Customer Reviews (6)

Easy Read, Informative, Worth Keeping on Your Bookshelf
The Inflammation Cure by Meggs and Svec, and The Inflammation Syndrome by Challem, both appeared in 2003 and both discuss the role of inflammation in the major diseases of our time, and the things that one can do to limit the risk of diseases related to inflammation. Both books are easy to read. Which to choose? According to the prestigious Library Journal, "While Jack Challem's The Inflammation Syndrome covers similar ground [to the Inflammation Cure], his approach leans toward the faddish and sensationalist, while Meggs takes a more levelheaded approach, weaving the latest research on various diseases into a broad picture." The thing I most prefer about Meggs' book is that it takes a comprehensive approach (including diet) to the things that affect inflammation, rather than spending the whole book just discussing the role of diet as is done in Challem's book. Challem is a health reporter who writes and publishes The Nutrition Reporter newsletter; it is natural that he would stress diet and its consequences. But diseases are caused and controlled by much more than our diet. Meggs is a practicing physician who has a great deal of clinical experience with all aspects of inflammation, and who has woven many real-life cases into the book as illustrations. So, which book should you buy? I have little doubt that you will find The Inflammation Cure by Meggs and Svec more informative and much more useful as a reference on your shelf.

Only so-so
This book is "all right"...but I much prefer "The Inflammation Syndrome, by Jack Challem, which came out first. Both books cover much the same material, but I think The Inflammation Syndrome does a better job of connecting the dots between dietary imbalances (caused by eating too many junk foods) and inflammation. It also recommends a very clear anti-inflammation diet plan, with easy to follow guidelines and recipes, as well as a number of well-documented anti-inflammatory supplements, such as the omega-3 fish oils, gamma-linolenic acid, antioxidant vitamins, and B vitamins. In addition to describing the big picture of inflammation, The Inflammation Syndrome also focuses on the top 20 or so inflammatory diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and arthritis, as well as inflammatory athletic injuries -- each with specific recommendations for eating habits and supplements. At the very least, you might consider getting both books and synthesizing their advice to suit your needs.

Important book on inflammation and health
"The Inflammation Cure", by Dr. William Meggs, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chief of Toxicology at the School of Medicine of East Carolina University, with Carol Svec, an award-winning health writer. Dr. Meggs is a physician and has conducted research related to the study of inflammation.

As a medical doctor, I had long understood that inflammation is a key component of the body's defense system - when appropriately activated, inflammation is meant to protect and repair the body after insult or injury. Too little inflammation can lower the immune function and result in disease, whereas too much inflammation can result in and contribute to certain specific diseases.

But in this fascinating, easy-to-understand synthesis of cutting-edge medical research, the authors show how recent medical science is revealing an "inflammation connection" in many of today's common diseases and conditions - cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, asthma, obesity, allergies, fatigue, and others, even aging. They pull together the latest research across medical specialties, and in lay language, explain the functions of inflammation, its scientific basis, and the problems that can arise when there is uncontrolled (severe or long-term) inflammation. Selected scientific references are provided for each chapter.

Most important, the authors give simple lifestyle steps aimed at helping to lower the inflammation risk, reduce hidden sources of inappropriate inflammation, and help the body keep inflammation and anti-inflammation in proper balance. There are informative and lively chapters on dietary measures, lifestyle, mind-body connection, medications and medical tests.

I strongly recommend this timely, easy-to-read book for both lay and medically-trained readers. I believe it is a valuable resource for understanding recent scientific information on inflammation, and in helping make healthy, positive choices. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chronic diseases   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diets - General   4. Diseases - General   5. Etiology   6. Health & Fitness   7. Health/Fitness   8. Healthy Living   9. Inflammation   10. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation   11. Physiological Pathology   12. Popular works   13. Therapeutics For Specific Conditions   14. Health & Fitness / Diseases / General   

Customer Reviews (5)

Must have book
Extraordinary book for the residents in training. It`s very complete and at the same time quite concise. It`s a Must have book not only for the ophtalmologist in training but for all the doctors related to the visual health and ophthalmology field, specially in the emergency room.

A Must-Have
All beginning ophthalmology residents should have this book. It makes the first night on call much easier. Great quick reference.

wells eye manual
As an optometrist in practise for 25 years, I try to update my desk reference collection regularly. A new young associate recommended this manual,and he was right. Its compact, comprehensive, alphabetically-organzied format makes it easy to use and good browsing material for the rare quiet moment at the office. As well it keeps me current. I think this is a great buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diagnosis   2. Diseases   3. Eye   4. Eye Diseases   5. Handbooks, manuals, etc   6. Medical   7. Medical / Nursing   8. Ophthalmologic emergencies   9. Ophthalmology   10. Outlines   

Customer Reviews (9)

Book is not a resource for Fibromyalgia (FM) sufferers
When my boss told me about this "incredible book" in which a physician's wife was diagnosed with FM, bedridden and then cured by only vitamins and minerals, I bought the book immediately. What a major disappointment. Dr. Strand is a GP, not a Rheumatologist and thus has no specialty in FM.

The book contains one chapter entitled Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, in which he devotes less than a a single page to the most superficial description of FM available. The other nine pages consist almost entirely of home baked anecdotal banter. While one rheumatologist may have diagnosed Dr. Strand's wife with FM ages ago, her symptoms grossly exceed those commonly attributed to FM. His other two anecdotal success stories did not reveal any clear legitimate diagnosis of FM.

The index misleadingly cites page references to FM as follows: 3-6, 8, 162 - 174 and 198; (inronically pages 172 - 174 contain no text whatsoever while 198 contains not a single mention of FM). He proclaims that FMS is caused by oxidative stress (OS), however reveals no scientific basis for this assertion. Apparently, unless you attribute the cause of FM to OS, you can't sell the nutritional supplement "cure" approach.
You may find as I did that the person referring you to this book is also coincidentally attempting to sell you high priced supplements.

