Girls on the Edge: The Four Factors Driving the New Crisis for Girls--Sexual Identity, the Cyberbubb

Girls on the Edge: The Four Factors Driving the New Crisis for Girls--Sexual Identity, the Cyberbubble, Obsessions, Environmental ToxinsI can't remember the last time I stayed up this late to read a work of non-fiction. I picked up this book with a hefty dose of skepticism, and found myself entranced. Sax's insights seem spot-on and realistic, even though some of them are gender based. I'm female and work in technology at a Fortune 5 company, so things that blithely apply gender stereotypes make me seethe, but all of his observations seem realistic, insightful, research based, AND ultimately promote more choice, health, and support for girls. Who knew that cheerleading coaches don't have to be trained in how to recognize concussions, even though football coaches do? And that girls are 40 to 300 percent more likely to get concussions than boys (depending on the sport)? Ultimately this book is packed with information about girls in such a way that you can use it to empower your own children, rather than simply excusing bad behaviors with a "well, she's a girl!" label. My daughter is 5, and he directly addresses many of the issues I'm starting to wonder about, and trying to prepare to handle in the all-too-near future.

I found his discussion of sexuality to be enlightened rather than repressive, even as it supports some traditional values: "As parents, we must reject the notion that girls have to take off their clothes to empower themselves. Boys don't have to take off their clothes to empower themselves. Girls shouldn't either. / Sexuality is good, but _sexualization_ is bad. Sexuality is about your identity as a woman or a man, about feeling sexual. That's a healthy part of becoming an adult. But sexualization is about being an object for the pleasure of others, about being on display for others." He talks about the "cyberbubble" and how being constantly in touch via social network sites and IM and phones has created a different world than the one I lived in just 20 years ago, including cyberbullying. Best of all (for a mom who'll have a tween in just a few short years), he gives concrete, logical suggestions for some of the situations your child will find herself in. He talks about obsessions (weight, sports, smarts, etc.) and how vulnerable they leave your child if something happens to disrupt them (gaining/losing weight, getting a stress fracture, scoring poorly on the SAT), unless your child has a more-developed sense of identity. He also talks about environmental toxins, which surprised me somewhat--but again, he made a compelling case for it. Then he finishes with one chapter each on mind / body / spirit, giving examples on how to support your child in each area. "Mind" is about education and learning (including a need for play), "body" is about health and physical fitness, and "spirit" is about community and church (without promoting any particular religion).

Sax also did a commendable job of synthesizing and accurately depicting research. I generally find myself suspicious of authors who claim to have all the answers, or who have very-fuzzy footnotes to support key points, but Sax backs up his points with solid research (roughly 30 pages of endnotes, relegated to small type at the end of the book so they don't interfere). He also states clearly where there are cases the research is inconclusive, and when he speculates on a possible explanation, he finishes with "but we simply don't know," so the line between research and speculation is clear. I have a master's degree and enjoy reading a lot (including non-fiction and textbooks), and found his referencing solid, unlike many popular parenting books. I also read a number of points to my husband (who has a PhD in psychology and is faculty at an Ivy-league school), and he also found the points and the presentation compelling. But honestly, our best qualification is that we have a 5-year-old daughter... and this book directly addressed a number of real concerns we have as we're both trying to provide her with the best opportunities in life, and trying to prepare for the things we watch her older friends and cousins grappling with. Thank you, Sax! This book will have a very real impact on some of the decisions we're making regarding both her present and her future, some as soon as tomorrow, and several as soon as this upcoming summer as her extracurricular activities shift.

This is a concise and well written book that has given me new material to think about as I strive to be a better parent. Having searched for books on this theme earlier and having read a few I think this book does a good job of staying factual, giving you a great amount of information in a thin volume (who has the time to read a tome!) yet discusses ideas and strategies that made me pause and think and some that surprised me.

As a parent of a pre-teen, I have first hand knowledge of some of the influences that have shaped our children's lives in today's age. This book goes a step beyond and culls out 4 important themes that affect our kids. If you're a parent you already know this, you've seen it already, but the author brings them together and gives them a framework, so you can think about strategies that can help your child.

The 4 main trends he discusses are:

Sexual Identity Girls trying to look older at a younger age

Obsessions fixation on body, sports etc. due to a lack of strong sense of self

Environmental Toxins Exposure to drug/alcohol abuse, anxiety, stress factors

Cyberbubble -The constant texting and messaging which causes teens/pre-teens to disengage from their true selves

I liked the fact that the author used data to back up these themes than just opinion and one off examples from friends and family. We cannot deny that these themes affect our children as there is data to prove it. Some facts were new to me, for instance, girls who don't live with their biological father tend to reach puberty much earlier. When you think about it, it does make sense. Although I had knowledge of these trends bringing them together helped me create a complete picture of all the pressures affecting my kid's life.

The author also suggests strategies to counter the negative impact of some of these trends. For instance, dealing with mean girls in school. What I liked about his strategies is that they are well thought out, and talk about the resistance and obstacles along the way. In this particular case, an effective strategy was getting the teacher involved at the beginning of the year and getting the girls to think about and sign an "Agreement". These are strategies that we tried in graduate school to build better teamwork and they worked. Some readers have commented that the author does not provide enough strategies in the book. On the contrary, I think he has done a nice job of balancing facts with strategies. Also, once you understand the facts, it's much easier to refine these strategies to fit your child's needs.

I highly recommend this book as a parent, I only wish I had read it earlier.

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Here is a book both practical in the best family-physician sort of way and subversive in the context of a materialistic culture. Do you know what I love best about it? Dr. Sax sides with Goethe when he says, what about spirit? He writes in "the dark night of the soul" the following: "Why is the spiritual journey so important? Because life doesn't go as planned. Because death and loss happen. Because disappointment hurts. Even if a girl has a brilliant mind and has earned top marks in every subject, and she is in great physical shape, those achievements of mind and body will count for nothing when a crises hits." Amen. Leonard Sax loves the female spirit and is obviously a true guardian and inspirator; he cares about individuation and actualization; he cares about freeing the human spirit. He's a practical Romantic! I love that Sax starts by quoting Rilke: "Go into yourself and find out how deep is the place from which your life springs..."

I'd love to do a rewrite of the original "Freaky Friday" movie informed by Sax's book. This girl would not be like Jodie Foster's character, goofing off to fit in, neglecting her own intellectual potential; rather, she'd stay up until 1 am perfecting her MySpace page every night, she'd have a 4.2 GPA, an over-scheduled life just like her absent mother, perfect six-pack abs, joyless sexual encounters performing for faceless boys and a yawning interior emptiness. Hooray for a feminism that neglected spirit and became co-opted by industry! I could quibble with Sax, despite his clear bead on girls; I could wish for a less repetitive writing style; I could say, well, you've covered BPAs and phthalates, but what about phyto-estrogens like soy? I could say, stop quoting Michael Pollan and check out Sally Fallon. But why? Sax inspired me to begin praying with my little girls at bedtime, just as my mother used to with me, and that's huge.

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I must admit that I was initially a bit skeptical What would a MAN know about the troubles girls have after all?!?

However, I chose to read the book despite my misgivings as I was intrigued by the sub-title "The Four Factors Driving the New Crisis for Girls sexual identity, obsessions, environmental toxins and the cyberbubble" I am so very glad that I did!

Despite having been written by someone of the opposite sex, this book is absolutely right on. The author has extensive experience working with girls through his family practice and psychotherapy practice. His insights are impressive, if somewhat discouraging due to their nature. He has a daughter himself. I was shocked by some of the information that I read yet I easily identified with other information, as it is something I remember experiencing myself when I was a teen (despite being over 20 years ago for me...)

Dr. Sax has identified four key areas of harm to girls as caused by the nature of our society, technology and accepted norms of today. He clearly outlines what the problems are, illustrates the issues with anecdotal stories of girls he's worked with who have struggled with these issues, provides research to further back his position and follows it up with suggestions on how parents can mitigate the named problem areas in hopes of raising a happy, self confident, radiant girl despite the challenges.

Some may be put off by the author's titles of the four key areas: sexual identity, obsessions, environmental toxins and the cyberbubble. However, once one reads his descriptions of the issues, why they're problematic and research which supports his position, any parent will be shocked, upset, dismayed and lastly very thankful that they've read this book so that they can prevent those problems from occurring for their own daughter(s).

