Book Description
Written to empower you to interface intelligently with your doctors in protecting yourself and your family from America's number one killer.Written in everyday language, this book prepares you to discuss the cutting edge blood tests for C-reactive protein, inherited and acquired hidden risk factors and how to neutralize them by natural means. Rarely has a book drawn such enthusiastic endorsements from leaders in cardiology, even recommended for doctors. HEA000000 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

We CAN know more than most doctors!
This book is magnificent.It is easy to understand because it is not exclusively directed towards scientists.It provides detailed descriptions about new research that most doctors are not aware about yet as they are caught up in traditional methods to treat heart disease. It empowers those concerned about their cardiovascular health as it provides clear ways to avoid important risk factors. The choice of reading it is rewarding.
I am doing heart research at Winthrop University, and since heart disease runs in my family, I am interested to find out why so many of my ancestors suddenly died from a heart attack. If they come out with a new edition of this book I won't hesitate to read it.

Gotuseful information first 5 minutes
I figure most medical books are a dry scientific read, about as interesting as watching paint dry. I heard the author of this book on a radio interview, and enjoyed his style. So what the heck, I bought the book, and in the first five minutes of scanning, I picked up some useful supplement information. I have actually read 50% of the book and find it easy to read and follow. Best of all I can understand what the author is trying to relate. The big question here is Was it worth the Money?YES it was! If I use the knowledge I gained and createsmall healthy changes in my life, well then the price of the book was a Bargain!

Informative
I ordered this book for a friend,she was very satified with it and the information it contained,thank you for prompt shipping.

Buy this book
If you have family or friends who have a history of DVT (Blood Clots), heart attack, or stroke you must get this book.Christian Wilde is a new giant in medical education.His writing is understandable for the lay person and respected within the medical community.He pulls together the latest in ground braking research on the likely causes, tests to uncover, and drugs and supplements to heal, the major causes of death in America today.Buy an extra copy for your favorite physician.

book "Hidden Causes of heart attacks"
Excellent book, good explanation of items and easy to understand. ... Read more

Book Description
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far from the peril and deception of my real home–because I am also Princess Meredith, heir to the darkest throne faerie has to offer. The Unseelie Court infuses me with its power. But at what price does such magic come? How much of my human side will I have to give up, and how much of the sinister side of faerie will I have to embrace? To sit on a throne that has ruled through bloodshed and violence for centuries, I might have to become that which I dread the most.

Enemies watch my every move. My cousin Cel strives to have me killed even now from his prison cell. But not all the assassination attempts are his. Some Unseelie nobles have waited centuries for my aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, to become weak enough that she might be toppled from her throne. Enemies unforeseen move against us–enemies who would murder the least among us.

The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time in our history. I need my allies now more than ever, especially since fate will lead me into the arm of Mistral, Master of Storms, the queen’s new captain of her guard. Our passion will reawaken powers long forgotten among the warriors of the sidhe. Pain and pleasure await me–and danger, as well, for some at that court seek only death.

I will find new joys with the butterfly-winged demi-fey. My guards and I will show all of faerie that violence and sex are as popular among the sidhe as they are among the lesser fey of our court. The Darkness will weep, and Frost will comfort him. The gentlest of my guards will find new strength and break my heart. Passions undreamed of await us–and my enemies gather, for the future of both courts of faerie begins to unravel.


From the Hardcover edition.Download Description

I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far from the peril and deception of my real home–because I am also Princess Meredith, heir to the darkest throne faerie has to offer. The Unseelie Court infuses me with its power. But at what price does such magic come? How much of my human side will I have to give up, and how much of the sinister side of faerie will I have to embrace? To sit on a throne that has ruled through bloodshed and violence for centuries, I might have to become that which I dread the most.

Enemies watch my every move. My cousin Cel strives to have me killed even now from his prison cell. But not all the assassination attempts are his. Some Unseelie nobles have waited centuries for my aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, to become weak enough that she might be toppled from her throne. Enemies unforeseen move against us–enemies who would murder the least among us.

The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time in our history. I need my allies now more than ever, especially since fate will lead me into the arm of Mistral, Master of Storms, the queen’s new captain of her guard. Our passion will reawaken powers long forgotten among the warriors of the sidhe. Pain and pleasure await me–and danger, as well, for some at that court seek only death.

I will find new joys with the butterfly–winged demi–fey. My guards and I will show all of faerie that violence and sex are as popular among the sidhe as they are among the lesser fey of our court. The Darkness will weep, and Frost will comfort him. The gentlest of my guards will find new strength and break my heart. Passions undreamed of await us–and my enemies gather, for the future of both courts of faerie begins to unravel.

Customer Reviews (240)

Great Book!
I LOVE everything I've read by Hamilton so far (Which includes all available Anita Blake and Meredith Gentry novels) and I love this one too! Granted, I may be a bit biased... but if you're into dark fantasy, Vampires, Erotica, Sci-Fi, Romance, Horror, faries, or any combination... these are WONDERFUL books! Laurell is a very good writer with wonderful attention to detail! This is book #4, I would STRONGLY suggest beginning with book #1 of course, but in my opinion any of Laurell K Hamiltons' works are a real treat!

Merry Gentry tries some new tricks
A Stroke of Midnight is the fourth in Laurell K Hamilton's Merry Gentry series.They are best read in order, so I recommend you go back and start with A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry Novels).The series is a fun ride, so you might as well start from the beginning.

Merry Gentry is a princess of Faerie, where the Faerie are an ancient magical race that had powers which caused humans to think of them as gods.The Faerie are faded from their ancient glory and live among us, with unearthly beauty and superhuman powers bound by their treaty with our government.This fourth installment takes place over the course of a few days before the Yule holiday, when Merry returns from Los Angeles to her Faerie home.

Although Merry herself is mortal (dubious heritage on her mother's side), mysteriously she is belatedly awakening into a power that has not been seen for centuries in Faerie.Her power is manifested through sex - she is able to catalyze power in others and in her surroundings during lovemaking. This makes for erotic reading as Merry's primary mission, set by her Queen, is to have as much sex as possible with as many eligible Faeries in order to get pregnant.Pregnancy will secure Merry's place in the succession.

What makes this not pornography is that there actually is a plot and character development.The reader ends up caring about Merry and the future of the Faerie people. Even the internal Faerie politics, normally a snoozer for me, was well done and kept my interest.However, this is not a book for people who only want to read about sex inside committed relationships.

Not Free SF Reader
Meredith's Sidhe bodyguards, of all types and flavors are keen to have
sex with her as much as possible, as if any of them win the faerie bun
in the oven lottery, prestige awaits.

Also, it appears that doing so, brings back long unused and dormant
powers from the time when the Sidhe were top dog, not the humans.

Apart from this, they have to solve the murder, in public, at a press conference, of two people, and the Sidhe are involved.

Overly fragmentary, and slow plot advancement, but still enjoyable
Princess Meredith, the private detective and not-so-private Princess of Faerie, is back in this 4th installment in the Merry Gentry series.

The race for the throne is underway, and Merry gets busy fulfilling her royal duties of trying to get pregent by one or more of her royal guards (all of the previously celtic dieties in centures and millenia past, when the primal forces of magic were much stronger in the world) ... and in the process, the Goddess (and the presence of magic along with her) begins to show more signs of returning, and restoring vitality to the faerie realm ... a vitality that has withered over the millennia under the cruel sadism of the Queen of Air and Darkness.