What also bothered me most about this author's simplistic soundbit on FM is that he does not once cite or refer his presumably suffering and desperate readers to any of the myriad of active national FM organizations who work exclusively to provide up-to-date education to FM sufferers:
1)Fibromyalgia Alliance of America, Inc.; 2) National Fibromyalgia Research Association;, (dedicated to education, treatment and finding a cure for FM); 3) The Fibromyalgia Association of Greater Washington, Inc., and; 4) The American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association.

Dr. Stand based his FM book opinions on anectodal storytelling without even a minimal survey of the available research. He cites only four references for his entire chapter, however not with sufficient detail to find, read or verify. This book is not scientific - it is sensationalistic, anecdotal and not helpful to FM sufferers.

Outstanding health book for the 21st Century
Dr Ray Strand's book is one of the first I've read that explains the underlying reason so many people in the world are suffering from chronic degenerative diseases -- oxidative stress. He clearly shows how the right diet and the right vitamin, mineral and antioxidant supplements plus essential fatty acids can help bring folks suffering from serious diseases back to health. I've been on the program he recommends for several months and have almost completely recovered from long-standing chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia. His informative web site, bionutrition.org. has an excellent article on oxidative stress. Thank you, Dr. Strand.

It's not too late . . .
This could have been a five star book, but Ray Strand insisted on peppering us with language of a particular religious world view that has made it difficult to believe in the rest of his recommendations. Personally, I wanted to read the book for solid scientific information on nutrition, I could have done without the narrow religious statements.

However, if you can get by the self-serving public piousness, there is good information on nutrition, diet, supplements and exercise which will serve us all well. For years I fought the use of supplements as being a waste of money. I subscribed to the view that if you ate a reasonable diet of vegetables and fruit, you would get all the nutrients you need. Perhaps that was true at one time, but with the high levels of pollution in our environment, poor animal husbandry, and depleted farm lands, we have to resort to the use of supplements. I am now convinced that high quality dietary supplements are a requirement for a healthy life.

If you can't find any other books on nutrition, then this one might serve to get you started. However, steel yourself for the off-topic creationist messages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies   2. Alternative medicine   3. Diet / Health / Fitness   4. Diet in disease   5. Dietary Supplements   6. Health & Fitness   7. Health/Fitness   8. Nutrition   9. Popular works   10. Health & Fitness / Alternative Therapies   

Customer Reviews (35)

Finally Free!
This book changed my life. I've been a believer of Christ, earnestly seeking him for 20 years, yet I have never understood why today's church is so ineffective. This book explains it--as well as the scriptural reasons we are so physically and emotionally sick!

And the answers are for everyone--believer or not.

Just reading the book set me free from horrendous allergies I've been fighting for 30 years. I've now been free from allergies for 4 months! My husband who has been crippled with rheumatoid arthritis since he was 19 has also found freedom from pain!

A note to Christians who are put off by the "healers" you see on TV: I never believed any of that was real. This book is real. The healing you'll find is real. And not a bit of it is Hollywood. You can literally be free from disease by just applying the biblical principles Henry Wright has outlined.

Backed up by testimonies
As a minister and a guy who just likes to get involved with people's lives, this book hasn't gathered any dust on my shelves. I believe it is biblically accurate. The revelations here are nothing new -- they have been there for thousands of years. The church just seems to lose sight of them every couple of hundred years or so. So, it's no surprise that God is now reminding a few of us His shepherds that he doesn't want His kids sick anymore! There is a connection between healing (getting whole) and sanctification (being holy).

People who I have sent to their church have seen results. I've known atheist psychologists and new age doctors who refer their patients to Pleasant Valley Church because they have seen such good results. I plead with anyone who has surfed over to this review, to scan down and read all the testimonies, check out the church's website and invest a little of your money to buy this book and a little time to read it and a lot of time to pray over what you've just read.

True, this book isn't beach-reading-easy like a "Purpose Driven Life" but it'll help you not drop dead before you start fulfilling that purpose God has for you!!!

I am healed!
I was dying from so many diseases that the doctors had given up on me. No one knew what to do for me. I had seen 50 doctors in one year - and no one could help me. I had Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Levator Ani Syndrome, Proctalgia Fugax, Mycoplasma fermentins, Anorexia, Bulimia, Depression, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Irritable Bowel, Food allergies, Insomnia, Nightmares, repeated infections, Severe eczema, seizures, slipped discs, interstitial cyctitis, PMS, Endometriosis, arthritis, transient amnesia, post traumatic stress disorder and MORE. I could not go anywhere because I was so allergic to EVERYTHING - I was a universal reactor. I lived alone on a piece of property in a porcelain trailer in the desert. I was too sensitive and sick to live with or near anyone else. I went to every doctor - i talked to every Psychiatrist - i spent all of my money trying to live. Nothing helped me - I only got sicker and sicker. I had read every book and listened to every minister I could - and still I was not healed. Then I met Pastor Henry Wright and his wife Donna. They taught me about God and about his word. That was about 9 years ago. Today I am healed. I live in a normal house and I have rejoined society and life years ago. I can eat anything I want - I can go any place that I want to and I know that it was the living GOd who healed me. Pastor Henry simply taught me the truth. I KNOW that God HAS annointed Henry with the discernment of where disease comes from. Henry's teachings are TOTALLY biblical. Today, even the medical community is aware of the connection between thoughts and behavior and disease and there are many books out there to support this area of study. This book - A MORE EXCELLENT WAY - will give you an understanding of where disease comes from. I know it is truth because it worked in my own life where nothing else worked. I have seen it work in hundreds of other people's lives. God's word works and A MORE EXCELLENT WAY will explain to you what you need to know to heal your life and your body and most importantly - your relationship with God. There are roots to diseases - and once God began to show me and teach me about this - through Henry Wright - my entire life changed. I pray that the same thing happens to YOU! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

A sledgehammer of truth
In SUGAR BLUES, William Dufty doesn't just lift the historical mask on sugar, he pulverizes it. I have read other books detailing the biological havoc that refined sugar wreaks on the body, but this is the first book I've seen that places sugar in a historical framework and charts its path of destruction over thousands of years, through the rise and fall of civilizations right up to present-day corporate and government duplicity. The results are truly eye-opening, if not shocking. If you thought sugar was just one of life's sweet little nuisances, think again. It has been one of the major levers for the enslavement and control of human beings for millenia.

