Customer Reviews (2)

My daughter is feeling and saying things never said before!!
I read this book thinking it "sounded" good but how could I use the info its seems quite complex and overwhelming. THen I attended one of Dr G's conferences and realized the book was never meant to stand alone!!! It is needed to progress and have a reference for the stages as you do them but RDI requires coaching and support. Ill tell you from me and many families who have done it, it has been the one thing that finally tackles the issues no other methodology can!!! We have been doing it for merely 2 months with an agency certifying throught DR G's practice and we have experienced spine tingling miracles. Most importantly it has made my daughter EASY to take ANYWHERE better than any ABA or VB has. In all honesty we have used many different methods, PRT, ABA, DIR-Floortime, Incidental Learning, You name it weve been there. But the commonality is that they still all allow the child to stay in their comfort zone- they are basically child centered approaches. This method MAKES your child come out of their shell, forces them through mutual enjoyment and love for the interaction to allow themselves to be lead.
The residual of all of the other methods was that they left my child having a hard time KEEPING friends due to her need to control situations (PRT and flootime) or be depended on adults to always allow for things to happen (ABA). THis changes all of it!! Not only is she beginning to appreciate and read social cues in just the mere first level of this method, but she is asking more age appropriate why questions and asking about things that happened to her when she was NONVERBAL!!! Her school is on board and wanting to do this and we know we cant stop. I highly recomend looking at this book and then going to a conference or purchasing their video, or even check out their website. (connectionscenter.com)YOU HAVE TO SEE IT IN ACTION!! And My prayers and blessings of frutiion to all!!!

Esoteric tone overwhelms the practical suggestions
My overall impression of this book is that is contrived and forced in places. The book is structured around a layered model of progress; essentially progressing the student from the lowest level of competence on through higher levels. One might presume that the authors were stuck for a teaching metaphor and grabbed the apprentice-expert metaphor as scaffolding on which to hang the lessons. The book is replete with various lesson plans and tactics for enagaging the AS person's interest. To be fair, a reasonable amount of what is here is worthwhile reading and reflecting on - once you filter out the esotericism of much of the language.

However, the book seems to stumble as it tries to fill its 400 odd pages with 'advanced' lesson plans. Some of the section titles made me wonder was this a case of Asperger Syndrome meets Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The AS subject moves through Novice, Apprentice, Challenger, Voyager and Partner levels as just one example. There are sublevels within each of these. Finding one's unique idenitity and place in the environment etc, are major objectives.

The tenor of a lot of this, for me at least, verged on almost cultish twaddle. I prefer a reasonable scientific tenor to any behavioural modification programme. However, others may find the book's approach illuminating and helpful.

The book emphasises coaching and that the real business of interventions is coaching. My problem with this is that it doesn't tie coaching into any particular theory - though if you take one of the authors' RDI courses presumably the theory will be revealed. There is a growing emphasis on putting intervention programmes on some sort of scientific footing, and it behooves the authors of such programmes to produce the goods on the worth of their offerings.

The latter sections of the book, in my opinion, presume a lot of the AS subject. In particular the use of others to faciliate interaction, learn about emotions and generally mediate social interactions is just not a an easy thing to acomplish with an AS subject. The 'partner' that turns up today may not be there tomorrow. So how do you coach an AS teenager to fall back on there own resources?

The authors state that the book is suitable for use by parents, adolescents and adults, teachers and therapists (not many left out there). Personally I found this to be the most questionable claim of the whole book. How on Earth can it be a manual satisfying the requirements of such different audiences. It is verging on cyncical to suggest it has so much to offer to so many.

In conclusion, there are aspects of the book that are useful and other aspects that I found incongrous, if not downright peculiar. If I had a larger budget, I would definitely prefer Kathleen Quill's book, Do-Watch-Listen-Say even though it is not explicitly aimed at adolescents, and couple it with one of the Boystown Teaching Basic Social Skills to Youth as a more convincing pair. It is a personal choice, and different people may have different requirements. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asperger's syndrome   2. Autism   3. Autistic children   4. Developmental disabilities   5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   6. General   7. Mental Health   8. Pediatrics   9. Psychology   10. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent   11. Psychotherapy - General   12. Rehabilitation   13. Rehabilitation Therapy   14. Social skills in children   

Customer Reviews (24)

Mr. See is somewhat short-sighted.
The Harrisonburg, Va., reviewer Randall See's statements about the author of Diagnosing Jefferson don't match the facts. First, Norm Ledgin was frank to admit at the start of his book that he was drawing on secondary sources (the works of respected historians) for all observations about Thomas Jefferson's idiosyncrasies, which Mr. Ledgin said match no other explanation but Asperger's Syndrome.