Prince Cel is still in prison, but his followers (and other elements opposed to having a half-breed like Meredith take the throne) have not been idle ... there has been foul murder done within the halls of the sidhe, and further murders are attempted - and neither Princess Merry nor her Elite Guards (even as they begin to reclaim some of their old strength from ages long past) are safe.

The author tells her tale with her usual mix of steamy magically-enhanced sex, mythological fantasy, court intrigue, and forensics. It's a highly enjoyable romp.

My only memorable nit is the authoress' tendency to write, at times, in extremely short and fragmentary chapters ... such as breaking up a single continuous scene into 5 chapters, of only 3-5 pages each. There's no apparent rhyme or reason to her chapter divisions, and her plot advancement is slow.

Reading this as I am hot on the heels of George R. R. Martin's excessively long-winded and overly complex "A Song of Ice and Fire", encountering back-to-back chapters of only 3-5 pages each, and all of them a seemingly unbroken continutation of the parahraphs immediately before ... it caused an involuntary nervous twitch, and I had to repress the urge to laugh hysterically.

Not great, but not nearly as bad as the last two
The Meredith Gentry series makes me wish I were not such a nice person. I don't want to keep reading these books. Truthfully, they keep disappointing me. But I am a person who finishes what she starts, and four books into a series I won't give up. I just won't.

That being said, A Stroke of Midnight is by far the second best Meredith Gentry novel after the first. The last two books were more a "Faerie Court Politics for Dummies" course rather than actual novels. I get so sick of reading about how the fey will never lie. Really? I've only had it beat into my head 1,000 times, I almost forgot. Also, you should always compliment a sidhe who is trying to look nice. And when they look for comfort they touch one another. I get it! Can we get on with the story now please?

A Stroke of Midnight almost went on with the story. I'll say... about 50 pages out of the entire 366, which is a lot considering the drivel contained in the last two stories. At least this book gave me a little info about why faerie started fading, what the sithen means to the future queen, and FINALLY a taste of what Queen Andais is all about. I'm still not satisfied. I still think I'm being strung along so that I will continue to shell out $8-$20 (depending on whether I spring for the hardback) for a series that has no clue where it's going and just expects me to go along for the ride. I have to be honest, though. This ride is a little boring and I might try to get off at the next station. ... Read more

Book Description
Winter Born by Sherrilyn KenyonTwo enemy Were-Panthers discover that fate has destined they become lovers. Pandora must learn to trust Dante's foreign nature. But as she slowly succumbs to the truest passion she has ever known, dark forces have already set out to reclaim her...Born of the Night by Amanda AshleyWhen Lady Shanara Montiori is taken hostage, she learns that the rumors about her captor are true. Lord Reyes is afflicted with the dark curse of the werewolf. Still, Shanara can't fight the attraction they both feel. Will their love break the curse-or feed its powerful hold?Make It Last Forever by L. A. BanksAn innocent mistake forces the beautiful Tara onto a mission to save herself from the dark fate that awaits her. Salvation comes in the form of a seductive biker with a heart of gold. But will surrendering to their ripe attraction unleash a danger even she cannot control?Red Moon Rising by Lori HandelandNovelist Maya Alexander's peace is shattered when she is stalked by a Navaho skinwalker who has taken on the guise of a wolf. Her only hope is the mysterious Clay Philips. In his arms, she seeks protection-but as the red moon rises, no one is safe from the danger that lurks nearby... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Half and Half
This book is a must have if you are a collector of the Dark Hunter books. Another great Were-Hunter short story by Sherrilyn Kenyon that would have been awesome as a whole book. The Amanda Ashley story was equally enjoyable. I didn't enjoy the last two stories as much.

Good Enough for Re-read
I've had this anthology for a long time, and recently re-visited it...

Winter Born: Why do authors/publishers place on-going series in anthologies? To attract readers like me. New readers. This was the first of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series I've read. I enjoyed it enough that it got me intersted in tackling the series.

Born of the Night: This has been my first work of Amanda Ashley's as well. It was my favorite of the four stories in this anthology.

Make It Last Forever: I have enjoyed L.A. Banks Vampire Huntress books, and this story was an intersting addition.

Red Moon Rising: Lori Handeland's story also got me intersted in her series. In Red Moon Rising the bad guy was a Navajo skinwalker. I haven't read a skinwalker story in a while, so it was an interesting change. I enjoy books with a Native American theme.

A Midnight Treat
Great for a little relaxation after a long day. Not the most sensual read out there, but definitely memorable. Sherrilyn Kenyon's couple in particular, epitomizes the intrigue of paranormal romance and the other authors also deliver sheer delights.

Cheesy Supernatural Romances
If you enjoy reading cheesy romance novels with lots of steamy sex, this is the book for you.However, if you enjoy reading good quality horror novels (e.g., Anne Rice), then absolutely do not buy this book.The stories in this book are not long enough to fully develop the characters, and the supernatural plotlines are not even remotely interesting.

50-50
I liked 50 percent of this book.I enjoyed of course my favorite author Sherrilyn Kenyon's Winter Born.I also enjoyed Lori Handeland's Red Moon Rising.Her "moon" series is not bad, if you're into werewolves and their hunters.I liked Make it Last Forever, by L.A. Banks okay, but the ending was very anti-climatic. Born of the night left me hanging, too. ... Read more

Book Description
Awe-inspiring works by contemporary masters, along with thesecrets behind its creation.

Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing
Drawing is the most intimate and immediate form of self-expression,fundamental to every artist's ability to communicate with a viewer. Thesense of energy and expression that can be captured in mere strokes ofcharcoal, ink, pastel, marker or any of the other modest mediums proudlyrepresented in this book is astounding.

A glowing celebration of the art of drawing, Strokes of Geniusfeatures styles ranging from meticulous realism to imaginative flights offancy, from lyrical sketches created in minutes to intricately layeredrenderings that took months to complete.

• 169 stand-out examples of the finest drawing being done today, selectedfrom hundreds of submissions from around the world.
• An impressive range of styles, materials and techniques covering a widearray of subjects, including still life, the figure, animals, landscapes,portraits and more.
• Comments from the artists offer firsthand insight on the creation ofeach artwork, diverse perspectives on drawing, and fresh ideas andtechniques.

An incomparable source of inspiration and delight for artists and artlovers, Strokes of Genius contains hundreds of combined years of expertise,artistic breakthroughs and, above all, remarkable drawings that leave alasting impression. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not recomended for contemporary artists or art history buffs
I'm an art student concentrating in painting. I wanted a good general resource of drawings and decided to get this book after reading the reviews here.

Best of drawing? That's a rather bold and undeserved title. This book mostly features and favors realism or naturalism executed by contemporary artists. If you simply enjoy looking at near photo-realistic drawings, then you will find little fault. The book attempts to cover a variety of subject and styles, but there is a clear bias for realistic figure drawing.

To more critical art students and art enthusiasts, this book is a misrepresentation of "the best". There is nothing fresh about these 'artists'. Many drawings point to Classical and Academic drawing without saying so. The book fails to feature drawings by notable contemporary artists; and more importantly, the book neglects to acknowledge the masters that these artists mimic or have somehow been influenced.