A quick summary (but which doesn't do the book justice) would be:

Sexual identity: Girlhood has become sexualized, making girls sexual objects (with a heavy emphasis on appearance) which causes intimacy and sexual issues later in life when they do reach an appropriate age for sexual expression. High school culture has moved away from dating to "hook-up's", which involve (and expect) no-strings sexual intimacy and at increasingly young ages essentially girls are expected to "perform favors" to some extent, interested or not, as that has become the expectation within this tween/teen culture.

Obsessions: Girls are essentially creating a "corporate brand" type identity at an early age, where they select their label and throw all their energy into it to make it happen. Maybe the "skinny one" (leading to anorexia/bulemia), the "smart-one" (potentially devistating when they don't do well or get top grades"), the "sporty girl" (studies show girls have significantly higher risks of short and long-term physical damage due to over-engaging in sports at a young age knee replacement at 30 anyone?), plus a multitude of others which can all lead to severe emotional problems, anxiety and depression all of which are on the rise in our society and especially so for females.

environmental toxins: endocrine disruptors in our foods, our beauty products, our utensils (plastic cups for example), in the environment with pesticides and so on are causing earlier and earlier puberty. Some girls as young as 7 are beginning puberty this is way too early and they are without the emotional and cognitive maturity needed to navigate this transition.

cyberbubble: girls are connected virtually 24/7 with texting, mobile calls, social networking sites online, etc. This further creates the 'corporate branding' form of identity for girls as they feel they must have their posts to networking sites "fit" their created identity. Interesting, witty, intellectual or sporty, etc. They are always having to watch what they say and do as they are always being judged by their peers. Essentially what media stars deal with regarding press and image has now become the standard for girls because of their technological "connectedness". In addition, bullying is now 24/7 and not escaped once leaving the school (or whatever area it may occur) as it follows them by text, phone, and on social networking sites.

The author goes into much more clear detail about the above and why it is so very damaging, the current statistics and first hand stories of girls he's worked with. He gives ideas for each issue on how a parent can help protect and guide their daughter through these troubled areas.

He also mentions what school settings help prevent or eliminate much of these problems (all girls schools for one, as well as Waldorf schools and some other styles of education. He provides compelling evidence for his rationale as well). In addition he discusses what changes have occurred in society to cause many of these issues and how parents can adopt certain practices to better support their daughter's development into a more fulfilled individual.

One area he discusses which may be a tender spot for some is that he believes that girls are seeking and lacking in spiritual guidance. He does not push any specific religion, however, he does use the word god here and there (so those who don't subscribe to a male supreme being might be a bit put off by this). This chapter was written in a pretty neutral way otherwise and as a non-Christian I did not find it offensive. He states that it is not religion that is needed, but some form of spirituality which helps them feel more connected to something bigger.

I will also say that in one of the initial chapters he does quote a verse from the judeo-christian bible. I felt that the book would have been fine, perhaps better, had he not done that, as it is sure to turn off some readers who are not christian and who have a different spiritual path. Westernized countries are increasingly multicultural (this is especially apparent in the San Francisco Bay area where I live) one can no longer assume that most readers are of a judeo-christian background.

All-in-all this is not only a great book, but a very important book! If it were my choice it would be mandatory reading for all parents of girls under 18. Critically important information is discussed in the text. Read this if you have a daughter, a grand daughter, or a niece, or buy it for your friend who does.

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Working in the online world, and being a pretty in-touch Mom, I didn't think I would be surprised by much in Dr. Sax's book. Boy, I was wrong. Not only does Dr. Sax go through how sexual identity (includes modesty, sexual behavior, etc.), cyberworld/social media, environmental toxins, and obsessions affect girls today--he also offers some practical advice as to how to help your daughter deal with these pressures. Dr. Sax's background as both a psychologist and pediatrician gives an interesting view as to what he has seen in his pediatric practice (and backed up by numerous studies) as well as to how that affects girls.

A few highlights:

* He suggests having a codeword/phrase to use with your daughter, and teaching it to them young (by 9), so that you can help them get out of uncomfortable situations without them having to express their uncomfortableness with what their friends may be doing. Something like, "So Mom are you baking brownies again?"

* He recommends that computers be in a family area, and that you knowingly monitor your child's usage, time, sites, etc. (Let them know.)

*If you grew up even in the late 80s, early 90s, you'll be surprised at how common giving oral sex is among today's girls. They're so used to servicing boys (and boys get used to thinking its all about them) that this can lead to them never having an orgasm even when they're older.

*Coffee consumption and alcohol consumption are related. Among girls/women who drink coffee regularly, 70% drink alcohol. Among those who do not drink coffee, only 29% drink alcohol. (I wonder if this is an LDS thing?)

*The perils of early puberty. Today, breast development at seven is considered normal!

*The prevelance of cutting and other forms of self-harm even among "good" girls

It's a very important book, and I do hope you'll pick it up. I actually enjoyed it more than Dr. Sax's book on boys, "Boys Adrift"--perhaps because I had already read a lot of Michael Gurian's work so it wasn't all new to me.

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Eureka! Memories and Motivations: A Strategy for Creating a Healing Home for the Stroke / Brain Inju

Eureka! Memories and Motivations: A Strategy for Creating a Healing Home for the Stroke / Brain Injury Patient and CaregiverI was searching for practical assistance after bringing my eighty-nine year old mother home from a lengthy hospital stay.

She had suffered serious oxygen deprivation as the result of severe COPD and pneumonia and we were hoping to be able to help her back to a reasonable level of independent living.

Madonna's book not only provided helpful suggestions to assist in Mom's recovery; it also gave us support. Madonna gave us "permission" to accept all of our emotions (even the not so altruistic ones). Madonna explains why it is not just OK to be good to yourself but that it is absolutely necessary. She provides practical everyday ways to keep the spirit of the caregiver from totally tanking.

At a time when both the patient and the caregiver are in one of the most difficult situations of their lives this book may offer a little help and hope!

Eureka! is just what the doctor ordered for every overwhelmed and weary person, thrust unwittingly into the role of caregiver to a brain injured loved one. Author Madonna Siles is the friend you want to have if you've been forced to travel that frightening and lonely road.

Almost cracking under the pressure of trying to bring her dear friend, Eve, back from the effects of a devastating brain aneurysm, Siles developed her own method of coping. With a comfortable, non-intimidating style she generously shares the innovative steps she developed, based on her own life experiences, to give Eve the Eureka! moments that brought her back from almost non-responsive to 90% of her former self. All of this while saving her own sanity.

As the Baby Boomers cling to the hope of "a little more quality time" for elderly parents whose minds are slipping away, the search is on for some form of help. Whether facing the effects of an injury or the ravages of time, Eureka! just may be the answer to the prayers of many a desperate caregiver.

Buy Eureka! Memories and Motivations: A Strategy for Creating a Healing Home for the Stroke / Brain Inju Now

I settled in one Sunday afternoon with Madonna Siles' new book "Eureka! Memories and Motivations: A Strategy for Creating a Healing Home for the Stroke / Brain Injury Patient and Caregiver" unsure what to expect. I knew it would be a good "read" because I enjoyed her previous book "Brain, Heal Thyself: A Caregiver's New Approach to Recovery from Stroke, Aneurysm, And Traumatic Brain Injuries", about her friend Eve's and Madonna's journey from a level 5 brain aneurysm through recovery, but beyond that I had no expectations.

What I discovered was a memoir and self-help guide through one of life's most difficult journeys. Packed with a great deal of common-sense advice from someone who has literally "been there, done that", Madonna had the strength, foresight and wherewithal to document her journey as Eve's caregiver. What worked and what didn't. The daily frustrations. The debilitating mental fatigue. She shares it all with her readers. Aware that if she flagged as a caregiver because of mental stress, physical exhaustion, or lack of inspiration Eve's recovery would flag too, Madonna persevered through tough, challenging times.

Siles offers hands-on, practical tips and exercises designed to re-wire or re-ignite lost memories and skills in the brain-injured patient. She's honest enough to say that her methods may not work for everyone, but when she was faced as a caregiver to a brain-injured patient and was given no direction or advice for continued therapy from the medical community, she knew she had to do something, had to find something, some plan, that would get Eve back on the road to brain recovery.