The portrait of the historical drama of sugar is this book's strength. SUGAR BLUES does have minor weaknesses, however. It's lacking in science, which these days is important to have when challenging the status quo. It also lacks a systematic argument, the chapters often meandering from subject to subject (the chapter on sugar in cigarettes, for instance, ends with a discussion of sugar's role in auto accidents). Finally, the book sputters to its conclusion as Dufty provides a final chapter on recipes that frankly put me to sleep. He should have stuck to his original purpose here and delivered a final, clinching argument. With a new edition, all of these minor wrinkles could be addressed.

That said, this book's value is nonetheless extraordinary. Sugar is so entrenched in most people's lifestyles that it is practically invisible, taken for granted. But if it has caused half the damage Dufty claims it has, then everyone should do themselves a favor and read his book. It doesn't end there; I know from personal struggle that sugar is incredibly hard to kick. But the first step in any change is knowing you have to make it.

Amazing
I first read this book a year ago. I'll say this about it:

Forget the indespensible information on the completely non-existent nutritional value of refined sugar. Forget the anecdotal mind-blowing gems like how mosquitos and other disease carrying insects fly past a recovered sugar addict's body because they are no longer attracted to what was once sweet smelling and tasting blood. Forget the paradigm shift his expose demands on the causes of a significant portion of all automobile accidents in this country. Forget his linking glucose intolerence to diseases--diagnosed, undiagnosed and falsely diagnosed over the centuries--from tooth decay to epilepsy to heart diesase to schizophrenia to lung cancer.

Just ruminate on the historical facts brought out by this man that the hunger for refined sugar, and the subsequent addiction to this mind and body destroying chemical are the architects of:

1) the African Slave trade in Europe and the Americas

2)the disconnected and disjunct philosophies of mind and body health being separate entities in Western medicine (just now being gradually overturned) unlike everywhere else in world history

3)"Pagan"/mental illness-related diseases of mythical, otherwise inexplicable derivation

4) the chemical dependency supply-and-demand relationship and geo-political international trade structure that made everything from the decimation of Native American tribes and lands in the Americas to the drug corporations near dominance of today's American economy, to the Medellin and Sicilian cartels of heroin and cocaine *creating international public policy today* not just possible but INEVITABLE...

In short, Mr. Dufty has written one of the most important books of this century, bar none. He has become a public servant to a level rivalling that of leaders and thinkers like Martin Luther, Charles Darwin, Martin Luther King.

Hyperbole? Of course. But it's impossible not to get emotional about what this man shows us and teaches us. When you see how he puts together all the evidence, like the final moments of a Sherlock Holmes movie, and see how the mysterious pieces of the most tormented periods of both one's personal life and that of human history since the European Middle Ages fit together and relate, it will downright frighten you with its damning simplicity. Anyone who has been touched by alcoholism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, heart disease, depression, obesity, anorexia, drug addiction, diabetes; racism, religious intolerence, alcohol-, car accident- and drug-related crimes; co-dependency-related divorce, dysfunctional families; in short, every citizen of the Western World--which by political proxy is everyone in the world--will read this book and be changed, even if you do have a cup of cola again. I have never even come close to successfully getting rid of sugar in my diet. But the idea that I could change my life, health, soul and sense of the universe completely by achieving it is something that would absolutely never have occurred to me before hand.

If that makes you say "that sounds so *new agey* it makes me want to gag", when you read SUGAR BLUES you'll realize it's the sugar talking!

My favorite line from the movie THE USUAL SUSPECTS is "The devil's greatest trick is making the world believe he doesn't exist." I think his real name is Fear; but maybe his real nickname...is Sugar.

This book cannot just change lives, it has the power to change the world as we know it.

Avoid Sugar ! (and the book).
Anything that is not done in moderation causes medical problems including too much water. This is a one note book - the evils of sugar. Please... nobody tell Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts.

So we now have a book that brings in a lot of justification. The book even has historical reasons to justify cutting back on sugar. The ability to prove some of the historical claims in the book is zero. So the author hopes that the reader is slightly gullible and buys the book and swallows (if I may use that pun) all of the explanations. Having said that anyone alive should understand that there is a connection between diabetes and sugar, as they should know (heaven help us if they do not) that smoking will ruin your lungs and throat at best and at worse cause cancer in a fixed percentage of smokers.

The book is 50% correct and 50% loony. Unfortunately it is hard to have both loony and good and have a credible book.

Yes definitely avoid too much sugar. But there is no conspiracy to make you eat the stuff. It is in the food (like Ketchup) because it is cheap and people buy the food with sugar addded.

Avoid too much sugar but also in my humble opinion, avoid the book. Just read the book reviews and draw the simple lesson to cut back and use sugar sparingly and at least in moderation.

