Subjects:  1. Diagnostic Imaging   2. Medical   3. Medical / Nursing   4. Neurology - General   5. Orthopedics   6. Radiology   

When you look at the popularity of mind-body medicine today, it's hard to understand what a groundbreaking book this was when it was first published in 1975. Based on studies at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Herbert Benson showed that relaxation techniques such as meditation have immense physical benefits, from lowered blood pressure to a reduction in heart disease. The Relaxation Response demystifies the mantra meditation used in the transcendental meditation program, explaining how anyone can reap its advantages with or without the help of a guru. If you want to understand the beginnings of today's alternative medicine movement, or if you're simply looking to learn a simple meditation technique without a lot of metaphysical trappings, this is a good place to start. --Ben Kallen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great information, but it is there anything new here?
The message of this book could be summarized as "Relaxation is good for your health. You can relax by 1)Finding a quiet place 2) Sitting in a comfortable position/posture that will keep you alert but won't lead you to sleep 3) choosing a mental device that will let you concentrate 4) maintaining a passive attitude during this period". The rest of this book goes into the health dangers of stress (as understood in 1975),the health benefits of relaxation and how it differs from sleep, different ways to evoke the relaxation response, and how the relaxation response has been evoked throughout history in the context of various cultures and religions. I think this book is of great historical interest because it was one of the first attempts to expose the dangers of stress in a clear way (I found his discussion on how high blood pressure leads to heart disease particularly illustrating) and gave scientific validity to age-old ways of treating it without involving the methods traditionally sanctioned by Western medicine such as surgery and high-priced pills. His findings are based on research he performed with Transcendental Meditation followers, so he spends much effort on qualifying his conclusions, adding disclaimers, and otherwise protecting himself from possible attacks because of his work with such a fringe group. I think this limits the practical usefulness of the book and makes it somewhat dated, particularly since no one today questions that stress is bad and relaxation good. I think a more appropriate revision of this book should include not just a new introduction by the author, but also references to current research on which meditation techniques or approaches bring the most tangible health benefits and how they differ from placebos. A new assesment on the advantages of modern medicine vs. alternative therapies for preventing heart disease would also be in place. By being properly updated, a book of this nature would be very influential in setting a balance between the new age crowd that has little regard for science in medicine, and the medical establishment that has a vested interest in the status quo and thus rejects alternative medicine as a whole.

Woo Hoo!
This is worth the money to own -- it's so, so worth it... I did another review once for a somewhat similar book -- "The Quiet Mind," by White Eagle. That is a more explicitly "spiritual" book than this one, full of little aphoristic sayings that often refer to God, or "the light"... I still like that book, but I wanted to speak up in favor of this approach to having a quiet mind, also. "The Relaxation Response" is really quite short and to-the-point, and has a fundamentally Western, rational, scientific feel to it. The end goal is very similar to White Eagle's book, however. Herbert Benson helps us to know the value of taking just ten or fifteen minutes each day to breathe, to say your private mantra over and over, and to simply Be... I think a lot of people out there have some pretty flaky mental associations with the word "mantra." People immediately think of the Beatles saying "heavy, man" and binging in a huge way on LSD-laced mandarin oranges, or some similar image. Benson shows that meditation need not be like this. A mantra could be basically any simple, calming phrase -- anything that doesn't provoke fitful spasms of hysterical laughter is probably fine.

One example of a poor choice of a mantra would be "get... get... get... out... out... out..." like hockey mask-wearing Jason in the "Friday the Thirteenth" movies. A better one might be something calming, such as "decaf for me, please... decaf for me, please... decaf for me, please..." or, better still, the name of a beloved childhood pet. That's what I use, the name of the dog we owned when I was a kid, and it works for me. You can use a pleasant-sounding nonsense word if you want, also. Furthermore, it isn't necessary to be given a mantra in a personalized, ritualistic fashion by a personal guru, like many TM practioners used to advocate in the 70s. It's okay to pick your own, whatever works for you, a lot of those gurus were just a bunch of frauds.

This book is worth owning, for the further calming effect of being able to view the author's helpfully compiled graphs, and his discussions of the experimental sessions that led to his understanding of the essence of meditation. What he is basically going to tell you to do, however, is simply to take a few minutes a day to sit comfortably, breathe in and out, chant quietly, and try to let your mind empty itself out. Emptying the mind of extraneous thoughts is not meant to feel like wringing water out of a wet washcloth, either -- it should feel like leaving the washcloth hanging loosely over a clothesline, and letting the water, the thoughts, drip to the ground below of their own, unhurried accord, for just fifteen tranquil minutes a day. I wish I had discovered this book years ago. Two mellow thumbs up -- check this one out.

