Diet Books

I am a 20 year old college student. I had to write a nutrition paper for the Syrian Culture and I used Helen Corey's cookbook. I found the dishes extremely interesting and excellent tasting when made. The nutrition value for many of the food items was great for low-fat, high-protein, high-potassium, and high in other vitamins and minerals. It's an excellent choice for all cultures, religions, and ages!

This cookbook offers a wonderful introduction to Syrian and Lebanese cooking. Wonderful index and cross-reference help the beginner feel comfortable with the new terms and cooking ingredients. Helen Corey's book is more than just a cookbook however; she offers insight to the heritage of the foods and the traditions these regions bring to International cooking. I recommend this book to all cooks; whether they are already familiar with these foods and cooking style or are just beginning to branch out from their our family's favorites. Ms. Corey has provided a feast a great recipes and photos that will stir up an appetite in anyone.

Helen Corey's cookbooks are so interesting for their recipes and also for Middle Eastern history. She has lovingly captured the expertise of her Mother in the recipes and photos. Sharing the Christian Orthodox faith with her, I recommend her books not just for Orthodox Christians but for all people. Helen is a tribute to her ehtnic community and to the United States.

Helen Corey's cookbook and video, really takes one on a journey to the Holy Land. Oh, how my Mother and Father would have loved them. The cookbook, Food from Biblical Lands, and video, The Art of Syrian & Lebanese Cooking, brings back many loving memories of my Mother cooking Syrian foods. We were blessed with her until she was 91 years old, and she did most of the Syrian cooking while she was alive. I have tried to remember her different recipes, and with Helen's cookbook and video it helps bring it to life. It is as though Mother has returned to remind me what to put into each recipe. It is a precious bit of the past, here in the present. Thank you Helen for this wonderful gift. Keep up the good work.

Each recipe is explained in detail and if an ingredient is uncommon she explains where to get it and what it is. She writes the recipes so that the end result turns out wonderfully. I grew up eating this food in Canton, OH and her recipes taste just the way the old Syrians would have prepared it. I was so happy to find a cookbook so true to the old world style. There are meat recipes as well as vegetable based cuisine, desserts, and even how to make the old Syrian cheese usually served with breakfast. It is a concise, great book and I wish more people knew how to prepare meals like this.

Was struggling with eating pork when I read in the Bible we where not suppose to...Ordered this book and it made it very clear...I do not eat pork any more....Author is a very nice lady also....Would recommend it to any one searching for answers

I loved this book. It is not just about food. I thought it was presented well and a lot of fun to read.

Traditional Christian doctrine tells us that God gave dietary laws to Israel, but then abolished those laws when our Messiah came. There are quite a few New Testament scriptures to back up this view, to be sure -- I used to rely on them heavily myself to defend my non-kosher diet! I became suspicious that something was amiss when I came across Isaiah 65:4, where God expresses his disgust with the practice of eating the flesh of pigs and other unclean meat, in the same chapter as giving prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled about the new heavens and new earth. It doesn't make much sense to tie these two things together if the dietary laws have been abolished in the past. After a lot of reading, thinking, and praying, I came to the conclusion that my traditional viewpoint was wrong.

I probably could have saved myself the trouble of further research if I had read this book first. Hope Egan combines discussions of food-related scriptures with some basic scientific principles to show why we were simply designed to eat certain types of animals, but not others. She makes it clear that this is not a salvation issue, but a way to be obedient to God in one more area of our lives. I was impressed by her common-sense approach to this topic, and the fact that she is forthright without being pushy. She touches on the history of both Israel and the Church to show the proper context for New Testament scriptures, and how these scriptures came to be misinterpreted as the increasingly Gentile church lost touch with its Judaic roots. At the end of the book, there is a sizeable appendix with excerpts from Thomas Lancaster's writing, where he discusses several specific New Testament scriptures that are often used against the dietary laws. There are also helpful and specific lists of clean and unclean animals. The book focuses on the dietary laws, but in a more general sense, the authors also defend Torah observance as a whole.

If you are curious about the dietary laws, this book is an ideal source of food for thought. If you read this, I hope you do so with an open mind and a soft heart. I give it 5 stars for the excellent writing and the unique (but applicable) subject matter. Shalom!