Second, I learned by interviewing Mr. Ledgin several years ago that his book was contracted for publication by Carol Publishing, a mainstream New York area trade publisher, and that it had been edited by one of the most respected editors in the business, Hillel Black. Carol went belly-up while preparing Diagnosing Jefferson for print. Rather than start the process of recontacting other trade houses, Mr. Ledgin turned to the specialty publisher, Future Horizons, whose president, Wayne Gilpin, had previously expressed very strong interest.

What has bothered a few people about Mr. Ledgin's book deep-down is his ready acceptance of the Sally Hemings liaison as a 38-year love affair. That acceptance is seemingly understandable to Mr. Ledgin (and now, it appears, to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello) on the strength of known facts, but to others it is the basis for a mental and emotional block.

To understand what made Jefferson tick, this is the book.
I've read Mr. Ledgin's book, and I've read several Jefferson biographies. Obviously the critics of this author have not read Diagnosing Jefferson through, and they have admitted as much. Intellectual integrity requires more.

The author has examined and exploited helpfully something all other biographers have missed--the opportunity to identify whatever the basis may have been for Jefferson's many idiosyncrasies and so-called contradictions. Had the biographers simply assembled the quirks puzzling them and discussed them with a neuroscientist or developmental pediatrician or psychologist, they would have arrived at the same conclusion Mr. Ledgin has given us.

A staff member for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Dianne Swann-Wright, admitted on the Today show last year, "there was a personal side of Thomas Jefferson that many of us just simply haven't been able to understand." Mr. Ledgin explains that personal side in order to help us understand. Does intellectual curiosity extend only so far as scratching one's head, or are historians ready to listen to well-reasoned answers based in careful research?

I heard Mr. Ledgin speak in Charlottesville, Va., at the Festival of the Book this year. He is more knowledgeable about the very personal side of Thomas Jefferson than most, if not all, the biographers whose works I've read. It should be obvious to a reader of his entire work, including his bibliography and footnotes, that he has examined the Jefferson literature thoroughly, which is what he wrote was the basis for his assembling the eccentricities. His placing of Jefferson on the autism/Asperger's continuum as a result has been backed by at least four experts in that field and another in the behavioral sciences.

This is a landmark work. We must understand that autism and its high-functioning feature, Asperger's Syndrome, are parts of a spectrum condition; some people are disabled by it, some are enhanced by it. The author explains all of that extraordinarily well. One can be both productively brilliant and a high-functioning autistic--like Jefferson, quirky as can be, but a great achiever and mental giant nonetheless.

The reader can learn as much about Asperger's from this book as he or she can about Jefferson. For understanding what made Jefferson tick, this is the book to read.

Interesting
This was an interesting book. Did Jefferson have special needs? He may have, if he would have been diagnosed with some if he lived in our times. GREAT insight about Aspergers as well. Highly recommended!

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1743-1826   2. Asperger's syndrome   3. Biography & Autobiography   4. Biography/Autobiography   5. General   6. Health   7. Jefferson, Thomas,   8. Learning Disabilities   9. Presidents & Heads of State   10. Psychology   11. Special Education - Socially Handicapped   12. United States - General   13. Jefferson, Thomas   14. Autism   15. Mental Disorders   16. Mental Illness   17. Psychology & Psychiatry   18. Presidents   

Subjects:  1. Abnormalities   2. Complications   3. Developmental Disabilities   4. Genetic disorders in children   5. Medical   6. Medical / Nursing   7. Pediatrics   8. Prevention   9. therapy   10. Abnormalities--diagnosis   11. Abnormalities--therapy   12. Developmental disabilities--Complications--Prevention   13. Genetic disorders in children--Complications--Prevention   14. Medical / Pediatrics   15. Paediatric medicine   

Customer Reviews (7)

The expert on insulin resistance
The lead researcher on HOW too many refined carbs can lead to coronary heart disease. His description of the HOW is quite valuable, if a little repetitive. His prescription for action is adequate with some useful material, but not really his forte. See the reviews of the hardcover version, which has a slightly different title.