It's absurd that the author uses words like 'genius' and 'best of' in regards to the drawings featured. While most drawings would be technically impressive to the general audience, the artwork does not surpass its aesthetic. After all, as an artist, why not just take a photo? Anyone can do it with a camera these days. Making it out of charcoal or graphite is just showing off unless there is an honest justification by the artist, which I don't see present in the book.

The text in the book is written by the artist. There's nothing very intriguing to ponder over. The writings are mostly structured to describe the artist's intent or interest. Many artists fill their text with step-by-step details on their process and materials. The information about process is utterly useless as text since people need to see the actions for it to have any value. Furthermore, the documented procedures are very general and what anyone would learn from basic drawing.

"Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing" - None of these drawings are genius. They are very technically trained, but artists in the past have done these kinds of drawings centuries ago. The best? Not even close. Not even an effort to involve famous contemporary artists. I would not recommend this to fellow student artists or art enthusiasts who value all of art history. However, people who satiate their art craves from portrait kiosks in the mall will not be so disappointed.

Strokes of Genius.......The Best of Drawing
A great book for artists who appreciate the art of drawing. Sadly. Not all who paint can draw. I have always believed that " a painting without a drawing is like ths body without a skeleton"This book will become a classic for years to come.

The Best of Drawing
If you love to draw this book is filled with inspiration. From the simplest line drawing to a complex work of art, "Strokes of Genius" has it all. This is a chance to observe a wide variety of styles and techniques in one book, and read about how these works of art were created.

Lucille Rella Clohessy

An Inspiring Collection
Strokes of Genius is an outstanding collection of select works by some of the best artists from around the world. This showcase book provides numerous examples of techniques that artists use to capture an image. From quick sketch to photo-realistic renderings, Strokes of Genius is a gem from cover-to-cover and belongs in everyone's library, whether you're an artist or just appreciate art.

While I happen to be featured on pages 92 & 93, I would still put this book in my collection because of the fantastic works by all of the artists. I'm excited to be included among such talented and creative people. ... Read more

Book Description
Painting lovely home accents is easy with Donna Dewberry! Her popular, proven one-stroke technique—which lets you color, shade and highlight all in a single brushstroke—is a cinch to learn, even if you've never picked up a brush before. You'll soon find yourself adorning everything from crystal stemware to mailboxes to the walls of your home with beautifully hand-painted flowers, fruits, leaves and other charming touches!

Bigger and more thorough than any other how-to book on the topic, this must-have resource for all things one-stroke contains:

• Over 200 color photos clearly illustrating every detail of the one-stroke technique, plus tips on transferring patterns and lettering • 12 all new step-by-step projects for painting tiles and glassware, floorcloths, cabinets, door knobs, drawer pulls, and much more • 5 brand new painting techniques that take you beyond one-stroke • Donna's foolproof advice for creating your own attractive designs

Join the thousands who have discovered this famously simple, versatile painting technique—and enjoy rewarding results you'll be proud to show your friends and family! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

The Voice of Inexperience
I have no natural artistic talent and no art experience, so I thought this book which promises "quick and easy techniques" would be perfect for me.However, I've been practicing Donna Dewberry's techniques for two months and still can't perfect the brush strokes.My opinion is that the words "quick and easy" are false advertising and should be removed by the publisher.

Donna Deewberry's Complete Book of One-Stroke Painting
Excellent book.Would recommend to anyone interested in acrylics.

I can finally paint!
I always wanted to be an artist, and with Donna's easy-to-follow techniques, I can now paint!Before, I drew rotten stick figures, but Donna had me painting like a pro in nothing flat!I have given items away as gifts, and have had requests for items!I've been concentrating on clay flower pots, but I now feel ready to branch out to bigger and better things!Thanks Donna!

Buy It! You'll thank me later! :)
One Stroke Painting is the way to go! This book is a must have!
If you ever wanted to learn to paint, here is your chance.

Beginners - you too, will produce results in no time. The instructions and illustrations are straightfoward and easy to understand. I did a rose and rosebuds on a french bucket. No one would believe I did it freehand (no pattern). I had never painted a day in my life, before buying this book.

Experienced - expand your repetoire!

Easy to follow
Great for beginners. I'm already on my fourth project and each one gets better. ... Read more

Book Description
Jill Taylor was a 37-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist when a blood vessel exploded in her brain. Through the eyes of a curious scientist, she watched her mind deteriorate whereby she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Because of her understanding of the brain, her respect for the cells in her body, and an amazing mother, Jill completely recovered. In My Stroke of Insight, she shares her recommendations for recovery and the insight she gained into the unique functions of the two halves of her brain. When she lost the skills of her left brain, her consciousness shifted away from normal reality where she felt "at one with the universe." Taylor helps others not only rebuild their brains from trauma, but helps those of us with normal brains better understand how we can consciously influence the neural circuitry underlying what we think, how we feel and how we react to life's circumstances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent
This book is easy to read even with the topic about the brain. The author is down to earth.

Very inspiring and educational
Not only is this book an awe-inspiring story of a woman's complete recovery from a devastating stroke, but I learned more brain anatomy and function than I did in nursing school. A must read.

Fantastic!
I've been recommending My Stroke of Insight to nearly everyone I know. Jill provides a great moment-by-moment account of her stroke, a potentially devasting event many of my relatives have experienced. I deeply admire her determination to work through it. She also does one of the best jobs of describing brain function I've ever run across. I came away with a renewed sense of understanding, wonder and hopefulness about the capabilities of the human brain. Highly recommended!

My Stroke of Insight
A well written and easy to understand in layman's term explanation of a serious stroke.While not everyone will have such a dramatic recovery from stroke, the narrative gives hope and "insight" into the recovery process.

My Stroke of Insight
An absolutely wonderful journey by a brain anatomist who suffered a stroke. Her resilience, her deep understanding of the condition and lessons to be learned by her and other health care professionals is outstanding. A must read for anyone whether faced with a health problem or not. Is a mind awakening experience!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

very good
The only reason this book doesnt get 5 stars from me is because Mr. Bell doesnt go as in depth as I would have liked in the street use engines,this book is about more serious race machines than about street motors. What this book does cover however is covered very very well and I am really glad I got this book. the gains on my engine were notable to say the least.

The definitive book for practical tuning
Prior reading the book for the first time, you won't even imagine the treasure hiding inside it. The author is undoubtedly a very experienced engine builder and after reading the book you could assume that he is a very successful one. But the most wonderful thing is that the author has tried to contain all of his experience into this book. While you read the book you will realize that you are actually in a situation of accumulating some experience. This is a bit exaggerated, as it is well known that hands-on experience cannot compare to any book, but you will feel that the author is providing you with some invaluable tips and facts.
The author is sticking to the facts as derived from his own experience. Facts that might be a bit out of the common sense and common knowledge which sometimes states that "BIGGER IS BETTER".
I am not giving the 5-star rating just because the carburetor chapter gets quite a large part of the book and also because at some points the author should give some more information and practical step-by-step procedures and tips, like for example in the cylinder head porting chapter where i would like to read more things from such an experienced builder.
If the author decide for the next edition to discard the carburetor chapter and try to extend every chapter with a lot more information and step-by step procedures then certainly this book is going to become an encyclopediaof four stroke engine tuning bringing any other similar book completely out of the game.

Very detailed Book
It has tons of info. THe Writer obviously has a very large experience as he writes serious stuff. Its for the advanced racer (its a more difficult read than Maximum boost by corky bell)
I don't like the fact that it writes too much about carburation(75 pages out of 310)
I like that it has real dyno figures and he has hard evidence of what he is telling.
Tons of schematics and pictures.
Very good !