The author of this book did an excellent job explaining one aspect, out of many, which christians (or those claiming to be) fail(or don't even try) to accomplish. This book shows, through the aspect of food, that if we have been truly reborn, then God, through Jesus Christ, will inspire us with the Holy Spirit to search the scriptures and live our daily lives, even down to the tiniest details, to honor the commands of our heavenly Father, who not only wants us to be healthy in our hearts and minds, but in our bodies(our temples) as well. I pray for any who buy and read this book that their minds be opened to the truth of the gospel of God.

This book was informative and gives the reader a chance to decide for themselves what is approved food. I believe if more people knew what God's instructions regarding "approved" food for his "chosen" people, there would be much less sickness and disease in America today.

I don't know why as a Christian I was brought up thinking ham was a perfectly acceptable Easter dinner. The scientific reasons that pork and shellfish should not be consumed should be reason enough to make it a forbidden food for Jews and Christians alike. I gave up Biblicly unclean foods about a year and a half ago and feel 20 years younger!

I bought this book to replace a loaned copy that wasn't returned, because I definitely want to keep a copy in my personal library - even though I've gone through menopause now.
After I embraced the concepts in this book and began to use them in my life I stopped having difficult periods. I'm not saying that I never had another cramp, but as my body learned to trust that I was going to support it and give it as much rest as I could during my periods, it gave me a little leniency on those times that I felt I really had to be active.
Even though it was sometimes difficult to refuse invitations because I was going to need to rest and be quiet during my periods as much as possible, the payoffs were enormous. After I had established enough trust with my body that I would give it the quiet time it needed, we began to be able to negotiate. In additon to no longer having really bad cramps, I went from having periods lasting up to a week to a mere three days. I also learned to respect the rhythms in nature more, and I became much more intuitive and connected to guidance. I stopped viewing periods as a burden and began to see them as a gift. And when the time came, I went through menopause without even a supplement or doctors visit.

A nightmare experience at the hands of a brutal doctor who was giving her an internal exam sent Lara Owen off on this fascinating exploration into the rich underworld of the female body. It's a well-written, passionate and thoughtful plea for a return to body-consciousness and acceptance of what it is to be female. The case studies are inspiring, the ideas for self-healing and developing the creativity inherent at this time of the month very intriguing. There is no strident hectoring - Lara Owen writes from the heart - or should I say the womb - and has made a pioneering track for all women, whether interested in enjoying rather than enduring their periods, or the hidden depths of the female psyche. Men who want to understand women should read it too! If you read one book this year, let it be this one!

A great read for women who are conscious of their bodies and what they are capable of. Also a great read for those beginning on the road to awareness. Women are amazing creatures and it is time we honor ourselves. It is also time we stop whining about what others have done to us and fix what we have enabled to occur.

If you are looking to truly honor the gift of the Goddess and your ability to create life without cursing that gift, this is the book is for you.

'Her blood is Gold' is a wonderful take on a subject of which, I, like most women, have given little thought to, except for the occasional dispair.

An extremely fast and uncomplicated read, it is essentially an exploration of various misognist treatments of women and their monthly 'curse', and how we as women can come to accept and love with periods, rather than just live with them.

The crux of the work is the idea that women are in the prime of their creativity during menstruation, and thus should take time off to explore this blessing. It also offers helpful monthly rituals and a divinely liberating ode to bellies. Additionally, there is a brief history of menstruation and its link to the goddess.

I was throughly absorbed in this work, however I have a minor issue with the piece. I found it almost a case of reverse sexism, and wondered to myself, when do men get their time off?

Additionally, I felt it played into the hands of prehistorical greek notions of women as 'fevered' and liable to insane outbursts of emotion.

Perhaps I found that where it did not exist, but regardless, I thoughly enjoyed this informative feminist work.

I was thrilled to discover Lara Owen's book, Honoring Menstruation. I myself have been exploring my menstrual process in-depth since 1988, and teach workshops to women who want to transform menstrual symptoms into menstrual empowerment and pleasure. I say these things about myself to indicate that I am reviewing this book from a particular vantage point, that of a woman who has been honoring her period for many years.

I found that Lara put into words many things that I've been thinking for years, and also introduced me to new ways of thinking about and responding to my menstrual cycle. This is a wonderful book for any woman who wants to become more empowered, more herself, more creative, more joyful.

Mothers, grandmothers, and aunts will also find it useful for helping them introduce young women into a menstruation-positive view of their upcoming or just-started periods.