The Bible for Insulin Damage
This is a great book that will remain the "Classic" long after all others on this subject have faded. It's written by the physician who found Syndrome X and gives straight-up information on the subject of how uncontrolled insulin and glucose levels damage our health. Although there is a wealth of information on the internet, much of it is inaccurate or partially inaccurate, and that's the case with Syndrome X. All the other Syndrome X books that have been written were knock-offs published after this one by authors who knew far less about the subject. What you get in this book is 100% quality information and solutions that you can trust. However, it's not necessarily written for the customer who wants only touch-feely anecdotes; it tells us the real scoop. Reading the medical journals of new research emerging confirms everything in this book, and shows that high insulin levels can cause other horrible diseases besides Syndrome X, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, such as all these new ones that have been added to the list: colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, sleep breathing disorder, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, impaired cognitive (brain)function, polycystic ovary syndrome, and a couple of others disorders. This book is the best of the bunch.

This book is inaccurate and possibly dangerous. Avoid it!
OK, so I'm not an expert. I am a person who has learned about good nutrituion through a lot of comparative research and experimentation. IMHO, this book is -- and this is a mild, technical term -- Hogwash. It is bad science, bad nutrition and, perhaps worst of all, bad writing. Don't waste your money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Diets - Special Conditions   3. Diseases - Heart   4. General   5. Health & Fitness   6. Health/Fitness   7. Nutrition   8. Health & Fitness / General   

Customer Reviews (2)

Indispensible Resource For Those Dealing with AD(H)D Student
This book is an invaluable aide for parents, educators, and professionals dealing with the challenges faced by AD(H)D students in school. It is a book that can be given directly to students as well. Written in a clear, visually appealing format, it presents worksheets and quick exercises that guide the late grade school, middle school or high school student to an understanding of how this disorder affects their ability to learn. It provides information such as how to choose and adopt various study techniques that will help children with AD(H)D become successful students. It coaches students in using active study techniques to remember what they read, or to develop written reports. Students are not resistant to using the concepts because of how they are presented and is a book that has application to non ADHD students as well. I highly recommend this workbook and have found it much more much more useful that the "Putting on the Brakes" book by the same authors. Of all the self help books I have lent out to people, this is one that people use so much they forget to return it! I just keep buying more copies because I don't want to be without the book.

It makes sense to my students!
"Putting on the Break" has helped several of my students/clients understand what is really happening when they can not stop. One student's mom said, "This is the first time I see Laura interested in a book, any book. She explained why she has trouble paying attention like a pro. Thanks." The book gives the children a perspective they can relate to. Adults can be too wordy, the books helps them "see" and "feel" about ADHD. Thanks for making the book available in Spanish. We need more for the Spanish- speaking population. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General   2. Attention deficit disorders   3. Children's 9-12 - Activity Books   4. Children: Grades 4-6   5. Cognitive therapy for children   6. Hyperactive child syndrome   7. Juvenile Nonfiction   8. Juvenile literature   9. Problems, exercises, etc.   10. Social Situations - Special Needs   11. Study Aids - General   

Customer Reviews (5)

Thank You Gena, Press and Brent
I have purchased 7 books so far, and will be buying more. I have given this book to teachers, friends, family and even the therapists....My son Richie is 8. I have already been through an emotional roller coaster....and I am thankful to have a book to support what I try to explain.... My son is struggling day to day but it's nice to know that we are not alone. I only wish I could meet you all. You are all an inspiration to us, my sons, my husband, my mom.....I just want to thank you.....Linda (a mom)

A useful glimpse of future possibilities for AS families
This book provides a "case study" of a 25-year-old man and his family, and their struggles with Asperger Syndrome. Many of their experiences are common ones, and many are unique to their own situation - just like Aspies themselves! Their experience includes quite a lot of Christian emphasis, which is not relevant to my family. My own son is 12, and I hope that having a glimpse of some of the Barnhill family's problem areas will help us avoid or compensate for those challenges in our family.
A very interesting hypothesis presented is that a person with AS has a maturity level about 2/3 of their chronological age. This seems to be true for my son (age 12), who - though very bright - behaves much like an 8-year-old.
After reading Right Address.. Wrong Planet, I feel that I have a more sober but probably more realistic picture of the future with my son. I am also still very hopeful that his future will be bright and satisfying, and this book supports that hope.