Very good and comprehensive book
Like all Bell's books this one is a good one. It explains how to build a performant and reliable race or street engine.
Explanations are clear but sometimes complexe, as are the phenomena they describe. There are no simplified rules like 'a big valve is a good one', all aspects are analysed to see (dis)advantages of every solution.
Tables give results obtained with described by the author technics. Both US and European engines are described.

easily understandable, well- written book
- Author jumps around sometimes which is confusing
- Author is vague at some points
- There are black & white pictures which, although some vague themselves, help to sort things out

This book is a book which an average person can understand having minimal auto knowledge.Although there are parts where the author jumps around a bit, you can still follow where he's going even if you have to re-read a few paragraphs.Be mindful though, the author talks about both european cars and american, but he'll either only mention european cars in some parts or he'll mention them before he goes on about american cars so don't get mixed up. ... Read more

Book Description
Stroke doesn't happen just to an individual, it happens to families, friends, and loved ones.Both HealthSouth and the American Stroke Association have long known this encompassing of stroke - it's pain, it's emotional damage, it's debilitating after effects - not only on the survivors, but the loved ones in its wake.No one knows more that when stroke strikes, you need support, information, and advice fast.Finding this information has become a reassuring reality in this newest edition of Living With Stroke: A Guide for Families.Here, stroke patients and their families, friends, and caregivers can find the newest facts and figures on cutting edge of neural plasticity, constraint therapy, and more.Here, too, in clear, easy to understand language, is the entire process of rehabilitation, as well as the mechanisms that can create a stroke.You will also find a wealth of detail on the emotional reactions families of stroke survivors experience - along with the insight, solid hope, and most important of all, hope. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Educate yourself about stroke quickly
Make sure to get the newer (2001) version of this text.Amazon will be more than happy to send you a "new" earlier edition (1999) if you aren't careful.Unfortunately, the 1999 cover of "Living with Stroke" is of very low contrast, and thus difficult to read. So, older folks or people with low vision may be a bit put off by the cover.(But don't let this scare you away.The text within is large and readable.)The newer version may very well contain more up-to-date info.

In response to a family emergency, I ordered four books on stoke recovery.Two had been recommended to me as being helpful for lay people:(1) "Living With Stroke: A Guide For Families" (Senelick, Rossi & Dougherty, 1999) and (2) "Stoke and the Family: A New Guide" (Stein, 2004).I ordered these for my family members (and myself).Two more were written at a much more scholarly, technical level for clinicans: (3) "Recovery after Stroke" (Barnes, Dobkin, & Bogousslavsky, Eds, 2005), and (4) "Stroke Rehabilitation: A Function-Based Approach" (Gillen & Burkhardt, Eds, 2004).

Each of these books has much to recommend it.I hope to write reviews of all four later. I can see why the first two are standouts, and have been helpful to so many people. They are well-written, concise books with plenty of important information.They will help you quickly become an educated consumer of medical care.(They won't always familiarize you with medical controversies and choices, but they do a remarkable job of capturing the key issues.Controversies include the use of anti-seizure meds, and the use of statins for cholesterol reduction, especially in women.).

This book describes the various physical manifestation of stroke (e.g., left vs right hemisphere), types of stroke (e.g., thrombotic, embolic, hemorrhagic, lacunar), diagnosis, pharmacological treatments, risk factors, and the basic rehabilitation spectrum--from physical therapy and activities of daily living to impact of stroke on daily life.The book offers creative ideas for navigating each of the key components. I especially liked the fact that the book does a nice job of covering psychological issues.I'm not talking about old-school psychoanalysis here.I'm talking about things like behavioral, cognitive, and family systems approaches to psychological health.There are plenty of tools provided for dealing with cognitive distortion, pessimism, etc. The book is concerned with the health of the patient AND the health of family and friends.

I believe that many people will be able to complete the book in a night or two.That's important when time is of the essence and you are trying to educate yourself quickly.

If you are a family member and or a caretaker: This is the book to bring with you to the hospital waiting room.You are likely to be waiting for long periods between visits with doctors and nurses, and you'll have many questions. You'll learn much more detailed general information from this book than the 10 minutes you spend consulting with the doc.What this book doesn't explain is how to deal with hospital staff who are busy and not always concerned with communicating with family members.But it provides plenty more.You can use this book to educate other family members and friends who might not be as thorough and bookish as you, and win them over to a sensible and realistic agenda.

If you are a professional, you may find this book helpful, for a variety of reasons.First off, you might consider recommending this book, or the book by Stein, to your patients.Moreover, you might use the language in these books to explain situations and decisions to patients and their families.The authors have taken care to discuss emotionally and cognitively complex material in a sensible and clear manner.

great resource!
this book has been fantastic for helping families and other caregivers of individuals who have suffered a stroke!this book hadn't been written back when my own father suffered his strokes.i really wish that it had been - it would have been of immense help to my own family.now, i am fortunate to be able to recommend it and lend it to families, who all find it to be well written, easy to read and understand, and full of helpful and practical advice in dealing with our loved one, protecting them, and helping us to communicate more clearly and cope more effectively.an excellent contribution to the field!

Start with this book - it should be in every ER waiting room
Recently, my 31 year old, pregnant sister had an emergency c-section and then had complications that resulted in her suffering TWO strokes. Doctors would not tell us anything, no one could even tell us what they thought would happen with her. Luckily I found this book. This is a primer for strokes -- it gives everything from a lesson on how the brain works to how a rehabilitation program is put together, to how to cope emotionally as a caregiver. It is a quick read, chock full of substantial information, clear and well-written. You don't have to read straight through: it is well indexed and has a clear table of contents so you can get to the information you need most quickly. The most valuable part of the book is the glossary of terms that helps you navigate the medical-speak you are going to hear. Start with this book and you'll be equipped with solid information and understanding.This book was a godsend in a time of crisis.

This was the only book which really helped explain it!
As a stroke survivor, I can honestly say that this is the one to own.It explains your stroke to both you and your family in laymen's terms, yet never speaks down to you or leaves you feeling hopeless. A must for thestroke survivor and his/her family. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Getting to follow big, bad Byzantine Belisarius around the alt-historybattlefield--courtesy of Eric Flint and David Drake--comes in a close second tohaving your own personal unit of cataphracts. (Although, of course, thosecataphracts would be nice to have in traffic.) Following on the heels ofDestiny's Shield, thefourth installment in this popular series follows the superhuman general as heharries Malwa troops in the mountains leading into Mesopotamia. He's still gotthe across-time assistance of the crystal Aide to help him deal with the threat,augmenting his senses and keeping him briefed on the tactics of everyone fromWellington to Turenne. But Link, the Supreme Commander of the Universe, stillcalls the shots for the evil empire, and Belisarius has to double-time to keepup (especially facing such shrewd field commanders as Damodara).

Fortune's Stroke downshifts the series a notch in terms of sheerBelisarius-meted carnage, because Damodara's Ye-tai barbarians and Rajputcavalry aren't the only show in town. Flint and Drake spend a good deal of timewith other characters in the series in other locales, like Kungas and Irene insouth India and Antonina in Axum (for a start). But this investment will surelypay off as the series continues, as Belisarius and his cohort close in on theMalwa for good. (And if you're new to the battle, start with An Oblique Approach, the firsttitle in the series.) --Paul HughesBook Description
EVIL FROM BEYOND TIME RULES THE GREATEST EMPIRE ON EARTH!

