Friday, February 20, 2009

Tattoo or Toxic Churches

Tattoo: Bodies, Art, and Exchange in the Pacific and the West

Author: Nicholas Thomas

The history of tattooing is shrouded in controversy. Citing the Polynesian derivation of the word “tattoo,” many scholars and tattoo enthusiasts have believed that the modern practice of tattooing originated in the Pacific, and specifically in the contacts between Captain Cook's seamen and the Tahitians. Tattoo demonstrates that while the history of tattooing is far more complex than this, Pacific body arts have provided powerful stimuli to the West intermittently from the eighteenth century to the present day. The essays collected here document the extraordinary, intertwined histories of processes of cultural exchange and Pacific tattoo practices. Art historians, anthropologists, and scholars of Oceania provide a transcultural history of tattooing in and beyond the Pacific.

The contributors examine the contexts in which Pacific tattoos were “discovered” by Europeans, track the history of the tattooing of Europeans visiting the region, and look at how Pacific tattooing was absorbed, revalued, and often suppressed by agents of European colonization. They consider how European art has incorporated tattooing, and they explore contemporary manifestations of Pacific tattoo art, paying particular attention to the different trajectories of Samoan, Tahitian, and Maori tattooing and to the meaning of present-day appropriations of tribal tattoos. New research has uncovered a rich visual archive of centuries-old tattoo images, and this richly illustrated volume includes a number of those—many published here for the first time—alongside images of contemporary tattooing in Polynesia and Europe. Tattoo offers a tantalizing glimpse into the plethora of stories and cross-cultural encounters that lie between the blood on a sailor's backside in the eighteenth century and the hammering of a Samoan tattoo tool in the twenty-first.

Contributors. Peter Brunt, Anna Cole, Anne D'Alleva, Bronwen Douglas, Elena Govor, Makiko Kuwahara, Sean Mallon, Linda Waimarie Nikora, Mohi Rua, Cyril Siorat, Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Nicholas Thomas, Joanna White

“Marking the body is a unique act of social and aesthetic primacy. The authors of Tattoo bring these extraordinary body-marking traditions to life, elucidating in a range of sites and perspectives both the historic and contemporary importance of these forms. Through the lens of this engaging, insightful, and multidisciplinary volume, body practice and theory, history and sociology, art and ritual, East and West not only not only rub up against each other, but also inform and transform each other.”—Suzanne Preston Blier, Allen Whitehill Clowes Professor of Fine Arts and Professor of African and African American Studies, Harvard University

“This historically rigorous and theoretically nuanced collection of essays takes the reader on a global journey marked by successive phases of incomprehension, clash, desire, appropriation, and indigenous renewal. Through their meticulous chartings of the permutations of local differences, changing constructs of art, and shifting power relations the book produces critical new understandings of the process of cross-cultural translation—and its impossibility—indispensable to students of world systems of art and culture.”—Ruth Phillips, Canada Research Chair in Modern Culture and Professor of Art History, Carleton University

Nicholas Thomas is Professor of Anthropology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. His books include Cook: The Extraordinary Voyages of Captain James Cook and Bad Colonists: The South Seas Letters of Louis Becke and Vernon Lee Walker, published by Duke University Press. In 2002, he co-curated “Skin Deep: The History of Tattooing” at the National Maritime Museum in London.

Anna Cole is the Research Coordinator of the “Tatau/Tattoo: Embodied Art and Cultural Exchange” project based at Goldsmiths College.

Bronwen Douglas is a Senior Fellow in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University. She is the author of Across the Great Divide: Journeys in History and Anthropology.



Table of Contents:
Introduction7
1'Cureous figures' : European voyagers and Tatau/tattoo in Polynesia, 1595-180033
2'Speckled bodies' : Russian voyagers and Nuku Hivans, 180453
3Marks of transgression : the tattooing of Europeans in the Pacific Islands72
4Christian skins : Tatau and the evangelization of the Society Islands and Samoa90
5Governing tattoo : reflections on a colonial trial109
6The temptation of Brother Anthony : decolonization and the tattooing of Tony Fomison123
7Samoan Tatau as global practice145
8Multiple skins : space, time and tattooing in Tahiti171
9Wearing Moko : Maori facial marking in today's world191
10Beyond modern primitivism205
Epilogue : embodied exchanges and their limits223

Interesting textbook: Uninsured in America or Great Feet for Life

Toxic Churches: Restoration from Spiritual Abuse

Author: Marc Dupont

Spiritual abuse devastates its victims perhaps more than any other form of violation, because it targets those who are most unprepared and vulnerable. In Toxic Churches, Marc Dupont reaches out to those who have given their time, money, and talents to the Body of Christ, only to find themselves hurting, frustrated, and confused. He also writes to Christian leaders who may have inadvertently hurt the flock of God entrusted to their care.

This book explores all aspects of spiritual abuse in the church. With care and tenderness, Dupont offers help and hope to those caught in abusive situations-people who might even be blaming themselves. He provides a healing balm to those with residual pain from past abuse. And he warns those engaging in abusive behavior, flagging telltale signs of warped and broken patterns. Those who have been used or abused by church leaders will find a deeper understanding of God's healing grace-both for themselves and for those who hurt them.



Thursday, February 19, 2009

Tweakers or The Easy Fitness Workbook

Tweakers: How Crystal Meth Is Ravaging Gay America

Author: Frank Sanello

Drawing upon conversations with addicts as well as experts in the gay community and at drug treatment centers, journalist Frank Sanello examines how crystal-meth abuse is reaching epidemic levels among gay men, and how almost one-third of the new cases of HIV are caused by the decreased mental capacity associated with crystal. Tweakers get a quick, cheap high, an exhilarating loss of inhibition and increased stamina at the price of permanent behavioral changes, brain damage and death.

Frank Sanello is a Los Angeles-based journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe and the New York Times Syndicate. He is the author of Opium Wars, The Knights Templar and To Kill a King.



New interesting book: Systèmes informatiques de Bibliothèque :de l'Automation de Bibliothèque aux Solutions d'Accès D'information Distribuées

The Easy Fitness Workbook: The Complete Fitness Class in a Book

Author: Lorna Lee Malcolm

Get all the benefits of a personal trainer—in a book! This unique spiral-bound workbook and CD set presents a complete fitness program that targets three key areas: cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and suppleness. The twenty exercises that make up the plan’s core can be done in isolation, to focus on specific areas or train for a particular sport, or as part of a general full-body workout. And they can easily be modified to suit any level of ability. The 60-minute audio CD features spoken instructions for all the exercises in sequence, plus the warm up and cool-down: the result is an expertly guided, safe workout. Additionally, there’s an enlightening explanation of the basic principles of fitness and anatomy, and advice on creating a regime you can stick with.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Conquering Eating Disorders or Complete Guide to Gluten Free and Dairy Free Cooking

Conquering Eating Disorders: How Family Communication Heals

Author: Sue Cooper

Tracey Desperately Wanted to look like the celebrities she saw in magazines. She would do anything to have their thin, flawless bodies. Skipping breakfast and eating an apple for lunch became routine. Meat began to disgust her. The pounds melted off and people noticed. "You look so good. You are so thin." Comments led to a tighter control on intake and more angst around anyone who tried to get in the way of what she was doing. It was working. It felt good. It was out of control. One out of every one hundred young women is anorexic. Four out of every one hundred are bulimic.