Jack in Toronto ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Carbohydrates, Refined   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diet/Nutrition   4. Diets - Better Health   5. Health & Fitness   6. Healthy Living   7. Nutritionally induced diseases   8. Physiological effect   9. Reference   10. Health & Fitness / Reference   

Subjects:  1. Diseases And Disorders Of The Eye   2. Internal Medicine   3. Medical   4. Medical / Nursing   5. Ophthalmology   6. Optometry   7. Medical / Optometry   

Customer Reviews (16)

Enjoyable to read and informative
Jean Carper has a wonderful writing style. She is able to take complex topics that may otherwise be boring and turn them into a fascinating read. In this book she strongly emphasizes the importance of food in brain health, particularly oils found in fish. I agree with her that many people in this country may not be getting adequate amounts of omega-3 or fish oils. Clinically I have found that fish oils do help improve mood and vision. I highly recommend this book, you will learn a lot. I first heard about Jean a decade ago from my mom who had her book Food: Your Miracle Medicine. You may also consider reading my book Mind Boosters. It compliments Jean's book and provides additional points of view, suggestions, and information about dozens of different supplements. There's a lot of information about new mind boosters such as vinpocetine, huperzine, methyl donors, etc. and more of a practical/medical approach on side effects, dosages, and how to combine various nutrients to improve mood, memory, vision, sex drive, and mental performance.

Mind your brain
This is the third Jean Carper book I have read, and I was delighted to find so much new information to help postpone the effects aging. Like most of us, I have always assumed the conventional belief that the aging brain simply deteriorates. This is not true. Not only does Ms. Carper's new book examine the latest scientific evidence showing how simplistic that notion is, but she goes on to identify many of the practical things each of us can do to develop new health habits that will improve our mental functions. "Your Miracle Brain" will certainly be a best seller, but more importantly, it will transform the way our minds think about our brains.

New lease on life
I have never recommended a book before, but I have recommended this masterpiece to everyone I know---and I have filled my cupboard with 10 different vitamins and minerals that I am now consuming daily, due to the fascinating information that Jean Carper has presented in her newest work. She has made the complex universe of the living, breathing, functioning, and potentially vital brain a world of wonder and possibility that I had no idea about! Once you read this book, you will have a new respect for the complexity of your "noggin", and a new understanding of how nutrition, specifically vitamin and mineral supplementation, can enhance and propel your brain's possibilities to the next level, well into your elder years! I'm only 30 years old, but as the book states, you're never too young to start taking care of your most precious asset! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brain   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diseases   4. Health & Fitness   5. Health/Fitness   6. Memory disorders   7. Nutrition   8. Nutritional aspects   9. Popular works   10. Prevention   11. Health & Fitness / Nutrition   

Customer Reviews (41)

Effective and informative but hard to stick to.
I have been on this diet for three weeks and have lost 6lbs. Recently diagnosed with PCOS, I have been researching insulin-resistance with a fervor. "Syndrome X" does an excellent job of explaining insulin-resistance and its causes. However the eating plan outlined in the book is too hard to follow. The advice to avoid high-glycemic foods is sound, but after three weeks I was finding this increasingly difficult. This is not a lifestyle that I could live with forever.

I just read the book, "The Insulin-Resistance Diet: How to Turn Off Your Body's Fat-Making Machine". This book is more current than "Syndrome X" and provides an eating plan more congruent with the typical American lifestyle. The book explains how to balance carbohydrates (even high-glycemic carbs such as sugar and pasta) with protein to avoid insulin spikes, promote weight loss, and avoid disease. I started the new eating plan yesterday and my energy has greatly increased. On our evening walk last night, my husband commented that I had much more energy than I used to. I think that energy was a result of allowing myself the small serving of carbohydrates with dinner (1/2 cup of pasta and 1oz of chocolate) that I had been denying myself on the "Syndrome X" plan.

The "Syndrome X" eating plan is difficult to follow but effective. I do not know how effective the plan outlined in "The Insulin-Resistance Diet" is but I will write a review of it in a few weeks and cite my progress.

UPDATE: "The Insulin-Resistance Diet" did not work for me. As difficult as the "Syndrom X" diet is to stick to, it is really the only diet that shown me good results. Therefore I have upgraded my rating from 3 stars to 4 stars. I suppose that diets are supposed to be hard, otherwise everyone would be thin...

Sound advice for a serious problem
I have seen this book in stores for a long time. Today I finally decided to sit down and read it. Suffice to say, I was quite surprised how logical and well written it is.

As a critical care physician, heart disease has always been a major interest. I have followed for several years the gradual paradigm shift among some of my more open minded colleagues away from the simplistic "cholesterol is the villain" attitude. Syndrome X or insulin resistance more and more seems to be the underlying problem not only in most patients with CAD, but also type II diabetes, and in my opinion, obesity. And to the specific point of "bad LDL" particle size (type B), it seems that there is evidence that high triglycerides, the product of course of the usual high carb/low fat diet may be related to this probelm.

The advice in this book may be hard to follow for many "bad carb" addicts, but with 2/3 of the population now obese, type II diabetes showing up in children as young as twelve, and cardiac disease a major killer beyond epidemic proportions, this is THE diet for most people.

Great understanding on insulin resistance and sound strategy
I have type two diabetes and have found this book helpful. The diet in here matches the original diet I found works best when I first got diabetes II. I've been trying to steer from out of control sugars recently to back in control and this book has provided the insight necessary to start changing my diet back onto the right track. Also, I would recommend following the nutrient guidelines on antioxidants that the authors give. I would get "needles" from my polyneuropathy every time my sugars got high 200's and above. After I started taking vitamin E along with some other antioxidant supplements, the "needles" and "burning" have almost all gone away. (I have a mild case.) This book is a must read!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Complications   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diet therapy   4. Diseases - General   5. General   6. Health & Fitness   7. Health/Fitness   8. Insulin resistance   9. Metabolism   10. Nutrition   11. Prevention   12. Diseases & disorders   13. Health & Fitness / Nutrition   14. Popular medicine   

Customer Reviews (5)

"Al Capone Does My Shirts"
"Al Capone Does My Shirts" is about a 12-year old boy named Moose, whose family moves to Alcatraz in 1934 for his dad's job as a prison guard there. If you don't know, Alcatraz is a maximum-security prison on a rocky island across the bay from San Francisco. Although it is no longer in use, in the 1930's, Alcatraz was prison sweet prison to such notorious gangsters as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. You could understand why Moose isn't excatly thrilled to live there. But the other reason they moved is so his sister, Natalie, could go to the Esther P. Marinoff school. Natalie has a disease that is today called autism, but was unidentified in the 30's. Moose, wanting his sister to be "normal", agrees to move for her sake. Still, he isn't happy about living on what he calls "a 12-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turds and surrounded by water". But the other families that live on Alcatraz might change his mind.
This book is both funny and sad, and Moose is very easy to relate to. Other very dynamic characters make "Al Capone Does My Shirts" interesting. You'll finish it quickly and wish it were longer.