Link, the supercomputer from a future that should not exist, has used terror and gunpowder weapons to forge the Malwa Empire, harnessing the vast manpower of the Indian subcontinent and using the barbarian races of the periphery to bind the whole together. No power on Earth in the 6th century could stand against Link's evil.

Aide, a human soul embodied in a jewel, has come back to halt evil's progress. Aide has no power but that of truth, but truth is the only power that could move the greatest general of the age, Belisarius.

With his sword, his paladins, and his genius, Belisarius has turned the armies of Byzantium into a weapon capable of blunting the first assault of the Malwa hordes. Now, supported by allies from all the world yet free, Belisarius, with his wife and co-commander Antonina, faces overwhelming Malwa numbers in a ring that tightens about them.

There is no room for maneuver and no safety in defeat. The armies of Good and Evil gathered on the fertile plains of Mesopotamia will decide the fate of the world --

And the fate of all the future!

... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Fourth in a Great Series !
Great, great, great book.I especially enjoy a great series since I sometimes read 2 to 3 books a week.Very engaging, the characters are real and well developed, the plot is very interesting.I generally do not go in for alternate history but this one draws me in for some reason.

Belisarius and the musketeers--Byzantine alt. history
Belisarius has pushed back the Malwa (Indian) invasion of Persia, but the threat remains. While the main Malwa army regroups in southern Persia, their main cavalry force is crossing the Zacros Mountains and threatening northern Mesopotamia. Even the smaller army is large enough to do great damage--and to force the defending Persians and Romans to divide their forces, allowing the main army to attack once more. Somehow, Belisarius must slow the best army the Malwa can bring--yet can even slowing that army do more than delay the inevitable conquest of the entire world by Malwa armies guided by a future intelligence--and equipped with future technology?

FORTUNE'S STROKE continues the BELISARIUS Series. Historically, Belisarius was the greatest general of the late ancient world--the man Byzantine Emperor Justinian relied upon in his reconquest of the Roman Mediterranian. In this alternative history, Belisarius is warned by a crystal intelligence of the destruction sought by the future entity Link, and Link's human servants. Using Roman technology and modern knowledge, Belisarius is able to build a small force of musketeers and develop combined arm tactics that combine the best of Robert E. Lee, and Wellington.

Although the series continues to be interesting, with engaging characters and vivid battle scenes, FORTUNE'S STROKE is not the strongest novel in the series. Although Belisarius and his allies repeatedly note that the first law of battle is that things get messed up (in stronger language), in fact, Belisarius's plans never actually get messed up (except a minor problem at the very beginning). He seems to have just the right future technology at just the right time to do maximum damage to his enemies. Worse, the most dangerous enemies he faces are clearly being set up to become future allies. I also felt disappointed by the 'clever' Belisarius plan at the end. The entire book led up to this--it seems to me that Flint and Drake could have come up with something a little more, uh, oblique.

Authors Eric Flint and David Drake deliver vivid characters along with detailed battle scenes. Although the interaction between Belisarius and Antonia is sometimes a little too precious, most characters become real--even the Malwa and their allies.

Fans of this series will definitely want to read FORTUNE'S STROKE as it details a critical period in the war between Rome and the Malwa, continues character development, and even--brutally but realistically--ends the lives of some characters. This book should not be read first--but fortunately, Flint and Drake offer the first three novels in the series for free from the Baen.com Library so this isn't a problem.

Another Installment in a Great Series!
This book carries on the tradition of a fine series. It has strong character development and good continuity with the previous books in the series. Belisarius continues to vex the Malwa with the assistance of his loyal supporters and Aide(his crystalline guide from the future). It also expands the role of those supporters considerably, making Belisarius seem more human.

The tension is building...
FORTUNE'S STROKE is the (action-packed) fourth installment of this series.This time around, Belisarius doesn't have such an easy time defeating the Malwa.The advance of Damodora places him up against Rana Sanga, a warrior he likes and respects.After their encounter in the mountains of Persia, he will respect him even more.Elsewhere, tragedy in Ethiopia spurs on the Axum-Roman alliance, and Antonina furthers her education in the ways of war.

Despite the sheer carnage that forms the center of the book, much of the focus is on human relationships.True Love blossoms for Eon, Shakuntala, Holkar, and Irene, while the devotion of Belisarius and Antonina is unshaken.Just as gratifying is the continued development of Aide into a character with a mind and voice of his own.

It can be taken for granted that the Malwa forces in Mesopotamia and India suffer tremendous losses in this installment.While it's not exactly a cliff-hanger, there is incentive to read the next book.The authors dangle a carrot at the end of the book in the form of the (imperial) ambitions of Narses, now firmly entrenched in the Malwa camp.(For that matter, when will we hear more about Photius and the Roman empire!?)I for one will be haunting the bookstores until THE TIDE OF VICTORY arrives to--well, tide me over.

This is Great Stuff!
Let me begin by saying that I read a lot of books in many genres. I don'treview most of them but I have to share my absolute pleasure in thisseries.Except for the Honor Harrington series, I don't read much militarysf.I don't recall why I decided to try this series - my experience withDrake has been mixed - but I did.I can truly say that this series isfabulous! I can't remember the last time I finished a chapter in a book andsaid aloud "this is great stuff."There is hardly a flaw - eventhe history is accurate.The last time I knew I had something thisenthralling was reading David Eddings.I am sure I'll be re-reading thisseries and sharing it with my friends.

In terms of this particularvolume, I believe the authors handled their task well.The growing numberof characters and their far-flung locations does slow the action a bit butmakes up for it by introducing some interesting developments in terms oflives and romances.At my last count, we had 4 separate major actionlocations and plot lines.Frankly, that's enough or the books must belonger.This is a danger. As I said in reviewing another book, separateplot lines are fine, as long as they are plot lines and not sound bites. Otherwise, to the authors: keep up the good work and words!WonderfulStuff!Read it. Now! ... Read more

Book Description
Features tons of advice for recovery and rehabilitation

Get the latest on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke

Have questions and concerns about strokes? This reassuring guide provides invaluable information for stroke victims and their loved ones, from what a stroke is and what it feels like to proven treatments and therapies. You'll see how to implement a plan for preventing stroke, treat the lingering effects of stroke, and maximize home caregiver effectiveness while minimizing fatigue.

Discover how to:

• Understand what causes different types of stroke
• Recognize warning signs
• Get the most out of doctors and hospitals
• Speed recovery with the best treatments
• Help prevent future strokes
• Decide the best living arrangements after stroke

Customer Reviews (1)

good for when stroke first happens
I got this book late in the game.I wish I would of gotten this book when my husband's stroke first happened.it explains things pretty good.from when a stroke 1st happens to all the stuff afterwards.another good book is High Blood Pressure for Dummies.A site to go to for support is strokeboard.net - lots of great people to talk to. ... Read more

Book Description
When Eve suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm, Madonna Siles, her housemate and friend, too quickly found herself making critical short- and long-term medical care decisions without any help. When the insurance and financial resources ran out and the conventional therapy providers discharged zombie-like Eve to the homecare of a solitary caregiver, both their futures seemed hopeless.