New interesting book: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management or Financial Sector Transformation

Complete Guide to Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cooking: Over 200 Delicious Recipes

Author: Glenis Lucas

More and more people are discovering that they’re allergic to wheat or dairy products. But finding interesting, affordable, and simple meals without those ingredients has been a challenge…until now.  With this appetizing collection of over 200 gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, it’s easy to enjoy a wide variety of delicious and healthy foods, from soup and salad to incredible entrees including a surprisingly large selection of breads, pastries, desserts, and drinks. No one will feel deprived with such fabulous-tasting dishes as Beef Stroganoff; Celery, Leek & Fennel Quiche; and Light Whisked Chocolate Sponge Cake to dig into. There’s also essential information on the differences between a classical allergy and intolerance, diagnosis and treatment of allergies, and special deficiencies and sensitivities to food and drink.

 



Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Exercise Balls for Dummies or The Doctors Guide to Gastrointestinal Health

Exercise Balls for Dummies

Author: LaReine Chabut

If you want to shape up or lose weight, get on the ball!

It’s inexpensive. It’s something you can do at home. It’s effective!

However, unless you have a personal trainer, using the exercise ball correctly to get maximum results can be tricky. That’s where Exercise Balls For Dummies comes in. You’ll discover how to turn an ordinary workout into a super workout that builds strength, increases flexibility, and sculpts a great-looking body. The book includes:



• Step-by-step details on using exercise balls in your regular workout program

• Tips on selecting and maintaining equipment

• Illustrated exercises covering a complete muscle workout: shoulders and upper back; biceps, triceps, and forearms; chest abdominals and lower back; legs and hips: flexibility in general

• Specific applications for Pilates, weight training, stretching, and aerobic exercise

• Mat workout routines



Admitted couch potatoes can start at the beginning; fitness fanatics can jump right in and integrate the exercise ball into their routines. Exercise Balls For Dummies was written by LaReine Chabut, a fitness model, actress, and writer who owns a women’s workout spa and stars in workout videos. Of course, she makes it look easy!



Table of Contents:
Introduction.

Part I: Rolling Exercise Balls into Your Fitness Program.

Chapter 1: Having a Ball Getting Fit.

Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Ball for You.

Chapter 3: Feeding and Caring for Your Ball.

Chapter 4: Gathering Your Gear and Getting Ready.

Part II: Workouts to Have a Ball With.

Chapter 5: Warming Up Your Body.

Chapter 6: A Swimmer’s Body: Shoulders and Upper Back.

Chapter 7: Shapely, Sexy Arms.

Chapter 8: Walking Tall: Chest, Abdominals, and Lower Back.

Chapter 9: Booty Patrol: Working the Butt, Legs, and Hips.

Chapter 10: Cool It! Wrapping Up Your Workout with Easy Moves and Stretches.

Chapter 11: Total Body Workout-in-One.

Part III: Variety Is the Spice of Life: Doing Different Activities on the Ball.

Chapter 12: Core Values: Pilates on the Ball.

Chapter 13: Gaining Muscle Power: Weight Training.

Chapter 14: Easy Stretch Workout on the Ball.

Chapter 15: Cardio and Go: Aerobic Exercise with the Ball.

Chapter 16: Adding Accessories to Your Workout on the Ball.

Chapter 17: Bending Over Backward: Yoga on the Ball.

Part IV: Using Exercise Balls in Special Circumstances.

Chapter 18: Come On, Mama! Pregnancy Workout.

Chapter 19: Senior Citizens Get on the Ball.

Chapter 20: Every Kid Loves a Ball.

Part V: ThePart of Tens.

Chapter 21: Ten Changes You Can Expect to See in Your Body.

Chapter 22: Ten Groups That Can Use the Ball.

Chapter 23: Ten Activities That Complement Your Ball Workout.

Chapter 24: Ten Things You Can’t (Or at Least Shouldn’t) Do with Your Ball.

Index.

New interesting textbook: Attack the Messenger or By Order of the President

The Doctor's Guide to Gastrointestinal Health

Author: Marian Betancourt

"This is the reference guide you dream about—answers to all your important questions written in a language you can understand. For everyone who wants better health and peace of mind."

—Diane Sawyer, Co-anchor of ABC News' Good Morning America and PrimeTime Thursday

"An important, practical, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand source of information for anyone with a chronic gastrointestinal problem."

—Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D., Rossi Distinguished Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and bestselling author

Digestive ailments, whether mild or life-threatening, are a major concern for millions of people—and they can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Now, in this essential reference book, Dr. Paul Miskovitz, a physician at one of the world's top medical institutions, helps you understand the causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and medical treatments for a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders—everything from heartburn to IBS to hepatitis C.

This comprehensive, user-friendly guide begins with an overview of how your gastrointestinal system works and how it is affected by lifestyle, age, and emotions. Dr. Miskovitz then explains the disorders that can affect your esophagus, stomach, intestine, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, colon, and abdominal cavity—revealing how to identify and treat problems and, in most cases, prevent them. You'll also learn how to:




• Maintain a healthy gastrointestinal system through diet, exercise, checkups, and screenings


• Find the right gastroenterologist for you


• Identify symptoms and get anaccurate diagnosis


• Prevent gastrointestinal problems when you travel



Complete with a list of organizations that provide information and support, The Doctor's Guide to Gastrointestinal Health is the ultimate resource for you and your family.



Sunday, February 15, 2009

Touch in Early Development or Stress Workload and Fatigue

Touch in Early Development

Author: Tiffany M Field

A symposium titled, "Touch in Infancy" was held to celebrate the opening of the first Touch Research Institute in the world. Although touch is the largest sense organ in the body, it is the one that had been the most neglected and the only one to just recently have a research institute. Designed to conduct basic research on touch and on the skin, the institute will work with wellness programs such as massage therapy and other kinds of touch therapies to facilitate better health and to treat various diseases. The institute's opening symposium featured presentations from several of the world's leading experts in infant development. Published in this volume, their work addresses the relevance of touch to the neonate's well-being.



New interesting textbook: Essentiel d'Économie

Stress, Workload and Fatigue

Author: Peter A Hancock

The purpose of this volume is to seek out, describe, and explain the shared commonalities of stress, fatigue, and workload. To understand and predict human performance response, we have to reach beyond the sterile, information-processing models to incorporate the emotive, affective, or more generally, energetic aspects of cognition. These facets of behavior surface most readily when the individual acts under stress, is faced by significant cognitive workload, or is in the grip of fatigue. However, energetic characteristics are pervasive and exert a vital and ubiquitous influence, even when they are not obviously in play as in extreme circumstances. Indeed, one cannot hope to understand behavior without their inclusion and integration into models and theories. This text addresses such theoretical questions as one of its main thrusts. However, in addition to the drive for scientific understanding, there are requirements in our progressively more utilitarian society which generate the need for a more fundamental understanding of this particular topic.