True to Life
Dr. Gena Barnhill has truly made her mark on the world of Aspergers through her book, Right Address...Wrong Planet. Having the opportunity to know her and her family first hand and be a part of the struggle to understand Aspergers, I found her book to be an honest and true to life account of their own attempt to understand and support someone with Aspergers. It was truly remarkable the way she was able to put her own feelings and experiences on the page, interwoven with the theoretical and diagnostic perspective, along with Brent and Press' own experiences, providing a complete look at a family living with Aspergers. I thank her for the opportunity to understand more than just the diagnosis of A.S. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography   2. Child Care/Parenting   3. Children with Special Needs   4. Family & Relationships   5. Parental Memoirs   6. Parenting - General   7. Specific Groups - Special Needs   8. Asperger's syndrome   9. Mentally handicapped   10. Relationships   

Customer Reviews (13)

Speculation
As a psychologist who has MVPS, I was surprised by the comments about personalities. This is my area of expertise and research. To date there are no studies to support any particular personality with MVP. As the book states, chest pain can be fearful-that goes for anyone with any type of chest pain. Nothing new learned there. Authors have lots of speculation. Stories of others with MVP will help you learn that you are not alone. However, most other MVP books help with this. On a positive note, we can always use books on MVPS to increase the visibility of this syndrome. Only wish this was more medically based. I agree with a previous commentary that references are to a newsletter-not evidenced based medicine!

This book is my new "Bible"
This book talks about everything that other books do not talk about. Yes, "The Propalspe Personality". Another reviewer asked for "facts" unfortunately, MVPS has not been researched so there are very few small studies. If you have MVPS you will understand everything said in this book and finally you will understand that you are not crazy!

Good book
I recently book all the books on Amazon.com on MVP. The best one out of all of them is Taking Control--the latest edition. This book is good, but lacks some credibility. It's written by patients with a forward by a cardiologist. I believe some of the advice is helpful and will benefit MVP people. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. Diseases - Cardiovascular   4. Diseases - Heart   5. Medical   

Customer Reviews (10)

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.

ART book is a fraud
I read this book and it gives no information about how do you do this technique. I have been to numerous frauds for my soft tissue problems and this book adds to my list. In fact it gives a bad start
to someone who may want to get ART done on them. Sometimes people want to make a quick buck by writing a book in the hopes that some sucker will fall for it!

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

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

Subjects:  1. Fetal alcohol syndrome   2. History   3. Medical   4. Medical / Nursing   5. Perinatology & Neonatology   6. Public Health   7. Social aspects   8. Sociology - General   9. United States   

Customer Reviews (8)

Very useful guide
I have IBS/D and I found this book to be a very useful guide. It helped me to realize that I had been eating foods that were hurting me. The list of gassy foods is especially on-point and the most comprehensive one that I've seen yet. I've followed the recommendations in this book closely and noticed a marked difference in how I feel. A great guide to keep on hand in your kitchen.

Good book if it's not the only one you read.
This book focuses too much on just fiber and not enough on the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber and even a low-fat meal can be a deadly combination for an IBS sufferer. The recipes that the author considers invaluable for an IBS diet contain fat that is far in excess of what I could tolerate. I have a master's degree in nutrition and have also studied food chemistry and baking properties. There are other alternatives to the relativly high-fat and high insoluble fiber that this author recommends.

The last reviewer obviously didn't read this book!
I am the author of this book and I have the diarrhea type of IBS so I know that I took care to consider this type of IBS while writing this book. I also incorporated the latest information available while researching the book. The way this book series is structured, it answers the most common questions and concerns people have about the disease or syndrome in the first few chapters...and we do it in language that everyone can understand. Writing and researching this book helped me and my IBS tremendously and I hope the information can get to others too! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. Diet therapy   3. Diets - Special Conditions   4. Diseases - Abdominal   5. Health & Fitness   6. Health/Fitness   7. Irritable colon   8. Nutrition   9. Popular works   

Customer Reviews (8)

Key to a mystery
This book solved a painful problem for me. It helped me first to see beyond my abstinent parents to my grandparents' alcohol problems. Next it suggested that my father could leave the alcohol, but bring an intense behavior pattern from that context.

Finally, the classic "silence, denial, isolation, rigidity" matched exactly the symptoms that developed around the apparently unrelated situation of a paralyzing medical injury to my mother. To see this coming from my father unlocked my own personal history.

