of traditional medicine by incorporating ancient medical practices into his healing work.

Great book if this is the first book of this author that you read. However, it is an extraordinary book if read after reading Coyote Medicine. As a follow-up read, the reader has a greater understand of the "whys". If you are a Native American or have worked in the field of mental health/ psychiatry -- or better yet both, you find yourself going, "Yes, you are so right!" often times as you read. Such a moving book. It touched not only my mind, but also my heart and soul. I could not put it down until I finished it.

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D. has written one of the best books on healing ever to be published. This book should be required reading for all cancer patients and survivors, for anyone suffering from chronic physical or emotional disease, and for therapists in all disciplines. Dr. Madrona's stories are poignant and will linger with you long after you've finished the last page. This book offers hope. It teaches that health truly is a mind-body-spirit phenomenon.

Dr. Mehl-Madrona's magnificent first book, COYOTE MEDICINE, was seen through wide-eyes: a young doctor discovering his own roots and shedding illusions about the omnipotence of science. By contrast, COYOTE HEALING reveals a sure sense of purpose and conviction in his approach.

One senses a mission- that this book is more than an account, but an active attempt to spread the word. No longer exploring, Dr. Mehl-Madrona has become the guru; here he is at the height of his powers and conviction and acts as advocate.

Operating from the perspective of a shaman, Dr. Mehl-Madrona respects the patient's ability to cure himself, but also "straddle(s) cultures," drawing on his varied expertise. As he explains, "Activating the inner healer is the most important aspect of what I do... I use herbs, diet, vitamins, exercise, drugs and a myriad of other techniques, but I recognize that the inner healer makes all these approaches work."

Because of the success of his first book, many people seek him out, and we hear their stories. They have usually been told their cases were beyond hope. Working with the author, some patients do recover, others sadly, do not. But Dr. Mehl-Madrona refuses to speak of "failures," nor does he use cases to argue for or against shamanic or complementary approaches. Rather, he sees the healing process itself as the miracle. As he says:

I build hope. I don't help everyone [in terms of cures]...I help them to show their true humanity, their true spirit, despite adversity...Each of my patients told me what a difference I had made in their lives. All I did was to recognize their true selves and coax those to the surface, despite everything else that was happening... Hope- not despair, not denial, not giving up, not demanding success...It comes from knowing that the Universe cares about us, even when our desires are not possible... The peacefulness of integrating these apparent contradictions is truly a miracle.

Much of his work involves Native American storytelling, using characters in stories to shed light on the patients' struggles. So, a woman who helps many people but is now undergoing chemotherapy is told a story of the "Gatherer," a Native American woman who collected healing plants, and was kidnapped and tortured, but made it through. Another woman who has been ill for decades is told a story about a young woman who was kidnapped, who had to throw away some prized items in order to escape. Here the doctor was showing his patient how to discard illness as an identity.

Some major themes emerge. A loss of community is said to cause disease, and one violently schizophrenic man finds his way back to sanity by being made an "honorary Indian" on a reservation. Another theme is illness as sublimated negativity in one's life.

But the doctor does not "blame the victim." Instead, he defines "disease" as literally that, dis-ease. In the eyes of a shaman, cause of illness is everywhere, and awareness of imbalance will lead us to finding "ease." In the author's words, "I can no longer imagine a physical problem that is not simultaneously psychological, spiritual and social..."

But we are not being punished by our illness, only being told that something is wrong. Gary Null echoes this when he talks about the fires burning in our (physiological) houses, and how often we ignore these fires, whether stress, abuse, self-hatred, etc.

Whether you believe in complimentary healing approaches or not, COYOTE HEALING helps define what it means to fight for wellness with dignity and peace. Having met Dr. Mehl-Madrona at his healing circle, I know his real voice: soft, thoughtful, nonjudgemental, and mischievous. In these pages this voice comes through, and brings comfort. Thank you again, Doctor.

COYOTE HEALING is an interesting book which describes an approach to healing which is based on the experiences of the author who is a practicing physician and a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine. The main thrust of the book is to reveal the characteristics of exceptional patients who beat the odds against killer diseases such as cancer. Many inspirational stories are included.

