Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one told by an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless, raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope with their child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) at face value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of his elders and peers.

Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington's owner finds him cradling her dead dog in his arms, and has him arrested. After spending a night in jail, Christopher resolves--against the objection of his father and neighbors--to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations, and the result--quirkily illustrated, with each chapter given its own prime number--is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Haddon's novel is a startling performance. This is the sort of book that could turn condescending, or exploitative, or overly sentimental, or grossly tasteless very easily, but Haddon navigates those dangers with a sureness of touch that is extremely rare among first-time novelists. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is original, clever, and genuinely moving: this one is a must-read. --Jack Illingworth, Amazon.ca ... Read more

Customer Reviews (245)

A Math Teacher's Dream & an Awesome Book
The fictional author of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" was an autistic 15-year-old boy (named Christopher Boone) intent on solving the murder of a neighborhood dog. Since the boy approached life purely with logic and order, he was unable to face any situation with emotions or feelings. This unique viewpoint made for an absolutely original novel (rich with enchanting, honest, and intellectual prose) unlike any other I have ever encountered. Ironically, the complex plot that unraveled during Christopher's detecting might have been more invigorating than some of the best thrillers/mysteries I've read. Until I stumbled upon this book, I had my own manufactured comprehension of autism. My son Joshua attended Nursery School with an autistic child last year, and I observed some of that boy's behavioral traits. Although I also studied autism in my college psychology classes, and I did work briefly with an autistic child at a gifted camp, I really had few opportunities to interact with individuals afflicted with this unusual and often debilitating ailment. Mark Haddon's real-life experience with autistic children allowed him to craft this masterpiece by providing the perspective of a young autistic teenager, not by another author's observations of the exterior physical behaviors, but through the interior workings that composed the thought patterns of the boy's afflicted mind. In many ways, autism provided the perfect mind for detective work because emotions were never a factor during the investigation. However, in other ways, autism created roadblocks that could never be understood by people unaccustomed to this mind-blowing anomaly.

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How does the autistic mind work (paraphrased/enhanced/interpreted from Haddon's book)?

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Non-Autistic Joe:

It is Monday morning and Joe awakens to find it raining and cold outside. As Joe prepares breakfast, he feels a sense of angst because the weather has already predetermined his day's destiny. Backing out of the driveway, Joe initiates the windshield-wipers, turns on the car defrost and breathes out a moan of contention because he knows he is going to have a bad day.

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Autistic Christopher:

On the bus ride to school, Christopher starts counting consecutive automobiles. If he sees 4 yellow cars in a row, he knows he is going to have a black day. However, if he encounters 4 red cars in a row, he knows he will experience a good day yet if he sees 3 red cards in a row, he will have quite a good day. Five red cars in a row will provide Christopher with a super good day. Also, Christopher will never eat food that is yellow or brown.

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Explanation:

The non-autistic mind uses emotions and feelings to predict (along with order and logic). The autistic mind can only use order and logic to make decisions. Non-autistic people regard Christopher's way of predicting good and bad days as illogical even if it does follow some strange order. On the other hand, how does basing good and bad days on the weather end up being more logical than the decision to base good and bad days on the color of consecutive cars?

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Non-Autistic Joe:

Joe's bedroom reflects his personality yet he constantly changes furniture and wall hangings to reflect his current interests. When Joe goes on vacation, he finds it refreshing to encounter new situations, new places and new people. On a recent vacation to South Carolina, Joe sat out on the porch of a civil-war era Bed and Breakfast and reflected on the God given wonders of the world.

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Autistic Christopher:

Christopher's bedroom has never changed since he was an infant. If his Mom cleans the room and moves a poster one millimeter, Christopher is forced to crouch down on the floor and moan for the loss of order to his world. Christopher hates Paris because it contains too much stimuli in the form of new buildings, new people, posters, signs, etc. This overwhelming influx of stimuli drives him almost mad with pain and angst. Christopher?'s only recourse is to crouch into a fetal position and to moan or scream. Nothing about this new place can be credited to God because the autistic mind won't comprehend things that can't be seen. All entities must be tangible. The idea of God is problematical for the autistic mind.
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Autistic Phenomenon (Christopher likes maths):

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Perhaps my favorite component of Mark Haddon's book dealt with the numerous references to mathematical algorithms, formulas, logic and computations. I just might have to put this book on a required reading list for my high school math students. Autistic minds do tend to have certain strengths and anomalies despite perceived deficits. Many autistic individuals possess math brilliance, musical prowess or scientific expertise. Christopher was gifted in "maths" and the book played homage to this unique talent. As a math geek, I was thrilled by the book's inclusion of the Pythagorean Theorem, The Monty Hall Problem, Statistical Analysis, Mapping Algorithms, Game Theory, Relativity, Tessellations, Proofs and Mental Math Algorithms. I have never encountered so many math applications in a pleasure book before in my life.

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Summary:

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Most of you know that I write reviews for the sheer cathartic release it provides me. However, I must go out on a limb (by the way, you can't use metaphors with autistic individuals), and implore you to find this book and read it with gusto over the summer. You will find it rewarding, entertaining and educational. If any of you know anybody dealing with autistic relatives or friends, please tell them of this book. It offers enough insight to make it a must read for anybody dealing directly with autism. Additionally, Christopher's detective work uncovered more than the culprit of a dog homicide; it unleashed raw emotion mainly because the young author was unable to express any of his own. I was moved to tears of laughter and heartbreak while I remained glued to every single word on every single page of this 226-page masterpiece. This is my favorite book of all time. Bravo Mark Haddon!