She also stresses the importance of keeping the caregiver's mental attitude strong under trying circumstances. Exercises designed to reduce stress, promote relaxation, aid worry-free sleep are important and often overlooked by the harried and overwhelmed caregiver.

Despite the serious topic, Siles' book if filled with humor and personal and relative memories from her own interesting and challenging life. At the end of each engaging chapter, Madonna suggests intriguing activities to aid the caregiver. Finally the 21-day motivational workbook at the end of the book is packed with thoughtful exercises for the caregiver and patient alike. Even those of us not immediately confronted with the daily difficulties of caring for a brain-injured patient can, and will, appreciate the deceptively simple daily plans, meditations, and reflections and Siles common sense approach in the face of one of life's biggest challenges.

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... this is an excellent book with ideas, encouragement and a good testimony. I was impressed and read it cover to cover in short time and I'm planning on going back slowly and using these ideas and information to help my husband as he's healing for a traumatic brain injury from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm and surgery.

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I'm a caregiver to my husband, Patrick, who has had a stroke around 1 and half year ago, and is still staying in rehab hospital.

Around a year ago Patrick had barely passed the swallowing test, to finish up a cup of milk or oatmeal took him at least 45 mins. He couldn't walk nor talk (the tracheotomy was just weaned), cognitive level was close to zero, let alone having any interaction or communication with me. Then I came across Siles' Brain heal thyself, and it had helped me go through the toughest time of my life.

Eureka! is the 2nd book from Siles, and it's just as good as the previous one.

I'm not going to sugarcoat the whole thing. Stroke is a brutal disease and most of the times, it's beyond our control to have it recovered or not. It's brutal not only to the patient but also to his/her loved ones, after all, our lives have completely changed because of it and we caregivers require additional love and strength to go through each day. To become a better caregiver so that our loved ones can be healed better: we need to eat well, sleep well and pray hard for our strength and power, and read the right books for our mental nutrition Bible or any Spiritual book works wonders, and so does this one.

Eureka! has taught me how to relax myself from the hectic caregiver's schedule. My intuition and creativity are generated ONLY during my relaxation mode. They can help to pick up my husband's signals faster and stimulate his minds and memories for better recovery, but most importantly, to have fun and worry free together on this recovery journey. Fun is something often will be disregarded of when it comes to rehabilitate severe illness like stroke and have it replaced with anxiety. But on the contrary, we need to incorporate fun to our daily routines of the rehabilitation treatments; because the brain only learns and recreates better through games and relaxation. Everyone is different when it comes to have fun and creative, you need to develop your own ways to help your loved one. And this book teaches you how.

Now, a year later, by the time I finished "Eureka!" not long ago, Patrick is able to walk with one person aiding, make phone calls and communicate with single word, do some simple math (grade 3 or 4 level), watch the entire movie in the theater with full comprehension and sing his favorite songs all the time. Eating is not a problem anymore, trust me, he eats more than I do and even was asked to maintain his weight(a.k.a. diet) so that he can walk better later.

If you ever want a good brain injury rehab book to help out(from the bottom of my heart, you won't ever need that), or simply want to relax and have a good fun read, you can't go wrong with Eureka!

Good luck to you all caregivers out there.

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Home Sweeter Home: Creating a Haven of Simplicity and Spirit (Sweet Simplicity, Book 1)

Home Sweeter Home: Creating a Haven of Simplicity and SpiritI'm actually the author's neice, so I read the book when it first came out in 1996. However, I got married a year ago and reached for the book again to get inspiration for turning my new 'house' into a 'home'. This book is fun and easy to read and it is full of good ideas for decorating, living, and developing family traditions. I would recommend it as a wedding gift, a housewarming gift, or just a 'feel good' read. The cover is attractive and looks great on a guest room nightstand!

Be sure to check out her other works as well as her contributions in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series!

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English Women's Clothing in the Nineteenth Century: A Comprehensive Guide with 1,117 Illustrations (

English Women's Clothing in the Nineteenth Century: A Comprehensive Guide with 1,117 IllustrationsAbsolutely the best resource for women's clothing in the 19th century. Includes photos and line drawings of actual clothes (all B&W in this edition, unfortunately). Most importanly, gives details on every aspect of clothingfrom fabrics, trmis, shoes, under garments to hats, fans, and coats year-by-year. Also lists changes in each year's fashions. A must-have for those interested in Regency and/or Victorian eras, especially! It's my cosutme Bible!

Cunnington's year-by-year survey of fashionable English women's costume in the 19th century is replete with detail. The only flaw is the absence of color photographs, hampering the historian or recreationist who is attempting to ascertain the exact hue of "Solferino" or "Isabella". In addition, if you need a general reference for 19th century costume, or are interested in the attire of persons of the lower orders, you will have to look elsewhere.

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While this book was originally published in the 1930's, it has stood the test of time to become a definitive reference on the subject of 19th-century women's fashion, from the beginning of the Napoleonic/Regency era right into the early years of the Edwardian period. The text is exhaustive, delving into the smallest details (which can sometimes be the most important) of every feature of feminine costume from year to year, and features extensive sidebars on such things as underclothes and headgear. Since I run a website devoted to glove fashion and history, I particularly appreciated the attention given to gloves (which were so much a key indeed, mandatory accessory of women's clothing throughout the century that women would often even go to bed wearing gloves!). The hundreds of illustrations are a mix of first-class original work and authentic period illustrations. Since this is a reprint, there are no color illustrations (which are mentioned in the text), but this is a minor flaw. Anyone who has any interest at all in 19th-century women's clothing needs to make this book a basic part of their reference library.

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This book covers costume by detailing each decade of the nineteenth century. You'll see examples of dresses, hats, fichus, mantles (jackets), trimmings, and undergarments. If you need very specific detailing of undergarments or sewing techniques, this book is general in nature and doesn't always give examples of every part of a woman's attire for each decade. Some decades emphasize particular parts of a woman's dress. But, in each decade, you'll see examples of the silhouette and popular dress styles. You can also find the contemporary price of yardage or accessories like stockings or gloves.

In short, this is a handy reference, particularly when you have a quick question or if you want to see the difference in style from the 1840's versus the 1860's. It's great for me as a historical romance writer because I can quickly get a sense of the costume and layers of the garments. My only issue is that there is not enough detail about the intricacies of women's undergarments in the nineteenth century. There are illustrations of bustles and crinolines and corsets, but during the Victorian period, there were so many layers to women's underclothes that it can be confusing as a writer to remember all of the details.

So, I would say that this book is a terrific place to start historical research because it explains each type of garment rather than just shows pictures or illustrations as some historical costume books do. But, if you need to research a particular undergarment or accessory, you may wish to supplement this book with other resources to get the finer details.

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This is an excellent book to give an accurate picture of clothing worn in the 19th century for a variety of occasions. Also very useful is the information on fabrics used, hat styles, hairstyles, etc. Easy to find the information for different decades. This is an excellent book for individuals trying to create authentic reproduction Victorian fashions.

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Girls' Night in: Spa Treatments at Home

Girls' Night in: Spa Treatments at HomeThink of pampering and spas and usually one thinks of paying big bucks to leave home and obtain professional treatment: but as GIRLS' NIGHT IN: SPA TREATMENTS AT HOME shows, many of the same results can be achieved right at home on a budget. Use GIRLS' NIGHT IN to host a spa party: seasonal themes, recipes for home products and healthy foods and drinks, and even cocktail recipes make GIRLS' NIGHT IN an appealing alternative.

Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch

Getting To The Core Of Apple Cider Vinegar:The Ultimate Guide Book To Apple Cider Vinegar Health Ben

Getting To The Core Of Apple Cider Vinegar:The Ultimate Guide Book To Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits, Home Remedies & MoreMy wife suffers from acid reflux and I had read where red apples can help cure or at least stop the misery. When she eats the apple she does not suffer and now I have read where apple cider vinegar can do the same. We will surely give it a try and maybe it will lower my cholesterol as well. This a good read, easy to understand, well organized in the content. One thing for sure I don't think any harm can come by trying vinegar, like anything use common sense and use this book for a great reference.

Ok, so it seems that I may have been living under a rock! I was not aware of this liquid and its health benefits! As I am right 'into' cleaning up my act and improving my health at the moment, I decided to check this book out and I am glad that I did! The reason I am seeking health information is that I need to get my diabetes under control, and other things that have been impacted by, and are impacting this disease, are high cholestrol and being overweight.