I read Kritsberg after both my parents were dead, but it has allowed me to begin dissolving my inherited patterns, revisiting my parents' lives with greater compassion, and feeling hope.

Seriously overgeneralizes
To Kritsberg, every alcoholic family is the same. Mine was/is completely different, and I mean completely: instead of a rule of silence, there was unceasing discussion of the problem, etc. By which I don't mean no one should read the book: if the rules of silence, rigidity, isolation and denial seem to fit the patterns your family had, then this book will have something to say to you, but if not, it will be a complete waste of time, since it sees nothing outside of those boundaries.

Not of much use
Read it and tried its different suggestions for recovery. It didn't do anything. Nice introduction and nice theories but there are better books about recovery today. Its age is against it I guess. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Children of Alcoholics   2. Recovery   3. Substance Abuse & Addictions - Alcoholism   4. Self-Help / Adult Children of Substance Abusers   

Customer Reviews (2)

Count Us In by Jason Kingsley, & Mitchell Levitz
This is a book written in their own words by two young men who have Down's Syndrome. They share the ups and down's of their lives . Although my son is only nine, I found this book very helpful because it gave me some preview of things to come. Because the book was written in the boys' own words, it gives a unique picture into the minds and lives of older children with Down syndrome. It also gave some insight into familiar problems, as well as some events that were unique to these boys who authored the book. I found myself wishing that my own son had a close friend to help guide him through the ups and downs that await him in his teenage years. Then I realised that I could actively seek out peers for him to become friendly with at my local Down syndrome chapter, and maybe I could find some friends that he could become close with in a similar fashion to the authors of this book. I highly recommend this book to all parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals who work with children who have disabliities similar to Down Syndrome, because the experiences of these boys could cover a broad spectrum of disabilities, not only Down Syndrome. So many books are written from an outsider's prespective. This book comes straight from the sourcel.

irinaz
I first read this book when my son with Down Syndrome was very young. It was extremely encouraging to me to read the very complex and interesting thoughts of two adult men who have Down Syndrome. I wish all teachers would read this book. I think any parent with a child who has Down Syndrome, especially a very young one, would benefit from reading this book. I really fell in love with Jason and Mitchell. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1974-   2. Down syndrome   3. General   4. Interviews   5. Kingsley, Jason,   6. Patients   7. Psychology   8. Self-Help   9. Specific Groups - Special Needs   

Customer Reviews (10)

Helping Parents and Teachers gain a CLEAR understanding!
I've read nine books on Asperger's Syndrome since our son was "diagnosed" three weeks ago. By far, this is the single most clear, concise, helpful book of all. I had read Tony Attwood's book first, and it is very helpful, but in more of a medical feeling way.
THIS book SPOKE to me (and my husband and our son's teachers and everyone else we've given a copy). Dr. Stewart has written this in a very easy to understand, just-the-facts kind of way. This book really allowed us to gain some ground in discussing our son's diagnosis with him. It allowed us to ask very specific questions that opened the door for him to share what it's like to be him (and this is after years of hearing him say "I don't know" to any question ever asked of him by us and professionals trying to help him.
Thanks to this book we've even expanded our sense of humor about our son's situation (and there is little humor in his life). We are so grateful to Dr. Stewart for writing this and only with there was an Orion School here. If my husband could find work in California, we would consider moving to have our son in this school.
Best of luck to all of you who have children with Asperger's.

Perfect 1st book for information about NLD
If you want to know more about NLD and interventions for this disorder; this is the perfect "starter book." Although I have heard many people say this book is geared for parents/educators with older NLD kids, I feel it is important to read, no matter what the age of your NLDer.
It gives all the traits on NLD (along with checklists), the thoughtful opinions of the author as to what category NLD should be under and ways to help an NLDer of any age.
What I really like beside the above is how the author makes sure the reader understands the importance of trying to get our NLDers prepared for independent life. If you have a young child with NLD, reading these "insights" is sure to help you to be wary of overcompensating for your childs disability while at the same time giving your child what he/she needs. By explaining some problems "older" NLDer's have-such as hygiene; it helped me to recognize the importance of working on these issues now before they become a problem. You won't understand this concept fully until you read the book yourself.
The book is an easy read, gives you a lot of information so you will understand and know how to help your NLD child.
IF you have an AS child, I think this book would also be good but I felt it gave more insight into NLD than it did AS.

terse, extremely clear, and very helpful
As the parent of a child recently diagnosed with Noverbal Learning Disorder (NLD), I was looking for information on what was NLD and what it meant for the future of our child. The clinicians at Yale Child Study Center suggested this volume as a good starting point. It just be that it matches my style of communication, but I found this book to be incredibly clear, well organized, well written, and to the point. There is no fat on this book, just what you need.