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My Overwhelming Grade: A+++

Intriguing Visit Inside the Autistic Mind and Look at Math
This novel is one of the most unusual that I have ever read. I initially gauged its success by how well emotionally engaged I was by the story. For the first half, I was gripped . . . but the book tailed off from there. If I only looked at the book from that perspective, I would grade it a 3. But the book also contains interesting references to science and math that reminded me of John Paulos's books on how a mathematician looks at the world. Those parts I rated at a 5. So the two perspectives came out to a 4. But if you don't particularly like math or science, this will be an average novel for you before you are done.

The premise is simple. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is autistic with many emotional complications (including not being able to read others' emotions) . . . and also has a brilliant mind for logic. Because of his fascinating experiences, his teacher, Siobhan encourages him to write a book . . . which is this one.

It's easy to think of Christopher as much younger than he is . . . with problems concerning strangers, others touching him, and wetting himself. But then the brilliant mind comes out, and you feel like you are in contact with a professor. The combination is fascinating in the first half of the book as Christopher tries to find out who stuck a pitchfork through the neighbor's dog. As a twist on The Hound of the Baskervilles, that part of the book is irresistible.

Once that mystery is solved, the book seems to veer off into less realistic and less emotionally compelling material. Christopher's character was no longer completely believable to me. The writing seemed more like an exercise by an author than Christopher's own as the "author" of this book.

I treasured though those parts of the book that help me understand how an autistic person might view the world. It reminded me of those jumbled letters and reversed numbers on cards that teachers show to simulate what dyslexia is like for those who are not dyslexic. Such journeys in another's footsteps are rewarding and I encourage you to seek them out.

Based on this first novel, I can only hope that we will read more about Christopher in the future. I suggest, though, that the knife be left behind.

Original and inspired - deservedly a Whitbread winner
For sceptics who think this is a child's book, read it and then think again. "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time" is everything the media hype says it is....and more. It is an inspirational and original book about an incident - the murder of a neighbour's dog - that has taken hold of an autistic child's mind and in the process unsettled some dark family secrets which have remained deeply buried within the hearts of the adult community.

The story is narrated by and told through the eyes of the child, so his perception and understanding of events as they unfold become our own. Mark Haddon's simulation of the autistic child's reality and sensibility is so touching, truthful and poignant I was completely blown away by its emotional resonance. The heartbreak one feels stems from the fact that the autistic child is incapable of interpreting simple messages in conversation. He responds to reality as he sees them, in the only way he knows how, and so misreads cues that should be straightforward to the non-autistic person.

Don't let the dog incident distract you. It may be the triggering event that sends everything unrevelling but hardly the story's centre which is firmly rooted in the more complex world of adults. I wonder if Christopher would have been better off wired like the rest of us. I doubt so. There is also surprising depth to Haddon's characterisation. Christopher's father is a saint, his mother much less sympathetic and more difficult to judge, like the Meryl Streep character in Kramer vs Kramer.

It's interesting that the book is marketed as both an adult's as well as a children's book. The adult and child reader will have different reactions to the book. Haddon has made an important contribution to contemporary literature. All we can do is read and be enriched by it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Autism   2. Fiction   3. Savants (Savant syndrome)   4. England   5. Fiction - General   6. Literary   7. English First Novelists   8. General   9. Reading Group Guide   

Customer Reviews (3)

REALLY GOOD TEXT NEEDS MINOR REVISIONS
I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS REVIEWERS THAT THE TEXT NEEDS SOME REVIEW BUT I AM UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER TEXT THAT COMPLETELY DEALS WITH THE FIELD OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHY. AFTER READING THE TEXT AND THE WORKBOOK I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN TAKING THE BOARDS. ANY MORE PROJECTS FROM THE AUTHOR?

A must for beginning first year technicians
The good outweighs the bad as proposed by another reviewer. I agree the proofreader(if there was any) was out to lunch. But the content was easy to understand and was varied in the subject matter enough to know the basics. The workbook is better with 200+ test-like questions and enough scoring epochs to help you find staging and events. These were just a couple of the books I used to pass the Dec 2003 registry the first time. A lab could buy these and the information would be relevant for years to come.

Good layout, needs revision
Of the dozen or so texts I've read on polysomnography, this book has the most user-friendly layout. Each subject is dealt with quickly and clearly.
However, the writing style (as well as the type-setting) is totally uninspiring. Spelling and punctuation errors sometimes make for misleading/unclear statements. Many statements/conclusions are inferrential or lack necessary support. The order of statements (within each paragraph) is often suboptimal.
Some of the discussions, particularly with regards to electronics, are not thorough enough to transmit anything other than a superficial understanding of the subject. Much of this information seems clipped or paraphrased from other materials I have read. In many cases, this transplantation lacks fidelity to what I believe are the original sources; and to the heart of the subject matter.
However, don't let the negatives dissuade you from buying this book. This book contains info all techs should master in their 1st year. There is nothing in this book which lacks direct application. There is, however, much more to know than that which is included in this text.
Overall, this is an excellent introduction to, and a great handbook for the quick recovery of, the essential concepts of polysomnography. This edition is like a first draft to what may become an essential textbook... if the author ever gets around to fixing the mistakes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Medical   2. Sleep disorders   3. Sleep apnea syndromes   4. Neurology   

Customer Reviews (2)

Good if your child is able and not MR
I do some work experimenting with pragmatics teaching for autistic adolescents. This book is definitely a 'good' book in this regard. Importantly it is written by a parent for other parents. I have no doubt but that it has something for everyone, but I am less sure whether it has as much for parents with genuinely autistic as opposed to high functioning autistic children. I would still recommend the book but with that caveat.

The book seesm to be largely derived from observations and techniques related to Tony Attwood's practice in Australia. Fans of Attwood should be pleased with that. It doesn't hurt its marketing either.