I know that if you take the time to read this book and apply its wisdom in your own life, you will not regret it.

Written by a nurse this book examines the relationships she develops with several of her patients. Examining their reactions and her own to the problems faced by women relating to their bodies, their health and social situations. Very moving and at times a real eye opener.

As a male nurse I saw parallels to my own experiences. I also came to appreciate nuances of a woman's experiences and viewpoint previously unknown to me.

I have recommended this fine, beautifully-written book to all my friends, and to all my colleagues in the health-care profession. I tell them that though this book stitches together the stories of a nurse-practioner and four of her women patients (fictional composites, to protect the privacy of the author's real patients), it is a book that reaches beyond the subject of the female experience in the medical world. Cortney Davis writes compellingly about humanity--about the vulnerability of both the human body and the human spirit. In addition to her obvious gifts as a writer, she offers the reader the gift of her strong, sensitive spirit.

I have recommended this fine, beautifully-written book to all my friends, and to all my colleagues in the health-care profession. I tell them that though this book stitches together the stories of a nurse-practioner and four of her women patients (fictional composites, to protect the privacy of the author's real patients), it is a book that reaches beyond the subject of the female experience in the medical world. Cortney Davis writes compellingly about humanity--about the vulnerability of both the human body and the human spirit. In addition to her obvious gifts as a writer, she offers the reader the gift of her strong, sensitive spirit.

In I Knew a Woman Cortney Davis leads us where every woman fears to tread; through the swing doors and down the corridors to an often far-to-busy-to-see-us women's clinic reception desk. The poorer the clinic the more tatty and out of date the magazines, scattered like bird seed to keep our minds occupied while we wait. But there is rarely any item in them to calm the nervousness that women feel on checking in. After the wait your name is called, you go to a room, undress to wait again. Nothing unlocks the nervousness that numbs the mind. Nothing that is, until Davis or one of the legion of nurses like her enters the room. But what is it that these nurses really do for women? I think the answer is that as much as we open and give them, they receive us as complete women.
Long ago Davis honed the art of nursing her complete patient and over the last decade she has also practiced the art of writing. In her poetry and prose she gives us back ourselves, a mirror image of our womanhood. See, she seems to say, see, this is you and this is all of us, do not be afraid.
Davis is a poet as well as a prose writer and in I Knew a Woman her prose has reached a new level of lyrical movement. During the late fifties, as medical knowledge and science began to explode the person inside the patient was often getting left behind. Dr. A.F. Clark-Kennedy of the London Hospital wrote a small book called Patients as People; Medicine in its Human Setting. (Faber and Faber London 1957). He wove the stories of patients and their disease together showing young doctors and nurses how each related to the other. It was not until the seventies that physician writers such as Richard Selzer invited us to look again and remember patients as people. Davis has claimed her place alongside these two fine literate physicians as a writer of such caliber. I Knew a Woman is a book to be read by everyone; teachers, nurses, physicians and woman patients. Davis led us into the clinic with her poetic prose and we leave I Knew a Woman with a stronger and more open heart.
Muriel Murch
Author Journey in the Middle of the Road.
Living with Literature community radio.

Cortney Davis, nurse practitioner, poet, creative nonfiction writer, has written a remarkable book about the science and poetry of healing, about protocol and ritual, gnosis and diagnosis, and, above all else, the blossoming of hope. The laying on of hands.

Her book is a lyrical manifesto of Carl Jung's observation that "every personality has a story. Derangement happens when the story is denied. To heal, the patient had to rediscover his story." A good nurse is one who knows that it's just as important to hear her patients' stories as it is to palpate abdomens or check reflexes. In the exam room, that sacred space, four women tell Davis their stories. Like a good novel, Davis builds believable characters using dialogue and humor and dramatic scenes and then weaves her own story into theirs.

Healing literally means "wholeness," with the words "holy" and "heal" both deriving from the Anglo-Saxon "haelen," meaning "whole." Davis brings her rejected and discarded patients into the circle, and listens with an inward ear for those parts of them that have been silenced. Healing is restoration of communication within one's self, a restoration of balance, a willingness to change. Davis is a healer in the true sense of the word.