Good Golly Miss Molly!!
This book will teach you a simple technique you can do anywhere that puts your body in a state of relaxation. The best part? It is very well researched and documented and really works! I give it 5 stars easy. Other self-help books I liked include "Treat Your Own Knees." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies   2. Healing   3. Hypertension   4. Prevention   5. Psychology   6. Relaxation   7. Stress Management   8. Health & Fitness / Healing   

Subjects:  1. English Canadian Novel And Short Story   2. Fathers and daughters   3. Fiction   4. Fiction - General   5. General   6. Maternal deprivation   7. Popular English Fiction   8. Problem families   9. Teenage girls   

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Tool
Great layout for tracking your healthy (or not) behaviors. Weekly format lets you review at a glance how you are doing. This is particularly nice since consistent behavior is so important. Two pages per week for personal notes with check off boxes for sleep, vigor and mood. One page per week for food records with plenty of room to be specific or just mark number of food group servings in provided boxes. One page per week for physical activity records with a separate place for strengh training and number of steps taken (for pedometer fans).

This journal is a great motivator. I think because it's for 52 weeks (you can start anytime) it lets you really see that your overall daily choices and behaviors are what impact your health the most. That super duper hot fudge sundae isn't going to cancel out all the good choices you are making. Highly recommend! I bought one for my Mom and we are doing it together!

A disappointment
I am a fan of Miriam Nelson and the Strong Women books but I returned this book because I thought it was poorly designed. It is organized by week, not by day, and within each week there are different sections for exercise, food, etc. so that you have to switch back and forth between the sections (and pages) to record your different behaviors on a single day. Plus, there are some daily behaviors, e.g., drinking lots of water, which are only noted with one (i.e., a weekly) checkbox--it appears that she wanted to remind you to drink lots of water but didn't have room to include a daily checkbox for it or for other behaviors which should occur daily (e.g., a multivitamin).

It would have been more logical -- and easier to use -- if one could note one's actions and behaviors for a single day on the same page or page spread. (I have since found out that you can do this with Bob Greene's journal, Get With the Program.) On top of that, I saw at least two typos: in the intro section there's a phrase about "difficult people's" routines that was most obviously meant to read "different people's" routines. Why would anyone want to follow a difficult person's health and fitness routine? :) And on at least one of the page footers, it reads "umber" instead of "number."

I did not think that it featured the "essentials" or "highlights" of the Strong Women books (as the promo blurb claims it does). It has a few things here and there, but it's mostly anecdotes from readers whose diverse experiences may not be all that relevant to you. And some of Nelson's tips aren't helpful, e.g., when doing errands, resolve to walk to every destination less than a mile away. How could any busy person do that?

Funny, I came across a Web site that reviewed one of Nelson's later books. I can't remember the title of the book or the Web site, but she thought Nelson was getting sloppy after the first two books, perhaps because she is being asked to churn out at least one book a year.

I couldn't help but think of that review when I finally got a close look at this book.

To each her own of course. The design may work for you, but look carefully at the book before you buy. On the other hand the Strong Women "Stay Slim" and "Stay Young" books are quite good. So is her Web site, www.strongwomen.com.

Superb motivator and tracker
Despite the strong "women" nomenclature, this book serves equally well for men OR women who want to better their health and improve their wellness. As Miriam Nelson explains in the preface, the best predictor of people becoming more fit (exercise, diet) is whether they keep a journal or not. This structured journal means that in just a few minutes a day you can record the key facts about your program and progress (or lack of it) to keep you on track. HIGHLY recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Exercise For Women   3. Health & Fitness   4. Health/Fitness   5. Personal Health   6. Women's Health - General   

Customer Reviews (59)

I read this book to my two daughters over and over and over.
This has to be my daughters' favorite book while growing up. We read Miss Suzy so many times I had it memorized. I have to admit I loved it as much as they did. Miss Suzy handles herself very well when confronted by the band of red squirrels. She was a positive role model (if you can say that about a squirrel) for my girls. I'd love to present my niece with a copy of this delightful book.

My Long Lost Friend...Miss Susy
I loved this book as a child. I even have a Miss Suzy stuffed squirrel that I have given to my son. I would love to read him the tale of Miss Suzy but I haven't found the book though I have looked many places. Please help me to pass on this wonderful tale to my little one.