Booknews

The Human Factors in Transportation series is intended as a forum for researchers and engineers in human factors, ergonomics, transportation engineering, experimental psychology, cognitive science, sociology, and safety engineering. In this volume, each of the three sections<-- >focusing on the components of stress, mental workload, and fatigue<-- >includes both theoretical and practical perspectives. Topics covered in 35 chapters include: stress and teams; stress in ambulance staff and among women police officers; safety effects from in-vehicle information systems; stress, workload, and boredom during tasks requiring vigilance; commercial driver fatigue; and examining work schedules for fatigue. Most chapters focus on the use of surface vehicles; a few are concerned with aviation and maritime systems. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)



Table of Contents:
Series Foreword
Preface
1.1Levels of Transaction: A Cognitive Science Framework for Operator Stress5
1.2An Information-Processing Model of Operator Stress and Performance34
1.3Stress and Teams: Performance Effects and Interventions83
1.4On Grasping a Nettle and Becoming Emotional107
1.5A Transactional Model of Driver Stress133
1.6Stress in Ambulance Staff167
1.7Women Police: The Impact of Work Stress on Family Members200
1.8Stress and Driving Performance: Implications for Design and Training211
1.9A Strategic Approach to Organizational Stress Management235
1.10The Future of Human Performance and Stress Research: A New Challenge249
2.1Stress, Workload, and Boredom in Vigilance: A Problem and an Answer267
2.2An Autonomic Space Approach to the Psychophysiological Assessment of Mental Workload279
2.3How Unexpected Events Produce an Escalation of Cognitive and Coordinative Demands290
2.4Adaptive Control of Mental Workload305
2.5Assessment of Drivers' Workload: Performance and Subjective and Physiological Indexes321
2.6Automation and Workload in Aviation Systems334
2.7Causes, Measures, and Effects of Driver Visual Workload351
2.8The Value of Workload in the Design and Analysis of Consumer Products373
2.9Workload and Air Traffic Control384
2.10Secondary-Task Measures of Driver Workload395
2.11Evaluating Safety Effects of In-Vehicle Information Systems409
2.12The Human Capacity for Work: A (Biased) Historical Perspective429
2.13Workload and Situation Awareness443
3.1Active and Passive Fatigue States455
3.2Defining Fatigue as a Condition of the Organism and Distinguishing It From Habituation, Adaptation, and Boredom466
3.3Mental Effort Regulation and the Functional Impairment of the Driver479
3.4A Heavy Vehicle Drowsy Driver Detection and Warning System: Scientific Issues and Technical Challenges503
3.5Examining Work Schedules for Fatigue: It's Not Just Hours of Work513
3.6Managing Fatigue in the RoadTransport Industry: An Occupational Safety and Health Solution531
3.7Broadening Our View of Effective Solutions to Commercial Driver Fatigue550
3.8Fatigue and Workload in the Maritime Industry566
3.9An Overview of Fatigue581
3.10Coping With Driver Fatigue: Is the Long Journey Nearly Over?596
3.11What Is Stress and What Is Fatigue?607
3.12Stress, Workload, and Fatigue as Three Biobehavioral States: A General Overview623
Author Index641
Subject Index663

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Healing Images or Power Taiji

Healing Images: The Role of Imagination in Health

Author: Anees A Sheikh

In the Foreword to this new work, the Dalai Lama writes, "The reality of human existence includes our experience of illness, suffering and death. Pretending that we are not sick when we are, or that we will never die, would be as foolish as to deny the possibility of ever getting well.

"As living beings, we all wish for happiness and seek to avoid suffering. One of the major factors here is our mental attitude. Physical health is closely related to our state of mind. Scientific experiments have shown that if the mind is stable and calm, basic physical functions like digestion and sleep improve. On the other hand, when someone is mentally distressed, even the presence of friends, comfort and wealth will not make them happy."

Healing Images: The Role of Imagination in Health details the function and capacity of imagination in health. This work consists of 22 chapters and discusses theory, research, and clinical applications. Presented is a brief history of the use of imagery for healing in both Eastern and Western traditions, a review of research that deals with the physiological consequences of imagery and related approaches, and an explanation of how images lead to such bodily changes. Healing Images covers the latest theory and research on the relationship between imagery, cerebral laterality, and healing. An attempt is also made to integrate modern systems theory with concepts of information and energy, which disclose the role of imagery and love in health. Imagery and music in health are also discussed.

Healing Images examines how and why mental images help in connecting with our inner wisdom and covers in detail applications of imagery in pain management, smoking cessation, weight management, sex therapy, and the treatment of phobic disorders, eating disorders, cardiovascular disorders, depression, trauma, and cancer. This volume also explores imagery in intuition and spiritual development and includes a discussion of transpersonal and death images along with their implications for health and growth.

Larry Dossey

Healing Images may prove to be the bible in the role of imagination in health. Dr. Anees Sheikh helped invent this field, and he remains one of the foremost authorities in the world. All interested in how mind and body interact should acquaint themselves with this important work.—M.D., Author: Healing Beyond the Body and Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine

Joan Boryserko

This is an exceptional book for health professionals who are seriously interested in adding imagery to their therapeutic repertoire.—Ph.D., Author: Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and Inner Peace for Busy People: 52 Simple Strategies for Transforming Your Life

Booknews

These 22 contributions extol the increasingly recognized as legitimate therapeutic uses of mental imagery. Sheikh (psychology, Marquette U.; psychiatry and behavioral medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin) contributes to introductory chapters on healing images viewed historically and physiologically. Other theoretical/ research-oriented papers discuss issues of how images can heal, a model linking imagery with right brain stimulation and stress reduction, an "info-energy" model integrating conventional and complementary medicine for understanding imagery's role, and approaches mixing music with imagery. Clinical applications such as treating pain and guiding spiritual growth are also addressed. The book includes a foreword by the Dalai Lama. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR



Books about: The Savvy Way to Successful Website Promotion or How to Do Everything with PhotoShop 7

Power Taiji

Author: Erle Montaigu

Move beyond the healing aspects of taiji and explore its martial side. You'll learn fast and explosive forms, as well as the slow-moving form that promotes the balance, coordination and timing needed for any fighting art. You'll also learn to augment your store of qi and channel it effectively in life-threatening situations. For academic study only.



Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Quijong Theory and Practice
Chapter 2 - Taji Long Form
Chapter 3 - Basic of Push-Hands and Related Methods
Chapter 4 - Advanced Concepts: The Four Levels of Taiji
Chapter 5 - Form Applications and Self-Defense
Conclusion

Friday, February 13, 2009

Passion for Protein or The Manual That Should Have Come with Your Body

Passion for Protein: High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Recipes for Food Lovers

Author: Henry Harris

Inspired by his wife's example following a well-known diet, Henry devised his own high protein, low carbohydrate regime with recipes that are both healthy and designed for food lovers. Within four months he had lost 28 poounds and was feeling healthier and more energetic, while still enjoying the foods he loved. The particular genius of his recipes is in the clever ways he finds of replacing — or living without — the carbohydrates traditionally paired with favorite proteins. As well as the more obvious chapters on meat, fish, salads and vegetables, etc., Henry provides help for the dieter where it is really needed, with selections on breakfasts, snacks, and quick easy dishes. There are also complete menus for entertaining.



See also: Forensic Entomology or Health Economics and Policy

The Manual That Should Have Come with Your Body: You Only Have One Body and It Must Last a Lifetime

Author: Cindy Heroux

The Manual That Should Have Come with Your Body tells you everything you need to know to keep your body running in peak condition. From nutrition and fitness, to living a less stressful life and how to get a good night's sleep, The Manual is filled with clear, concise, and practical information based on the latest research. It includes Basic Operating Instructions to help you achieve optimal health and wellness, Important Safety Precautions to reduce your risk of illness and injury, and a Preventative Maintenance schedule with guidelines on when to see your health care professionals for routine service. Your body didn't come with a warranty and you can't trade it in for a new one if it breaks down. If you want to feel great, look your best, and live the longest, healthiest life possible, The Manual That Should Have Come with Your Body is the one book you must have!