The healing strategies used throughout reflect Dr. Mehl-Madrona's own childhood exposure to a mixture of Christianity and Cherokee spirituality. A strong emphasis is placed on the need for the patient to think positively. Any feelings of personal blame for having the illness are eliminated and replaced with a sense of hope. This step leads to peacefulness which in turn sets the stage for a potential miracle. The patient next tries to locate the inner healer before starting on a healing journey. The latter emphasizes a radical transformation of oneself and one's relationships. The journey itself ultimately becomes more important than the destination.

There are several fantastic points about Dear Daisy, Get Well Soon. Instead of whining about waiting for Daisy to get better, Peter does something proactive: he sends his animal friends on missions to cheer her up. So the plot is charming and useful.
The details in the pictures really make the story come to life. The squirrel's reactions to different scenes are funny, and I liked seeing Daisy's mom pushing a reel mower with Daisy's little sibling strapped to her! So even supporting characters have their own personalities.
I even learned something about chicken pox from this book. Since I was a newborn when I had chicken pox, I don't remember it, and I thought it was contagious for two weeks. When it only took a week for Daisy to get better, I did research and found that, indeed, it's contagious for about a week (although Peter was lucky not to get it before anyone knew Daisy was sick).
So, overall, the book is great for its creativity and warmth. Good for kids, parents, and people who just enjoy children's literature.

Peter wants to play with his best friend Daisy, but is upset to find out that she's come down with the chicken pox. He decides to help make her feel better by sending things to cheer her up. Everything he does really helps and she's better before the week is out!

Daisy is likely cheered up by both the sweet presents Peter sends her (including a get well card and flowers) and the unusual delivery method --- Peter seems to have a fleet of animals (such as hippos and zebras) at his command, magically transformed from his stuffed toys.

The illustrations are soft and pleasing and full of visual detail to read and spot. This is also a counting story, which kids just learning to count will very much appreciate and have fun counting along with.

This is a lovely counting book. It has animals and great pictures to look at. It is about a little boy who misses his freind when she is sick. He send her different thing every day of the week in hopes of making her recover faster. It also would help a child learn the days of the week. It would be nice for a child who is missing a friend or family member or some one moves away. It has lots of ideas and creative things they can do to keep them busy and also please the reciever of all those things. Very lovely book to give to a sick friend. The most adorable book.

The book Dear Daisy, Get Well Soon is a charming story. It is about Two close friends and neighbors named Daisy and Peter. Daisy gets ill with the chicken pox and cant not com out and play with him for about a week. To make her not so lonely and in hopes of helping her get better faster he sends diffrent thigns to her eachday. This book also is a counting book, and helps them learn the days of the week.For example on monday he sends her a get well card and sends it over ot her house by giving it to an elephant. There are also lots of wonderful drawings and visuals for them to see.

My 18-month-old, Sara Rose, has been obsessed with this book since we first read it to her last month. We recently visited a tourist attraction where she saw zebras, flamingos and monkeys -- all of which are featured in the book -- and she screams as we turn each page and she spots those animals. She calls it "Zee-Zaa," as in the Zebra Book, and she carries it around the house with her and asks us to read it 10 times a day.

Make no mistake: this book can be very tough sledding. Reading about the sad, often lonely, always uncomfortable deaths Scannell's patients suffered would be tough for any but the most hard-hearted reader to take. How could anyone not cry when reading about the dying man who wanted nothing more than to end his life in the midwestern home he grew up in, yet was forbidden to do so -- and therefore died alone, far away -- because his parents feared his son's illness would turn their small community against them? Yet it is against this backdrop of sadness and isolation that Scannell writes about her tender, compassionate, and often very creative ways of caring for her patients. Through her eyes we can see that, even when there is no hope of extending life, the lives of the dying can still be valued and enriched in the time they do still have. On a personal note, although I haven't lost nearly as many friends to HIV/AIDS in the last 20 years as some have, I have still attended far more than my share of memorial services and have said goodbye (or worse, not had the chance to say goodbye) to a handful of friends who I sometimes still cannot believe are really gone. I remember all too well the dark days Scannell writes about, and am grateful that advances in medicine since the mid-90s have helped reduce the terrible loss of human life. But the lessons Scannell offers are timeless and independent of person or illness. I don't recommend this book if you are currently coming to terms with a loss, because it may prove to be too painful. But if you are starting to lose your faith in mankind and need a dose of humanity, reading a few chapters of Scannell's book can offer a healthy reorientation.