Imagine my delight when I read that these are some of the health issues that using Apple Cider Vinegar can address, among others that I suffer with! What I found particularly useful was that the author didn't just say 'oh it's good for this', he gave guidance on specific amounts to be used and pointed out what to look for in a good vinegar so that you get a mix that is beneficial.

The author is also responsible in his delivery of the information, any scientific evidence that exists, when there is only anecdotal evidence, and any caution that should be taken in relation to medication etc. A well researched and written book with a balanced approach. Thankyou for this information Mr Stiles.

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Getting to the Core of Apple Cider Vinegar was such a delight to read! The author lays aside the hype, the misleading claims, & helps the reader navigate through what is known & what isn't known about apple cider vinegar. Unbiased, logical, practical terminology makes each chapter a rich source of information. Simply written, Getting to the Core of Apple Cider Vinegar keeps the reader's attention & makes for an easy read, leaving the reader feeling enlightened & better able to make whatever decision he or she was seeking in his or her own life regarding apple cider vinegar. With the onslaught of information available on apple cider vinegar, it's refreshing to find a resource that helps dig through the confusion to make a large window of understanding.

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You will be amazed at all of the uses for apple cider vinegar. I knew some of what the author offers from my sister, who is a cook and home economist. But the author really thoroughly researched this topic and this book is a treasure of information well worth reading.

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I thought this book was well presented, with the author providing balanced information on the benefits and the possible dangers of using apple cider vinegar to help cure various ailments. Whilst there are few proven scientific facts, this book certainly helps to distinguish between myth and truth. A very interesting read.

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I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style

I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal StyleI have lots of style books both Lucky manuals, the InStyle guide, Rachel Zoe's book, etc. and Brooks's book is a good addition to the genre. She's doing something slightly different here: though she's divided the book into the standard styles (classic, bohemian, minimal, high fashion, street, and eclectic), she has lots of new things to say, and the text is more substantive than I expected. Brooks has an engaging and personal writing style; she talks about her life and includes lots of pictures of herself in different style phases. Though the book is clearly aimed at average women, Brooks is writing from the perspective of someone who works at Vogue (or is at least friends with lots of people who work at Vogue). She doesn't bother with the standard list of basics everyone should own (trench, white button-down, blah blah blah) and thankfully does not include a section on flattering different figures. She does include specific outfit ideas and advice about how to wear the items associated with particular styles. The best part of the book, though, is definitely the pictures. There are lots of fantastic photos of stylish women from the last hundred years that I had never seen before. As Brooks points out, they all still look great today. All in all, this one is worth buying, even if you have several style books already. The photos and advice are inspirational and Brooks has a likable voice.

I bought this book after obsessing over it for a couple days. The pictures, as have been mentioned in other reviews, are utterly gorgeous. But beyond that this is kind of a waste of money.

I wish this book didn't masquerade as a style manual as it's really all about Brooks, her journey through fashion and (as she makes quite clear) her very privileged position in the fashion world via her (very, VERY rich) familial background. Seriously, I laughed out loud when she claimed proudly that a $300 silk tank top is totally worth it because it lasts over a year. Her "thrifty" section just feels like a weak attempt to relate to us regular fashion-loving folks, and her idea of high-low mix in fashion feels more like her throwing a bone to people who can't happily splurge on $1000 pieces she got her hands on because a designer used her as a muse. I'm the last person to judge on spending exorbitant amounts of money on expensive clothing, but to present it as an everyday and perhaps NECESSARY thing for fashion lovers is kind of ridiculous.

And because it's all about her personal style, the sections are really quite limited to her personal experience. She clearly did very little, if any, research into the styles she talks about and she presents them as the end-all, be-all of acceptable style.

This book is a thinly veiled fashion autobiography, NOT a style guide, with some of the most absurd and useless style advice I've heard outside of Vogue and Elle. But hey, the pictures are lovely, as is the overall layout and design of the book. Although Brooks probably had little to do with cultivating either.

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I'm shocked at how good this book is. There are so many personal style/ inspiration books out there, that repeat the same information over and over again ("basics", "LBDs", etc.), and I have been disappointed in most of them ("Who What Wear", "Style Clinic", etc.) However, this book has great photographs from various decades (rare in most style books), does not assume you have no idea how fashionably dress, and is organized in a simple, easy to follow format. Don't let the simple cover, and terrible "inside view" on Amazon fool youthere's a wealth of info inside this book.

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As a colour and image consultant (I'm also a decorator) I own a lot of books on style, fashion, body shapes etc. I totally agree with A.K. that so much is repeated in most books, that it is rare to find anything of value in them. Most writers start out with the goal of inspiring women but merely descend into lists of wear this/don't wear that. BUT this book is a CORKER! It fills in the gaps, joins the dots, makes that gigantic leap from theory to very do-able practical in a way I have never seen before. And it is INSPIRING!! I felt so excited when I started this book it is unique and will speak to you no matter where you are in your style journey. It also covers unique styles of dress. As the book quotes, style doesn't just happen you need to study it. This book is the perfect text and a highly readable and up-to-the-minute one at that.

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This book is so amazing it's pushed me to write my first Amazon review. I've collected a number of style and fashion books and was losing heart there's only so many times I can read the same boring tips on what to wear to look thinner/taller/hide your flaws/show off your assets. Yawn.

This book is different the author discusses style. True style with images from now and the past to help you not just identify the different styles discussed, but to identify your own style icons (for example Brigitte Bardot? Ali McGraw?). This book is so great if you're looking to develop your own personal style, to be noticed for always looking pulled together and stylish or if you want to look like you're working with a stylist. The book also helps you to understand your own style, your personality and better ways to express the kind of person you are (or the person you feel like being that day) to everyone you pass. You'll feel like 'yourself' if what you're wearing expresses how you feel and who you are, or want to be.

The author covers off a few traditional styles such as classic and bohemian, which she calls 'identifiable styles'. Each chapter shows examples of clothing and styling for that style. The chapter also shows you different variations of each style for example in bohemian she covers off different kinds of bohemian vintage bohemian, rock goddess bohemian, ethnic bohemian; to show you the different takes on each look.

She also looks into indefinable styles (such as street style, which she smartly advises people look at books like Nylon's Street Style; and high fashion).

This book is great for if you're looking to define your style, or to style your looks beyond the basics of looking 'good' to looking 'styled' and 'stylish'.

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Intuitive Eating: A Recovery Book For The Chronic Dieter; Rediscover The Pleasures Of Eating And Reb

Intuitive Eating: A Recovery Book For The Chronic Dieter; Rediscover The Pleasures Of Eating And Rebuild Your Body ImageThis year I decided to get "healthy". I wanted to implement an exercise program and establish good habits in my early 20s so that they would be with me all my life. I never planned on dieting-it just happened. I didn't even know I was on a diet (or 20!) Dieting is EVERYWHERE. We are a nation obsessed and somewhere along the way we forgot what food is about. I became obsessed with food. I tried Eat Right For Your Type, The Goddess Diet, Slim Fast, Vegetarianism, food combining, I did a juice fast...At first it seemed like a healthy hobby. Then out of no where the binge eating began! And the GUILT. I have never been heavy, but I was utterly brainwashed into having a "fat" mind! This book is completely changing my life. I am no longer concerned about when I will be able to eat next and what I will eat-AS I am eating something else! I no longer binge eat. I actually enjoy being hungry as I know my next meal will taste better-and I allow myself to eat whatever I want (without guilt. And I usually really do Want healthy food, too!). I experience satisfaction with the eating experience. My energy level is MUCH better now that I do not see grains as the enemy. I am not piling protein in my body that I do not need or even want. I eat slowly now, knowing that I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I NO LONGER FEEL THE NEED TO CLEAN MY PLATE! But most importantly, I accept myself and TRUST myself! This paradigmn shift has spilled over in other facets of my life as well. I cannot praise this book enough. It accomplishes all this and has a non diet mentality throughout. I do not feel the need to read or recommend another diet (or anti-diet) book along with this-it was good enough for me and has ended my obsession with food. I am so GRatEFUL this book was written-I would be probably "living" a half life if it wasn't...