There are three major sections on (1) an overview of NLD/Aspergers; (2) how these disorders effect the executive, sensory, and social parts of the kids lives; (3) and what educational and home programs are required to help people with NLD/Aspergers. There are assessment criteria, diagnostic criteria, and pointers to other resources. The curriculum that Ms. Stewart lays out is the one that she uses at the private high school for Aspergers/NLD kids (Orion Academy in Moraga, CA). The tasks she lays out are not going to be easy for anyone to accomplish, but they are worth doing.

I can't think of a better place to start in trying to understand what the child with NLD/Aspergers feels, is facing, and has to do to seek some accommodation with us NT's (neurotypicals).

BTW, the other book recommended by the Yale group for understanding NLD is RV Whitney's "Bridging the Gap: Raising a Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asperger's syndrome   2. Autism   3. Child Care/Parenting   4. Children with Special Needs   5. Developmental - Child   6. Family & Relationships   7. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   8. Learning Disabilities   9. Parenting - General   10. Popular works   11. Asperger's syndrome   12. Learning disabled children   

Customer Reviews (6)

New York Times review
Books on Health: Smart Approach to H.I.V.
(December 9, 2003)

It is hard to be optimistic about an incurable disease, but the author of this supportive resource, a writer who has had H.I.V. for 25 years, manages to do it. "Now that I'm healthy," he writes, "I'm far more worried about getting in a car accident on the Los Angeles Freeway than I am about getting sick from H.I.V."

Mr. Grodeck, an online editor for the RAND Corporation, guides readers through the first seven days after diagnosis, the next three weeks, and the rest of the year.

Combining the human element with essential information about treatment options, choosing the right doctors, the importance of diet and exercise, holistic alternatives and sex, the book transforms a complex disease into one that can be understood and managed.

In his discussion of treatment options, Mr. Grodeck takes a level-headed approach.

While noting that the new generation of medicines, taken together in various combinations, can slow or even halt the virus, he cautions that so-called alternative therapies do not improve the course of H.I.V. and that some are dangerous and can make the infection worse.

"If you like gambling," he writes, "you'll love herbal medicine. Most herbal or plant-based medicines haven't been properly tested, so they are risky." Moreover, he says, people taking prescription drugs should "be careful about taking herbs and supplements."

"Herbs and supplements do not work for treating H.I.V.," Mr. Grodeck concludes, "but some forms of alternative medicine help with symptoms of anxiety and depression."

Specifically written for those newly diagnosed with HIV
The First Year: HIV is a guide specifically written for those newly diagnosed with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), by HIV-positive patient advocate Brett Grodeck who himself has lived with the virus for the past fifteen years. In accessible and plain terms ideal for the non-specialist general reader, individual chapters cover support group resources, advice and strategies for making the needed changes to one's lifestyle, words of wisdom and caution about discussing the issue of one's HIV status with friends and co-workers, the latest medical research, the option of having HIV-negative children even if one is a HIV-positive man or woman, and more. If you or a loved one is having to deal with the medical and social issues of being HIV positive, then this is the book you should begin your personal research with.

Positively Aware
The writing is easy-to-read, with a tone that's friendly and down-to-earth. It's like a good support group in a book, with quotes from the author's personal experiences and that of other people living with HIV. Chapters are only three to five pages in length. Technical matters, such as resistance testing, are put in easy-to-understand terms. Even people way past the first year will find it useful.

Dr. Dan Berger, a columnist for Positively Aware (see "The Buzz"), contributed greatly to the book and wrote the foreword. In addition to medical issues, the book covers topics such as disclosure, depression and where to go if you've been discriminated against.