This is one of the most touching, beautiful books I have ever read. Scannell shares her life with her readers and honors the memories of her AIDS patients through her her series of "anecdotes." Each chapter is a different story, or memory, making it easy to read over a span of a week or more, or even in a day. In it, she touches upon a variety of issues like healthcare, sexuality, gender, death, family, and fear and she talks about her evolving from a good doctor (i.e. seeing the patient's physical needs) to a compassionate doctor (treating the patient holistically and considering their emotional needs).
In the last chapter she reflects on her five years of experience on an AIDS ward and how it helps her cope with her discovery that she has cancer.
When I read this book, I felt like she was next to me in person telling me these stories. I laughed; I got sad; I felt hopeful. This is a testament to human life, and I would recommend this easy read to anyone.

Beautifully written and mesmerizing stories. It's extraordinary, and even reassuring, to read the reflections of a doctor who is so carefully aware of the human and spiritual depths of the doctor-patient relationship. It's unforgettable and shouldn't be missed.

What a wonderful set of truths Scannell reveals in her experiences of caring for dying patients. Honest, raw, funny experiences that shed light into a world few of us can ever know. How great, too, that she "expands the traditional narrative" of physicians' lives.

There exist so few memoirs written by women physicians. It is refreshing to see Dr. Scannell's experience expand the narrative about all physicians' lives. Her mix of humor and sober observation is a beautiful weave of writing.

Very detailed information about most herbs, I wish there were more in there, but the ones they do list are very detailed in their descriptions.

I wholeheartedly agree with the other reviewers that this is a 5-star book and an important volume to include in your herbal library - or if you are looking for ONE herbal book, this is it.

Each entry has information on the history and lore of not only the herb, but even its name; where and how it grows, how to cultivate (that information is often left out of other books, which just tell you what part of the plant to use, now HOW to use them), and any supporting scientific evidence (or lack thereof).

The sections on geographic locations worldwide and their indiginous plants and cultural contributions to herbalism are unlike anything in any other herbal book I've seen. I could not put this one down, I turned each page with the same enthusiasm I'd have had for a suspense thriller, and this is a reference book, not something that would normally garner excited responses like that. Don't pass this one up!

There are so many herbal books on the market today that one could wonder about the need for yet another, even with the National Geographic branding attached to it promising quality - but DESK REFERENCE TO NATURE'S MEDICINE offers something different. It's put together not by a single person but by leading experts in the herbal medicine field, it packs in over 200 color photos, 150 botanical drawings and over 150 maps, and its alphabetical arrangement of therapeutical plants covers not just physical appearance and medicinal properties but geographic distribution, how it's harvested in used, and more. Nine essays provide an overview to world healing traditions while handy sidebars of detail pack in the history and cultural insights, making for a practical manual which is also a superb history.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The National Geographic Society is known for producing high quality books and this is a fine example of one of their best works. The book is being promoted using their brand name rather then the names of the authors. I would like to acknowledge the authors Steven Foster and Rebecca Johnson; with Botanical paintings by Jane Watkins and Mary Eaton; and color photographs by Steven Foster.

I am familiar with the writings and beautiful plant photographs of Steven Foster and believe that he is one of the finest authors on medicinal plants.

This book contains in-depth and up-to-date profiles of 150 medicinal plants including herbal and pharmaceutical uses, cultural and scientific information and a botanical painting, map and color photograph for each plant.