Every 10-12 year old should read this book
My 10 year old daughter read this book in just over 2 days! She could not put it down!!! After reading Choldenko's "Notes from a Liar and her Dog" she could not wait for this to be published. We are buying them as gifts for many summer birthdays. I am now reading it and am thrown right back into my childhood of many years ago. Well written (as was the first), gets right into a 10-12 year olds way of thinking. Children between these ages will be able to totally relate. We can't wait for next one!

a sensational read
Twelve-year-old Moose Flannagan doesn't know how to feel about his new home. Sure, it's neat to live right in San Francisco Bay, but the neighbors leave something to be desired. You see, Moose and his family live on Alcatraz Island, where Moose's father has a new job as electrician and prison guard. At school on the mainland, Moose is a bit of a misfit. Not only do the other guys think living on Alcatraz is a little weird, they also don't understand why Moose can't stay after school to play baseball.

Instead, Moose has to head home to watch his sister Natalie. Natalie has autism, a condition that had not even been identified in 1935, when this novel is set. No one is quite sure how to deal with Natalie. Most "experts" tell the Flannagans to put her in an institution, but the family would rather try a variety of experimental therapies, which yield mostly disappointing results. Moose is the only one who can really reach Natalie, and he constantly clashes with his mother about the best way to work with her.

Moose and Natalie discover a new kind of community among the several families who live on Alcatraz Island, including bossy seven-year-old Theresa and the warden's manipulative, sneaky (but also kind of cute) daughter Piper. In the end, the kids cooperate --- with a little help from Al Capone himself --- to find a place where Natalie can finally belong.

Believe it or not, this novel's unusual setting is based on fact --- the families of Alcatraz prison guards actually did live on the island. The author includes a helpful note explaining the historical facts behind the story, as well as a brief note about autism.

What really makes this a winning novel, though, is not the setting but its main character. Moose, who narrates the story, is responsible and trustworthy in spite of himself. The love he feels for his sister despite the frustrations she causes him shines through all his words. The relationships among Moose, his hardworking father and his well-meaning mother are also rich and dynamic. Even without its connection to the famous mobster, AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS would still be a real hit.

(...) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alcatraz Island (Calif.)   2. Autism   3. Brothers and sisters   4. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General   5. Children: Grades 4-6   6. Family - Siblings   7. Family problems   8. Fiction   9. Health & Medicine - Diseases   10. Historical - United States - 20th Century   11. History   12. United States Penitentiary, Al   

Customer Reviews (4)

Injury assessment
This book is really a great book. It is very detailed and even a lay person like me can understand it. Every condition you can think of is in it. From skin conditions to MCL ruptures. The book is very explanatory and I really like it. I reference it a lot. It comes in handy for home use too, not only professionally.

best for exams
we use this physical assessment textbook as our guide for any special exam/test. so complete you will not be able to swallow the whole of it

Foundational Text for Physical Therapy, and Orthopedics
Excellent in all respects. Should be a core text in all Physical Therapy Programs. Head and shoulder above other texts of its kind. The authors have remained current with every edition. A great reference for orthopedic residents as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - Physical Therapy   2. Bone Diseases   3. Diagnosis   4. Endocrinology & Metabolism   5. Medical   6. Medical / Nursing   7. Orthopedics   8. Physical diagnosis   9. Physical orthopedic tests   

Customer Reviews (3)

Essential reading for everyone over 50!
I have been waiting for 3 years for this book to come out and it meets and surpasses my expectations. Dr. Shankle treated my mother for Alzheimer's and is treating my father for other neurological problems. Concerned about getting Alzheimer's myself, this book is both reassuring and informative, offering concrete steps we can all take now to reduce our risk of dementia and suggesting memory screening annually for everyone over 50. The essential message of this book is that dementia, like any serious illness, is best treated through prevention and early intervention. The book includes a web site for free memory screening and other easy tests to do at home and includes a chapter on current research. There are valuable ideas on finding a good doctor and web sites to go to for more information.

Best user friendly book on the market
As someone whose father died from Alzheimer's and whose mother is suffering from this terrible disease, I wish this book was written years ago. I've read a lot about the disease and Drs. Shankle and Amen have written the best user friendly book on the subject. The brain diagrams, along with the descriptions of the areas of the brain, and what behaviors each area is responsible for, makes for an enjoyable read. Most importantly, however, is the overall upbeat tone of the book. An early diagnosis can make a huge difference in the life of the sufferer as well as their caregiver, so one need not feel their condition is hopeless. The new therapies Dr. Shankle mentions, along with over-the-counter supplements show real progress has been made in treating all kinds of dementia. Another important aspect of the book is the Shankle-Amen Early Dementia Detection Questionnaire which assesses one's risk factor. I know from taking this test that I need to have a neurological check-up every year since both parents had Alzheimer's, and by doing so I can effectively stave off the disease. This is an easy read on a complicated disease. Shankle and Amen are to be commended for knowing their audience and speaking to them appropriately. Well done!

An Outstanding Resource!
Renowned specialists, Dr. Shankle & Dr. Amen, explain the most current research and information on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, in very understandable terms, giving hope that it can be slowed down for years when diagnosed early, and how to help prevent it in the first place!