My all time favorite
This was my all time favorite book as a child. It was my sister's favorite and my brother's favorite too so that shows how very wonderful it is. It's all about this poor little squirrel and the awful things that happen to her but nothing breaks her spirit and she is content. My parents bought us three copies of this book off of ebay a couple of years ago and I must recommend that everyone buy it for their child. I didn't know that there were more Miss Suzy books but I plan on buying them for my son now that I know!! Please read, it's truly a wonderful book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Animals - Squirrels   3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks   4. Children: Kindergarten   5. Juvenile Fiction   6. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets   

Customer Reviews (36)

This book is a very important contribution to women's health
This book will motivate women to start and maintain a strength training programme.It presents respectable research on the value and effects of resistance training along with drawings and simple explanations. The evidence and the results obtained in the author's research, with middle aged women as subjects, at Tufts University is very motivating. The book explains why strength training is important for women in particular - it reduces fat, improves balance lost from the early 40's and increases bone density- and gives good instruction on how to do it. Progress is made by adding weights as strength increases. Women who took part in the research found unexpected benefits- they could enjoy life to the full because they increased their energy. They were able to return to activities they had enjoyed when younger, but had stopped due to a lack of strength and energy. I would recommend this book to all women. It is the best exercise book I have ever read.

A must read for women with a family history of osteporosis.
After "baby sitting" my mother during a recent hospital stay by my father, I realized I had to do something. My mother is now in her 70's and was diagnosed with osteoporosis several years ago. She has be going downhill ever since with the classic widow's hump. A woman who was 5'7" that now barely comes up to my shoulder and I am 5'6". After doing some research on osteoporosis I realized that strength training was a key component to preventing osteoporosis. I borrowed "Strong Women Stay Young" from a friend and the book aroused my interest enough that I bought my own copy along with my weights. (You should have seen the man's face at the sporting goods store when I requested 20 lb leg weights.) I started out at age 47 with 3 lbs on the triceps lifts, 4 lbs on the biceps lifts, and 5 lbs. on each leg. I will admit I could barely complete both sets of reps on the triceps at 3 lbs. Now, 17 weeks later, I am lifting 9 1/2 lbs on the tri! ! ceps, 10 1/2 lbs on the biceps, and 16 lbs on each leg. And still progressing at a slow rate as each weight becomes easier. I love the way my muscles feel. . . toned and tight but not bulked up. I plan to continue my lifting for the remainder of my life in order to keep from ending up with problems like my mom. I have also started my 16 year old daughter on the program. She is fit, healthy, and active in sports, but I feel that the program will benefit her long after the school sports have been left behind. I would like to start my mom on the program, but she doesn't think she can do it because she is so weak. Maybe one day. Buying Strong Women Stay Young and my weights and committing to the program was one of the best decisions of my life, which I hope will be a long and healthy one.

An Inspirational, life changing read
Before I read this book I was a 92 year old, sedentary female with ostioporosis. i could not lift up grocery bags, i had a great deal of trouble climbing stairs and i used a walker. when an old friend suggested i read this book, i was skeptical. i was a old woman, and if i tried lifting wheights my bones would break. But I ended up reading it anyway. i started with lifting half puond wheights and followed miriams exercises. after about a month, i was doing five pounds and also was useing ankle wheights. after staying with the exersises for about three months i started feeling alot more spry, and i foung myself doing things i hadn't done for years like climbing stairs with ease and going for walks. its been two years now since i started the exersises, and i am in great shape. i have regained alot of muscle and my bones are stronger. ive thrown away my walker and i have much better balance. this book has changed my life and the way i live. i can now play with my grandchildren and ive even started going for jogs. I may still be in my ninties, but i feel like im twenty again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Exercise   3. Exercise for women   4. General   5. Health & Fitness   6. Health/Fitness   7. Physical fitness   8. Physical fitness for women   9. Women   10. Women's Health - General   11. Health & Fitness / Exercise   

Customer Reviews (3)

a disappointment
As someone who has had twenty years of experience both at the executive level within nonprofit organizations and on the boards of others, I found this book disappointing narrow in focus, overly dependent on specialized jargon, and rather uninspiring. When Carver talks about "policy governance" he means his very specialized theory, the Carver theory on board organization. "Step by step guide" means a highly detailed and technical presentation of the Carver system. Essentially this book may be useful as a handbook to those who hire Carver or consultants who follow this particular system. I think this book is being sold to people who will form mistaken impressions based on Carver's reputation. The title "reinventing your board" is misleading in tone because the book is really intended ONLY for people who have "bought into" Carver's highly detailed system and who already have very strong familiarity with his way of thinking. Business books about "reinventing" generally try to inspire, offering a mine of interesting examples, and at their best, teach by "showing." While there are some very useful and important observations and suggestions embedded in the book, the pedantic style and insistence on numbered, sequential steps made me feel as though I were reading a manual about reinstalling Windows 98.