The author is a medical doctor and while that may lend some authority to the text, it is her position as a parent of a high functioning autistic child that drives the text along. Many lesson plans and exercises are described in detail. A lot of form filling is recommended for recording behaviour (and hopefuly progress). Some aspects of these procedures may not be applicable to all parental situations (awkward, time consuming, presuming too much of parents, etc.) but one has to look first at what can be done, rather than ruling out options in advance.

It seems like a useful programme. I suspect it is would be very practical in the hands of extremely well organised parents.

While being as fairminded as possible, it is important to point out that the book doesn't dwell much on evaluation studies. Hence what is recommended is often the result of rewarding personal persistence and experience, rather than scientific validation.

Don't get me wrong. This is not a snake oil book by any means (and there are so many about), but evaluation studies are important to some parents in helping to choose between approaches.

Of course I would recommend this book. It is focused on the (very) able autistic child in my opinion however. Personally if I had the budget for only one social skills book I would probably be inclined more towards Kathleen Quill's work than this one. It is a personal choice, and I suspect most interested parents will buy both.

Navigating the Social World
This book is excellent! Written in simple terminology for parents, school staffs or caregivers of High Functioning Autistic children. Contains detailed "how to" information on emotional development, communication/social skills, abstract thinking skills, and behaviorial issues. Finally a plan I can follow as a parent to help my child meet some of his developmental milestones. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Psychology   2. Education / Teaching   3. Education   4. Special Education - Mentally Handicapped   5. Special Education - Socially Handicapped   

Customer Reviews (43)

Mostly accurate portrayal of persons with AS
Tony Attwood's book on Asperger Syndrome should be considered the definitive book to date on children with Asperper's Syndrome. Therefore, any parent who has a child who they think might have Asperger's Syndrome or who has been recently diagnosed, should start here for information.

Perhaps you have recognized certain traits in your children, or other people's children, or even in yourself. These traits may include difficulty understanding the rules of conversation, reduced facial expressions, a monotonous voice, a photographic memory, obsessional interests and hobbies, and a predilection towards honesty.

It should be noted that not all Aspies have all the symptoms described. Therefore, if you recognize some, but not all the symptoms in your children, they may still have Asperger Syndrome. I should know this as I am an Aspie myself. For instance, I don't recall having difficulty reading other people's facial expressions or making eye contact. While I do recall making some social errorsas described in the book, it was usually because people couldn't read MY facial expressions rather than because I couldn't read theirs. I don't take everything literally as the book describes, and I DO understand figures-of-speech and metaphors, e.g. 'change your mind?', 'you're pulling my leg', 'cat got your tongue?', 'out of the blue'.

Remember, Aspies can improve their social skills through behavior intervention and natural development. Also remember that Aspies are quite talented individuals who's interests can lead them to successful job prospects later in life. Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder, NOT an intellectual disorder.

Special Education Teacher Review
I found this book to be very informative. Tony Attwood's explanation of the syndrome was clear and very easy to understand. Some professional jargon may be difficult for parents to decipher, however the overall approach to diagnostic criteria is very good. I am in the process of referring a high school student for Asperger's screening. This book was critical in my own exposure to this disability and its place on the Autistic spectrum. My 4 star rating was given only for lack of diagnostic examples for secondary level students. One would hope a child with Asperger's would be diagnosed at the elementary level. However, with such a new awakening to the topic, I feel there are probably hundreds of misdiagnosed adolescents out there waiting for help and insight. Parents, I urge you to approach your child's teachers if you suspect Asperger-like characteristics in your own child. Then, recommend they read this book!

A must have book for parents/professionals alike!
This book is the first book I reccommend to anyone who is facing a diagnosis of high functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome in their family. My 10 year old son is "officially" diagnosed with high functioning autism, but those of us in the know, realize how little that means. Tony Attwood is simply amazing, this book breaks Asperger's Syndrome down for you, step by step, symptom by symptom, and is a real help and reference. Even after being involved in the autism spectrum now for over 6 years, I still refer to this book on a regular basis. Also, unlike many books I have read about autism and Asperger's Syndrome, this book is written very much for the lay person, you don't have to have a PhD to understand this book. There are also very practical solutions for many of the challenging problems unique to Asperger's and austism in here as well, many of them we have used with much sucess with our son. One example I can think of off the top of my head is teaching pragmatic language skills, something that neuro-typical children understand naturally, and children with Asperger's have to laboriously be taught. Temple Grandin's endorsement at the end is literally the icing on the cake. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asperger's syndrome   2. Autism   3. Mental Disorders   4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   5. Family & Relationships   6. Children with Special Needs   7. Learning Disabilities   8. Mental Illness   9. Psychology   

Customer Reviews (1)

Friendships Are Relationships
I found Drs. Gutstein and Sheely's new book very helpful for implementing the Relationship Development Intervention curriculum for our son who has Asperger's.

The Activities were presented in a very user friendly format in a step-by-step manner. The corresponding Objectives were clearly stated, and it will be easy to monitor his progress. I know that these objectives will be beneficial when planning for his IEP at school next year.

I've always wished that our son came with a manual....well now I've got one. Thanks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Autistic children   2. Rehabilitation   3. Asperger's syndrome   4. Social skills in children   5. Developmental disabilities   6. Rehabilitation Therapy   7. Autism   8. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   9. Family & Relationships   10. Pediatrics   11. Mental Health   12. Special Education - Socially Handicapped   13. Education   

Customer Reviews (2)

The best social skills book for our family
As a parent homeschooling a child with Asperger Syndrome, I've bought about a dozen books to help me teach my child social skills. This one is the most useful I've found. Most books on this topic are aimed only at teachers and are hard to adapt to use at home with one child; that's not the case with this book. While the book includes instructions for school personnel and describes how to teach the skills in classrooms and small groups, it is relatively free of educational jargon and doesn't waste too much space on things that useless to me, like reproducible handouts for the children to take home to their parents.