This book has a lot of great information and advice to help dieters cross back over the fence to adopt a more healthy attitude to food, eating and weight. Unfortunately, it also has a lot of contradictions which a sensible editor should have sorted out. The book sets out 10 principles of why dieters will forever be losing the weight loss battle and explains how to relearn to listen, feel and feed our body's natural hunger. This aspect of the book is great, and there are lots of scientific references to back them up. However, while on the one hand telling you to trust your body to select the healthy food it needs, the authors spoil it all in the last chapter (principle 10) by then prescribing a healthy low-fat diet plan. This seems totally out of place on a book purporting to teach you to eat intuitively. As some other reviewers have said, dieters don't need another "plan" to follow. Instead they need to learn how to survive without the prop of plans that forever fail them. It seems the authors are themselves stuck in their category of "careful eaters" and can't let go. But this is just criticism of a small part of the book. I would recommend "The Seven Secrets of Slim People" by Vikki Hansen and Shawn Goodman in addition to this book to reinforce the good parts.

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As a dietitian with years of weight management experience I am proud to recommend this book to my clients and your readers. The authors are also dietitians and recognised experts in the field of nutrition. They provide realistic and thought provoking information for those struggling with food issues. The diet world is in revolution and the NONDIET philosopy is present as evidenced by this successful book! You can be fit and higher in body fat than those 'self-proclaimed' experts tell you. Say no more diets, read this book and start your life with intuitive eating.

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What I really appreciate about this book is the honesty of the authors. This book does not tell me, unlike many other diet books, that this is going to be a quick and an easy way to lose weight. Rather, it allows me to become well aware that the battle to "detoxicate" myself from all the diets my body has undergone will be a long one. At the same time, it gives me empowerment to stop being submerged into the 'diet' mentality and move on to eating intuitively. I would recommend this book to all those struggling with useless dieting, and all those who simply want to improve their eating style to a more healthy and a more natural one.

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As a Registered Dietitian, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who feels trapped in diet-land, anyone who wants to lose weight, and basically everyone else who eats. If you have ever been on a diet or struggled with weight, you will recognize yourself in some ways in this book; food is meant to be an enjoyable part of life, but the very act of eating has become so overwhelmed with confusion and guilt for many people. "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts" abound, and many people are just plain miserable when it comes to their weight and food. It doesn't have to be that way! This book teaches what is called the "non-diet" approach, and I believe it is the answer to life-long weight management.

iPod: The Missing Manual (Missing Manuals)

iPod: The Missing ManualThis newest offering from the Missing Manual series focuses on the iPod touch (presumably because it has the most features and the most things to know), but sets aside full chapters to talk about each of the other models (shuffle, nano, and classic). These sections cover not only how to control each device, but also some of the unique ways that you might choose to use them. For instance using the classic as a portable hard drive is discussed, as is using the shuffle as a flash drive and using the iPod nano as a personal trainer. If you already own your iPod you may not use or even read the sections for the other iPod models, but if I was in the market for a new iPod I'd probably look here to help me decide which model fit my needs best.

Once you've settled on a section to start on the book reads very well. The layout is nicely set up to direct you to the information you need. Important terms are often bolded and defined so that even the most novice reader can understand what the author is talking about and follow the step-by-step directions. I thought that some of the directions were more well laid out than others. For example, many of the directions are accompanied by pictures some of which are helpful and highlight the buttons you'll need to press. This is nice and makes learning easy, but some of the other pictures are just screenshots that don't really add to the directions that they accompany. If you are a little tech intuitive (and I mean just a tiny tiny bit) or if you read the entire book front to back and pick things up as you go this doesn't prove to be much of an issue, but I might hesitate to ship this one to grandma in hopes of never having to answer a tech question again.

There is also a troubleshooting guide at the end of the book just in case your iPod isn't working properly.

Along with its coverage of the iPods themselves this book covers iTunes in great depth. It includes the basics like buying and organizing your music and videos, making playlists, and importing music from CDs. It also has some more advanced and niche information like what video file types will work with your device (it also provides software suggestions for converting between file types). Overall the iTunes coverage is very strong (and rather long making up close to 100 pages of the book) which is great because regardless of the type of iPod you have you'll need to use iTunes and with this book you'll be able to get the most out of it.

****

Overall/Final thoughts

Great coverage of the iPod touch

Good coverage of the unique features in each of the other iPods in apples line (nano, shuffle, classic)

Thorough coverage of everything iTunes

Most of the walk throughs are clear, but some could have more helpful pictures

****

4 stars and a strong recommendation

iPods are supposed to be simple enough anyone can figure out how to use them, yet some applications and navigating iTunes isn't always as easy as one would think it should be, especially for people who aren't gadget fanatics and technology geeks. And those people often feel stupid having to ask someone for help. This book is the answer to that dilemma, that is if your dilemma is specifically the use of an iPod.

More than that though, this book will give you different ideas of what to do with your iPod, and different ways in which it can be used other than the most basic.

I found this book to be helpful especially in regards to its instructions concerning iTunes. It has a heavy concentration on the iPod Touch, which makes sense, but it does not in any way neglect the rest of the line up.

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This is a well written, very informative book that most users will find very useful. I've been a Mac user since the very beginning, bought my first in 1979, and have exclusively owned Macs ever since, including in periods when doing so was painful. I'm not an expert, yet am experienced. I learned a number of new ipod related techniques from this book. What "with David Pogue" means is not clear. I gather he helped with editing. J.D. Biersdorfer writes well, yet it clearly seems she is the author of note with Mr. Pogue's involvement being limited, perhaps on the cover to boost marketing? I enjoy David's writing, hence my veiled complaint. All in all, a useful, very practical book full of insight and technique. Highly recommended.

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So far have found answers easily to every question I have come up with for the new iPod touch 5g. (upgraded from iPod Touch 3g)

Very good Table of contents, very navigable. (this refers to the Kindle version)

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This book is fantastic for owners of the iPod Touch, digging into use of the device in ways that save you the time of exploration on your own. It lets you get past the work of learning and right down to playing.

Overall, the book presents a user manual to all types of iPods and the iTunes program. As a practical matter, however, there is limited attention given to the other styles of iPod, perhaps because they simply don't have the same vast functionality of the Touch.

The book covers everything from initial startup to transfer of music and videos to Apps and wireless use, including recommendations on settings and suggested sources to find Apps, accessories and other products to enhance your use of the iPod.

Much of the appeal of an iPod is that Apple made it very intuitive and easy to figure out how to use. With the Touch, the device has gotten complex enough that having a manual is actually (maybe for the first time) useful. Between the music, the video capabilities, wi-fi and internet connectivity, the built-in camera, and voice activation, it is almost assured that you will learn something useful while reading this book.

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Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy - Until You're 80 and Beyond

Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy - Until You're 80 and BeyondI read Dr. Lodges and Chris Crowley's book and it changed me forever. I first saw these two authors on CBN and then ordered the book, "Younger Next Year for Women". What I like about this book in terms of its style and reading is that it is balanced between Dr. Lodge's biology and DNA subject matter and Chris Crowley's shoot from the hip style. Yes, they do advocate exercise, but nothing so mundane as you find in typical exercise or motivation books. Nothing in any other exercise book ever woke me up like this book. More than just another exercise or fitness book, this book explains why and how we age, why we get fat, why and how we program our body and cells to die instead of grow. This book explains how our modern life style has confused the programming of our body and caused us to get fat, grow old, get stiff, get diseased and finally die. These things don't just happen to us we cause them to happen! That's right, we program our DNA and cells to age and die by our life style and activity, or lack thereof, which tells our body what to do with the next generation of cells. It also goes into what our bodies were designed for and how to work in harmony with that perfect design to obtain optimum performance. Once I learned this, I suddenly became aware that I had been setting my body up to die, day by day, one dead cell after another. I changed in the instant I read the first couple of chapters. This book is a real eye opener and instead of motivating you to do push ups or do this or that, this book integrates the whole life system of human evolution and biology and social attitude based on the design and makeup of the human genetic machine. It puts you on the right track to do what your body and cells were made to do and to do it well for a long and healthy life. I read this book cover to cover and it motivated me to begin an exercise and "life" program which completely changed my health for the better. I now do six days a week of cardio and exercise, have more energy, more drive, more motivation each day than I've ever had in my life and for the first time in my life, I'm pain free with more flexibility, endurance, and resiliancy than ever before. I've lost 15 lbs and dropped to a size 2 and can meet my daily work challenges with so much energy, I'm amazed. I have no longer programmed my body and cells to die but to live, and live fully and live each day with zeal and motivation. In changing my diet I also discovered I had food allergies which I never knew I had before. This book took me into a new direction and opened a whole other area of thought about my health, diet and exercise and spurned me in a new direction of wellness and wellness research. I've told many people about it and am buying several copies for friends and family. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to awaken their minds and bodies and be alive again. And especially for anyone in that age zone where health becomes a daily issue of concern.