Eating disorder authority Michael Strober, Ph.D. and therapist Meg Schneider MA, LMSW combine their expertise in Just A Little Too Thin: How To Pull Your Child Back From The Brink Of An Eating Disorder, a straightforward guide to recognizing the dangerous signs of when one's daughter (or more rarely, one's son) shifts from becoming an "innocent" to "exhilarated" to "preoccupied dieter" - when dieting has less to do with weight and health and more to do with emotional issues that could prove fatal. Offering compassionate, no-nonsense advice on how to talk to one's children about weight issues, and guide him or her away from the slippery slope that can lead to anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders, Just A Little Too Thin is a valuable, jargon-free guide. Additional chapters also offer insight concerning when professional help or medical intervention are necessary, and if so, how to go about it. Highly recommended.

Eating disorder authority Michael Strober, Ph.D. and therapist Meg Schneider MA, LMSW combine their expertise in Just A Little Too Thin: How To Pull Your Child Back From The Brink Of An Eating Disorder, a straightforward guide to recognizing the dangerous signs of when one's daughter (or more rarely, one's son) shifts from becoming an "innocent" to "exhilarated" to "preoccupied dieter" - when dieting has less to do with weight and health and more to do with emotional issues that could prove fatal. Offering compassionate, no-nonsense advice on how to talk to one's children about weight issues, and guide him or her away from the slippery slope that can lead to anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders, Just A Little Too Thin is a valuable, jargon-free guide. Additional chapters also offer insight concerning when professional help or medical intervention are necessary, and if so, how to go about it. Highly recommended.

Eating disorders are ever more prevalent in an image-obsessed society, the phenomenon affecting young girls at an alarming rate. Faced with this concern, parents are often understandably overwhelmed, at a loss for information. This book is designed to help parents define their daughter's behavior, whether there are signs of a passing phase or more serious symptoms, making specific suggestions to interpret eating behavior. The focus of this volume is pre-disorder, appropriate information for parents before their daughter has slipped into pathology, offering insights for using this information proactively, concentrating on a developing girl before she falls victim to peer pressure and media saturation. The authors outline three stages of eating behavior: the innocent (but rigid) dieter, the exhilarated dieter and the distressed and preoccupied dieter. The evolution of these stages is subtle, the obsessive dieter ever more skilled in exercising aberrant behavior, offering logical excuses for a temporary problem that may, in fact, be accelerating, a condition that "weakens her emotionally, cognitively and physically."

Puberty is a critical factor in the onset of eating disorder or preoccupation with weight, the body's natural changes occurring with social expectations and hormonal acceleration, all of which may distort a girl's perception of her body, her food obsession and lack of nutrition gaining in significance. Other triggers include: intense participation in athletics, genetic predisposition to weight gain and the messages of family, society and peer pressure. Certainly the media sends a strong and consistent drumbeat of impossible perfection, television, the movies and the music industry major contributing factors. Add in an adolescent's need for control and the potential for an eating disorder deserves serious attention. One chapter offers detailed suggestions for counteracting the pervasiveness of a thin-oriented culture, changing the dialog before the damage is done, speaking positively about physical image, avoiding injurious remarks about overweight people, developing inner resources and natural talents and articulating feelings. Specific case studies offer insights into pre-adolescent thinking, some misperceptions that can be corrected as a girl views her identity and body in relation to the world at large.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are disorders that require immediate intervention, a clearly defined diagnosis of specific behaviors and a fear of fat that is not relieved by weight loss. In contrast, Just a Little Too Thin addresses the diet obsession, adolescents and pre-adolescents tailoring their eating habits to control weight gain, a still viable situation where parents can effectively work with their daughters to prevent more serious issues. The most effective treatment is preventive, focusing on teaching girls how to develop healthy self-perception, a valuable asset aimed at dealing with body image before it becomes a problem. Luan Gaines/ 2005.

Dr. Michael Strober has taken his life's work, synthesized it, and encapsulated in a very well written, accessible text. Dr. Strober is known internationally in academic psychiatry and psychology as a "triple threat". This means he has the highest respect as a clinician, teacher and researcher. When it comes to eating disorders you want Dr. Strober to care for you; you want him to teach you and you want to follow his research findings. Now all of these arenas are covered in one place: Just a Little Too Thin: How to Pull Your Child Back from the Brink of an Eating Disorder. I consider this a must read for any patient or family dealing with anorexia as well as all students and clinicians interested in eating disorder.