The skills are broken down into small steps and are very specific, which is helpful with my literal-minded child. As a socially adept adult, I sometimes have trouble finding ways to explain social conventions, like the 'Two-Question Rule,' as Baker calls it: 'When others as you a question and you answer it, you can ask a similar question right back.' I'm sure I do this every day ('How are you?' 'Fine, how are you?'), and yet it would have taken me ages to find a way to sum this up for my child.

The skills are broken down into six categories: Conversational Skills, Cooperative Play Skills, Friendship Management, Self-Regulation, Empathy, and Conflict Management. The skills range from 'Maintaining Appropriate Physical Distance from Others' to 'Giving Criticism in a Positive Way'. Each skill is covered on two pages. One page lists guidelines for following the rule, and includes a small fill-in-the-blank space where children can plan when they will try out the skill and later report how it worked. The facing page lists suggested activities for teaching and reinforcing the skill.

I was also pleased to find that Baker's The Social Skills Picture Book covers many of the skills in Social Skills Training, so I have been using the picture book as a companion to this book. Actually seeing photos of children using the skills (or making mistakes) helps to fix the rules in his mind.

Down to Earth approach
This struck me as a competent down to Earth book on social skills training. Largely the book outlines the relevant skill on the left hand page and then provides an explanation of the purpose of the skill and how it can be best developed on the right hand side. It reminded me up to a point of the Boystown Teaching Basic Social Skills manuals.

The positives of the book are that a great number of important skills are covered and the strategies for teaching and reinforcing them are presented. These features will definitely grab teachers desperate in most cases for some guidance.

In my opinion, the negatives are that not every skill is reducible to the format of the book. Many skills are more subtle and difficult to learn, and practice, than others. Also many communciation skills are primarily nonverbal and that needs to be emphasised when dealing with AS adolescents. These issues could have been addressed at greater length in the book and given the intended audience more theoretical work could have been introduced. One final quibble I have is grouping those with AS and social communication difficulties together. I think this is a mistake. AS has a distinct set of diagnsotic criteria. Social communication difficulties can arise from a variety of non AS related sources. Boundary blurring is not something I favour.

Many teachers and therapists will find this a practical book. It is not as linguistically geared up as work by say Rinaldi, but it is very accessible. Ultimately no one book is going to work with every child or group. However, I think this book in common with a few others is moving in the right direction. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education   2. Education / Teaching   3. Special Education - Socially Handicapped   4. Pediatrics   

Customer Reviews (31)

The most comprehensive guide to Aspies I've read!
As a 25 year veteran elementary teacher and the mother of a AS son who was recently diagnosed, I have read every book I could get my hands on about High functioning austism and Asperger Syndrome. This book, by the co-owners of the excellent OASIS web site, is the best resource I've come across. The two authors draw upon their own experiences as parents of AS children, a great deal of research, and information gleaned from contributors to their web site's message boards to provide information about diagnosis, schooling, emotional life, medication, and growing up in the Aspie world. It is a well-written, comprehensive, and interesting book that should be read by every parent and educator who deals with these "Little Professors." I highly recommend it.

What a gift!
This is the book that all parents of kids with Asperger's Syndrome have been waiting for! Only another parent knows how frustrating it can be to research AS on behalf of our kids, running from one web site to the next, tracking down articles, finding that the most recent book on the topic you need is six years old. Now we have it all between two covers: the answers to our questions about diagnostic techniques, medications, therapies, related conditions, dealing with schools, relatives, our children and our own stresses! All of it is well researched, well-written, and easily readable. I ordered more copies for my family and for my school, and I'm drafting a letter asking our public library to stock it! This will be the book, above others, that I recommend to people asking me "Do you think my child could have AS?" Congratulations and a thousand thanks to Barb and Patty for this wonderful work.

the best Asperger's book I've read!
My son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome two years ago. Of the 5-6 books devoted to Asperger's which I have read, this book is by far the BEST! It is very readable and easy for the layperson to understand and digest. Issues that were barely mentioned in other AS reference books were given time and space in the OASIS book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asperger's syndrome   2. Autism in children   3. Autism   4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   5. Family & Relationships   6. Children with Special Needs   7. Parenting - General   8. Healthy Living   9. Health & Fitness   

Customer Reviews (36)

Very complete and thorough explanations of PCOS!
This is the best of the new PCOS books out. After researching PCOS for months using research articles and the Internet, I was thrilled to find this book. It is very complete, with chapters on what PCOS is, (symptoms, possible causes, genetic factors) as well as treatments for PCOS. There are separate chapters on PCOS during adolescence, menopause, and sections dealing with fertility and healthy pregnancies for women with PCOS. There are also sensible chapters on weight managment and body image. Although there are a few chapters which contain an overabundance of medical terms and charts, they are good as a reference source even if a non-medical person doesn't completely understand them! The explanations of the various blood tests and exams that may be conducted are very helpful as well. I highly recommend this book if you are a woman suffering from PCOS.

Must have for PCOS'ers
This is an excellent source of information for both PCOS ladies and for women in general with questions about reproductive biology and functioning. I am impressed that Dr. Thatcher did not "dummy-down" his writing..treating the reader with a respect rarely found in medical books geared towards non-physicians. Great detail on the hows and whys of PCOS and of treatment plan options. Also offers resources for support, health care, etc. Highly reccommend this book to anyone experiencing PCOS or suspecting that they are (family and friends will like it, too)

Too technical
This book was obviously written by a doctor and is written so that only other doctors can understand it. It would have been nice to have this complicated syndrome explained for the everyday person. If you can get through all the technical mumbo jumbo, then it's a good book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Stein-Leventhal syndrome   2. Popular works   3. Consumer education   4. Diet / Health / Fitness   5. Health & Fitness   6. Women's Health - General   7. Gynecology & Obstetrics   8. Medical   

Customer Reviews (17)

Too Much Emphasis on Your Diet
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.