Instead of giving up, Siles drew on life experience and her marketing career to develop a rehabilitation program that harnessed the power of the subconscious mind. Using motivational techniques borrowed from the advertising world, she appealed to Eve's subconscious to bypass the brain damage and restore normal functioning. In three short years, even the doctors were amazed at Eve's recovery and return to a near-normal life.

Part memoir, part recovery manual, Brain, Heal Thyself is a guidebook for thousands of shell-shocked individuals who suddenly find themselves having to make life and death decisions for those they love. With humor, warmth, and arresting honesty, Siles's lively narrative closely examines not only the patient's recovery, but also the crucial role of caregivers—and the emotional, financial, and practical pressures they face. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

a must read if you want to help someone recover
I am a caregiver for someone recovering from a stroke - so I read the second part of the book first, where Madonna takes Eve home and begins her common sense and using-everything-she-ever-learned-in-life approach to helping her friend recover. Every occupational therapist in America should be required to read this book. It's a great book, an easy read, by a wonderful, creative, funny, honest human being. Madonna will cause you to start thinking creatively about how you can help your loved one in your daily interactions with them. A must read for anyone helping someone recover emotionally and/or cognitively, because relating to them as if they are still a competent human being is vital for rebuilding their confidence to keep trying, and by continued trying they recover.(that's a bit of knowledge that our medical community has failed to pick up on)

One of the most important self-help books on the market
Brain, Heal Thyself: A Caregiver's New Approach To Recovery From Stroke, Aneurysm, And Traumatic Brain Injuries is one of the most important self-help books on the market. The author's good friend experienced a near-fatal brain aneurysm and recovered: her title blends memoir and medical insights and will appeal to any caregiver who wants a blend of `how to' and biography.

A stunning story of caring and committment
I was and still am stunned by the courage, love and committment shown in this story. I am looking forward to meeting Madonna Siles - soon.

Couldn't Stop Reading! A Page Turner Through The End.
Anyone looking for inspiration dealing with a chronic illness or a brain injury...heck, anyone looking for just a darn good "read"... will find Siles' memoir of best friend Eve's aneurysm recovery fascinating and downright remarkable. Siles' direct, humorous, and brutally honest style draws the reader in from the first sentence. You'll find yourself nodding your head in agreement with her assessments of often contradictory medical thinking and cheering Eve on as she, under Siles' practical guidance, begins her remarkable recovery. If you doubt that belief in a higher power, a positive attitude, and dogged perserverance don't effect recovery, you're wrong. They're just as important as medical science and Siles and Eve prove it!

A caregiver survival tool
For anyone thrust without warning or experience into the role of caregiver for someone recovering from a brain injury or stroke, this book is a must-read.Ms. Siles easy style of writing brings you to tears with her down to earth honesty yet can also make you laugh as she describes the impishness of Eve as she begins her recovery.It gives hope to those who have been told their love one is destined to be a vegetable the rest of his/her life.Ms. Siles and Eve prove doctors don't always know best. ... Read more

Book Description

A young woman suffers a stroke; she rebuilds her career and personal life, but not before her marriage falls apart. An eighty-year-old man dies unexpectedly of stroke, leaving his grown sons to wonder whether they are genetically predisposed to stroke. A recently retired woman confronts her future with a husband suddenly disabled by stroke. How can she help her husband? Will he ever recover? How will she cope with her own emotional stress?

In Stroke and the Family: A New Guide, Joel Stein shows the many faces of stroke and the people it strikes. To the family just beginning to cope with the aftermath of a stroke, the diagnostic tests, drug regimens, rehabilitation strategies, and varied prognoses can be completely bewildering. Because stroke can affect memory, speech, and movement, the impact on everyday routines and close relationships can be especially intense. Stein has produced a book that allows general readers and nonphysicians working with stroke survivors to make sense of the confusing variety of diagnoses and treatment options, and goes on to explore challenges the recovering stroke patient and the recovering family will face during a long recuperation with an uncertain outcome. Stroke and the Family offers up-to-date information and places the current research findings in context.

Customer Reviews (3)

What the Family Needs to Know
Learn the basics of stroke care, and what to expect from the hospital and rehab.This helped me understand how stroke affects people differently (speech, paralysis, etc.).
After my brother suffered a stroke at 59, I've read a lot of titles on the topic.This book gives a compact overview of the causes, effects, and treatments.
To supplement a book like this, I recommend reading personal accounts of stroke survivors.Those helped me understand the situation from the viewpoint of someone who had experienced it.

Readable with lots of good information
In response to a family emergency, I ordered four books on stoke recovery. Two had been recommended to me as being helpful for lay people: (1) "Living With Stroke: A Guide For Families" (Senelick, Rossi & Dougherty, 1999) and (2) "Stoke and the Family: A New Guide" (Stein, 2004). I ordered these for my family members (and myself). Two more were written at a much more scholarly, technical level for clinicans: (3) "Recovery after Stroke" (Barnes, Dobkin, & Bogousslavsky, Eds, 2005), and (4) "Stroke Rehabilitation: A Function-Based Approach" (Gillen & Burkhardt, Eds, 2004).

Each of these books has much to recommend it.I hope to write reviews of all four; I've already written an Amazon review of "Living With Stroke".I can see why the first two are standouts, and have been helpful to so many people. They are well-written, concise books with plenty of important information. These books will help you quickly become an educated consumer of medical care. (They won't always familiarize you with medical controversies and choices, but they do a remarkable job of capturing the key issues. Controversies include, for instance, the use of anti-seizure meds, and the use of statins for cholesterol reduction, especially in women.Stein in particular is more likely to point out controversies, and he does point out side effects of medications, in various instances).

Stein's book is easy to read and has succeeded in packing in an enormous amount of information into a 272 page paperback.Unlike "Living With Stroke," it contains a number of illustrations and photos which are helpful in understanding the brain, setting up a safe home environtment, etc. It contains more (and sometimes different) information than "Living With Stroke."Toward the end, it does a nice job of discussing medical research and experimental treatments, but also makes readers aware of a wide variety of "nontraditional" treatments, such as acupuncture, herbs, and biofeedback.

The book's 20 chapters cover the following:What is a stroke?; Finding the Cause of a Stroke; Stroke prevention; How the Brain works; Medical Complications after Stroke, Recovery and Rehabilitation; Stroke in Young and Old; Impact on Marriage and Relationships; Impact on Children and Family; Return to Work and Leisure Activities; Weakness after Stroke; Loss of Sensation or Vision; Problems with Memory and Thinking; Emotional and Personality Changes; Communication Difficulties; Swallowing Difficulties; Pain and Muscle Spasms; Equipment and Home Environment; Nontraditional Treatments; Understanding Clinical Research.There is an extensive appendix on "resources and information"

I believe that many people will be able to complete the book in a two or three nights. That's important when time is of the essence and you are trying to educate yourself quickly.

If you are a family member and/or a caretaker: This is the book to bring with you to the hospital waiting room. Take this one, or the "Living With Stroke" book. You are likely to be waiting for long periods between visits with doctors and nurses, and you'll have many questions. You'll learn much more detailed general information from this book than the 10 minutes you spend consulting with the doc. What this book doesn't explain is how to deal with hospital staff who are busy and not always concerned with communicating with family members. But it provides plenty more. You can use this book to educate other family members and friends who might not be as thorough and bookish as you, and win them over to a sensible and realistic agenda.