Dr. Shankle also wrote a compelling and comprehensive chapter on diagnosing and treating aggression in dementia for my book "Elder Rage".
Jacqueline Marcell ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alzheimer's disease   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diseases - Nervous System (incl. Brain)   4. General   5. Health & Fitness   6. Health/Fitness   7. Prevention   

Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - General   2. Dermatology   3. Diet / Health / Fitness   4. Diseases - Skin   5. Health & Fitness   6. Health/Fitness   7. Health & Fitness / Beauty & Grooming   

Subjects:  1. Biography   2. Biography & Autobiography   3. Biography / Autobiography   4. Biography/Autobiography   5. Breast   6. Cancer   7. Diseases - Breast Cancer   8. Health   9. Lucas, Geralyn   10. Medical - General   11. Non-Classifiable   12. Nonfiction - General   13. Patients   14. Personal Memoirs   15. United States   16. Women   

Subjects:  1. Diseases   2. Fetal Diseases   3. Fetus   4. Gynecology & Obstetrics   5. Infant, Newborn, Diseases   6. Infants (Newborn)   7. Medical   8. Medical / Nursing   9. Neonatology   10. Pediatrics   11. Perinatal Medicine   12. Perinatology & Neonatology   

Customer Reviews (1)

Premier reference for high-risk obstetrics
This book is an excellent reference source for all practitioners of obstetrics and a must-have for those with an interest in high-risk pregnancies. Comprehensive and well-written. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   2. Fetal Diseases   3. Gynecology & Obstetrics   4. Medical   5. Obstetrics   6. Perinatology   7. Pregnancy & Childbirth   8. Pregnancy Complications   9. Prenatal Diagnosis   

Customer Reviews (24)

Patient Heal Thyself with Garden of Life Products
If you can get past the controversy surrounding Jordan Rubin's credentials and the "infomercial" aspects of this book then, by all means, buy it! I can attest from personal experience that Garden of Life products are very effective and I highly recommend them.

I've been taking Primal Defense, RM-10, Revivall Classic, and Omega-Zyme regularly for the past six months and I must say I've never felt better. I've lost weight and my allergies are under control to the point where I no longer need to take Allegra. I also have more energy and stamina than I've had in years.

The only rub is these products are very expensive though I must say the benefit you get from taking these supplements outweighs the cost. Also, some of the foods Rubin recommends (e.g., grass fed beef) are hard to come by, especially if you live in an urban area like I do.

Nevertheless, this book offers a lot of good, if not unconventional, insights on health, nutrition, and natural/spiritual healing. In reading this book, one would do well to keep in mind the words of Sirach, "The Lord created medicines from the earth, and a sensible man will not despise them." (38:4)

Book = Product Brochure
Let me start bottom side up...

I have suffered from crohn's for the past ten years, I'm 6'1', I weighed 185 pounds when i was 17 (10 years ago), within a half year from when this disease struck me I weighed 142 pounds - life was miserable - I could not be between people, for I didn't know when my gut will strike me next. Where ever I would go, I first would locate the nearest bathroom...

To make the story short - since then I have been on and off prednisone and asacol and pepcid for 10 years, with my docs constantly threatening with surgery. I was hospitalized 2-3 years ago with severe problems.

3 months ago I had another attack, I didn't want to go through all the medical procedures in order the doctor should let me get back on to steroids - so I went on to news groups - seeking for alternative treatments - someone recommend me that I read this book.

I read the book in it's entirety - I got really hooked on some of the products - specifically "primal defense" & "omega-zyme" and all I can say is "it's a miracle - it basically took 4 weeks, and most of my aches and pain began to subside - I am finally starting to feel my normal life again.

I am a true believer in his products.

You might ask why I only rate it 3 stars - simply because I look at it as a product brochure - with very little usefull information beyond his personal story and his product (per se - "patient heal thyself" hmmm with my products)

Bow wow!
What can I say? The "true believers" and the people who are desperate will believe in anything. But I do plan to give my dog (if I didn't have only a cat) "1 caplet 3 times per day with 8 ounces of water or juice" of Jordan's Primal Defense snake oil. On the web site it states "Great for pets." If it's good enough for Fido, it's good enough for me. But does it have to cost two arms and two legs. As for the "book", read it at your own risk. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies   2. Alternative treatment   3. Crohn's disease   4. Diet / Health / Fitness   5. Healing   6. Health & Fitness   7. Health/Fitness   8. Nature, Healing power of   9. Naturopathy   

Customer Reviews (13)

The Best Book I've found for Crohn's Disease
When I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease I became very upset. I didn't know if there was anything I could do to help take care of the situation. Right away after the initial dianosis I ordered several books. This book just happened to be one of them. When I got this book in the mail I was amazed with all the information it offered. My favorite thing it had was a diet plan and helpful nutritional information. With this information I re-learned how to eat. I feel that the dietary advice that Scala gives in this book is one of the main reasons why I am now doing so much better. This book breaks all the important aspects of nutrition down in an easy to read book. I learned how to eat, what to eat, and why it is ok to eat certain foods and not others--and when I followed Scala's plan I immediately began to feel better.

Also, this book has information on both stomach and intestinal problems. This book was one of the few books that taught me more about my Crohn's Disease in a very easy to read and understandable approach. Also, the book greatly helped me open up communication with my doctor by helping me better understand my disease. This book was without a doubt the book that I found most helpful in all of the books that I read on the subject. I would recommend this book to anyone who is suffering because it will help you.

Very sound practical advice for IBD patients
Some of the questions that IBD patients have are "What can I eat? Which foods will promote intestinal healing? Are there any supplements or vitamins that I should be taking?" Dr Scala answers these questions and more. He says that many doctors dispense pills to get you through the current "flare-up," but are not personally well informed on good nutrition, fitness, and preventative care. He even says that many medical schools simply do not teach about diet, nutrition and fitness.