Table of Contents:
Preface: Why You Need This Manual for Your Bodyvii
Acknowledgmentsxi
Introduction: Your Life is in Your Handsxiii
Part 1Basic Operating Instructions
I.Eat
Chapter 1You Really Are What You Eat5
Chapter 2Let The Fluids Flow!23
Chapter 3To Carb or Not to Carb?33
Chapter 4Protein's Proper Place43
Chapter 5Fat: Friend and Foe49
Chapter 6Micronutrients: Small but Mighty61
Chapter 7Buying & Preparing Healthier Food71
Chapter 8A Roadmap for Restaurant Dining87
II.Move
Chapter 9Get Your Body in Gear and Move!95
Chapter 10Activity99
Chapter 11Exercise103
III.Relax
Chapter 12Put the Brakes on Stress123
Chapter 13Living a Less Stressful Life131
Chapter 14Relaxation Techniques147
IV.Sleep
Chapter 15Recharging Your Batteries167
Chapter 16Getting a Good Night's Sleep177
Chapter 17Sleep Disorders185
Part 2Important Safety Precautions
Chapter 18Safer Sex191
Chapter 19Tobacco Products193
Chapter 20Marijuana and Alcohol199
Chapter 21Over the Counter Medications203
Chapter 22Dietary Supplements and Herbs207
Chapter 23Protecting Yourself Outdoors211
Chapter 24Avoiding Exposure to Chemicals221
Chapter 25Food Safety227
Chapter 26General Safety Guidelines233
Part 3Preventative Maintenance
Chapter 27Preventative Maintenance Schedule237
Chapter 28Tune-Ups241
Chapter 29Taking Care of Your Teeth243
Chapter 30Heart Health245

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Caring and Social Justice or Healing the Heart of the World

Caring and Social Justice

Author: Marian Barnes

Drawing extensively on real-life examples, Caring and Social Justice reveals an uplifting alternative approach to caring that highlights its contribution to social cohesion and social justice. It offers a clear overview of the literature including debates about an "ethic of care" as well as a thought-provoking survey ideal for undergraduate and graduate study.



New interesting textbook: Cabernet Sauvigon or Plants

Healing the Heart of the World: Harnessing the Power of Intention to Change Your Life and Your Planet

Author: Dawson Church

At the core of your being, what are the joys and the wounds that live most vividly in you? What touches the most vulnerable parts of you? Now imagine our beautiful sentient planet Earth. What are the joys and wounds that touch her most deeply? What is the healing touch she longs for? In what ways can you bind the wounds that afflict her heart?

These are some of the powerful questions asked by the thirty-three writers whose profound wisdom is collected in this book. From the core of their hearts to the core of the world's heart, they explore the issues and inspirations that lie at the center of the dilemmas facing humankind on the cusp of becoming a planetary species. Drawing on a rich variety of backgrounds, these entrepreneurs, doctors, educators, executives, healers, and leaders offer the personal and global solutions that point the way to a sane, hopeful and sustainable future.

*Contributors include many best-selling authors: John Gray, Caroline Myss, Prince Charles, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jean Shinoda Bolen, and Peter Russell
*Builds on the success of Elite's two previous anthologies, The Heart of Healing and Healing Our Planet, Healing Our Selves.
*Editor and some of the co-authors appear on many radio shows, television shows, and online sites.



Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Chakras and Esoteric Healing or NOPINESE HENOPALISTS HANDBOOK

Chakras and Esoteric Healing

Author: Zachary Lansdown

Examines the relationship between chakras, states of consciousness, and pranic, telepathic and radiatory healing. Vital to healing is his discussion of meditation, self-hypnosis, spiritual development, psychic opening and telepath.



New interesting textbook: Addiction Is a Choice or Caring for a Dying Loved One

NOPINESE HENOPALIST'S HANDBOOK: A PRACTITIONER'S REF

Author: Dagmar Ehling

The Chinese Herbalist's Handbook is a new tool for prescribing and modifying herbal formulas. This book makes the practice of herbs easily accessible to Chinese medical practitioners and students. For practitioners who rely upon patent herbal formulas, but would like to custom-tailor formulas to each patient's unique needs, this book demystifies the process, with instructions and exhaustive cross-referencing and indexing.



Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Clinical Oncology or Complete Idiots Guide to Walking for Health

Clinical Oncology: Basic Principles and Practice

Author: Anthony J Neal

Now in its third edition, this comprehensive but concise textbook covering all aspects of modern cancer treatment has firmly become established as a favorite with residents, medical students and other health care professionals. The text considers the whole breadth of cancer medicine, from epidemiology, aetiology, pathogenesis and presentation through to diagnosis, staging, management and prognosis for any given malignancy.
For the 3rd edition, new developments in cancer treatments and more comprehensive coverage of tumor biology, palliative care, ethics, quality of life and communication have been included. There are also two additional chapters- on trail methodology and clinical evidence, and on the role of clinical case histories as an aid to understanding.

Theresa M. Yannaco

This second edition of this text provides the generalist practitioner with a readily available source of information on the epidemiology, etiology, pathology, presentation, management, and prognosis of most malignant diseases. In addition, it discusses the issues related to the principles of cancer diagnosis and staging, treatment decision making, palliative care, and common oncologic medical emergencies. The purpose of this concise textbook is to provide the generalist with insight into the basic principles and practice of current clinical oncology. Targeted for undergraduates in medicine, it also may be useful for the novice oncology advanced nurse practitioner as well as other healthcare professionals with an interest in oncology. This text is organized into 23 chapters. The first three chapters provide an overview on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, staging, and issues related to the decision-making process in clinical oncology practice. The next three chapters present the basic principles of surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and chemotherapy. The material presented in these six opening chapters provides the foundation for Chapters 7 through 21, which are devoted to the presentation of malignancies by major body sites as well as common pediatric malignancies. Each chapter is well organized, beginning with a brief presentation on the epidemiology, etiology, pathology, natural history, signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, diagnosis and staging, treatment, complications of disease and treatment, screening, and prevention and concluding with the prognosis for each of the malignancies presented. Key concepts throughout the chapters are not only highlighted, but are alsowritten in short outline form for ready reference. The section on differential diagnosis in each of these chapters is a useful reference for the novice oncology advanced nurse practitioner. Throughout, the presentation and format of the chapters is consistent and well organized. As intended, this text serves as a quick and ready reference on the basic principles and practice of current clinical oncology.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: James F Brandman, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This goal of this book is to acquaint medical students with the basic principles and practices of clinical oncology. It covers broadly the field of adult oncology with succinct overviews of all relevant topics. The previous edition was published in 1998.
Purpose: The book seeks to further the understanding of medical students in their oncology training. Most oncology texts and handbooks are geared to physicians with more advanced training and this book is helpful for its underserved target audience. Given the widely varying interests and needs of medical students, the book addresses all subjects that might be useful to this audience at an appropriate level.
Audience: The authors appear to have excellent general oncology backgrounds and seem suited to author this book.
Features: The traditional categories of oncology, including a basic understanding of carcinogenesis, staging, and diagnosis, and tumors grouped by organ systems are each covered at a level of depth appropriate for most medical students. Areas particularly well emphasized that may help stimulate critical thinking in students include clarification of the goals of treatment and communication skills with patients and families. Scattered case histories illustrate well points made in the main body of text. The absence of references may discourage further investigation by the reader.
Assessment: This book achieves its goal of informing medical students of the basic principles and practice of clinical oncology. The writing is clear and may be helpful in stimulating some students to pursue further training in medical oncology. As a third edition, the book augments previous therapies with newer approaches.