The book has been well researched and provides a significant amount of information that is both succinct and clear, not lacking in any way. A reader would have to consult dozens of books to find the same information presented in this one volume.

The book is highly recommended for the general reader, herbalist, health professional and certainly every library.

This book is beautiful It has full color pictures. It also has lots of information. Maps and locations on where the plants are usally found. It is a thick hard cover book. A great addtion to anyones library. Great for gardening, medicine or science.

My husband struggled with many health issues . Often he referred to this book . It helped him manage his diabetes better . The part on how to eat and manage when ill is very good.

Although I am a physician and knew alot about diabetes already, I found this book helpful when I was diagnosed with the disease. It is also useful for other family members to read so that they may understand what their loved ones are facing.

I bought this book many years ago when I first discovered I had diabetes. It has been a god send. I use it as my bible. You forget from time to time and it is the best reference book I know of. In fact my daughter just became aware that she also has this disease and I purchased her a copy of this book. She agrees with me. It has helped her as well.

Diabetes Mellitus: A Practical Handbook is an excellent book. I would highly recommend it for newly diagnosed diabetes patients as well as diabetics who are "old timers" at this disease. The food exchange lists are simply fantastic as they are divided into "lean meat" with serving portions, "medium fat exchange", and "high-fat meat" with serving portion sizes. The vegetable choices, fruit choices, bread/starch choices. All of this makes life a little more easier when you are suddenly faced with a new way of eating. The sample meal plans are wonderful too. This book should be on the reference list of all physicians who have or will have diabetic patients. The book is written in a clear and easy format and it is simple to understand. I would also recommend it for the younger adolescent diabetic.

This book has easy to read tables and lists of blood sugar levels and information about foods that diabetics can eat, and how they affect sugar levels. I definately recommend this book to others with diabetes and/or diabetic family members.

Genre: Health/Well-being

Title: Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis

Author: David Spero, RN

"We are a product of our environment." How many times have we heard that cliché?
Anyone who reads or watches the news is aware of the catastrophic epidemic of Diabetes, especially Type 2 (T2D). Diabetes has increased by 400% in the last 30 years, to become the fourth leading cause of death in the US.
With concise, understandable facts, Diabetes is presented as a social disease, largely caused by the individuals loss of power, economically and personally. Food alone cannot be blamed, car travel instead of walking, sedentary jobs and increasingly high levels of stress are just a few facts to be aware of. Genetics and trauma that damages self-confidence has been proven not just individually based but on whole groups of people. Native Americans, African-Americans and other groups with historical trauma, pass the stress of grief, anger and fear down to the next generations as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The chapter, Diabetes 101 gives you basic knowledge of Diabetes itself. The body loses it's ability to breakdown carbohydrates into our primary source of energy, glucose. We produce a hormone from the pancreas called insulin which facilitates the entry of glucose into body cells. It becomes our fuel or if there is extra glucose, it is converted into fat. In Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreatic cells have been compromised and no longer produce insulin. In Type 2, insulin is still produced but the cells don't want any more so the glucose builds up in the blood stream. Refined sugar is an addictive drug because it raises the body's level of serotonin which fights depression and beta-endorphin which is our own natural version of opiate drugs. These two chemicals give you a sense of control and calm therefore we crave sugar, "comfort foods."
Our society is high in sugar and stress, low in social support and opportunities to exercise. Unfortunately, medical systems focus on genetics, biochemistry and drug therapy. Governments spend billions on researching cures when the money would be better spent on education and prevention.
David Spero, RN is an author who has gone to great lengths to educate his readers and provides a valuable self-care chapter and resource guide. While reading, you actually feel like he is sitting beside you, coaching the need to survive. He believes that by becoming more active, eating healthier, well balanced with relaxation, your self-esteem and self-empowerment will rise, ultimately creating better quality of life.
I highly recommend everyone read this enlightening book. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Review.