--October issue of Positively Aware ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)   2. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)   3. Diet / Health / Fitness   4. Diseases - AIDS & HIV   5. HIV infections   6. Healing - General   7. Health & Fitness   8. Health/Fitness   9. Healthy Living   10. Popular works   

Customer Reviews (3)

BOTH BOOKS VERY HELPFUL, WELL WORTH THE COST
I AGREE THAT THERE WERE SOME MINOR ERRORS BUT OVERALL A WORTHWILE TEXT. THERE ARE NOT MANY OTHER SOURCES THAT ONE CAN REVIEW TO GET A SAMPLE OF WHAT WILL BE ON THE BOARDS.THE EPOCHS WERE GOOD EXAMPLES OF WHAT WILL BE FOUND ON THE TEST. THE AUTHOR SHOULD PUT OUT SEVERAL MORE EDITIONS OF THE WORKBOOK.

Better than you think
This book gives the reader an excellant overview of the subject matter. To my eye there are some errors but they do not reduce the quality to any significant degree. The questions are very deverse. I especially like the sample epochs. As a trained tech I think that this book is very helpful for the boards. It compliments the Fundamentals text well. It could be made better but it is not as near as costly as any of the APT materials.

Like the text, it needs revision in a big way
...Over 20% of the answers or questions need to be corrected for wording or accuracy. More than 10 of the 200 answers directly contrast the information provided in the author's own textbook (which is also unreliable). This book is so flawed in logic, accuracy, and specificity... I think the format is the only thing positive about the book. I wouldn't purchase it again. If you are a sleep center and plan on incorporating this into your training program, be sure to review and correct (read, re-write it) before using it for trainee instruction.
Anyway, you should definitely be skeptical about learning this book as written. Actually, the process of correcting it was definitely good practice for the exam... it may have some value after all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Medical   2. Neurology   3. Sleep apnea syndromes   4. Sleep disorders   5. Workbooks   

Customer Reviews (7)

Healing My Syndrome O
Being a patient of Dr. Feinberg's and participating in the Syndrome O Strategies program has changed my life. In 2001, after trying to conceive for quite some time, I discovered that I had PCOS. I began looking for a doctor to "fix me." In February of 2003, after seeing many doctors, I decided to seek the help of a fertility specialist, Dr. Feinberg. After meeting him, I realized that pregnancy was not my only goal; I wanted to live a healthier life. To do this, it occurred to me that I had to be accountable for my actions. I needed to make some changes. I began following Dr. Feinberg's program and sought the help of Syndrome O Coaching Services. Within a few months, I lost 15% of my body weight and my cycles became regular. I am proud to say that I am a success story. In December of 2003, without the use of fertility drugs, my husband and I discovered that we were expecting. Our first child is due to arrive in August.

Informative & Empowering
Though I have already read quite a bit about Syndrome O (PCOS) and felt I was well informed, I was able to gain even more understanding from this book. It provided a large amount of information about what happens on the cellular level in our bodies to fuel Syndrome O (PCOS)symptoms and complications. Understanding the science of it all helped reframe my thinking about this disorder and provided the extra push I needed to take back control of my body. I would definitely recommend this book to others dealing with a Syndrome O (PCOS) diagnosis.

Healing Syndrome O
This book was wonderful!! Having read at least a dozen books on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, I found this book to be the most empowering! It is loaded with much useful as well as scientific data. It gives hope to those who struggle with PCOS and gives positive encouragement that PCOS sufferers can have much control over this condition. I thoroughly appreciated Dr. Feinberg's viewpoint regarding the genetics of this syndrome. The fact that there are not "faulty" genes as all other books state, but a "faulty" environment and lifestyle that do not adequately work well with the genetic make-up of PCOS sensitive individuals. I found the other books that I have read on this topic to be rather doom and gloom at times. They left me with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness for my daughters. However, Dr. Feinberg's book gave me hope and help to empower my daughters to take control of their bodies and their lives! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Complications   2. Diabetes   3. Diet / Health / Fitness   4. Fertility   5. General   6. Gynecology & Obstetrics   7. Healing   8. Health & Fitness   9. Health/Fitness   10. Stein-Leventhal syndrome   11. Women's Health - General   

Customer Reviews (21)

PHENOMENAL! Warm, touching, inspiring, and timeless ...
The first time I read this book, I was a young child. I loved it then, and love it just as much today. And I strongly believe that reading it made me a much better person by showing me that there is beauty and worth in every person, and meaning to every life, however short or beset by handicaps.

The book is written in the voice of Robin Elizabeth Rogers, a Downs syndrome baby (born to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers), who died at the age of two. That baby was dearly loved, and deeply enriched the lives she touched. It begins with her birth, and ends when she leaves to go to heaven. The book is written in a very positive manner, rejoicing in the life she lived (and the joy she brought others).