Great explanation of the underlying cause of most disease
Jack Challem writes articles on health for both the general public and scientific publications. He is also co-author of the book Syndrome X.

The Inflammation Syndrome is divided into four parts: an explanation of the connection between inflammation and disease, including causes of inflammation; a 15-step diet plan to prevent and heal inflammation; supplements recommended to combat inflammation; and inflammation and specific diseases. There are multiple quizzes throughout the book on different causes of inflammation to allow you to see all the various ways your lifestyle may be currently promoting, or preventing, inflammation in your body. The book is written in a lively, easy-to-understand style, and the author helpfully provides a detailed table of contents, an index, extensive references, and appendices listing medical tests for inflammation and sources for anti-inflammatory products.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about inflammation. Its straightforward, practical suggestions are not horrendously difficult to implement, and the author includes menu plans and recipes to get you started on his eating plan. I find his quizzes especially useful as a kind of lifestyle self-diagnosis.

If you'd like to do additional reading on this subject, another excellent book is The Inflammation Cure: How to Combat the Hidden Factor Behind Heart Disease, Arthritis, Asthma, Diabetes, & Other Diseases, by William Joel Meggs. An outstanding related work is The Body Restoration Plan: Eliminate Chemical Calories and Restore Your Body's Natural Slimming System, by Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton. Dr. Baillie-Hamilton doesn't specifically write about inflammation, but provides very valuable insights on the damage done by environmental toxins to the body, which both Meggs and Challem indicate are strongly implicated in causing inflammation.

Full Coverage
The author does a first-class job of covering not only the
causes of most of our physical ailments, but also of how to
give yourself relief from them.
His theory is that so many of our physical problems come from
what we eat and drink, that we should be able to avoid those
problems by eating right. Not a new theory, but he outlines
all the problems affected by our poor diet, and he documents
scientific and medical studies showing the cause-and-effect,
and then, to cap it all off, he explains how we can specifically
change our diets to start improving our physical health.
He gives details for anyone truly interested in those questions,
and he has a direct and rather plain-speaking way of showing
us what items we need to eliminate from our diets, and then
he happily presents the better, more healthful substitutes.
The author covers everything in the field, and he not only outlines the problems, he shows us the way to a more healthful
life, and he does that in a way we can understand and follow.
For anyone suffering from any health problem, or who is worried
about their future health, this is a must.
Don't miss it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Inflammation   2. Diet therapy   3. Alternative treatment   4. Chronic diseases   5. Etiology   6. Nutrition And Public Health   7. Preventive Medicine   8. Medical   9. Diet / Health / Fitness   10. Health & Fitness   11. Diets - Special Conditions   12. Diseases - General   13. Nutrition   

If you're aging prematurely, getting fatter, feeling sluggish, and watching your blood pressure and cholesterol sneak upwards, you may have "Syndrome X," claim the authors, who say that up to 60 million North Americans have it. "Syndrome X is primarily a nutritional disease caused by eating the wrong foods," they write. The mysterious-sounding "Syndrome X" refers to a group of health problems including insulin resistance ("the inability to properly deal with dietary carbohydrates such as sugars"), plus at least one additional problem, such as abnormal blood fats (elevated cholesterol or triglycerides), overweight, and/or high blood pressure. Insulin resistance is "a diet-caused hormonal logjam that interferes with your body's ability to efficiently burn the food you eat." According to the authors, you probably have this problem, and if you do, eating processed carbohydrates are the root of it. Pastries, pastas, breakfast cereals, soft drinks--these refined carbos are the enemy. The book warns you that you probably suffer from insulin resistance (please get a blood test instead of relying on the admittedly unscientific questionnaire in the book, which makes everyone suspect who eats cereal or drinks fruit juice). Then the authors jump on the high-protein, low carb bandwagon. You can eat three eggs for breakfast, roast duck for lunch, and salmon for dinner, and snack on chicken slices.

It seems odd that if the problem is refined carbs that the solution is high protein and low carbs. The authors admit that most unrefined, or complex, carbohydrates do not have the excessive glucose- and insulin-stimulating effect of refined carbs, so why not recommend high-quality, unrefined carbohydrates (which are preferred over high-protein diets by the American Dietetic Association)? Consumers can't tell the difference, the authors say. So rather than educate them to the difference, let them eat meat. Go figure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

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.

A doctor¿s praise for the ¿Syndrome X¿ book.
At last we have a book that explains some of the mystery behind middle-age. Syndrome X is the first book to present the new science explaining mid-life weight gain, rising cholesterol levels, and dropping energy levels. Yes, your middle-age metabolism is different and these changes have more to do with your diet and nutrition than your age! Syndrome X will help you put together a plan to overcome resistance to your own insulin. This is more than an abstract concept, it is the essence behind the current epidemic of obesity, high blood pressure and adult-onset diabetes. Author's Challem, Berkson, and Smith are to be commended. They have written an easy to understand book which provides a common sense plan for overcoming Syndrome X. Most importantly they cut through the current rhetoric and teach you how to treat yourself with a healthy diet. Everyone should read this book and take a copy to their doctor.

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. Insulin resistance   2. Diet therapy   3. Complications   4. Prevention   5. Metabolism   6. Diet / Health / Fitness   7. Health & Fitness   8. Diseases - General   9. Nutrition   10. General   

Customer Reviews (9)

Informative and I'm now pain free
This book gave me the initiative to look further into chiropractic treatments using ART and i am now pain free from years of off and on again pain in my back. Thanks for writing a book to inform the public to be pro-active in their care and live a pain free life.