While he resists the notion that good eating habits and nutrition alone will cure Colitis and Crohn's disease (he reminds readers that these diseases are chronic illnesses), he does suggest that 70% of the time, it can get you through a flare up without having to resort to taking steroids. That should perk up the ears of those who are sick and tired of all the nasty side effects associated with steroid use.

Dr. Scala strongly encourages the IBD patient to stay away from foods high in saturated fats and to eat lots of rice, potatoes, fish (for the omega 3 fatty acids that the IBD patient needs to promote healing in the colon), chicken, turkey, vegetables, and fruit without the skin on it. During the initial stages of a flareup, he recommends a liquid supplement to solid food, such as Encare.

The book is handy, helpful, and practical. I especially recommend it for the IBD patient, but it is also a good book for those who are simply interested in good nutrition.

a godsend
Thanks to the dietary recommendations in this book and a probiotic supplement,my IBD symptoms have virtually disappeared! I feel great! I can go out in public without fear of an unexpected "backdoor eruption." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Diet therapy   3. Diets - General   4. Diets - Special Conditions   5. Diseases - Abdominal   6. Health & Fitness   7. Health/Fitness   8. Inflammatory bowel diseases   9. Nutrition   

Customer Reviews (9)

A pioneering resource for the field of men's health...
Not satisfied with having revolutionized the field of prostate cancer surgery, Dr. Walsh has teamed with Janet Farrar Worthington to produce a book that may well be the gold standard for communication about the disease and its treatment. Their lens is wide, embracing discussions about the epidemiology of the disease (e.g. variations among population groups, risk factors, associated lifestyle patterns, trends), the diagnostic tests available, the current approaches to staging the disease, the treatment options, and the experience under those options with potentential side effects, like incontinence and impotence. They draw fully upon the available medical literature and offer substantial detail on the anatomy, physiology, pathology, psychology, analytical chemistry of the disease and its diagnosis, as well as the approaches to treatment. Detail of this intricacy could be tedious or confusing, yet the authors present it in an unusually accessible fashion. For the curious, the book offers an informative and thought-provoking review of the role of possible dietary and lifestyle triggers in the etiology of prostate cancer. For those sorting through--and preparing for--treatment options, the book offers important insights and practical guidance.

Because prostate cancer is a disease fraught with uncertainty, and much is being learned daily about its possible causes, about the diagnostic limitations, and about the effectiveness of various current and emerging treatments, the book is aiming at a moving target. Written in 2002, there are 2004 elements the authors would no doubt add. But, as is, Dr. Walsh's Guide is itself a pioneering resource both for those with immediate concerns about prostate cancer, and for the nascent field of men's health. It is a wonderfully helpful contribution.

Understanding and some guidance
This book was recommended to me by Oncology Doctors and Nurses. I found it very helpful to read after the blur of diagnosis. It helped me to understand what was happening to me and what outcomes might be in my future. I found myself re-reading sections of it to gain a deeper understanding of all the new medical lingo. It helped me formulate the questions I should ask. Only "weakness" is that since it is written by a Urologist, the surgical options are covered most extensively while other, newer options are only lightly covered. So you will need to continue reasearching treatment options. Well worth the investment of money and time. A sincere thank you to Dr. Walsh for making it all comprehensible.

A must-read book!
This book is a must-read for anyone who has a prostate or knows someone who does! It provides complete, up-to-date information on all aspects of the prostate. The chapters are organized so that you can read the material that is most applicable to your situation. It answers any type of question that you may have - from prevention to the treatment of common prostate problems. The material is presented in a compassionate, caring way by a doctor who has dedicated his career to saving lives and to helping patients maintain their quality of life.

Dr. Patrick Walsh is urologist-in-chief at Johns Hopkins whose urology department was ranked #1 in the country in a recent U.S. News & World Report analysis. Dr. Walsh is also known for his pioneering work in the development of the anatomic approach to radical prostatectomy, which involves nerve-sparing techniques that have reduced the possibility of impotence and incontinence. This procedure is widely regarded as the "gold standard" for prostate cancer treatment. So, the information in this book is simply the best available material on this subject.

Does the book always recommend radical prostatectomy surgery? Definitely not! It offers useful information on radiation -- both external-beam and radioactive seed treatments. It discusses the use of hormone treatments. It helps you sort out which procedure is right for your situation. It also covers basic information about the prostate, prostate enlargement and prostate infections.

Perhaps most importantly, it provides tips on maintaining a healthy prostate and testing procedures for detecting prostate cancer. And if prostate cancer is caught early enough, the book emphasizes that it is completely curable.

A must-read book for all men and for the people who care about them! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cancer   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diets - General   4. Diseases - Prostate Cancer   5. Health & Fitness   6. Health/Fitness   7. Men's Health   8. Popular works   9. Prostate   10. Health & Fitness / Men's Health   

Customer Reviews (5)

Surviving the Extremes: A Doctor's Journey to the Limits of
Physiological constraints confine our bodies to less than one-fifth of the earth's surface. Beyond that fraction lie the extremes. What happens when we go to them?" "Dr. Kenneth Kamler has spent years observing exactly what happens. A vice president of the legendary Explorers Club, he has climbed, dived, sledded, floated, and trekked through some of the most treacherous and remote regions in the world. A consultant for NASA, Yale University, and the National Geographic Society, he has explored undersea caves, crossed the frozen Antarctic wastelands, and stitched a boy's hand back together while kneeling in knee-deep Amazonian mud." "The words extreme and survival have lost some of their value from overuse and media hype. By showing us what happens when life is at stake and the body's capacities are put to their greatest test, this book reminds us what these words truly mean. Divided into six sections - jungle, high seas, desert, underwater, high altitude, and outer space - Surviving the Extremes uses firsthand testimony and documented accounts to illustrate what goes on in environments where our instinctive survival strategies must become fully engaged. These stories reveal how infinitely complex are the workings of the human body - and also how heartbreakingly fragile. At the core of this book is a request for the source of our will to survive and the haunting question of why some can and others cannot summon its awesome and nearly mystical power at their moment of greatest need

Surprising reality attention grabber
I have to start off by saying I picked this up as a random purchase while at a CD/book sale at my company. pretty much an impulse buy after already getting a DVD that I sort of wanted, and cheap. Well...