I think this would be a wonderful book for virtually anyone -- and, IMHO, that it would make a thoughtful gift for those who have a handicapped child, or who have lost a child. For it emphasizes the beauty, worth, and meaning of each life, however short.

I cannot suffi! ciently recommend this book. I love it.

Sometimes Angels come in the strangest packages!
When I found out that Roy and Dale Evans had so much heartache in their marriage and child rearing, I was most anxious to read this book, Angel Unawares. I first read the book immediately after I had found out that I too was the Mom of a very special little girl, so this book as told by Dale was a great source of strength and encouragement to me. I would certainly hope every new parent of a special child could have this book for reference. It really helped me! Not only did I realize that challenges face movie stars as well as common folks, but I realized that I certainly was not alone and this book was a real spiritual and emotional blessing to me!

Touched my life in a very special way....
I received this book for my 10th birthday from my parents, many years ago. At the time, I was very impressionable and this book made a significant impact on my life. I learned then that what we as fallible humans consider to be "imperfect" according to our standards of ignorance and bias is usually the most precious of all things to God.

Now, I have a two-year-old son with Down Syndrome and I can relate in so many ways to this book. As I look back over my life and various correlating events that have taken place, I see that God was preparing me to be the mother of a special needs child all along. And it all started with this one little book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1950-1952   2. Biography   3. Biography & Autobiography   4. Biography/Autobiography   5. Christian biography   6. Down syndrome   7. General   8. Inspirational   9. Inspirational - Protestant   10. Patients   11. Religious   12. Rogers, Robin Elizabeth,   13. United States   14. Rogers, Robin Elizabeth   

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries   2. Dictionaries & Terminology   3. Dictionaries, Medical   4. Diseases   5. Health/Fitness   6. Internal Medicine   7. Medical   8. Medical / Nursing   9. Medical Dictionaries   10. Syndrome   11. Syndromes   

Customer Reviews (3)

Must have reference for pediatric occupational therapist
Maryanne Bruni has taken the best of both worlds of knowledge-therapist and parent of Down syndrome child--and combined them when she wrote this terrific guide. Listing developmental sequences step by step for scissors and handwriting skills helps me explain to parents what to work on at home and what to expect next. This guide should be in every pediatric facility and early childhood program's library. It covers all the practical hands-on treatment ideas that get glossed over in OT school. Thanks, Maryanne.

Easy to read book for both parents and professionals.
I am an Occupational Therapist and I work with children with disabilities. I have found this information useful in my own practice and have shared this title with some of my families.

An encouraging help for parents
This is an excellent resource for parents of young children with Down syndrome. The author is encouraging and helpful, offering several activities for reaching each goal. Her explanation of the components of fine motor coordination are very helpful in allowing a more complete understanding of the reason why your child is doing each activity he/she does. I consult with this book regularly and it has given our OT some ideas as well! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Development   2. Child Psychiatry   3. Children with Special Needs   4. Down syndrome   5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   6. Medical   7. Mental Disorders   8. Motor ability in children   9. Motor learning   10. Parenting - General   11. Psychiatry - Child & Adolescent   

Customer Reviews (2)

Great practical ideas without all the complex medical terms
I recently purchased this book and it is a wonderful recource. It explains all of the medical terms that come with an AS diagnosis. Very easy to understand and great ideas. It can be read in a short amount of time and is not only great for teachers but for parents and family members wishing to learn more about AS and how to help an AS person better understand social situations. I highly recommend this book!

Fantastic First Step
I am a teacher and like most teachers have little time on my hands. This book provided an excellent introduction to Asperger Syndrome for me. It was small enough to be manageable and easily read, yet large enough to contain loads of practical suggestions.

The author writes in a very concise manner getting straight down to business rather than dragging out subjects just to fill the page. He also manages to really "get inside" the head of a child with Asperger Syndrome and allow the reader to see where the child is coming from.

I keep this book in my top draw so I can flick through and refer to it regularly. I highly recommend it as a great starting point for any teacher or educator. In fact, it is a great first resource for any person who will be spending time looking after a child with Asperger Syndrome. Buy it for yourself or give it out to those who need to know more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children with Special Needs   2. Developmental - Child   3. Education   4. Family & Relationships   5. Family/Marriage   6. Psychology   7. Special Education - General