This is a wonderful book! I have never read anything like it. It's part self-help guide, part social criticism, part strategy for social change. In discussing causes and solutions to the diabetes crisis, Spero shows the connections of health issues, not only with emotional wellbeing--what is usually called a holistic approach--but also with family, community, politics, social power, and social justice. And he does all of this in a gentle, caring, humorous, and down-to-earth voice that makes you feel like he's sitting in your kitchen talking to you, and that he really cares about and respects you. He attacks our culture's blame-the-victim explanations for overweight and diabetes, showing how the stresses of social injustice, isolation, and materialism--as well as environments that make exercise difficult and unhealthy food readily available--contribute to disease. But the best part is his discussion of steps people can take toward self-care and empowerment, on an individual, group, community, and societal level. He includes dozens of inspiring stories of how ordinary people--both people with diabetes and health professionals--are building new, more effective ways to promote personal and community wellness. All of this is supported by clearly presented scientific evidence--- including numerous studies showing that personal and group empowerment produce better clinical results in controlling diabetes than medication! Anyone who cares about healing and wellness on an individual, community, or societal level will love this book!

Unlike most medical writers, David has mounted a complete discussion about the diabetes epidemic that has hit our nation. He not only deals with the medical facts we need to know in dealing with this disease, he investigates the wider picture: the sociological implications of the disease. How Type 2 diabetes is not simply a medical problem as it is a social pandemic caused by toxic environment: an environment high in stress and sugar, low in opportunities to exercise or feel good about oneself - and a lack of power. Yes, if you feel he is saying that the poor and the disadvantaged have a greater susceptibility to the disease, you are right and he covers this point very well.
No where else have I seen such a complete discussion of the disease as I have found in this book.
David Spero's book should be in the library of every person in America who has borderline or onset diabetes.
As it says on the cover: This is "the first book to bring to life effective social approaches to wellness." This book transcends the standard medical treatments of diabetes and brings not only medical, but also social truth

I just finished reading this book -- in one sitting, mind you, and
that's saying a lot for somebody who doesn't have diabetes and hasn't had an
overwhelming interest in chronic disease. But it's a good & compelling
read. For instance, how can you resist little tidbits like the fact
that dinosaurs have arthritis, or that Cubans have the same life expectancy
as Americans with only 4% the health care outlay.....

Any writer on the diabetes epidemic might easily fall into one of two
errors: either growing paranoid and hateful toward the power structures
that support the epidemic, or else downplaying the contributing social,
political & economic outrages. I thought Spero did a great & graceful
job in balancing between the two -- painting a very full picture, without
getting stuck in blame or hatred.

Especially liked the tone of the ending, positive without any trace of
smarm.

It must be hard to write a book for everybody -- individuals with the
disease as well as health care workers, policy people, community
organizers -- but Spero has probably done that as well as it could be
done.

I suspect this book has the power to change a lot of lives. It could be
a classic.

In my spare time this week I read a couple of books. Both books are about diabetes. Both are new and both are very well written. But that is where the similarities end.

The first of these books left me feeling that having diabetes was hopeless. So hopeless, in fact, that I despaired that my articles could make a difference in the lives of any but the most motivated readers. And perhaps not even for them.

It is unheard of to review a book and not even mention its title. But I won't oblige. Any publicity is good publicity, and I wouldn't be doing anyone a favor by leading them to the first book.

The second book could not have been a better antidote to the depression that the first book caused. This book does start out by describing how this society's environment and the ensuing stress leads many of us into diabetes.

It notes the conventional wisdom that our genes or our bad behavior or a combination of the two causes our type 2 diabetes. Either we are doing something wrong or there's something wrong with us. It's blame-the-victim time.

But this book shows how type 2 diabetes is much more of a social disease than a medical one. The truth is that the disease is inherent in the society that surrounds us.

"The environment is set up to make people sick," the book says. "It's toxically high in sugar and stress and low in social support, opportunities to exercise, or to feel good about ourselves."

If it stopped there, this book might be almost as pessimistic as the first. But after brilliantly setting out the problem, the bulk of the book in fact deals with the solution.

Since diabetes is a social disease, the solution must be a social one. Not a medical solution, since medicine itself in embedded in the society.