I can't even count the number of self-help books I have read. I have a degree in holistic science. I "know" all the things we are supposed to do. But having come thru a particularly tough phase in life, including the loss of a committed relationship, two cross country relocations and two job changes all within the last 5-6 years, I hit the age of 60 wondering, where did all the time go? what do I do now? is it true, as I always believed, that it is "never too late"? While I was pondering those questions, the age of 61 rolled around, and all of a sudden I felt everything from the last few years finally took its toll. I tried adding up the positives: I finally live in my most favorite place; I am consistently thought to look younger than I am; I work for a wonderful organization that serves a great cause; I have had amazingly good health and I am the only one I know past 60 who has no aches nor pains; I ran a half-marathon this spring; I have great friends; I have a meaningful spiritual life. Yet I still felt like I had run out of luck, and the downhill slide was before me.

I am literally driving my car around with three crates of books I need to get rid of, but somehow I got captured once again by a book club that offers those 5-6 books for 99 cents. One of the clinchers was the title of this book. I thought, how crazy can I be falling for a title like that?!

Earlier this week my book package came, and last night I read almost this whole book (I recommend reading Part II well before you finish Part I, it is totally inspirational). The two-generational perspective of Chris and Harry is unique; Chris' wit and his own story often fool the reader into thinking it's the voice of the younger one. Harry has the scientific backup and puts the nuts and bolts into Chris' idealism. This is truly one of the best books I have ever read, or perhaps it was just what I needed at the time of life I have reached whether you want to use Gail Sheehy's term "Second Adulthood" or the Third Act or however you want to think of what used to be called the "golden years."

I saw retirement kill my father in his early 80s, so I had already decided that I didn't want to go that route. My financial condition assures that! One reviewer herein commented that the book did not address mental fitness it certainly does. Chris makes much of getting involved in new relationships, in taking on new causes and interests and activities I love his, just say "yes" when you have an opportunity to become involved in something but feel like sitting home and watching TV. I couldn't believe I reached a point in life where I was turning into a couch potato.

Having been a regular runner and a fair tennis player, I felt my half-marathon last spring was my last hurrah. I have been going home after work and taking naps, something I have never done in my life. I have wept at the thought of never receiving another hug or a kiss, as there are no prospects of connectedness for me (I am probably wearing my negativity on my face, driving anyone away who still has a zest for life). I lost a great love, having found him after I was 50, so I have become convinced, after 60, the odds are totally against me. And even what enthusiasm I may have had for life has been drowned in a horror that no matter what good may come my way, OLD WOMAN is stamped on every succeeding day.

Today I have a new lease on life from this book. That crazy sign-up for yet another book club must have been Providence. I can't get back my youth but I am taking back my life. I took a brisk walk before breakfast this morning, did a few minutes of yoga, and went online to Amazon to see if I could get this book every woman I know, my friends from their 40s to their 70s, is getting this book for the next birthday or holiday gift.

Get it, read it, live it, give it. I finally feel like I am going to have a great life again, and I'll be such a magnet of goodness and joy and warmth, like Chris maybe there will even be love again. For now I am going to hug my cat a little more and spend more time with friends and less time with the TV. The science in this book is sound, and the inspiration is unmatched. Thanks to Harry and Chris for snapping me out of the gloom and doom and their word decay. I am 61 years young!!!!

Buy Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy - Until You're 80 and Beyond Now

Chris and Harry tag-team throughout this book to provide good information and inspiration. As other reviewers have stated, most of the information isn't new, but it's said in a way that makes it relevant and useful. And Chris is a jolly role model for all of us.

I'm not sure why this book motivates me when I already knew much of the information in it. Maybe it was the ongoing (relentless) mention of aging as decay in the US. Or pounding home the point of how much control we have over how we age. Or maybe just wanting to have fun being 71 like Chris. (My mom, 78, has heart disease. Her sister died at 71 and her other sister, 69, has cancer.)

I love the dead honest tone of this book. No diet plan, no recipes, no Kumbaya, no gimmicks just straight talk with some humor thrown in.

A bit of criticism: I wish they had added a female author for this book. Getting the male perspective on female aging was usually fine, but sometimes seemed lacking. Chris and Harry could quote statistics and give examples, but they really don't know. (Notable difference between reading Gail Sheehy's books on menopause and female aging, and reading this book.)

Read Best Reviews of Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy - Until You're 80 and Beyond Here

So what's the deal? Can you really be younger next year? As another reviewer says, "Well, maybe." But the "maybe" isn't based on sketchy science, less-than-reliable studies, or even unclear advice; the "maybe" is based on whether or not the reader is willing to follow the very clear and well-supported advice, which is based on new but exciting discoveries in the science of aging bodies.

The advice? Seven basic and fairly straightforward rules, beginning with exercise (6 days a week for the rest of your life) and ending with finding something to be committed to and excited about (for the rest of your life), with some talk about not eating crap and a few other recommendations in between. Simple to understand, but not so simple to do, maybe most especially that thing about working out 6 days a week, every week, until they carry you out. That's a tough pill to swallow for many of us, but the authors make a clear and convincing case that it can be a magic pill, a pill that can promote wellness and firmness into our 80s and beyond, and help most of us replace what might have been a frail and desperate old age with a vigorous, joyful "next third" of our lives.

And what a great job they do of making that case, not only in the sense of presenting a clear and persuasive argument, but also in presenting it in a witty, entertaining, but also very direct style. The authors are one doctor and one of his patients, and they alternate chapters, sort of a team-teaching style, where Harry, the doc, gives you the science, and Chris, the regular guy, talks about how the science plays out in your life, and has in his. Interestingly enough, while Harry is the scientist, he has a pleasant, almost gentle bedside-or, in this case, bookside-manner, and Chris is the one who's inclined to be a little severe, though in an encouraging, coach-like way. So while Chris admits he wanted Rule #1 to be something like "Exercise 7 days a week," he tells us that Harry persuaded him to let us off with 6 days a week. Chris scolds us severely when we ask, as he imagines us doing, "How about 5 days, or even one day? Isn't that better than nothing?" No! Chris insists (you can almost see him stamping his foot), it's NOT better than nothing. But then he patiently explains his point, and leads us carefully through the reasons why one day, or even three, four, or five days, are not better than nothing. (In a former life, Chris was an attorney, and you can hear the litigator's flawless logic and attention to detailed argument in the way he builds his case for exercise. It's really quite wonderful!)

But Chris is no monster. (Here, take a minute to run over all the old lawyer jokes in your head and get it out of your system.) Again, he's the coach, variously demanding compliance or cajoling when it makes sense, browbeating when he has to, telling a joke now and then, and through it all, leading you along the path to success. He has lots of little tips and tricks to offer about all the rules. And he's a bit of wit at it, too. I've read lots of books on the subject of getting in shape, and none of them have made me smile, even chuckle, as this one does. As I was finishing the last chapter or so, I found that I was unhappy that it was all about to end, the way you're sorry that you've reached the end of a good novel or a wonderful movie. Fortunately, the authors have developed a very supportive website where you can ask questions, join a forum, get in on a chat now and then, and get more detailed advice about exercise and nutrition.

Some say there's not much "substance" or nothing new here. OK, if you don't count the several chapters that explain new scientific understandings of how important daily strenuous exercise is to our health as we age; if you don't count the bibliography that offers titles to fill in the stuff that the authors don't claim to be able to offer; if you don't count the entertaining, inspiring, and always on-topic message of the book: work out almost every day, quit eating junk, and find something in life to give a rip about.

To learn more, you'll have to read the book. You owe it yourself. But don't delay-the clock is ticking.

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I love "Younger Next Year". This is a rewrite that clearly IS a rewrite intended for women... a chapter on menopause added, etc, but the original book is fresher and I have other resources on female aging if I need them. Not bad but buy the other book and try to preview this one before you decide you need to own both.