Dr. Michael Strober provides excellent insight for parents of girls suffering from eating disorders. His combination of academic research and clinical experience makes his advice both practical and effective. There is no other guide like this out there.

Another excellent resource for parents is STICK FIGURE: A DIARY OF MY FORMER SELF by Lori Gottlieb. I heard a reading from both books tonight, and having both the doctor's and patient's points of views was invaluable. As a parent of a teen girl, I highly recommend reading both books together.

This was a great book, I had been keeping sporadic watch for the strips as they originally came out in the paper, but this puts them all together in one cohesive story. It brings you through all the emotions one goes through when one has breast cancer or otherwise (I had a lump in my breast which when biopsied was benign...whew!) and I was crying before I was halfway through the book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone (it also has great references in the back of the book for support groups and alternatives) who might know of somebody (or themselves) who is going through a potential scare like this one.

A very good book for even teenagers too read. Well written. Would give too my own children and grandchildren

Having been with a close friend who as found a lump, opted for double masectomy, been declared 'in remission' only to have it recur, spread and ultimately overtake her, Batiuk really captures the whole experience--the good, the bad, the sad, and the infuriating (even the lab bungle reads as it happened to my friend).

If you've lost anyone to breast cancer, this will cut deeply. But it is worth it. It's a story that is true, and very well told. Keep the tissues nearby.

What an easy way to spread the word about breast csncer...and how a significant other male can offer patient loving support through this kind of crisis. If there is a woman in your life, buy this for both of you, you'll never regret it.

I read an article about this book in Heal magazine, the magazine for cancer survivors. I am a 1 year Non Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor. When I received the book, I couldn't put it down. I read it through in one sitting. This is a great story for everyone-cancer victims, survivors, caregivers and anyone who wants to learn just a little bit more about patient's emotions. You don't have to have breast cancer to read this. It gives people who don't have cancer a greater understanding of what we go through.
I cried after reading this story-not for me, but for all the Lisa's out there and especially for the husband she leaves behind. I found myself worrying about her husband and the wonderful way he took care of her.
What a sensitive, thoughtful and caring story!

This book is written in simple and clear terms and dispelled many things I though I knew about what foods are good for us. Really well written and fun to read.

I bought this book for my overweight wife, after about a month the pounds are loosing the battle. She only questions the Doctors experience on this book, like how is the long term side effects.

Of the many diet/food/cookbooks I've read, this one gets my highest kudos!! It was easy to understand, easy to implement, and completely within reach of sustaining. The "magic foods" are not difficult to locate and can be found in your neighborhood supermarket. The book even allows for baby-steps into healthy eating. The principles explained within are sound not gimicky. Excellent Book!! Recommend it for everyone!!!

This book was hard to put down. It's written in very understand language and I have gotten a lot out of it. Very good explanation of the glycemic factor, and the food GL's numbers. This book is not for the real scientic minded person, this book is for the person that is looking for help in controlly blood sugars and possibly preventing diabetes in simple language. Diabetes is a very important subject, and I don't need techical data, I need help. If you like tech data, this book does give you directions of where to look if you want. I would highly recommend this book as a good stepping off point in the right direction

This book is divided into three distinct sections. The first provides a basic introduction to nutrition and healthy eating, with lots of practical tips and advice. The second describes some of the most commonly available "superfoods"--foods that have exceptional health value and are easy to incorporate into your diet. Fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and fats are all represented, and there is a particular emphasis on foods that regular blood sugar (so it is especially helpful for those wanting to lose weight and/or treat or prevent diabetes). The third section offers easy recipes that feature these foods as starring ingredients, as well as some meal plan ideas to get you started.

PROS:
--The book is written and designed primarily for people who are "beginners" at healthy eating, so it is easy to read and practical.
--Many of the recipes are "remakes" of standard American fare, so this is a great book for you if you want to eat more healthily while still eating familiar, comfortable food.
-- With many vivid photographs and a colorful, dynamic layout, this book has immediate eye-appeal and is fun to flip through.
--The book is appropriate for everyone, but if you're trying to lose weight and/or control diabetes, it will be especially useful.

CAVEATS:
--If you already know a lot about nutrition, you may find the book a bit too simplistic. (Consider George Mateljan's "The World's Healthiest Foods" instead.)
--If you are interested in the recipes only, and not the nutritional info, then this book may not be worth the money. The recipes are good, but similar recipes can be found in most standard "healthy" cookbooks.