We can get healthier by joining forces to change our environment. We start by building our personal power - increasing our self-confidence and our self-esteem, setting positive goals, and giving ourselves reasons to live.

Then we build social power. We do this by working together. Only then can we change our environment.

This second book brought to my attention one of the most remarkable scientific studies of diabetes empowerment. The study is set among the Pima Indians of Arizona, who have perhaps the highest rate of diabetes of any group in the world and certainly have the highest rate of diabetes in America.

The scientists set out to compare a structured program of exercise and nutrition interventions - which they labeled Pima Action - with unstructured activities emphasizing Pima history and culture - Pima Pride. Those in the Pima Pride group got a more positive sense of themselves.

The scientists planned Pima Pride as a sort of control group. Fortunately, they had a real control group in those who declined to join either Pima Action or Pima Pride.

It was fortunate that they had this third non-participatory group as a control because the results shocked the scientists. After 18 months, the Pima Pride group had better results than the Pima Action group in everything they measured - weight, blood glucose control, waist size. But those who didn't participate were worse off than either group. This showed that exercise and nutrition does help, but self-confidence and self-esteem helps even more.

There aren't many studies as good as this Pima one. But there are many heros working to empower small groups of us all around the country.

The author of this book, David Spero, has met with these groups and their leaders, including America Bracho, an M.D. from Venezuela at Latino Health Access in Santa Ana, California, and Kate Lorig, a researcher and health educator at Stanford University, who started the Arthritis Self-Management Program.

The arthritis program started a revolution by using lay leaders instead of health professionals to deal with chronic illness. Those who participated in this program exercised more, felt better, and were hospitalized less than the control group.

Arthritis, like diabetes, is a chronic condition. The author of the second book that I read this week, David Spero, doesn't have either illness. But for the past 25 years he has lived with an even more devastating chronic illness - multiple sclerosis. He has been a nurse for 32 years.

Since writing his first book, The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness (Hulter House, 2002), David Spero has led self-management and wellness groups for patients and has trained health care providers in the U.S. and Europe.

I'm still not going to tell you the name of the depressing book that I read first this week. Just as we are all better off by staying away from negative people as much as our work allows, we need to avoid negative books as much as possible.

But I have waited until now to tell you the title of David Spero's new book. I wanted to tell you what it was about before I told you what it's called, because I think that its name is misleading, with an emphasis that doesn't reflect its contents.

Its title is Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis: Who Gets It, Who Profits and How to Stop It. New Society published this 222-page paperback for $16.95 this month. The ISBN 13 is 978-0-86571-567-7; the ISBN 10 is 0-86571-567-X. In spite of the title, this is a great book.

This is a good resource book for use by health care professionals. Sahrmann has good ideas towards movement impairments, but organization is a little hard to follow.

THIs is a must have book for all physical therapist working in an orthopedic setting.

Very useful for the practitioner involved in ortopaedic rehab, interested in going further than treating pain! Very essential complement to any good treatment. Will help you teach your patient how to take control of their body to prevent re-occurence.

Having harrassed the author for close to four years I am pleased to say that this text represents what might best described an a "hinge in history". I agree that the concepts and examination items might be challenging for those used to a "cookbook" strategy but I am sure Shirley will agree that she did NOT invent anatomy or kinesiology! Systematic clinical examination, identifying movement deviations from mechanical precision and optimising efficient movement patterns are not large leaps of logic. Major car manufacturers and airlines have been doing this for years; analyse patterns of wear and tear on components and see what lasts the longest! However, humans in their comfortable/familiar patterns don't invest in the valid and rational practice of prevention and damage analysis. I know UK colleagues will take the path of least resistance when trying out the exam items within this book and say "Well it doesn't predict chronicity!" or "What about psychosocial factors?". To them and the pain biology fanatics I say this...when viruses, bacteria, trauma, genetics and family relationships have been analysed, what are the three primary drivers of nociception? Bogduk delineated the mechanical deformation model of nociception; Sahrmann has now thrown down the gauntlet with the movement paradigm to support or negate. Roll up your sleeves, break a sweat and join those of us liberated from surreal Southern Hemisphere skeleton pushing. Active rehabilitation with empiricism, determinism and a healthy cynicism! This text gives content and not just theory/process models - try telling a student that clinical reasoning is a valid model when they don't know what to look for!