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Making Natural Liquid Soaps: Herbal Shower Gels / Conditioning Shampoos / Moisturizing Hand Soaps

Making Natural Liquid Soaps: Herbal Shower Gels / Conditioning Shampoos / Moisturizing Hand SoapsI've been a cold-process soapmaker for 2 years and was ready to explore other kinds of soapmaking. I picked up C. Failor's book on liquid soapmaking and was hooked. There's a lot of great information here. Initially I was a bit overwhelmed before diving in, but that's how I felt before making my first batch of cold-process soap as well! Liquid soapmaking, like almost every other craft, requires just a little time and patience before it becomes second nature. My first batch of liquid soap was a success-perfectly crystal-clear-and with a couple more recipes under my belt, I feel as comfortable with this soapmaking as I do with cold-process soapmaking. I was a bit perplexed by the review of October 18th in which Michelle referred to hard-to-obtain chemicals and complex chemical equations. There are no chemical equations in this book and as for the chemicals-does she mean potassium hydroxide, borax, boric acid? Nor do I agree with her that this book is for "professional" soapmakers only. The book is for anyone who wants so make their own natural liquid soap ( since almost all liquid soaps on the market are synthetic).

Review of Making Natural Liquid Soaps, by Catherine Failor ISBN: 1-58017-243-1

Are we ready for something completely new in soap making? I think so. :)

Catherine Failor's new book is with the times. She has apparently been hard at work in her kitchen coming up with fun new ways to play with soap!

The focus here is making liquid soap, shampoo, dog shampoo, shower gels, and bubble bath. Yep, everything people have been asking me for lately.

This is NOT a cake mix type of book. It is complete instructions from making these items from scratch. One word of warning though, you WILL have to get POTASSIUM hydroxide to use this book. ....................

Ms Failor goes into great detail to explain her hot process method. There are lots of pictures to help! The friendly layout of this book will remind you of a magazine article. A very LONG magazine article, haahaa.

I just finished reading this and I have to tell ya, I have learned a lot about fats and soaps and hot process and liquid soaps, and so much more! There are little charts to help you help yourself in making your own recipes, although there are enough recipes in this book to keep you chained to the stove creating for a long time!

It is obvious that the author has been working with these recipes in her book for quite some time and has discovered the pitfalls before hand and already advised you how to handle them in the trouble shooting section.

There is a healthy section on blending scents, both fragrances and essential oils. And I can't even do my usual complaint about over usage of essential oils, haahaa, she uses the 'by the part' method of blending so it fits everyone's needs. ;)

Being alcohol sensitive myself, I really appreciate that she has two different methods in the book. There is a method that works without using alcohol to clarify the soap. She even gives properties of the various fats and oils that you use based on clarity of the finished products.

If you are the type of person who just won't follow complete instructions, this book is not for you. I think it is written well enough for a beginner to use, but I don't know that a beginner is so hooked on soap making that they will want to take this on. It is complicated as far as soap making goes. Liquid soap making and shampoo making require a lot more effort than cold process soap making. But, if you are a seasoned soap maker who has become a bit bored with doing the same ol' thing, this is definitely for you.

I'm excited to try out these shampoos and shower gels. :) ..............................................it is rare to find such a new topic that you can really sink your teeth in to. Also, it is rare to find such a complete book that isn't the same old thing with a different cover. :) I'm impressed and the book got me excited!

I highly recommend this book. :)...................

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An excellent book which answers the questions I was wondering most about...both the details and the big picture...such as "what does the contents in the pan look like at different stages? What are the properties of the various ingredients? How do they react under different circumstances? This is a beautiful book also the second one I own by Failor. Being a graphic designer myself, with a definite scientific "bent," this seems to be an ideal text for me helps me make more sense of my cold-processing soap books also it's just the right combination of "visuals" and scientific, practical information. This book should be an essential in any soap-making addict's library.

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I have been making cold process soap for years and was very excited to see this book that teaches you (finally) to make liquid soap through hot process. It is, however, very difficult to follow and there are several sections where the author trips up the reader and confuses the intructions. She also tells us to add color and scent and bottle your product immediately. This made my soap change weird colors and lose it's scent so I do not recommend this from my experience. Store it in a huge sealed tub, leave out the color, scent when it cools and bottle it when you are ready to give it to someone. I was able to turn out a nice batch this way but never felt as though I followed the directions properly. Also, unlike cold process, you cannot find all of your ingredients at the grocery store. You must find a chemical supplier which makes the process a little harder. On a whole, the book is great and unlike anything else on the market. This author continues to publish books that push the soapmaker one step further which I like. Be prepared for a good lesson in patience. This is not quick stuff as it took me a whole day to make my first batch. But like cold process, it gets easier and quicker the more you do it.

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After making cold process soap for several several years, and working in product development for a major soap company, I must say that this book is interesting, but not very practical and certainly confusing. I suppose I need more science to really understand this process. I found the soap to be very drying, with a "fat" smell that was really hard to cover. Also, the shelf life was not very long.

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Handbook For Pediatric Health Problems At Home And On The Road

Handbook For Pediatric Health Problems At Home And On The RoadI have read with great delight and interest this pediatric travel medicine book from cover to cover. I travel internationally with my young son and find the stories and advice not only helpful and informative, but realistic in light of the travel experiences detailed in the book. I have continued to use the book upon return from trips abroad as a standard reference work for pediatric medical issues which confront my son and his friends. This is truly the new "Dr. Spock" reference work of our day. Thanks to the author!!!

highly recommend the book! great especially if you plan to travel with your child.!

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Alzheimer's 911: Help, Hope, and Healing for the Caregivers

Alzheimer's 911: Help, Hope, and Healing for the CaregiversI have run an Alzheimer's Support Group for Caregivers for over 13 years and I bought this book for my group. I think it is one of the best books I have passed out because it is geared towards helping and advising the caregiver on how to take care of themselves not just their carepartner. That is a VERY important subject for caregivers!!!!!! I highly recommend it for any caregiver!! Jackie Baldwin

When a member of my family was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I thought I would be prepared. After all, I worked as a professional in the field and had shelves upon shelves of books on the subject. In the end, I was well informed but completely under whelmed. Was there nothing to hope for? No way to ever connect? Would every day be an uphill battle and a downhill journey? Not so, says the author of Alzheimer's 911. This book takes the glass half empty feeling and fills it to the top. Flowing over with wisdom and humor, the author guides the reader step by step to discover the unimaginable, a silver lining in the cloud of this disease. Finally, a book I could use and recommend.

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I just took my 88-year-old mother into my home. She has been diagnosed with dementia. When I was reading Alzheimer's 911, I kept running across behaviors my mother exhibits and getting "Ah-ha" moments. Then Frena Gray-Davidson had concrete suggestions regarding what to do. I especially like the advice on nutrition. And the book is full of so much love. You can tell she has really been in the trenches with elderly folks with dementia. She isn't just professorial or medical or "professional". That's not what you need when you are working with someone who is experiencing the world almost entirely on an emotional level. Medically oriented writers aren't going to tell you to say, "Let's go eat cookies," to your mom when she is upset, but I tried it and it worked. When "the towels are too thick" is a matter of major importance in your life because you mom with dementia hates them and you are running all over town looking for thin ones (thank you dollar stores), you need down to earth advice. Down to earth advice is all you will get in Alzheimer's 911. I would compare it to the book "What to Expect When You are Expecting" which was my pregnancy bible. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you what to do.

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I come from working in the world of severe mental illness. When the author of this book pointed out that everyone with dementia does it in his or her own unique way, I knew she was on the right track. In my field a label of "schizophrenia" helped no one make sense of the psychotic process. Learning to walk in the person's world with them did. I can see that knowing the medical facts of Alzheimer's has little to do with understanding a person's soul journey. It seems Gray-Davidson knows a great deal about caring for the hurting heart of a person living more and more away from our ordinary reality, in this case with Alzheimer's. The people who care for others, in my field or hers, need most to know about how to do this. The afflicted person is very, very lonely and it is the caregiver who is willing to learn the ways of patience and understanding and entering into this new world that can really make a difference. Gray-Davidson provides a wonderful guide through the challenges of Alzheimer's caregiving. A wise book.