OVERALL: A well-designed and useful book, especially for those making a real lifestyle change to healthy eating for the first time. Fun to browse.

Many books celebrate being gay, but few offer guidance into particular sexual activities, the physical and emotional health of actors, and some of the challenges many of us gay men encounter. While little or no moral judgments are proffered, healthful preferences are cited vis-a-vis the unhealthful. "Just because we 'can,' does not means we 'should.'"

Without insisting gay is a "lifestyle," it highlights those activities and circumstances often associated with being a gay man, and it discusses them honestly and candidly. No other published book offers such excellent information on such a broad array of issues in an intelligent and "whole earth catalogue" sort of way. I've had occasion to recommend it, and every recipient appreciates the referral.

Until it is surpassed, which seems unlikely, it's the best "handbook" to acceptance, adaptation, adjustment, approval, and analysis of most concerns we gay men face. Very highly recommended.

Do not pass up this one. A comprehensive guide to modern gay life! Covers a range of topics that even surprised me. I guarantee you will learn something from this book as I did.

Men Like Us is the complete guide to a gay man's life. The operative word is COMPLETE. This book had absolutely everything!
From anatomy (and yes, sexual pleasure), to exercise and diet, relationships and intimacy, medical care (which included lengthy passages on HIV), mental health and therapy, and on a deeper note, spirituality and community.
While the book does deal with some hard topics, it never loses it's fun feel. On nearly every page you will find funny, helpful diagrams or cartoons, depicting different aspects being discussed.
While, obviously, this book isn't for everyone (it'd probably give old Grandma a heart attack with it's vivid descriptions of anything from oral pleasuring to the "toys and tools" section) it is just right for that special man in your life. Uncle, brother, nephew, friend, etc.
This is a positive, clever, and helpful guide to gay living. No gay man's library would be complete without it.

It's hard to think of a group that has amassed more information about gay men and their health problems than New York's Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). Now nearly twenty years old, the group has just published a comprehensive guide to gay male health, Men Like Us: The GMHC Complete Guide to Gay Men's Sexual, Physical and Emotional Well-Being. The result is a snappy, savvy, and indeed almost encyclopedic look at our sexual, physical and emotional health, with common-sense language and lots of information.

Part One of this book is called "Sex Basics." This involves the penis, anal pleasures, mutual masturbation, how to use condoms and so on. Our attention is flagged any time a disease risk is involved. Barely a page goes by that the book doesn't use a sidebar, or a quote from an expert, or testimony from one or another gay men who's been there and done that, which keeps things on a light tone. There's even a self-help guide for

deformalities and abnormalities of the penis and which ones need medical attention (there are actually a couple that don't).

"Body Basics" is Part Two of the book. It introduces the basics of healthy exercise (both the aerobic and the body-builder type), tells how to deal with digestive problems, find a good doctor, investigate alternative health (if you so desire), monitor things like cholesterol and blood pressure, and understand the aging process. The presumed audience is a male in his late thirties or early forties who is just starting to notice that things like cardiac health and abundant vitality can no longer be taken for granted.

Part Three, "Major Medical," has two sections. The first deals with the realities of AIDS in a very sophisiticated yet easy-to-follow format. This section really shines, and here it's worth remembering that the Gay Men's Health Crisis was the first group ever formed to deal with AIDS (before it even was called that). The second section is a very knowledgeable "user's guide" to getting the most out of a hosptial stay.

Part Four has a section on therapy and mental health, one on friendships, and one on spirituality. Of the three, the spirituality section is the weakest because it lumps spiritual and religious topics together and treats them superficially. (Remember, too, this is not GMHC's forte here.) Men Like Us is a great book for any gay owner of a male body who wants to keep it in good shape. And it's wonderful when it comes to the ins and outs of AIDS. The books is probably best suited for someone age 35 or older who lives a relatively "out" gay life and is comfortable finding bias-free resources: a gay or sympathetic doctor, say. Indeed, Men Like Us book seems to make the assumption that its readers have been around the block a time or two, as when it reiterates that the rules for oral hygiene are "the same rules you've heard since you were a little homosexual-in-training." While this would still be a good book for a 22-year-old if only for the safe-sex guidance, it might not be as useful as for someone older.