Brief, readable, and pragmatic advice for effective boards
Although its style is more academic than members of many all-volunteer organizations might wish, this book is short enough to be read on a board member's tight schedule, and pithy enough to provide ideas that can truly give a new perspective on problems in the board meeting. Carver makes it clear that board leadership is best when it distinguishes between ends and means, and that governance (and the highest satisfaction for board members) lies in articulating ends and the route to those ends. This book, for me, answered the question of why organizations might not get a lot done despite diligent meeting schedules and full agendas.

Great counsel on Board/CEO relationship
Twenty years of working at CEO for a Board governed organization with 500 members. Numerous Board training seminars and this is the most practical counsel I have received. It is a hands on book, providing a model that will work for your organization. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business Policy Making   4. Corporate governance   5. Directors of corporations   6. Leadership   7. Non-Profit Organizations Management   8. Nonprofit Organizations & Charities   9. Self-Help   10. Business & Economics / Nonprofit Organizations & Charities   11. Management & management techniques   12. Ownership & organization of enterprises   

Customer Reviews (3)

informative and actually somewhat fun
I found this book to provide excellent supplemental info to the "DSM-IV-TR" itself. Written case studies, though no substitute for living, breathing subjects, actually provide a good deal of help in learning to apply the diagnoses in the "DSM-IV-TR". Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn how to properly apply these diagnoses or learn more about psychiatry in general. I found it actually kind of fun. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

I'm OK, you're OK, this book is great!
Well, never thought I would recommend a book like this one, but there has never BEEN a book quite like it. Recall once seeing a renowned Rorschacer examine vignettes like this manual does, and it was great. We enjoyed it, and learned from it.

My recent books read include "Exploration & Empire" by Goetzmann, a history of topography, so you know I enoy plain stuff.

Many of the sympton analyses in this book surprised me, but after careful thought, realized they were beneficial.

Was especially interested in "borderline" type stuff and the OCD sections which showed how OCD can be on both axis I and II.

This book taught me once again that while we all have personality "traits" only the mentally have a DSM number assigned to our excesses.

Was especially inspired by parts about "organic" dysfunctions, so you know it was inspirational. Have a friend with OPD (310.10 explosice type) and became more sensitive to the difficulty adjusting when you are not maladaptive to begin with.

Love to complain, but can't find anything to fault this book. Buy it, read it and if you don't have a place for it in your library, pass it on.

The DSM IV-TR in Action!
The Case Book was an optional selection for a psychopathology course I am currently enrolled in. I am glad I spent the money to get it because to a novice like myself, the vignettes are very helpful in understanding the arcane world of DSM IV-TR diagnosis.

This book is truly a "learning companion." Concepts and terminology are illustrated by real-life clinical situations, which can be enormously helpful for clinician and student alike to see how the DSM IV-TR plays out in the real world.

The New England Journal of Medicine said that this book is "educational and fun to read," and I would have to agree on both counts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case Report   2. Classification   3. Clinical Psychology   4. Diagnosis   5. Handbooks, manuals, etc   6. Medical   7. Mental Disorders   8. Mental Illness   9. Psychiatry - General   10. Psychology   

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Drug Guides   3. Medical   4. Reference   

Customer Reviews (10)

Strong Women Strong Bones
This book was recomended to me by a naturopath. It was easy enough to read in just one evening. The sections about how bones grow and what your risk factors are for getting osteoporosis were quite good. There is also good advice about what vitamins and minerals in addition to calcium to include in your diet, as well as the importance of vitamin D and sunshine, for calcium absorbtion. However, the food section is confusing. Nelson does not mention sea vegetables as the best food source of calcium and minerals to include in a healthy diet. And since she has the opinion that a person can get all the calcium they need from food sources, she should have included a more accurate calcium food chart in her book. For example, spinach, which tops the vegetable calcium secton, contains a lot of oxalic acid which interfers with calcium absorbtion. Nelson mentions the oxalic acid problem with some foods, but never mentions exactly which foods contain the highest amounts. Instead she says we should eat these foods for other reasons. So, why is spinach at the top of the calcium chart? Let's have a more accurate chart before telling people they can just add up what they are taking in with the chart she provides. Also, in her section on exercises she encourages women over 50 to jump vertically to retain calcium. A woman should gradually build up to 2 full minutes of jumping. What if a persons knees are not in alignment? Jumping is one of the most jarring and hardest things a person can do to their knee joints, especially if they are heavy on their feet. A woman who is over 50 and not used to exercising could easily get injured with this jumping program. I am over 50, and I already exercise 5 or 6 days a week, doing aerobics, running and weight training. I tried jumping vertically at a fitness center in front of a mirror to make sure I did it correctly. Then I went on to do a leg press, which I do on a regular basis, and my left knee hurt. My personal trainer said running would be much better for me than jumping. I do not have joint problems, yet, but I could after Neilson's exercise program. Also, the medication section encourages every woman to consider hormone replacement therapy. Does we all really need this therapy? I am discouraged that this book was rated so highly and recomended. It was mostly a waste of money. Only the first couple sections in the book were really worth reading. Check it out at the library or buy it used if you must.