Rating

2 Stars from Doody




Complete Idiot's Guide to Walking for Health

Author: Erika Peters

Taking a unique turn when it comes to exercise, this guide offers readers quick and easy ways to finding the time to walk; idiot-proof steps for turning leisure into exercise; and valuable advice on how to enjoy a walk.



Table of Contents:

I. BUILDING A DAILY HABIT FOR HEALTH'S SAKE.

1. Why Walk?
The Importance of Walking. Mental Health Motivators. A Walking Body Is a Healthy Body.
A Heart-to-Heart About Your Heart. Beautiful, Bountiful Bones. Weighty Issues. Enticingly Energetic. Joint Adventures. Balancing Acts.
Soulful Strides: Why Walking Is Good for the Soul.
Pausing for Breath. Clearly Clarifying. I Want My Mother Nature!
Just Step Out Your Front Door and You Are on Your Way!
For All Walks of Life. Easy as 1, 2, 3.

2. One Step at a Time.
How Do You Measure Up?
BMI. Waisting Your Hips Away: The Waist-to-Hip Ratio. Girth Measurements and Pants Size. Scaling It Down.
My, How Strong and Flexible You Are!
Upper Limits. The Lowdown on Your Lower Body. Stomach and Lower-Back Strength. Flexibility.
Knowing Your Cardiovascular Starting Point. The Importance of Understanding Your Heart Rate.
Heart Rate 1, 2, 3, 4. Intensity and Heart Rate.
Getting the Doctor's Okay.

3. Beginning a Program.
C Is for Commitment. Time Is of the Essence. Make Walking a Habit First. Establishing Long- and Short-Term Goals.
If Only ... Long-Term Goals. Breaking Down and Getting Down: Monthly and Weekly Goals. One Day at a Time: Daily Goals.
Reveling in Rewards. Building a Support System.

4. Gathering Your Gear.
Comfort vs. Style: Making the Right Clothing Choices.
Lotsa Layers. Hang'nLoose. The Long and Short of Things. Sports Bras and Other Supportive Gear.
Material Madness: Are Some Better Than Others?
Cotton Basics. Lycra: The Stretchy Stuff. Know'n Nylon. CoolMax and Polypropylene.
Shopping Resources. Accentuating Accessories.
Musical Moments. Sensible Sun Block. Sight for Sore Eyes. “You Can Leave Your Hat On” . Band-Aids for Blisters. Walking with a Big Stick. The Watered Walker.

II. PROGRESSING SAFELY.

5. Moving Forward.
Frequency: How Many Days a Week Is Enough? Interesting Facts About Intensity. Time: Are We Talking Minutes or Hours Here? Progressing Patiently. The Where, What, Why, and How of Walking.
Avoiding Routine Routes. Keeping Track of Time and Distance. Staying Vitalized by Adding Variety.
Safety Tips to Consider.
Walking Alone. Night Walking. Defense Do-Dads.

6. Now That You've Got the Basics, Let's Have Some Fun!
Turning the Heat up with Hills. Stepp'n on Stairs. Beach Bum. Tromping on Trails. Weights, Anyone? Breaking Up the Time: Fartlek and Interval Training.

7. Warming Up, Cooling Down, and Yes! Stretching.
The Importance of a Warmed-Up Walker. The Cool Cat Cool-Down. Why Stretch?
Perfecting Posture. Daily Doings. Joint Ventures.
How Often and How Much?
How? Coming Equipped. How Often. How Much.
Sample Stretches for Your Lower and Upper Body.

8. Why Weight?
The Importance of a Strong Body. How Often and How Much. The Tools You'll Need.
Free Weights. Machine Madness.
A Weight Walker's Wonderland.
Lower-Upper-Body Strengtheners.

9. Yes! Pain, No Gain.
Pondering Pain.
Overdoing Over-Training. If the Shoe Fits…or Not.
A Walk a Day Keeps the Doctor Away. Unexplained Pain. But I Don't Wanna!
No! Not Anytime You Feel Like It. Yes! You Can Do Other Activities; Substitutes in the Meantime.
Motivating Yourself to Start Again.

10. In the Beginning.
New Kid Around the Block?
Goal Mining.
Be Proactive.
Conscious Calendaring. Know Thyself. Psyching Out Your Psychology.
How Much? How Long? How Hard?
How Much? How Long? How Hard? A Sample for an Example.
Other Things to Keep in Mind.

11. And Now for the Rest of Ya!
How to Know? The Middle Man/Woman.
Pushing the Pace. Making It Harder with Hills. Implementing Intervals. A Sample Week.
Comparing with Competition.
Goal-Setting for the Advanced Walker.

12. Walking for Special Populations.
The Silver Saunter: How Walking Helps with Aging.
Osteoporosis: Battling Brittle Bones. Practicing Proprioception. Maneuvering Your Muscles. Getting Your Doctor's Approval.
What Is Arthritis and How Does Walking Help?
Painful Beginnings.
Diabetic and Dynamite.
Walking Your Sugar Down. Diet Do's and Don'ts.
Walking for the Cardiac Rehab Patient.
How Walking Helps. Heart-Rate Monitors and Supportive Supervision. Warning Signs While Walking.

III. WALKING FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

13. Weight Walkers.
Weight-Related Diseases and How Walking Helps. Psychological Barriers and Social Shyness. Setting Your Short- and Long-Term Goals. Keeping a Log. Getting and Staying Motivated.

14. Food for Thought.
How Weight Loss Works and How Exercise Helps. Why Diets Don't Work. The Balancing Act: Your Basic Food Pyramid. Changing Habits and Lifestyle. One Day at a Time.

15. Fast Feet, Not Fast Food.
Understanding the Nature of Caloric Expenditure. Pacing Yourself.
Frequency First. Adding Time. Intensity Last.
Suggestion for Adjusting Intensity. Walking Through the Discomfort. Postulating Plateaus. You Win Sum and You Lose Sum: A Summary.

IV. WALKING AS A LIFESTYLE.

16. Waste Not, Walk Not.
No Excuses! Daily Reminders.
Inspirational Images. Noticeable Notes. Supportive Situations.
Writing Walking into Your Schedule. Keeping Your Gear Handy. Changing Habits One Step at a Time. Staying Focused.

17. This Is a Walking World.
The Automobile Dilemma.
Parking Waaaaay Far Away. Walking Instead of Driving.
Going Up? The Stairs. Digesting Dinner: Taking a Post-Meal Walk. Walking to Work. Energizing Errands. Pacing It with a Pup. Shaping Up While Shopping.

18. The Weathered Walker.
A Winter Walking Wonderland.
Clothing for the Cold. Hydration. Know the Snow: Ice vs. Powder.
Heated Hikes.
Heat Index and Humidity. Hydration: Staying Cool Inside. Ventilation: Clothing That Breathes. Protecting Your Head: Hats and Other Accessories.
Damp Tramps.
Appropriate Attire. Covering Your Feet.

19. Exercising Your Alternatives.
Home Is Where the Heart Is. Terrific Treadmill Treds.
A Beginner's Base. Intermediate Inclines. Advanced Adventures. Safety. Keeping Yourself Occupied: Music, Books, and Socializing. Buying a Treadmill.