I can truthfully say that most every question that I had regarding issues ranging from the widest range of topics imaginable were answered in a professional & very informative manner. Some of the topics ranged from "The Anatomy Of Pleasure", "Sex Acts And Facts","Sex Troubles",& much more in chapter one. Through 13 chapters of fact filled up to date info.this encyclopedic book keeps your attention in high gear, gets you thinking about what really matters, and is written in an entertaining manner as well. This all-inclusive "COMPLETE GUIDE TO GAY MEN'S SEXUAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING" is a must read, and a great reference I refer to very often. If there is one book on gay men's info. this is the ONE!!!

Very simple and easy to follow recipes for the beginner to understand. Thanks for the great book!

We haven't had a "wheat substitute" aftertaste from Bette Hagman's recipes. Her books are the gold standard in living with wheat/gluten sensitivity, and she doesn't use just one substitute flour mix. Also she educates on Celiac disease and issues around wheat sensitivity that impresses my wife, who is an RN. My favorite RN states that Bette Hagman has done more for wheat sufferers than anyone else she knows of, medical or laymen.

I purchased this cook book as a gift for a friend who is restricted to a gluten-free diet. She is a fabulous cook and it has been a challenge finding creative ways to cook on her now, three year wheat-free diet. The cook book is a hit! JC is having a terrific time trying new gluten free recipes and her family has been the recipient of several gourmet meals found in the Gluten-Free Gourmet. The family is amazed how tasteful the meals are and the cook book has been an inspiration to them all. They often shop for gluten free products to be served up by their favorite gourmet cook, JC! A good find and a great gift. CJ

Thanks to Bette Hagman's clearly written, informative cookbooks, it is very easy to enjoy a gluten/wheat free lifestyle. This book is not only power packed with excellent recipes, but with tips on maintaining a gluten free lifestyle.

It makes me think of the spiritual, "Free At Last." A modified version for the Hagman books could be "Wheat free at last, wheat free at last..."

Thank you, Bette Hagman!

After going gluten free a year ago, I thought I'd never bake anything good again. But this book and its predecessor, The Gluten-free Gourmet, changed my mind! Because I'm also sugar free, baking is an extra large challenge. But these recipes along with xylitol sweetener have gotten me back in business. What a great find! Thanks, Bette!

Recent news headlines said that a low fat diet does not prevent heart attacks, breast cancer, or colon cancer. I looked them up in The No Sweat Exercise Plan and found that exercise can help prevent all 3, along with many other problems. It's one example of all the important information in the book, and it's presented in a very lively and interesting way. Best of all, the book is very practical and specific. It tells you what, when , and how to exercise. It also helps you figure out which exercises you can skip because you don't really need them. I enjoyed reading the book and I'll keep it handy for reference. I recommend it very highly.

What a relief to know I don't have to be a serious athlete in order to stay healthy! Having recently been laid up from back surgery, (which my wife is sure was brought on by shoveling last winter's heavy snows), I wanted to resume an active life and keep my heart healthy, without re-injuring myself. This book prescribes a very congenial life style which can do that for me. In addition to cardio and strengthening exercises, it has useful chapters on stretching and balance. While these may be less important for young people, they seem particularly relevant for people who, like myself, are getting on in years. "No Sweat" is written in a very engaging style and is a pleasure to read. D.L., Meredith, New Hampshire

Why do I consider this work to contain the best exercise- advice at all? The answer is because the advice it gives does not require 'exercising' as a special block of time taken in a gym, or with some special instrument. It thinks of exercise as a possible extension of everyday life- activity. We can do much exercise simply by increasing the pace at which we walk, or by lifting a few cans in the proper way each day for a few minutes. Whether we are gardening, housecleaning, shopping, mowing the lawn, climbing stairs, washing the car, playing with children , we can benefit physically by increasing the level of our activity.
We can no matter, it seems , where we are, and almost in whatever we are doing, find a way to excercise a bit more, to get ourselves moving physically in a better way. And these little bits of motion are not insignificant but can add up to better health.
As Judy Siegel writes in the 'Jerusalem Post' "The latest scientific studies shows conclusively that people can get the full health benefits of exercise with only slight modifications to their daily routines."
Simon also in this work provides a more thorough analysis of different kinds of exercise, and specific steps for improving functioning of different areas of the body.
This work would seem to have something for everyone who cares about improving their health.
Most highly recommended.