ALMOST Everything you need to know to deal with osteoporosis
Great book -- but it left out ESSENTIAL bone building exercises from "Strong Women Stay Young", by the same author, in particular those related to the hip. I'd recommend picking up a paperback copy of it also. "Strong Women, Strong Bones", covers much new info on supplements, medications, oxalates and nutrition as well as new exercises and a few relevant pages for men. It is quite comprehensive.

must have reference book for home library
I took out a number of books from the library including recent releases. Admittedly, I reviewed them from a different perspective than older folks as I'm just over 40. This was the most informative book with relevant information to my age group. Even though I work out regularly and thought I had a pretty good routine, there were plenty of enlightening strength exercises that have never been in my repertoire. That reason alone rates this book superior than others. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Diseases - Musculoskeletal   3. General   4. Health & Fitness   5. Health/Fitness   6. Healthy Living   7. Osteoporosis in women   8. Popular works   9. Women's Health - General   10. Work-Related Health   

Subjects:  1. Christmas   2. Fiction   3. Fiction - General   4. General   5. Holidays - Christmas   6. Literary collections   7. Religious - General   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography   2. Biography / Autobiography   3. Biography/Autobiography   4. Description and travel   5. Military   6. Personal narratives, American   7. Special Interest - Adventure   8. Tibet (China)   9. World War, 1939-1945   10. Biography & Autobiography / Military   

Customer Reviews (1)

Very clear, but lacks depth
I used this book for a course in personality, and therefore worked with this textbook for a good 16 weeks. The main plus with this book is that it breaks down theories to make them understandable, and then uses famous examples to illustrate them. Madonna and Hugh Grant are personalities most people are familiar with, and therefore makes the text easier to grasp.

The downside to this book is that it lacks depth in certain matters. Very important concepts need great detail, but because of the enormous field, it is impossible to go to depth in all aspects. Therefore I had to consult alternate sources to fully understand certain themes.

Overall, it was an easy textbook to work with,and I would recommend it as a tool to intruduce the field of personality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General   2. Personality   3. Psychology   4. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Customer Reviews (11)

Not Just a Homekeeping Book
This book is great! Fun for brousing through. It has a little of everything and would make a great gift for a bride or new home owner, or anyone who enjoys making home a cozy place. Based on Southern "receipt books" that Southern women kept after the civil war, this book covers everything from homemade, safe cleaning solutions to letter writing and etiquitte. Some of my favorite sections include "Mrs. Dunwoody's Essential Guide to Absolutely Delightful Parties", "Mrs. Dunwoody's List of Requirements for an Exceptional Spouse" and some great Southern recipes including "Captain Clemintine's Mint Julip" and "The Robert E. Lee Cake".

Chapter titles are: The Art of Homekeeping, The Cares of House and Home, Miss Sallie Anne's Splendid Directions for Laundry, Notes and Recipes from the Kitchen, The Art of Entertaining, Matters of Formality, Health and Beauty, Marriage and Family, The Garden, and Fill-In Pages-A Treasury of Memories.

I think my favorite thing about this book is the space at the end of each chapter for making your own notes. There's even a family tree to fill out, and a place to record births, deaths, marriages, etc., just like the old Bibles used to have. Lot's of cute, funny quotes too. For the price -you can't go wrong with this one!

Timeless Advice and Tips
Mrs. Dunwoody's is loaded with timeless advice and tips for homekeeping, from a homemaker's daily routine, recipes for various house cleaning solutions, sewing tips, recipes for good 'ole southern food, a guide to entertaining, etiquette, letter writing, health and beauty, advice on marriage and family, planting a garden, and the book is filled with pages to fill in your own advice/tips/recipes/family memories and stories/and your family tree. This is a must for any woman who keeps a house!