20. Taking It to the Next Level.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side.
Where to Go? Ideas for Trails and Treks. Comfortable Clothing and Durable Footwear: To Boot or Not To Boot? Training Tips: Preparing Your Heart for Hiking. Safety: From Wild Cats to Wild Flowers. Clubs and Agencies.
Walkers Without Borders.
Vacation Ventures and Trekking Tours. Clubs and Agencies.
Get Ready, Get Set ... Walk!
Setting Your Goals. Training for Events. Form. Groups to Contact.

V. YOUR FEET.

21. Preparing Your Peds.
How to Choose a Shoe.
Foot Type. Terrain and Mileage.
Shoe Shopping. Signs and Symptoms of the Wrong Shoe. When to Buy New Shoes. Wearing Other Kinds of Sports Shoes for Walking. Sockin' It to Ya. Lacing It Up.

22. Footloose and Fancy-Free.
Fashionable Functional Footwear. Inserts.
Insoles. Orthotics. Arch Supports.

23. The Walking Wounded.
Walking-Related Injuries. Shin Splints.
Ankle, Knee, and Leg Injuries.
Sprains and Strains.
Blisters and Bunions.
Bone Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis.
Hammertoe and Ingrown Toenails.

24. Merry Metatarsals.
Orthopedists: The Bone People. Your Local Foot Doctor, the Podiatrist. Marvelous Massages. Striking a Stretch: A Complete Guide. The Healing Touch: When to Use Ice and Heat. To Move or Not To Move.

25. Walking Wonders.
Historical Moments. Fastest Feet. Farthest. Good Cause.

VI. APPENDIXES.

Appendix A. Resources for Walking Fit.
Appendix B. Walking Words.
Index.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Serendipity or The Disabled Father

Serendipity: An Uplifting and Practical Guide for Anyone Battling a Brain Tumor

Author: Peggy Prichard Ross

Multiple strategies for coping with brain cancer treatments and the unexpected joy you can find through fighting cancer. Includes information on Brain Biopsies, Radiation, Emergency Surgery, Stereotactic radio-surgery, Chemotherapy, Nutrition, Exercise, Managing Seizures, Coping with Headaches, Visualization, and Finding Joy.



Go to: Q Guide to Wine and Cocktails or Crazy About Chocolate

The Disabled Father: The Story of a Father and his Son

Author: Andrew B Appleton

The Disabled Father takes you deep inside the mind of a struggling father who is challenged with the guilt, pain and incredible responsibility of taking care of his severely disabled son. Marcus, who was born with cerebral palsy, will depend on complete assistance from his parents his entire life.

As Marcus's father continues to support a full and productive life he finds that involving Marcus in it presents challenges that more often than not leaves him frustrated and emotionally drained. Further, the knowledge that Marcus's short life expectancy leaves many unanswered questions as to why this could happen.

The Disabled Father speaks directly to the parent of a disabled child and passionately reaches out to their need to find understanding and acceptance of a situation that may seem under serving. As a spiritual path this book will leave you with a better understanding of God's work and how he has chosen you to be a parent of a very special child.



Saturday, February 7, 2009

Eating for Diabetes or Healing with Complementary Alternative Therapies

Eating for Diabetes: A Handbook and Cookbook - with More than 125 Delicious, Nutritious Recipes to Keep You Feeling Great and Your Blood Glucose in Check

Author: Jane Frank

Diet plays a central (even the central) role in how every person with diabetes manages his or her condition each day. While much is known about diabetes, exactly what everyone who has the condition should be eating continues to generate enormous debate among medical and nutrition professionals. Now, in Eating for Diabetes, nutritional therapist Jane Frank provides a complete overview of the best diet for people with diabetes. Based on the very latest diabetes nutrition research, Frank provides nutritional guidelines (including detailed information on the glycemic index and glycemic load), a menu planner, shopping advice, and over 125 delicious, nutritious recipes that cover every meal of the day: breakfast, snacks and drinks, soups and starters, beans and grains, poultry and fish, vegetables and salads, and desserts. Frank puts particular emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and provides with each recipe a complete nutritional analysis, including its GI and GL levels. This all-in-one up-to-date cookbook and healthful eating guide is an important, vital new addition to the diabetes cookbook shelf.



Go to: Spy Wars or Organizational Behavior and Management in Law Enforcement

Healing with Complementary & Alternative Therapies

Author: Lynn Keegan

This complete book presents healing techniques in complementary and alternative medicine as a way to promote optimal health care. It discusses the concept and origination of healing, as well as introduces the reader to healers and the techniques they use in the health care industry. It shows how healing fits in with our contemporary health care industry, and suggests the best place, time and condition for seeking alternative and complementary care. Documented, scientific research supports the effectiveness of healing techniques.
(KEYWORDS: alternative medicine, complementary medicine, holistic nursing, CAM, healing, natural medicine)

Booknews

Overviews healing techniques in complementary and alternative medicine. Begins by discussing the concept and origins of healing, then examines the theory and practice of some of the most common and popular healing modalities, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, and massage. Explores the process of becoming a healer, and examines what is known about the body-mind-spirit connection to health and illness. Includes information on Web sites, conferences, organizations, and support groups. Keegan is a nurse. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)



Friday, February 6, 2009

How to Survive Your Doctors Care or Antibiotic Alternative

How to Survive Your Doctor's Care: Get the Right Diagnosis, the Right Treatment, and the Right Experts for You

Author: Pamela F Gallin

This is the essential insider's guide for anyone who has to make healthcare decisions—for yourself or your loved one.



Interesting textbook: On Time within Budget or Social Work Experience

Antibiotic Alternative: The Natural Guide to Fighting Infection and Maintaining a Healthy Immune System

Author: Cindy LA Jones

Avoid the dangerous overuse of antibiotics by using natural herbal remedies to strengthen your own immune defenses.

• Protect yourself and your family from the misuse of antibiotics.

• Learn how to control and overcome infections with natural remedies.

• Maintain a vibrant and healthy immune system without antibiotic dependency.

When antibiotics were discovered they were hailed as the magic bullet that would put an end to the threat of infectious disease. In fact, in 1969 the U.S. Surgeon General stated that "the war against infectious disease has been won." But in the last fifteen years we have faced an alarming increase in cases of bacterial infections that will not respond to antibiotics. What is more, the use of antibiotics in agricultural feeds and the widespread overprescription of antibiotics has deepened the threat of resistant bacteria to potentially epidemic proportions. Even when appropriately prescribed, antibiotics weaken the immune system by altering the body's natural bacterial balance.

While antibiotics have their place in treating acute life-threatening conditions, The Antibiotic Alternative shows how the best defense against infectious disease is to strengthen your own immune system. With advice on stress management and diet and complete monographs of a dozen readily available herbs, Dr. Jones shows you how to ward off infectious disease naturally without antibiotic overdependence. She provides directions for making herbal teas, salves, and tinctures and includes specific herbal recommendations for more than twenty common ailments ranging from acne to wound treatment.

New Times

With advice on stress management and diet and complete monographs of a dozen readily available herbs, the author shows how to ward off infectious disease naturally without antibiotic over-dependence. The book gives directions for making herbal teas, salves, and tinctures, and includes specific herbal recommendations for over twenty common ailments ranging from acne to yeast infections.