Excellent
I found this book very very helpful. I would recommend it to anyone.

Worth the read
This book is easy to read and understand. Excellent drawings and photographs. I recommend this book highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Health & Fitness   2. Pain Management   3. Chronic pain   4. Exercise therapy   5. Alternative Therapies   6. Manipulation (Therapeutics)   7. Overuse injuries   8. Repetition Strain Injury   9. Backache   10. Carpal tunnel syndrome   

Customer Reviews (11)

Best for young or low/mid functioning students
I hoped this book would help me help my teenage high functioning autistic son navigate the social jungles of middle and high school. The introductory material and the tutorial on writing social stories were valuable. The stories were not, though they would have been helpful when my son was in day care and early elementary grades. Printed in large (18 point) type and triple/quadruple spaced, the stories focus on situations that the higher functioning autistic has already mastered: standing in line, eating with utensils, dressing, grooming, raising one's hand to speak. These are situations in which the correct (socially acceptable) rote action, once learned and applied, makes life easier for everyone.

Social stories seem less well suited to helping autistic students navigate situations where rote actions or responses are inadequate. Examples include situations of sensory overload or sensory hypersensitivity, where the autistic person's socially incorrect behavior is not entirely under his or her control, recognizing teasing and threats, or understanding ambiguous social signals.

Covers all the basics!
As the parent of an 8 year old with AS, I am constantly wondering if I am handling ALL the basic every day living skills. This book has it ALL! Social skills, interacting with people (community, school, and at home), and personal hygiene. The only chapter of the book, I felt didn't address the subject, was 11. My son had SO many questions as we read each story in that chapter. I guess that was good to some degree, we would then do some research to answer his questions. Some stories seemed so "common sense" when I first read them, but then I realized, what is common sense to me isn't common sense to a child with AS. I initially wanted to just quickly browse through this book when it arrived, but I found myself reading page after page for a little more than half an hour. My son and I are constantly picking up this book and going over stories together, even the ones he has already mastered. He enjoys the fact that he knows the answers, and every once in a while will add a tidbit. I find this book is great for the whole family to enjoy. This ia a must for any parent who has a child with AS.

TRAVELING THROUGH PARTS UNKNOWN
There are a lot of good points that are covered in this book. Many people with Asperger's, which is a neurobiological condition that is on the same spectrum as autism often miss social cues. Facial expressions, expected responses and nonverbal nuances are often not readily obvious to people with Asperger's. Many people with Asperger's Syndrome find having tasks broken down into a sequence of steps a helpful approach in processing information.

Carol Gray's book does accomplish this. This work also covers "empathy," a concept that many people with Asperger's find challenging. Empathy, or the ability to mentally and emotionally put oneself in the place of another person is something that many people with Asperger's have to be taught cognitively. This is not to suggest that people on the autism spectrum do not care about people; such is not the case at all. Empathy or being able to "see" from the vantage point of another is yet another skill that is broken down into manageable steps in this book.

Adults on the spectrum might find this a helpful tool. It provides a clear picture of how people navigate through social territory and often find mountains and road blocks instead of a clear path. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Autism in children   2. Social aspects   3. Asperger's syndrome   4. Mental Disorders   5. Child Psychology   6. Mental Illness   7. Psychology & Psychiatry   8. Special Education - Socially Handicapped   9. Learning Disabilities   10. Family & Relationships   11. Education   

Customer Reviews (38)

Truth is indeed stranger than fiction...
Julie Gregory tells about childhood abuse that's dark, stark, and fascinating. If Munchausen syndrome is strange in its etiology and manifestations, then Munchausen by Proxy is off-the-charts bizarre.

Gregory's memoir provides readers a journey into the labyrinthine nature of mental and emotional illness that's aided and abetted by the medical establishment, albeit, sometimes unwittingly. She tells her story in a way that's both engaged and distanced; her damaged childhood voice juxtaposed against a thrust-into-maturity wryness. Reminds me of Karr's The Liar's Club in its horrifying beauty.

This book should be required reading for all medical residents, especially those specializing in so-called "Family Medicine," professional caregivers and counselors, and anyone interested in the very strange things that we humans do to those we allegedly love.

Won't Let You Go
The darkness that permeates SICKENED: A MEMOIR is riveting. There is not the detachment of watching a car wreck. Rather, we feel the tortured confusion of the young girl convinced by her mother that she is ill despite being healthy.

What is only now becoming clear in our society is that child abuse is not always a physical act. It is not even a malicious act. It can take so many forms. SICKENED is a unique book not only because of the unique type of abuse it chronicles, but because as a reader you really do feel the turmoil. It is the kind of writing that captures you, pulls you in, and doesn't let go.

Rarely can writers accomplish this, particularly in the area of abuse chronicles. That is why the few exceptions (MY FRACTURED LIFE, RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, NIGHTMARES ECHO, and SICKENED) are such riveting books that you really can't get enough of.

As someone who reads several books a week, I consider myself lucky when I find just one that hits with the impact of SICKENED, MY FRACTURED LIFE, NIGHTMARES ECHO, or RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. To have found four is true opulence.

Emotional Experience
Both horrific and fascinating, "Sickened" is an emotional book that delivers a powerful punch. Like "Nightmares Echo" and "My Fractured Life", it puts a strong light on not just the clinical details of abuse but the lifetime psychological after-effects. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gregory, Julie   2. Munchausen syndrome by proxy   3. Patients   4. Biography   5. Mental Disorders   6. Medical - General   7. Biography / Autobiography   8. Biography & Autobiography   9. Women   10. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent   11. Personal Memoirs   

Customer Reviews (3)

Not impressed
I purchased this book as I have symptoms of Addison's Disease although the diagnosis has not yet been made. As I do not fancy spending the rest of my life on synthetic hormones, I was looking for something with more of a natural approach. This book was not it.