What a Great Motivator!
This is a marvelous book that balances old-fashioned, practical advice with a healthy dose of motivational prose. You can keep a gracious home, just like "Mrs. Dunwoody". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General   2. Do-It-Yourself   3. Home Improvement / Construction   4. Home economics   5. House & Home   6. Housekeeping   7. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Customer Reviews (38)

Outstandingly sensible, balanced and scientifically grounded
If you're a fitness freak or on a stable weight you are happy with, find another book. This one isn't for you. Ditto if you are looking for super fast weight gain or have a penchant for fad diets. Ditto if you are looking for a full-on gung-ho weights program.

BUT!

If you are struggling to lose weight, have ever lost weight and bounced back up again, are happy with your weight but not your shape, have tried all the diets, or even haven't tried them, or don't know where to start - then this is the book for you.... regardless of age (or even gender!).

Dr Nelson's book focuses on strength training as a fundamental element of healthy weight loss, particularly for its role in maintaining bone density (and toning!) - as opposed to the diet/aerobic exercise route which can lead to loss of bone density and/or loss of muscle (rather than fat). That said, she also covers the role of good nutrition (focusing on the long term, not the faddish) and aerobic exercise.

The result is not "dieting" as such, but healthier living. If you want to lose 30lbs in 3 months this isn't the book to read - but if you want to lose 30lbs steadily and KEEP IT OFF, then dive in. Generally I would say the focus is on inches, tone and well-being rather than pounds anyway.

The discussion of studies, science etc could have been heavy, but wasn't - it was very readable and even extremely motivating. It meant everything in the book made sense, which for me, made it easier to take on the recommendations of this book as a lifestyle not a fad.

The exercises are very easy, but if you are just starting out, that's not a bad thing - better than throwing you in with stuff you can't do, and they will give you plenty to build on. This book will give you a great, balanced foundation to a healthier lifestyle.

There's plenty of checks along the way to keep you on track and getting results - have you chosen a good goal weight (and do you need one?), are you working out at the right intensity, are you eating well, are there warning signs that you are coming off the rails?

You're also supported with checks to track your exercise and eating - backed by research showing that those who keep track, stay on track and get better results.

good beginning
I have found this book very heldpful in getting me on the road to being fit. I have followed the ten week program which is simply laid out and easy to follw. I am much stronger, I've lost 7 pounds (I'm not over weight) for the first time in my life I excercize reguarly and look forward to it. The weight lifting is very simple and definetly for beginners but as time has progressed I have added more excercizes, while keeping the basic program. I am really sorry to read the negative reveiws as it might keep some one who really needs some help motivating from buying the book. I personally think the simplicity and ease of the program is what has kept me motivated. Also the food part of the book is very easy, and for once it does not have starvation in mind.(like so many diet books)

Not for athletes, but a good place to start
This book is written for those who are sedentary to at most
moderately active, and want to change their behavior so as to
accomplish long-term weight loss. It is a good motivator for
getting started with strength training and keeping track of
what you eat. It is definitely not intended for athletes,
but rather the 75% of American women (so it says) that don't
get regular exercise 3 days per week.

The strength training part focuses on 6 exercises, most of
which usedumbbells. This is not a whole lot, but for the
intended audience it is helpful in keeping the program from
being overwhelming. For more intense exercise, you will have
to look elsewhere. There are a few illustrations; it would be
better if they showed the exercises step-by-step, but the
written directions are acceptable and it's easy enough to
figure things out by just trying it. One nice touch is that
a variety of people are shown doing the exercises -- they
don't all look like young fitness instructors. This section
also explains the importance of strength training for
strengthening bones, raising basal metabolism, and making
other exercise easier.

The book discusses a variety of different aerobic exercises,
but points out that the most important thing is to find
something convenient enough that you can do it several times
a week, and to make sure it's intense enough to get results
-- it describes how to tell when this is happening.

The food plan part is probably the most complex and largest
section, but it is based just on the food pyramid. It's
nothing new, but it provides a good way of keeping track of
how balanced your diet really is. This food plan allows 25%
fat, which is probably going to feel low to anyone who's been
eating a Western diet and not thought about fat much.