Table of Contents:

The Antibiotic Alternative
The Natural Guide to Fighting Infection and Maintaining a Healthy Immune System

1. Medical Microbiology
2. Immunology
3. Control of Infections
4. Does Stress Influence Health?
5. Herbal Medicine
6. Other Medical Traditions
7. Herbal Treatment of Specific Conditions
8. Herbal Monographs
9. Making Herbal Remedies
Notes
Further Reading
Index

Cindy Jones holds a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Cincinnati. She conducted oncology research for several years at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver and currently works as a medical writer, consultant, and educator. She lives in the Denver area.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

From Earth to Herbalist or Practical Miracles for Mars and Venus

From Earth to Herbalist: An Earth-Conscious Guide to Medicinal Plants

Author: Gregory L Tilford

A full-color practical guide to the sustainable harvest and use of medicinal plants by an internationally renowned herbalist and naturalist. 12 line drawings. 100 color photos.

Booknews

A complete, compact guide to sustainable harvest and use of North American medicinal plants, emphasizing principles of ethical wildcrafting. Explains how to keep a field journal, harvest and handle herbs, and make herbal preparations. Profiles of 52 species of medicinal plants, accompanied by color photos, tell how to identify, harvest, and propagate herbs, how to make and use herbal remedies, and when to choose alternative or adjunct herbal medicines. A resource list directs aspiring herbalists to schools and suppliers. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.



Read also Preventing Addiction or Ayurvedic Beauty Care

Practical Miracles for Mars and Venus: Nine Principles for Lasting Love, Increasing Success, and Vibrant Health in the 21st Century

Author: John Gray

In this powerful new book, John Gray turns his successful Mars and Venus healing advice toward living in modern times and expands his audience through new advice on love and all relationships—from couples to friends to parents and beyond. He exhorts readers everywhere to respond tolife's challenges with greater peace, joy, confidence, and love by following nine guiding principles:

  1. Believe as if miracles are possible.
  2. Live as if you are free to do what you want.
  3. Learn as if you are a beginner.
  4. Love as if for the first time.
  5. Give as if you already have what you need.
  6. Work as if money doesn't matter.
  7. Relax as if everything will be okay.
  8. Talk to God as if you are being heard.
  9. Feast as if you can have whatever you want.
John Gray once again helps readers live a rich and fulfilling life. Practical Miracles for Mars and Venus presents an inspiring message of self-acceptance and joy for the new millennium.



Tuesday, February 3, 2009

A Practical Guide to Developing Resistance Training Programs or A Guide to Child Health

A Practical Guide to Developing Resistance-Training Programs

Author: Nicholas A Ratamess

A Practical Guide to Developing Resistance-Training Programs is designed to help strength/conditioning and fitness professionals develop specific resistance training programs to enhance health and/or athletic performance. Covers basic muscle physiology, resistance-training principles and concepts, responses and adaptations to resistance training, types of resistance training, program design, periodization, strength testing and evaluation, and resistance-training facility design, exercises, and programs. Large format with over 200 photographs and diagrams, and includes bonus 212-minute DVD!



See also: First Week With My New PC or Digital Portfolios

A Guide to Child Health

Author: Michaela Glockler

This acclaimed guide to children's physical, psychological, and spiritual development combines medical advice with issues of upbringing and education. Medical, educational, and religious issues often overlap, and in the search for the meaning of illness, it is necessary to study the whole child, as a being of body, soul, and spirit.

The authors theories and practice arise from seventeen years of experience in the children's out-patient department of the Herdecke Hospital in Germany, based on anthroposophic medicine. The first section covers childhood illnesses and home nursing. Part two looks at the healthy development of children and how to create the ideal conditions for them.



Monday, February 2, 2009

Sexually Transmitted Diseases or Jonathan Lerman

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Physician Tells You What You Need to Know

Author: Lisa Marr

Despite the emphasis on safe sex in the era of HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections remain alarmingly common. Every year, more than 12 million people in this country will be diagnosed with one of the twenty STDs known to modern medicine -- from familiar diseases like HIV and syphilis to conditions such as chlamydia and herpes, which are less understood by the public. More than half of sexually active adults over age 35 will acquire one or more STDs at some point in their lives. The majority of STDs remain part of a "hidden epidemic" for reasons that range from reluctance of parents and teachers to talk about sex to the lack of symptoms produced by many disorders. Yet the long-term effects may be devastating and can include infertility, scarring, premature births, and death. There is a clear need for greater public awareness of how easily STDs are transmitted -- and how potentially dangerous they are.

With this book, Dr. Lisa Marr provides a much-needed resource on the subject of STDs in a comprehensive and easy-to-use reference format. As medical director at an STD clinic in Portland, Dr. Marr has worked on the front lines of the fight against STDs, and her approach is frank, nonjudgmental, and thorough. In Part One of the book, she describes male and female anatomy and reviews the symptoms that may indicate infection with an STD. She explains what an STD exam should include and discusses sexual communication as well as safe and unsafe sexual practices. Side bars, case studies, and illustrations help explain all of these important topics. Part Two is a comprehensive encyclopedia of STDs, with entries for each that describe symptoms, risk factors, transmission,testing, and treatment.

Throughout, Dr. Marr focuses on clearing up misconceptions by providing accurate, practical advice for people of all ages, races, sexual orientation, and economic means. All of the following statements, she notes, reflect commonly held beliefs about STDs -- and all of them are false:

• "If I don't have any symptoms, I can't have an STD."

• "If my partner and I get HIV tests and we're negative, that means we don't have to worry about using condoms."

• "When I get my yearly PAP smear, my doctor would tell me if anything was wrong."

• "If I use a condom, I can't get an STD."

• "Oral sex is safe. I can't get an infection from oral sex so I don't need to use a condom."

• "Only promiscuous people get STDs."

• "I had chlamydia before and I had symptoms. Since I don't have any symptoms now, that means I don't have an STD."

• "Douching after sex will help prevent getting an STD."

• "Lesbians don't have to worry about STDs."

• "I can't transmit herpes if I don't have an outbreak."

Dispelling these and other myths, Dr. Marr helps readers take steps to protect themselves against infection and, for those who develop symptoms or believe they have been exposed to infection, describes what to look for in appropriate medical care. She offers strategies for coping with chronic conditions such as herpes, as well as advice about STDs that respond to treatment if discovered early. This valuable book belongs in every public library and health clinic, and will be an important resource for all those who have been infected or who want to learn how to avoid becoming infected or infecting others.