Instead, it is a hodge podge of information easily obtained from other self help books, so as stress relieve exercises and basing a diet on the glycemic index. Dr. Wilson maintains a web site devoted to adrenal fatigue, but he does not put the self diagnostic "test" on it, forcing one to buy his book. And, of course, the quickest way to regain health is to purchase nutritional supplements from this web site.

The book repeatedly stresses that the traditional medical community does not recognize adrenal fatigue as a diagnosis, and after reading this book, I can understand why.

Incredibly informative and reader-friendly book.
This is an incredibly informative and reader-friendly book about a common debilitating medical condition that goes largely undiagnosed and untreated. ADRENAL FATIGUE: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome is a very empowering work cram-packed with vital information about a condition that very likely affects millions of people. Author Dr. James L. Wilson gives us both the bad news and the good news about this situation. The bad news is how this illness is devastating so many lives, how so many people are being left without hope, and why traditional (allopathic) medicine has failed to recognize or remedy this tragedy. The good news is that this condition can be diagnosed, can be treated, and that there is hope. And Wilson ought to know. With 3 doctorate and two master's degrees all from different disciplines (including Human Nutrition, Naturopathic Medicine, and Bio/Nutrition), Wilson lectures extensively to physicians and is an internationally acknowledged expert on alternative, holistic approaches to health. Supporting Wilson's claims about adrenal fatigue are his 25 years of clinical practice and a depth and breadth of research based on over 2400 scientific references. But don't be daunted by the academic and scientific pedigree of the author; this book is a very easy read'deceptively so for the quality and import of the material.

The book opens with an overview of the function of the adrenals, and how they are prone to chronic fatigue given our hyper-stressed contemporary lifestyles. This is followed by a section on how to tell if you have adrenal fatigue, which includes a questionnaire, several simple at-home diagnostic tests that you can perform yourself, as well as thorough information on the availability (and usefulness) of different laboratory tests. The heart and soul of Wilson's book (and where you get a sense of this doctor's caring 'bedside manner') is the lengthy section on the treatment of adrenal dysfunction, 'Helping Yourself Back to Health.' This is the good news section. It includes detailed information and sage advice on multiple strategies for treatment, such as lifestyle, food, food allergies and sensitivities, dietary supplements, adrenal cell extracts, and replacement hormones. This section concludes with a suggested daily program for adrenal recovery, advice on what to expect on your road back to adrenal health, a very helpful list of questions and answers, and even a trouble-shooting guide if you discover that you still need help. The final section of the book is the most scientific; it details the functions of the adrenal glands. This section (as well as the entire book) is supported by helpful'and often entertaining'illustrations.

I discovered through answering the book's questionnaire and performing two of the self-diagnostic tests that I probably do not suffer from this ailment (although I'll bet that I have numerous friends who do). I do however suffer from migraine headaches, and since much of the book addresses general wellness, I read on with great interest. Most of Dr. Wilson's information and advice on lifestyle, food, food allergies and sensitivities (for me, especially this one), and dietary supplements, is material we can all benefit from'the infirm and the healthy among us alike. For the millions of people who do suffer from adrenal fatigue, there are several aspects of the book that I imagine will be most welcome. Foremost will surely be the confirmation that yes, there is something identifiably wrong with you, and the clear beacon of hope for recovery that his program projects. Especially for those readers who are afflicted with adrenal fatigue but are not quite ready to give up on traditional western medicine, Wilson presents a very balanced picture of what you can and cannot expect from your physician, and plenty of good advice for how to negotiate the interface between traditional and alternative healthcare. Lastly, Dr. Wilson has created a website,[URL], that offers updated information and advice, including information on the availability of products and services sure to be of help to sufferers from adrenal fatigue.

Comprehensive, yet very friendly; empowering and very hopeful, this book is certain to help a lot of people.

At Last - A Doctor Who Knows It's Not All in My Head!
When I read this book I laughed and I cried because I finally found something that made sense out of how bad I've been feeling for the past few years. I got more practical help and more hope from this book than from all the fruitless visits I've made to various specialists. One thing that was great about Dr. Wilson's book is that it was so clear and easy to read. The illustrations and the anecdotes from his patient files were entertaining and a lot of them touched me personally. This book is like an ideal visit to a trusted doctor who takes the time to help you understand what's wrong, why it happened, how you can get better and how to prevent it happening again. While reading the book I thought of at least a dozen people I know who have symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue. In fact, when I look around, I think just about every adult and teenager would find something useful in this book. It's not just about "dealing" with stress, it's about keeping the stress we all live with from harming us. I hope there are some doctors out there who will read it too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Health/Fitness   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. HEALTH & FITNESS / Health Care Issues   4. Diseases - General   5. General   6. Health & Fitness   

Customer Reviews (8)

Fina a new life through just one book!
This book is beyond words to review it properly. MFR treatment with the John Barnes, PT system, and the wisdom in this book have literally given me a new life, taken me from being almost wheelchair bound, to being mobile, no longer housebound, and to now live with what pain has not YET been eliminated. I would not have believed the book, but I really DO, it has happened to me. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It will help you find peace, comfort and the path to a new life.

A MUST for Healing...
This is the most profound book that I have ever read. It will "over and beyond" meet the needs of medical professionals, as well as the needs of their patients, regarding fascia constrictions and the affects those constrictions have on the body. Also, it goes into great depth regarding the correlation of how all wounds encountered in life affect our bodies and not just our minds...an extension of fixing the complete self in gains of becoming a whole self. You will not be able to lay this book down if you truly have a fascia problem, as story after story illustrate the healing powers of Myofascial Release. I contacted the John Barnes facilities for information on healing for myself before I even finished reading the book. I look forward to meeting this outstanding Physical Therapist and author and hopefully becoming a part of his next book...but most of all becoming pain free.