If you want a short-term diet, this is not the book for you.
If you're not active and want to change, this is a very
useful book. If you already do strength training, it seems
likely that you're already doing much of what this book says,
so try to borrow it and have a look before you decide to buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Exercise   3. General   4. Health & Fitness   5. Health/Fitness   6. Recipes   7. Reducing diets   8. Reducing exercises   9. Weight Loss   10. Weight training for women   11. Women's Health - General   12. Health & Fitness / General   

Customer Reviews (3)

Strong Men and Women Beat Arthritis by Dr. Nelson
This is an excellent work on the alternative medicinal and
conventional medicine protocols for arthritis. Dr. Nelson
mentions various Vit C dietary combinations utilizing
orange juice, strawberries or grapefruit to provide Vit. C.
Next, the authors cite important anti-inflammatory combos;
such as, Omega 3 fish oil and flaxseed oil. Sunflower oil
has the requisite Omega 6 ingredients. Sulfasalazine and
methotrexate are important protocols for treating seronegative
spondylarthropathies. In addition, the lungs, heart and eyes
may be impacted by ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases.
For instance, Iritis may impact the eyes. Calcification of
the heart valves and electronic problems with the heart have
been noted. Decreased lung capacity is another important
resultant of ankylosing spondylitis.

The authors point out that Chronic Juvenile Arthritis stunts
growth. In addition, the SED RATE (sedimentation rate) and
rhematoid factor are the gold standard for blood tests to
detect arthritis. In my own experience, the MOST- micro-oxidative
stress test may be helpful in articulating the yeast component
as an aggravating factor in arthritic conditions.

The authors provide an important series of exercises which
may be helpful for arthritic patients. The physical therapy
training consists of moderate squatting, toe stand
(standing erect on your toes), moderate push-ups by pressing
the wall, back extensions by facing the floor and raising the
head, modified sit-ups, knee extension flexing, full range
motion employing light weights in torque motion, face flat on
the floor raising the back legs, the lunge stretch,
cross-over hips, placing one knee on the chair and standing
upright or erect, shoulder stretches and a host of others.
Dr. Nelson indicates that excess joint fluid is a sign of
inflammation. In addition, surgical intervention can be
helpful. For instance, an artificial joint may last 15-20 years.
Acupuncture helps to stimulate endomorphins and change blood
flow patterns. There is evidence that acupuncture relieves
arthritis, although there is less evidence for Chiropractic.
This book is worth the price. It provides important alternative
medicinal protocols for arthritis as well as classic physical
therapy exercises aimed at preserving joint mobility and
elasticity. I would supplement the exercises with Alpha
Lipoic Acid to enhance bodily elasticity. In my own experience,
Northern Polar magnets may be helpful if strategically placed.

Really seems to help!
I was recently diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, and I started following the nutritional suggestions in this book. I think it's already starting to help! Plus it tells you how to perform strengthening exercises for your aching joints. I am a big fan of Dr. Nelson's other works. I like how she explains the science and the applications. I plan to share this with my mom, who also has osteoarthritis.

exercise + diet = controlled arthritis...
...Extremely informative for all, regardless of your health. Miriam Nelson has done it again not only with her easy reading style, but with very educational and informative text. I'm going to send as a gift to a friend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arthritis   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diseases - Musculoskeletal   4. Health & Fitness   5. Health/Fitness   6. Healthy Living   7. Popular works   

Customer Reviews (5)

Definitely a keeper!
Greenspan's book deserves wider recognition. I found it by accident online and I wish I had seen it earlier.

What I liked best: Greenspan writes from her own experienced as therapist and bereaved mother, a woman who came to the US as a young child and lost her first child due to unexplained brain defects. She knows the darker emotions first-hand.

Even better, Greenspan is not afraid to confront the received wisdom of the psychiatric establishment. Medication works for some depressed clients, but it is only by going into the emotion that we can transform despair into faith and fear into joy. She picks up on the values embedded in the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria: depression is a "mood disorder," which means that only cheerful, upbeat people are "normal."

I found myself making notes of key points that were unusual and insightful. In particular, her discussion of "boomerang emotions" will be especially valuable to anyone who's ever been frustrated in one area and acted out in another. It is easy to make impulsive, often dysfunctional decisions after stifling feelings for a long time. This section is one of the best in the book.

On the downside, I wish Greenspan had been more rigorous. Although her views seem sensible, some research suggets disagreement. For example, one study found that people recovered from grief as well if they were medicated as if they were allowed the full experience. Other studies have demonstrated that people experience grief differently. Some may not need to go deep into the feeling.

Because Greenspan works with therapy patients, she does not discuss the context of these "dark" emotions. Despair can be experienced by someone like William Styron, whom she discusses, as a person who seems on top of the world. But would there be a different experience of despair for someone who just lost a job, has little chance of finding a new job, anticipates old age and perhaps has family stresses too? Despair rooted in real obstacles seems somehow different from despair that has more existential "why are we here" origins. And biologically based depression seems to be different altogether.