"Because so many people are infected, it is very important to understand what STDs are, and how they are transmitted. Such knowledge allows people to take steps to protect themselves and helps to keep fear from controlling their lives. People who have information about STDs can lead a richer sexual life because they do not have to live in fear -- they know how to lower their risk of acquiring infection." -- from the Preface

David G. Strike

Written by an experienced physician, this book provides a complete medical discussion of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It readily adapts to various purposes (e.g., review of symptom, review of a disease, review of safety measures) through an easy to access format. The purpose is to provide accurate information and guidance to sexually active or potentially active persons. The expectation is that understanding, rational planning, and open communication will help to reduce the risk of STDs and will empower patients to take responsibility for their own health. Although the book is written as a guide and reference for patients, it can also serve as a model for teaching and advising patients. As such it would be of interest to all healthcare providers. The most useful feature may be the organization of information allowing the reader to easily access discussions of key symptoms and appropriate management. The patient can then readily find additional information as needed from the STD encyclopedia, and the section defining basic anatomy. Terminology is defined in the glossary and information is completely indexed. This is an excellent, well-conceived, and well executed book that includes complete discussion of STDs and significant information pertaining to health maintenance. The author's matter-of-fact style is objective and unbiased. It should be useful to patients of all ages, both sexes, and all sexual orientations. It would be worthwhile reading for healthcare providers as well.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: David G. Strike, MD (HealthPartners)
Description: Written by an experienced physician, this book provides a complete medical discussion of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It readily adapts to various purposes (e.g., review of symptom, review of a disease, review of safety measures) through an easy to access format.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide accurate information and guidance to sexually active or potentially active persons. The expectation is that understanding, rational planning, and open communication will help to reduce the risk of STDs and will empower patients to take responsibility for their own health.
Audience: Although the book is written as a guide and reference for patients, it can also serve as a model for teaching and advising patients. As such it would be of interest to all healthcare providers.
Features: The most useful feature may be the organization of information allowing the reader to easily access discussions of key symptoms and appropriate management. The patient can then readily find additional information as needed from the STD encyclopedia, and the section defining basic anatomy. Terminology is defined in the glossary and information is completely indexed.
Assessment: This is an excellent, well-conceived, and well executed book that includes complete discussion of STDs and significant information pertaining to health maintenance. The author's matter-of-fact style is objective and unbiased. It should be useful to patients of all ages, both sexes, and all sexual orientations. It would be worthwhile reading for healthcare providers as well.

Rating

4 Stars! from Doody




Interesting book: Diseasing of America or Helping Your Child Cope with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Jonathan Lerman: Drawings by an Artist with Autism

Author: Lyle Rexer

"The story of Jonathan Lerman, a young artist with autism, seized the attention of the art world at the 2002 Outsider Art Fair. This selection of more than seventy drawings, with a text by critic Lyle Rexer, presents the full range and astonishing growth of Jonathan's extraordinary talent." "Diagnosed with autism and at first scarcely able to communicate, Lerman began drawing at age ten. By age twelve his drawings were exhibited in a solo exhibition at K.S. Art in New York. Working with the assurance of a Matisse, the speed of a Picasso, and the humor of a born cartoonist, Lerman has created an unforgettable body of work. His drawings include portraits of actual figures as well as figures from his own imagination, all rendered with great acuity. These drawings overturn the stereotype of the so-called savant artist as an unchanging talent sprung to life fully formed. Instead, they detail the restless experimentation and rapid growth of an artistic sensibility." Jonathan Lerman: Drawings by an Artist with Autism is a book not just for art lovers but for everyone who values the rich diversity of the creative imagination. In addition to an illuminating essay on Lerman's work, the book also contains an afterword by Caren and Alan Lerman, Jonathan's parents, describing the sudden appearance of his talent and the challenges and satisfactions of raising a gifted child with autism.



Sunday, February 1, 2009

Pilobolus or Weight Watchers She Loses He Loses

Pilobolus: The Human Alphabet

Author: Pilobolus

The company's dancers join limbs, twist, and grip to form 26 letters-- an alphabet made of the human body, captured in glorious color photographs. Alongside each letter, they've also composed a picture: Ants for A; Butterfly for B; Circus for C--and so on through Z, a human Zipper. Can you guess what each one shows? Pilobolus brings their creativity and hallmark visual style to a unique picture book.

Publishers Weekly

The dance troupe Pilobolus favors bold, acrobatic combinations of folding and unfolding bodies just the right group to literally form the letters of the alphabet. Dressed in jewel- colored leotards and presented against a white backdrop, 14 dancers take turns being the legs of a K, the curving tail of a J or the angles of an N. Each page features the smaller picture of a posed letter, and a larger picture in which the group creates an image whose name begins with that letter unlabeled, so children can guess what the picture portrays. Some depend on shrunken or manipulated images (the yo-yo for Y depicts a dancer holding a string from which a tiny image of two other dancers curled around each other dangles). The best, though, use simple, unaltered groups of figures: a Dinosaur (two dancers balanced on a third to form the body of a Tyrannosaurus rex, the topmost with hands outstretched claw-wise, a delighted snarl on her face), a Giant (one dancer on another's shoulders, the feet of the lower one sticking out from a huge black coat), and a Mirror, with two dancers opposite each other, viewer and her reflection, with just their index fingers touching. A list of answers appears in the back in case some elude the reader although few will. The endpapers, which reproduce all the posed letters in one spread, are the most charming of all (especially the tiny baby that acts as the tail of the Q). Ages 3-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-Alphabet books are a dime a dozen, but it's fair to say that this offering by dance company Pilobolus is one of the most striking ones around. As photographed by Kane, the flexible dancers bring posing to a new level. They present the 26 letters and 26 corresponding images, par usual. However, their amazing ability to contort (with the help of some trick photography) induces a startling head rush of impressions. Some of the photos, such as L for Ladder, M for Mirror, and Z for Zipper, are quite clever. Others, frankly, are creepy-an overwhelming mess of bodies. Translating the fluid choreography of what is an obviously athletic dance troupe into still photography doesn't always work. Children may well have to consult the key to identify a good number of the images. All that said, The Human Alphabet is an extraordinarily inventive interpretation of what is becoming an overworked genre. Children, with their wonderfully open minds, will accept it for what it is-an alphabet book with bendy people. A must-have only if your alphabet collection needs beefing up, or if yoga is highly popular in your community.-Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

The acclaimed American dance troupe Pilobolus uses their extraordinary talents of balance, flexibility and strength to convey the alphabet. Like most alphabet books, the letters are depicted in upper case accompanied by a noun that begins with that letter, such as B for butterfly. The main difference here is that every letter and its noun is formed by twisting, contorting humans. The letters themselves are unique, sometimes verging on ingenious. It's the accompanying photos that are extremely difficult. They range from ponderous to impossible. They are all so abstract that the young reader they are meant to instruct, though perhaps amazed at the dancer's bendablity, cannot possibly puzzle out what the letter stands for. Thankfully, there is a code breaker included-otherwise the mystery, in some cases, might never be cracked. The letter N for nest, for example, is still baffling even after one looks up the answer. While the talent and ingenuity of Pilobolus can be applauded, their efforts will be lost on the intended audience. (alphabet key) (Picture book. 3+)



Book review: At Freedoms Table or Everyone Can Cook

Weight Watchers She Loses, He Loses: The Truth about Women, Men, and Weight Loss

Author: Weight Watchers

She loses, he loses . . . and everybody wins!




There's no doubt about it—when couples embark on a weight-loss program together, they improve their chance of success. Now Weight Watchers, the world's leader in providing weight-loss information, services, and support, presents this practical guide specifically designed to help women and men work together to lose weight and keep it off. It explains the many differences between the sexes when it comes to weight gain and loss and helps couples overcome these differences with dependable and insightful information on:





• The weight-health connection and how the genders differ


• Male and female differences in body image


• The language of weight loss


• Why men lose weight faster than women


• Different weight-loss motivators for men and women


• Eating and exercise strategies that work best for women and men


• How best to support your partner's weight-loss efforts



Research shows that women and men who live together—from newlyweds to empty-nesters—tend to gain weight at similar times. The good news is that, working together as a team, your chances of losing those extra pounds increase. Weight Watchers She Loses, He Loses gives you the information, strategies, and insights you need to make it happen.