If you are a professional, you may find this book helpful, for a variety of reasons. First off, you might consider recommending this book, or "Living with Stroke," to your patients. Stein's book contains more, and different, information than "Living With Stroke" (I recommend both).Moreover, you might use the language in these books to explain situations and decisions to patients and their families. The authors have taken care to discuss emotionally and cognitively complex material in a sensible and clear manner.

Wonderful Book!
My aunt became partially incapacitated by a stroke at the age of 55, and I took on the responsibility of assisting her in her day-to-day activities.I bought a number of books on stroke, but found this one to be by far the most comprehensive and sensitively written on the subject.Dr. Stein's book describes the wide range of severity that strokes can take and offers in-depth guidance on how best to adapt to life after stroke.I especially appreciated that the author explained the medical implications of stroke in layperson's terms that I could understand without a scientific background.If you buy one book on this subject, let this be the one -- I recommend this book without reservation to anyone whose family has been touched by stroke. ... Read more

Book Description
A Father/Daughter Journey Through A Revolutionary Medical Treatment For Stroke

Introduction by William M. Hammesfahr, M.D. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Love Story of Healing
What a wonderful story told from a daughter's devotion, wrapped in Love. Robin shares with us all of the emotions, science, trials and triumphs of her journey to find more than a remedy but a healing for her Dad.If you know anyone who is suffering from a life of physical limitations, whatever the cause, have them read this book!

Peeling the Onion: Reversing the Ravages of Stroke
A must read for everyone!Robin's story of her journey with her father is heartwarming as well as information we all need to know.Not justa tale of a journey back to health it is also a story of a relationship between a father and a daughter.Beautifully written.I recommended this book to all my friends and also to my book club. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

two stroke prefomancetuning
this is a revised version of his fist book very detailed with tons of pics and drawing great for dirt bikes and go carts i have used it to modifiy my moped. a must have for the super tuner of tinkerer.

Good Book!
This book is fantastic. It explains the intracacies of 2T tuning from the basics to the finer points. This is a great reference full of formulas and tips that can be used while building up a motor.

Fantastic Book for Tuners
Anyone into bikes hears lots of opinions on what will make a bike more powerful or faster, but those opinions are usually based on the well known "seat of your pants" meter. This book provides all the knowledge necessary to tune your motor based on a solid foundation of science. The writing is very clear and packed with information. The focus of the book is more on practical techniques that lofty theory.

It's a great how-to guide for dialing in your engine and carb(s), covering combustion chamber shape and size, squish band clearance, porting, and jetting.

Two Stroke Tuning
An excellent resource for understanding the ins and outs of two strokes.I have heard many great things about this book and they are all true.Bell tends to focus on road racing engines, and karts, but in most examples he also metions motocross and such.
Excellent for beginners to advanced two strokers.

performance tuning
This book is extremely comprehensive and covers stuff I hadn't even thought I needed to check. It is easy enough for anyone with basic mechanical skills to follow while getting as technical as the most hardcore tuner could want. Excellent book! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (43)

Not impressed at all!
I was very disappointed in this book, which is basically a story about a young girl being very promiscuous. She engages in orgies, sex with a married man, sex with her tutor and continually puts herself in very dangerous situations. This book was really more of a chronological order of what happened during a couple years of her sexual escapades, and doesn't delve into her feelings or what motivates her to act in such a way. It was a sad book, she doesn't have any real relationships with her parents, teenage girls or the men that she sleeps with. Not recommended!

An erotic journey into self discovery and exploration
Originally written and published under a pseudonym, 100 Strokes of the Brush..., was well received in Italy, and later throughout Europe as a revelation, an account of a young Italian teenage girl's first forays into sexual encounters, beginning with a boy she liked, and later involving herself (while still legally a minor) with older men, and then in organized orgies. Melissa P. never looks back with regret in any of her adventures, as her sexual appetite and curiosity grow only larger and more powerful, leading her into what many readers may consider questionable forays. A film version wasmade of this book in Italy a couple of years ago, never to be seen in the US because of moral and religious restrictions. Nabokov's "Lolita" was for years banned in the United States under obscenity laws. This book makes "Lolita" seem like Walt Disney's Cinderella by comparison. Powerful book. Liberating!

Erotic classic
Her genetalia becomes the "secret", his the "unknown".

In a breezy, elegant prose, Melissa P. creates a style all her own, vividly recounting her tale of lost innocence and a perpetually emerging sexually that knows no boundaries.

Overwrought? Perhaps, but effective nonetheless. It's like the literary equivalent of an atomic bomb; excessive force, certainly, but its impact is indelible.

What Women Think
This book, like many out today, offers a womans (or in this case a girl's) view of sex and sexuality. It makes for fun and stimulating reading. I enjoyed it. I am now reading Diary of a Sex Fiend: Girl with a One Track Mind. Same genre. Also sexy and fun to read.

Not very arousing for me
I was not terribly impressed, but perhaps I am jaded. Everyone else apparently loved it.

I've not read "The Story of O" or "The Sexual Life of Catherine M" which both received rave reviews as well, so I can't compare this to either of those. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Why give up?
While I found this book interesting it would be most disappointing if I were someone looking for real answers. If someone is looking for real recovery then I would recommend a book called Peeling the Onion:
Reversing the Ravages of Stroke. In 2000 my grandmother had a stroke which left her paralyzed, unable to roll over in her bed and unable to speak. Long-short, I took a shot and took her to this clinic where, in less than a week she and I were again having two-way conversations and she could transfer herself from the car to the wheelchair. By the time we went home she was walking 400 feet with a walker. Strokes change families but they don't have to be permanently debilitating. If you are looking for help for the stroke and not just a book to read, you might want to order it. Thank God for Dr. Hammesfahr and his stroke therapy!Peeling the Onion: Reversing the Ravages of StrokePeeling the Onion: Reversing the Ravages of Stroke

A family guide
Having recently had a loved one who has suffered a devastating stroke, this book was so helpful in every aspect of what to expect on this very long journey to recovery.It was easy to read and to understand and I would highly recommend it to any family or caregiver who is going through this process with a loved one.

Stroke Recovery
Overall, a solid book, but could be a lot more comprehensive. It just doesnt cover all of the issues. (I was still left with questions).

I recommend the book by Joel Stein, MD, called Stroke and the Family, which is very understandable, but has more information.

Our Doctor Recommended This Book
My mother had a stroke recently. Her physician recommended this book, which we found very helpful. I would recommend it to any family who is doing through such a crisis.

A good overview but not a comprehensive guide
This a book that will give you an overview of the main causes of stroke and what to expect as of "The Day After". A good source of "initial" information after you or a loved one had just had a stroke. This book is for a family member suffering from sleepless nights on the waiting room while the stroke patient is in the Intensive Care Unit or those who have just woke up after a stroke and still lack basic info. The information provided by the book is useful, but most of it is already available in the many stroke reference sites throughout the internet. If you already have some education about the topic, this is not the book for you. ... Read more

Book Description

In this compassionate guide, three expert physicians who treat people with stroke describe how to navigate the path to recovery. Their practical advice on treatment, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes is also designed to help prevent another stroke.

Drs. Stein, Silver, and Frates begin by explaining how stroke occurs and what happens when different parts of the brain are injured. They describe diagnostic tools such as CT scans and MRIs as well as medications used to prevent and treat stroke, and they explain in detail how stroke survivors can heal optimally. They also set out plans to help survivors reduce the risk of another stroke, including the Stroke Savvy Exercise Plan and Stroke Savvy Diet Plan.