Many New Age and popular authors (such as best-selling author Lynn Grabhorn) make exactly the opposite point: if you force yourself to be upbeat, your life gets better. I wish Greenspan had addressed this point directly, as some people do seem to do better after forced cheerfulness. This topic may not be amenable to scientific research but it would be nice to see some science-based discussion.

Finally, I wish Greenspan had stated her credentials on the book jacket. Is she a PhD? Does she have degrees? Has she published articles in academic or research journals? I was a little disconcerted by the discussion of chakras in a book by a more-or-less mainstream therapist.

Then again, Greenspan seems to be making a statement. She doesn't like the way we treat the darker emotions. And maybe she doesn't like the way therapists are categorized and pigeon-holed either. After all, there's no research (as far as I know) demonstrating that certain training results in better therapeutic outcomes. Definitely worth a read.

A must read for everyone
Everyone has losses. Everyone has wounds. This is not the end of joy but the beginning, if only we can learn to live with and find ourselves in our feelings, and embrace the life that waits for us on the other side of our pain. Miriam Greenspan's wise book is a warm and helpful guide to dealing with the dark emotions we all experience. As a writer and therapist myself I know how needed her book is and how valuable what she has to offer is. This is a must read for everyone.

ESSENTIAL READING FOR ALL PEOPLE.
From Phyllis Chesler, author of eleven titles, including "Women and Madness" and "Woman's Inhumanity to Woman":

Greenspan is the gentlest and therefore the wisest of healers. Her book is a poem, a prayer, a guide, a ritual. She herself models what can be done. She is vulnerable, grief-stricken, mindful, supple, connecting, and joyful. She describes enormous grief and terror--her own, that of the world's--and explains what it means to surrender to fear, to face straight into it, to "let it be" as the royal road to sanity, rightful action and rightful non-action, and to exuberance and freedom.

This book is very easy to read--but not simplistic; political but not rhetorical; spiritual but not dogmatic; literary but also practical. It beholds that which is tragic about the human condition but embraces it in a therapeutic and consoling way. It is both Jewish and Buddhist, feminist and humanist, grave but sometimes funny. Greenspan provides an excellent discussion of the "alchemy of fear," and of the Buddhist concept of "tonglen": non-action, action, surrender. She is excellent on violence, trauma, numbing, and the consequences of omnipresent media in our lives. Her discussion of the world post 9/11 is compelling. The tone is grave, measured, supple, vital, enchanting.

Greenspan is a trustworthy guide for us in these times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Affective disorders   2. Depression   3. Despair   4. Emotions   5. Fear   6. Grief   7. Mood Disorders   8. Popular works   9. Psychology   10. Psychology & Psychiatry / Emotions   

Subjects:  1. Personality   2. Psychology   3. Reference   4. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Customer Reviews (2)

Loaded with Great Instruction!
I have only flipped through this book since receiving it, but I am thrilled with the information in it! It is not just how to add props to a few poses, as I expected, but also has ideas for how to 'teach' your body what it should be doing in each pose. It does this first by explaining what is meant by concepts such as 'press the top of your thighs back', or 'rotate your upper arms inward', then provides instructions and photos for assisted exercises to achieve these concepts. Sometimes your 'prop' is another person (or two!) to assist your body in achieving these poses. This book has me looking forward to practicing more than any other book I've seen recently! While this book will not satisfy those looking for a traditional yoga instruction with spiritual and breath aspects, it is an excellent beginning and intermediate guide to the physical practice of yoga.

Modify, modify, modify!
This book is all about learning to modify yoga poses to make them work for YOU. It begins by helping you to become more aware of your body and how to control the way it moves. For example, many yoga poses include the instruction "roll your thighs outward"--how do you do that? This book doesn't just TELL you how, it SHOWS you how! Using a varitey of props such as blankets, straps, bolsters, chairs, and even helpful friends, you will learn to find comfort in some of the most common yoga poses, such as downward facing dog, standing forward bend, seated forward bend, and headstand. Yoga teachers and students of various shapes and sizes illustrate the many poses included in this book. This book is an excellent tool for anyone looking to further their yoga practice by attaining postures best suited to their ability. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Hatha Yoga   3. Health & Fitness   4. Health/Fitness   5. Yoga   6. Health & Fitness / Yoga   

Subjects:  1. Life Sciences - Ecology   2. Life Sciences - Evolution   3. Life Sciences - Zoology - General   4. Science   5. Science/Mathematics   6. Science / Ecology