Physical therapists like myself have been waiting for a text from the author for over 10 years. Definitely a text for someone well versed in the anatomy and mechaincs of the musculoskeletal system. This text is written in clear categories and deals with problems in three general areas. It takes effort and analytic thinking to understand the myriad of motions listed in the text. A CD with actual demonstrations would help immensely in seeing all the factors the author is illustrating. The introduction covers very complex ideas made as simple as possible by the author. I would recommend this text for any movement specialist but I would caveat my recommendation with the warning that hard work is needed to really grasp the techniques listed in this text. This author is saying things that need to be learned by movement specialists and only can be applied by an expert.

Pretty easy to follow without a sense of real deprivation. Lots of clever tactics. May not work for everyone but speedily helped me and my wife.

I was looking for a book to help me with my cholesterol problem and this one caught my eye. It stood out from others on the shelves as it was to the point, covering all the ground I wanted something like this to do, and it was in a bigger font than the other encyclopedias there! While following their eating and exercise guidelines to some degree, I believe their vitamin and mineral recommendations have attributed to my now having a passing grade cholesterol levels across the board. On that basis 5 stars...and I must try more of their recipes!

This is an excellent guide to the many things you can do to reduce your cholesterol and triglycerides. It is a bit thin, a bit too cute and a bit commercial (i.e. order our newsletter, buy our vitamins etc.), but if you can overlook these distractions you're left with a helpful pamphlet.

If your cholesterol problem is not 100% permanent because of genetics, you can probably benefit by trying this plan, or at least portions of it. One of the few books by a traditional physician who recognizes the contribution s which can be made by supplements, exeercise, and tempting recipes.

I was initially dubious about modifying my diet (which is one of the "Blitz" tactics the authors describe), but I tried their clever food substitution scheme and-believe it or not- my cholesterol plummeted. And my taste buds are very picky. Suggest give it a whirl.

I tried to get pregnant for 2 years, without success. I purchased Hendler's book and made a list of what vitamins and minerals my husband and I could take to help with fertility. After 2 months on the vitamins, I was pregnant! I have also used other formulas of Hindler's, and they really work! It's also nice that he gives daily recommendations for what you want to accomplish.

This book was an excellent resource for me to decipher between the hype and the scientific data on nutritional supplements. This information held a lot of credibility for me because Sheldon Saul Hendler is an M.D. and a Ph.D. I used the information in his book and mapped out a nutritional supplemental program. It worked!! I felt more energetic and healthy. I researched this book on Amazon.Com hoping that Dr. Hendler had updated the information because so much has changed since the book was written in 1991. So, Dr. Hendler, if you happen to read this, I hope you are updating your book as I would love to read about the latest research on nutritional supplements.

This is a book that is written from the doctors view point, in other words you don't hear words about how a vitamin, mineral, herb is the next saviour of mankind. But when there is data supporting statements about improving memory or increasing energy or slowing the aging process etc, he will state it, and explore it. All in all, very informative, the only problem with this book is that it is 8 years old ( this was written at 07/98 ), although that does not detract from the data in the book a lot of things happen in this field in 8 years.

As we are all ultimately responsible for our own physical well-being, objective data is imperative in making informed health care decisions. Dr. Hendler's book delivers just that. I share the sentiments of the other reviewers;I signed on to Amazon hoping to find an updated version of this excellant resource. During this "herbal explosion", I have found the availability of objective and medical data on dietary supplements to be severely deficient. So, Dr. Hendler, if you're out there, we need you!

This is another must have book. First the author has nothing to 'do' with fitness or bodybuilding so you get the straight scoop. The book is easy to understand and goes into great detail. Vitamins and Minerals are covered PLUS most supplements. Want real information, get this book. NBAF 'very best'. (Hope for a update!)