Relating patients' experiences and bringing readers up to date on promising new treatments, Life After Stroke offers hope to stroke survivors and their families.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book
What a great book!Easy to read and understand....very informative and jam packed with great info on how to avoid a stroke and live a healthy life!!Even if you've never had a stroke, this book is worthwhile. ... Read more

Book Description
At age 77, Oregon resident Polly Houston suffered a "mild" stroke. She watched with dismay and alarm as this supposedly minor stroke caused her body to begin to malfunction. Her limbs were not responding to her commands. Her speech became slurred. All the while, Polly experienced what appeared to be indifference from her doctors and hospital staff.She soon learned that physical therapy was the standard treatment, and that most physicians felt not much could be done for the stroke victim other than to manage the damage as best as possible.

But as Ms. Houston eventually learned, not all physicians follow the conventional wisdom that stroke sufferers can only learn to live with their disabilities. Being someone who was not content to accept such a fate, Polly embarked on a mission to learn more about stroke and alternative ways of treating it.In the course of this mission, she discovered hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), the administration of oxygen under pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) forces oxygen past blockages and into oxygen-starved tissues. As Polly discovered for herself, this can make all the difference in the world. She also discovered that recovering from a stroke is possible.

This book is for anyone who, like Polly Houston, is not content to let a stroke destroy their quality of life or that of a loved one. It is a small book but powerfully-packed with an inside personal perspective.Here you will learn that there are alternatives to convention. Join Polly on her journey from despair to hope.Both powerful and inspiring, you will applaud the courage of this writer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Review of Stroke:Recovery With Oxygen by Polly Houston
Stroke by Polly Houston is an eye opener for someone who has had a stroke or a caregiver for a stroke victim.Written by an older lady who had a stroke, it tells you first hand about the problems that a stroke victim is subjected too.Although it is not written by from a medical research point of view, it is very helpful in trying to understand the problems of a stroke victim.

I recommend it for anyone looking for solutions for stroke victims.

Hope and Alternatives
I found this to be a fascinating and informative read.Polly shared both her personal frustrations that come from recovering from a stroke as well as useful and scientific information.We will all be touched by a stroke, either personally or through family/co-workers.We clearly need to advocate for more and alternative treatments for strokes and this book helps outline some of these options

Helpful and Sincere
My Grandmother suffered from a total of 7 strokes throughout her later years in life.As you can imagine this severely affected her quality of living and how she interacted with her family.After reading Stroke: Recovery With Oxygen, it gave me a sense of what it must have been like for her to go through such a hard time and to feel absolutely hopeless about her condition.Polly's first hand account was well told, and a good read for people looking for alternative medical help with stroke recovery.I highly recommend this book for all people with relatives for all people who have had a stroke.

Good Message. Bad Package.
This book was given to me by a friend after my father suffered a minor stroke. While it does have some decent information on alternative modes of treatment/therapy, I found it a convoluted read. Having been a writer and editor for more than 15 years, I find it difficult to believe that this book was even edited. I believe that the author, having suffered a stroke herself, made every effort to tell her story but the editing fell short. I would recommend it only to those with patience and only because it does contain interesting tidbits of information.

Anger's Upside
I find this book both frightening and uplifting.It brings home to us the risk we all face (just by living) of suffering a devastating cerebral accident and uncovers information that can be so very vital in recovery.
Polly was angry, as we should all be, to discover the medical establishment's reluctance to share knowledge that has beendocumented and used for many years.I find it shocking that the American Heart Association and the Americian Stroke Association have no interest in promoting either the use of HBOT or the development of new clot-busting drugs despite theevidence that others may be more effective and have wider "windows" than tPA.
It seems clear that much has been suppressed by those who will benefit most from the "recommended protocol for stroke victims".Since when do doctors only reveal therapies that "work for everyone"?
Polly was angry but this courageous lady used her anger to dig into the issue giving us a well-researched book that needs to be read and shared by anyone who has had a stroke or is worried about the possibility of having one. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Reader's Corner
The book is a wonderful addition to our library at the Family Caregiver Alliance.By sharing these books with us, you have helped us help our clients.The layout, in manual style with clear headings and bulleted or numbered items, makes the material very accessible...each book is divided into three parts: Getting Ready, Day-by-day, and Additional Resources..Additional chapters on therapies and special challenges are included in the Stroke guide.In both, tips notes and resources are included throughout, as well as sample forms.[Review from Reviewer's Corner from the Family Caregiver Alliance at www.caregiver.com]

An absolute "must-have" for anyone working with or taking care of a stroke survivor
The Comfort of Home for Stroke: A Guide for Caregivers is a practical guide especially for anyone charged with the responsibility of taking care of a stroke survivor. Chapters instruct the reader in the causes of stroke and how to prevent one from recurring, how to make the home safe and comfortable for a stroke survivor, the key factors for a successful stroke recovery, how to communicate effectively with health care professionals, coping with personality changes in a stroke survivor, handle everyday activities such as wheelchair transfers, bathing, and toiletries, and much more. Written in plain terms, and filled with valuable checklists, bullet points, black-and-white diagrams, lists of resources, glossary, and index, The Comfort of Home for Stroke is an absolute "must-have" for anyone working with or taking care of a stroke survivor. Highly recommended.

Good guide for caregiving for older adults in any health crisis
I thought this book had a lot of good basic information (including sources for products) for someone taking care of an elderly stroke survivor at home. This book assumes you will be taking on the role of full time nurse/medical assistant and even gives instruction things like changing bed linens with the person lying in bed - like in a hospital. I did like the reminders that caregivers need to take care of themselves - this is vital not only to the caregiver but also to the patient, who will receive better care and I applaud the authors for giving this strong emphasis. I took of a star because of them extreme emphasis on elderly stroke survivors and dark view of recovery. There are many many younger people who suffer strokes each year - in my case a young adult sister. After her stroke I sought out information on strokes like a woman possessed - and this book would have frightened me unnecessarily. For example, the book states that docs say that all of the recovery that will take place will happen within the first six months. After this heartbreaking statement, the sidebar "tip" says that although the MOST gains occur during the first six months, recovery continues after that time period. They did a huge disservice to readers by presenting this information in that way. Other stroke books I consulted (and my own experience) indicate that recovery will continue for a very long time - more than 3 years for noticeable gains. Also, the book assumes that the person will never, ever return to his or her old job - incorrect information in my experience. Overall, it is a good basic book - but overly pessimistic on recovery. The first book you should read is Living With Stroke: A Guide for Families, 3E....then once things settle down and you are thinking about long term care you might try The Comfort of Home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Struggle to Regain Abilities
I was interested in Sarton's experience with stroke, since I've a relative going through this.The journal covers her 73rd year after a mild stroke leaves her weak in her left side.Although the stroke was not a major debilitating one, the varied problems from irregular heartbeat, congestive heart failure and feeling ill from various medicines affects her quality of life.
The journal tracks her daily struggle to recover her creative thinking and to live alone (in coastal Maine).Her flower garden, letters and visits, plus her aging dog and young kitten bring her solace from her problems.Sprinkled with literary references and nature observations, the journal makes pleasant reading.
If you have an aging parent or friend/relative with an illness, you can gain insight by reading Sarton's account of her difficulties and recovery. ... Read more