I thought I knew a lot about exercise, so I bought this book
mainly for the great drawings and instructions on stretching and weight training. But it turns out that what I didn't know about exercise could fill a book--this book, in fact. The most startling fact is that I can exercise for as little as 10 minutes at a time and still slim down, and that I don't have to
join a health club to be healthy. I've already started a "stair strider" group at work--we have a chart over the printer and we'll give a little "top flight" prize out each week. It's all good fun, but I'm convinced it will also be good for us. I'm also looking forward to spending more time reading over the
healthy diet chapter. I think it will also be very useful, but it will take a little more time to get into that side of things.
In my opinion , the book is important and enlightening. If you
don't agree, no sweat.

Despite the 230+ page format, author and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Harvey B. Simon's premise in "The No Sweat Exercise Plan: Lose Weight, Get Healthy and Live Longer" takes a page out of lifetime exercise guru Jack LaLanne's recipe for a healthy and long life. The idea, so simple that it really isn't necessary to spend $21.95 on the book, can be summed up albeit it gratuitously with the catch phrase, "Keep on Truckin'" So sorry, Harvey.

Okay. Now you might have the inclination to want to `read all about it' and Dr. Simon does provide a semi-interesting format immersed in enough medical no-how to satisfy all those out there who have a need for those special credentials that validate information as `expert testimony.' Keep in mind that Simon as a medical doctor demands the requisite tests that the medical community deems `preventative medicine' and he elaborately explains the dangers of certain body signals like BMI, hypertension, high cholesterol, HDL levels etc. to help the reader to understand just how exercise as a panacean solution in general helps to slow the aging process. Mainly, Simon debunks the need for heavy-duty sweat-inducing aerobics and prescribes a European lifestyle without the saturated high fat cheeses, (although he uses strictly American examples) of moving about rather than relying on the couch potato contrivances and conveniences of modern life.

Simply said, Simon advocates four types of exercise where what he calls CME---cardo-metabolic exercise---wins as hands down most important. Using an elaborate point system he rates any exercise that elevates your heart rate and stokes up your metabolism, suggesting that around 1000 points a week should maintain good health for those without special needs. He sites 2000 points a week for those who may seriously want to lose weight. Typically, one would receive 200 points for jogging at the rate of 12 minutes per mile for 30 minutes as opposed to 165 points for 30 minutes of golfing while carrying your own clubs. Whether or not you sweat or not, Simon says is not the issue. Moving around (walking) for sustained periods of time on a daily basis remains paramount to insure good health. In his No Sweat Basic Pyramid, Dr, S suggests that good eating with an eye on nutrition provides the fuel the body needs to sustain itself---here the standard approach of watching calories in a 15% protein - 25% to 35% fat - 50% to 60% carbohydrate breakdown, avoiding sugars, trans-fats and processed foods maintains optimal vitamin and mineral intake. Following a substantial CME block on the pyramid, the three other types of exercise gain the spotlight, beginning with strength training as a separate component then a shared block of flexibility and balance training. Simon details all four types of exercise with actual diagrammed routines, establishing what he preaches as an undeniable "no brainer." Anyone who has been keeping active for years already knows what it takes the bulk of the book to say. I repeat, `just keep moving----use weight bearing exercise to keep up your muscle mass, stretching to keep your body limber and balance to prevent falling.

At the pinnacle of the No Sweat pyramid, Simon places preventative medicine and hoists a flag atop to alert one to the perils of too much stress in modern life. No real new news here, however Simon does take out the time to help you construct a `my-pyramid' of your own to help you realize your personal health goal and spends a few extra chapters explaining some of the common complaints people may initially have about adding a daily exercise regime to their life. For those who have perspired routinely in gyms and in the outdoors for over the last 25 years, he lists the types of sweaty exercise machines one can utilize to maximize the burn.

Bottom line: if your thing is to read about what you already know and have heard about for years, check this tome out of the library and get down and dirty with expert medical information about the whys and wherewithal-s pertaining to what you are already doing to maintain your health. If you haven't started yet - shame on you---this book can provide some grist for your exercise mill and set you on the right path for the future. With that in mind, I can only recommend this book to those who have been living under a rock for the last 30+ years----everyone else need not spend the going rate to vindicate their own common sense.