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Not recommended shallow advice, and most alarmingly treats dementia as a process that "allows elders to do the important work of processing their oldest memories and conflicts".

She barely acknowledges the well-documented fact that dementia results from progressive brain damage the eventual loss of a quarter or even a third or more of brain tissue, a loss which can be easily seen even by laypeople through diagnostic imaging.

Specifically:

1) She treats serious issues casually. She says, for example, that "agitation never killed anyone" and that caregivers should just wait it out if they can't soothe or distract the person. Well, the intense agitation that often accompanies dementia is pure emotional misery for the loved one who experiences it. Emotional pain should be treated as seriously as physical pain. Distraction and soothing often don't help at all. Very small doses of psychiatric meds often help return quality of life to our family members with very low risk of side effects.

2) She plays amateur psychologist. "Most people with dementia about 90%" had terrible childhoods". Huh? Are we to believe that a traumatic childhood event planted some kind of time-release brain damage that suddenly emerges, oh, seventy or eighty years later. This is patently absurd. We would never assert that people with cancer had traumatic childhoods. (and of course, this conveniently ignores early onset dementia's documented genetic links!)

3) She treats delusions as reality. She seems to believe that dementia results in "recovered memories" of abuse and other awful experiences, rather than recognizing them as the delusions (rigidly held false beliefs) that they are. For example, my own mother believes that she has been physically attacked except that I know with certainty that it never, ever happened. Delusions like these are usually very upsetting to people with dementia, but can be easily controlled in most folks with very small doses of medication unless you believe like this author that such memories are real, and therefore allow your loved one to continually become upset about these terrible "events" that they keep "processing."

4) Her "practical advice" is incredibly superficial. She brushes over the incredibly challenging and intense behaviors that many people with dementia exhibit and offers few specific tips. Bathing, clothing, toileting and incontinence, suspicion, paranoia and many more agonizing behaviors all brushed over lightly with the suggestion that these things are easy to deal with except that caregivers are "notably unwilling" to learn new approaches.

That conclusion would come as a shock to the millions of devoted caregivers out there who DO reach out for help, desperately looked for better ideas and specific suggestions, trying everything they can think of to help their loved ones.

I could go on, but I won't.

Instead, try "Learning to Speak Alzheimers" or check the very active and helpful message boards hosted by the Alzheimer's Association.

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Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls

Beauty Pearls for Chemo GirlsMany of our bodies just can't stand up to the environmental toxins, chemical additives, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and genetic modifications in the food and water supply these days. So lots and lots of us are getting cancer, which is good for Big Pharma profits but very bad for us! As the American Health Care landscape changes, alternative solutions, including Insulin Potentiation Therapy, which utilizes 1/10 the amount of chemo medicine much more effectively, will hopefully be encouraged and covered by insurance, but for now, we are stuck with the status quo solutions that mainstream Doctors endorse and our insurance will cover, which usually means chemotherapy in large doses. Hopefully we will look back, 10 years from now, and realize how barbaric chemotherapy really is, at least the way it is administered today, but it's what we've got to deal with, and our positive attitude toward our own healing protocol is key.

"Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls" is a precious gift of the heart to women everywhere. Authors Marybeth Maida and Debbie Kiederer have rallied together a powerful group consciousness for us to plug into, with a network of support from celebrities, beauty, fashion, health, psychological and spiritual experts as well as other women facing this extreme challenge, and those who have emerged triumphant and whole from the ordeal. Imparting pearls of wisdom is what this book is all about, and it addresses this journey of healing in such a comprehensive way, that pretty much every aspect of what we could possibly face is covered with excellent recommendations.

I recently gave a speech on alternative cancer cures at a University and when I asked these young people how many of them knew someone who had been affected by cancer, every hand went up. If we have not personally been affected, we know someone who has and we can be of great help to them by gifting them this book, imparting our own pearls of wisdom as gleaned from this book, or at least applying this knowledge to know how to be of the greatest assistance to them.

Betsey Johnson is my favorite Designer and her first hand experience with cancer allowed her to write the perfect forward to the book; "It's so obvious to me that the way a woman looks while she's going through chemo is going to affect the way she feels...commit to giving yourself all the comfort and kindness you can manage." I'm wearing a Betsey Johnson dress at this very moment and have dozens more in my closet, so her name alone would have drawn me to this book, but then what a wealth of treasure I discovered there!

From Betsey, we launch into a journey, with our first consideration being the "Mane Event", where we learn about hair loss, hair restoration, the choosing of wigs and other ways of covering our heads if we so choose to. Personally, the monk`s cleanly shaved head has always appealed to me with bright colored hats when it is cold, but everyone is different. We then visit the world of skin care and makeup, then on to fashion. We learn expert techniques of taking care of our bodies, covering every possible physical issue in light of chemo`s side effects. We learn how to effectively assemble our health care team and set up our daily routine for optimal health, which includes our diet, massage and other therapies and solutions for issues of hormonal balance, which is so important because so many women are plunged into menopause abruptly during this process.

My favorite chapter is entitled, The Integrative Approach, which addresses alternative and integrative medicine questions. I found this chapter to be conservatively aligned in conjunction with standard medicine, but this is the reality of the route most will choose. Having enough guts and money to follow a purely alternative path is a huge challenge in itself, that few are well equipped enough to follow through with and survive. In the final chapter, we are encouraged to embrace our own spirituality at this very spiritual time where many important resolutions and transformations occur. This may also necessitate the contemplation of our own final transition (at least this time around). Some spiritual seers have pointed out that we are all in the process of dieing, either now or later and that using death as an Advisor is a spiritually healthy practice for anyone. Those of us who are said goodbye to are also well served by these particular pearls of wisdom.

I especially appreciated being able to understand how to help a person facing this challenge. Since I read this book, a dear friend of mine, who lives close by, found herself in the position of needing this kind of support, and I was able to sincerely offer it in a very constructive way; "Assign me a job, and I really mean it!" All our mutual friends did the same thing and her burdens from everyday responsibilities have been lightened, she is well accompanied to her treatments and attended afterwards, her house is clean, groceries in the fridge and healthy food is prepared for her when she needs it most, allowing her to focus more on getting well. It has been fun and rewarding for us too and it was this book that helped us understand how best to do that. Thanks Debbie and my dearest Marybeth!

ohmygosh, this book is AMAZING! Having gone through cancer myself, I picked this book up and could not believe all the authors have covered: hair, skin, fashion, dealing with doctors, taking care of yourself, your family, your mind, your soul; even the embarrassing girl things like infections and not feeling desirable are all dealt with very sensitively and without any sort of cuteness. They lay out what might happen and then tell you how to deal with it and I for one am very grateful to have this to give to my friend now that she's facing the cancer battle. What a great resource! If you're sick, buy it and if you know someone who is, get it for her -BEAUTY PEARLS IS DA BOMB!!!

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This book is a perfect example of one woman taking her own cancer experience and turning it into something incredibly positive for those who have or will soon walk in those same "cancer" shoes. I would imagine that everyone can close their eyes and think of at least one person going through cancer treatment or one person whose life has been touched by someone fighting the good fight. What a perfect gift to give them! This book is encouraging, inspirational and fool of great information for women who embark on this journey. It lets "Chemo Girls' know: "You are not alone!" I recommend this book for anyone and everyone who has been touched by cancer. Thank you to the authors for pouring their heart and soul into the pages!

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When my sister first was diagnosed with cancer, I bought her a book beacuse I felt so helpless, but the book didn't address any of her real concerns. How I wish this book was in print at that time!

Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls is a very practical and helpful guide to almost anything a woman has a difficult time with during chemo: how to pick out the best wig, how to tastefully hide the fact that your eyebrows and eyelashes are gone, foods that might sit better in your stomach during chemo...THIS book has it all. There's even a section that deals with spirituality. I LOVE that the author discusses her own experiences, but the book's focus isn't on herself. The focus is on all of the FANTASTIC, famous contributors in every field and their expert advice: Oribe, Oscar Blandi, etc..., all providing very useful and practical information. I LOVED this book and believe it will truly assist many women out there going through one of the worst times in their lives! Kudos to the authors for doing such a splendid job!

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I had two friends going through chemo and I bought the books for them. It helped them so much and answered so many questions they had. They saw they weren't going through this alone. They really appreciated having the books.

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