WOW, its like being in one of the seminars!
I bought this book, intending to read it slowly and digest all the wisdom it encompassed. Instead, I found myself voractiously attacking the book, unable to slow down. I'm in my second reading now. But if you've taken any of John Barnes' seminars, you'll feel like you've come home, and if you've never taken any seminars or experienced being a patient of MFR, its a wonderful introduction to the heart and soul of myofasical release. I can't recommend it highly enough! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Medical   2. Myofascial pain syndromes   3. Patients   4. Touch   5. Therapeutic use   6. Imposition of hands   7. Pressure   8. Alternative Therapies   9. Health & Fitness   10. Healing   

Customer Reviews (8)

Parents Will Succeed Where Teachers Won't
This text is wonderful for those who want to help give their children every possible advantage and potential possible.

Do not let the government schools take over, however. This manual is best used at home by loving parents and not by ADA pundits who care far more about their jobs than your precious little child. The schools get massive funding when they can label as many children as possible "disabled."

You will gain valuable insight into how to teach your child the best in this gem.

Great ideas for accommodations & modifications
This book has absolutely terrific ideas for how to modify and accommodate an NLD child at school. I have gotten papers from school, that my son did poorly on and then found the answers of how to modify the papers to make them do-able for my son (same work just presented in a way he can understand). Then I would show the teacher the idea(s). I have been doing this all year and have learned the majority of the accomodations and modifications I show the teacher are from this book. The teacher now incorporates these into all of my sons school work. This has decreased his frustration and improved his quality of scool work and learning. Would be a great book for a teacher that has an NLD child in her class.

Wonderful guide for Teachers to help NLD and AS students
This book has been a great help for the teachers working with my AS son. It provides a subject by subject blueprint for modifying curriculum that makes it fast and easy for a classroom teacher to accomodate different learners. I've purchased a number of copies of this book because everyone in the teaching profession who sees it wants to borrow it.

A must for parents working through the IEP process for their children--bring it to your meetings and make the team read it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education   2. Education Of Students With Learning Disabilities   3. Education / Teaching   4. Special Education - General   

Subjects:  1. Medical   2. Medical / Nursing   3. Medical History & Records   4. Practice Management & Reimbursement   

Customer Reviews (7)

A MUST have resource for parents of ASP/autistic
I used this book to gear up for an IEP meeting--a meeting during which I was demanding that my child's substandard IEP, an IEP I had waited FOURTEEN MONTHS to get written--and let me tell you. This was a HUGE help. There is a worksheet in the back that has you write down your child's present functioning in each category--categories I would not have thought of alone--and walks you through developing annual goals. These two pages were used the most of anything I brought along to the meeting.

I have tangled with our local school district many times and only NOW after reading this do I really have the tools i need to insist that my child get the care and provisions he needs. Thank you, thank you, for this book! Excellent resource!

How to KNOW if your child is making social progress!!
I bought this book as a result of getting my son's IEP back with vague social goals and no way to tell if he was progressing. Most schools do not know how to write social goals, let alone make them measurable. It is our job as parents to find the answers the school can't or won't find. I rejected the social goals on his IEP and went in search for an answer. This book was it!
I read it in a few hours and had complete understanding of the concepts and loved how the goals were actually measurable. I had a meeting with the school psychologist and presented ideas from the book to her (at her request I also lent her the book). The ideas are practical, do not cost the school money and not that much extra work. Because of this book I will now know how my son is actually progressing in the areas of social skills and the team will be able to know if their interventions are working or if we need to change them.
**My son has NLD which is debatable as to whether it is in the autism spectrum. I found some assessment questions & goals were not applicable to my son. If my child had HFA or AS I would have given the book 5 stars.

A great pleasure to read for practical advice
While not as weighty as some other social skill oriented books, Moyes' book is probably more accessible to the average parent and teacher. It is a relatively short book and easily read. The references are good and there is no scent of snake oil from the overall product.

While notionally the book is about framing individualised education plans (IEPs), the bulk of the book is taken up with explanations of Asperger syndrome, its manifestations, assessment and various interventions. Practically speaking, the sections on assessment will probably be of more interest to teachers than parents.

There is a long chapter covering interventions and it is reasonably comprehensive. The author has clearly tried to position the book between the professional literature on interventions and the barely above anecdotal. And it works surprising well. Each of the inteventions is reviewed sparingly but fairly. At all times the emphasis is on listing advantages and disadvantages. The chapter on IEPs covers all the relevant requirements but isn't slow to point out the problems to be encountered.

All in all I found this a very remarkable book, and worth at least twice its weight in gold. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education   2. Autism in children   3. Asperger's syndrome   4. Education Of Mentally Challenged Students   5. Autism   6. Education / Teaching   7. Special Education - Mentally Handicapped   8. Life skills guides   

Customer Reviews (29)

Amalgam Illness, Diagnosis and Treatment : What You Can Do t
Until I got a hold of Dr. Cutler's book, trying to help my son had been like working in the dark. I had long suspected heavy metal toxicity to be involved in my son's autism diagnosis, but my concerns had been quickly dismissed by well-meaning doctors who found no evidence of poisoning using what I later learned from Dr. Cutler were inaccurate diagnostic methods. Years of fruitless searching and thousands of dollars in medical bills, medications and travelling expenses had brought about disappointingly less progress than we had hoped for.

I'd gotten to the point where I felt I was running out of time and options to help my vaccine-injured child. Lacking the background necessary to evaluate doctors' interpretations and recommendations and investing in the endless list of costly and what turned out to be mostly useless lab tests was becoming very frustrating