I think this is the first book I've picked up in a while, and maybe the first non-fiction one in even longer. It is definitely amazing. The idea that it is all firsthand stories, most from specific life experiences, is great. The detail and accuracy (i'll have to assume being that I'm not a doctor) is killer, and makes you think about what you really are capable of. Also a great reminder that we're living an illusing within the safety of civilization's confines for the most part.

The best thing is how you can learn to cope with extremes that you otherwise might just overreact and die if you don't keep a cool head and have some knowledge such as what is touched on in here.

I just wish it wasn't so short, cause it was great to have something like this to read.

Fascinating book, misleading marketing
This is one of the most interesting books I have read in ages. I'll agree with the other reviewer that the jacket information is misleading. This isn't really a "thriller" as conventionally defined. The author shares some first person as well as historical anecdotes but this really is an incredible biology book, interweaving physiology with some evolutionary biology. A very thoughtful and well-written book! It leaves the reader with jaw-dropping respect for the human body and its ability to adapt to extreme situations. It also touches on the adaptations other animals have to routinely live in environments which are totally inhospitable to humans. It is just too bad that people are disappointed in it because it isn't what the jacket says it is. I have taught basic survival classes for teens and I'm really glad to have this book to recommend because it is a different slant compared to what is out there in survival literature. My teenage daughters read Into Thin Air in high school English and I just wish I had this book before the younger one did her paper last month on dehydration! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental health   2. Extreme environments   3. General   4. Human Physiology +   5. Infectious Diseases   6. Life Sciences - Biophysics   7. Life Sciences - Human Anatomy & Physiology   8. Physiological effect   9. Science   10. Science/Mathematics   11. Sports & Recreation / General   

Customer Reviews (3)

most helpful book so far
Now that the condition called "pre-diabetic" has been recognized by the medical profession, even more people need information on meals, recipes and menu planning to aid in blood glucose control. I have just recently been diagnosed as pre- or "borderline" diabetic. Pre-diabetes and diabetes are medical conditions that are vastly under the control of the patient. We have all heard that losing weight and increasing exercise are vital to controlling diabetes. At this point I have read about six books on diabetes and this one is by far the best. Some of the books were a complete waste of money, in my opinion; for example, "Tell Me What to Eat if I Have Diabetes" was for processed and fast food junkies. All of the books present information on goals for blood glucose levels, what are carbohydrates, etc. But for me, I needed help with menu planning, balancing proteins, carbos, fats, calories, increasing fiber, etc.

"The Diabetes Bible" does have workable recipes - the ones I have made were very tasty. The biggest shock comes when you actually measure the serving sizes specified. A 4-ounce apple did not exist in my grocery store - they were all 8 ounces. So, if you follow their menu plans (I used the 1,200 to 1,400 calorie plan), you can eat only half that apple. It is amazing how small a half-cup portion of cooked vegetables is or two ounces of lean protein is an incredibly tiny piece (I once virtuously ate a small fish fillet, only to find out that I had consumed "four exchanges"). And one cup of milk is only a few swallows.

My biggest complaint about the book is that many menus rely on reduced fat cheeses, "lite" sour cream and margarine, although they do admit you can used the real thing, but (obviously) eat even less of it.

It is no lie to say that controlling pre-diabetes or diabetes is a heck of a lot of work. Given the risks of not controlling these conditions - eye damage, peripheral neuropathy, risk of heart attack and stroke - patient motivation to lose weight, increase exercise, control blood pressure and blood glucose, reduce cholesterol, etc. should be high, but it certainly is no day at the beach. The "Diabetes Bible" at least gave me some place to start.

More than one hundred healthful and tasty dishes
In The Diabetes Food & Nutrition Bible: A Complete Guide To Planning, Shopping, Cooking, And Eating, Hope Warshaw and Robyn Web effectively collaborate to draw upon their more than twenty years experience with the challenges of a diabetic lifestyle. They provide the reader with a wealth of information on how to turn out more than one hundred healthful and tasty dishes for the diabetic -- meal time dishes that will be enthusiastically received by their non-diabetic friends and family members as well. All aspects of sound and nutritious cuisine for the diabetic is covered including the what to look for and what to avoid with respect to canned and prepared foods from the supermarket, portion control and the role it plays in a healthy eating plan for diabetics; five "Nutrition Superstars" that compliment any diabetic diet; and the diabetes meal plan based on building blocks of healthful eating for people with diabetes. No diabetics's reference shelf and cookbook collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of The Diabetes Food & Nutrition Bible!

Publisher's Description
A food and nutrition super-resource for people with diabetes, The Diabetes Food & Nutrition Bible is written by Hope S. Warshaw, a certified diabetes educator and registered dietician, and Robyn Webb, an expert in all things culinary and healthy. This book brings you up to date on meal planning, carb counting, vitamins, minerals, and the best ways to prepare healthy, delicious meals.

In addition to being a comlete food and nutrition reference, The Diabetes Food & Nutrition Bible is a cookbook that shows you how to prepare foods using Nutritional Superstars, foods such as grains, avocados, leafy green vegetables, fruits, tofu, and many more. It includes more than 100 recipes featuring 20 Nutrition Superstars complete with nutritional information, exchanges, and carb counts. There are selections on: Meal Planning Approaches How to By, Store, and Handle Foods How to Find a Dietitian ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diabetes   2. Diabetics   3. Diet / Health / Fitness   4. Diet therapy   5. Diseases - Diabetes   6. Health & Fitness   7. Health & Healing - Diabetic & Sugar Free   8. Health/Fitness   9. Nutrition   10. Health & Fitness / General