Diet Books

With so many helpful reviews, what more could I possibly add? Healthy at 100 is much more than a book about longevity. It's a challenge to not only change your perspective on your own health, but to make a difference in our own communities, and our family. John Robbins will take you into the seemingly heavenly world of the Abkhasians of the Caucasus Mountains, the Vilcabambans of Ecuador and the Hunzans of Pakistan, and then jerk you down to earth with a mission. Haven't read about the China Study or the Okinawa Study? John will get you up to speed.
A must read for anyone he is even remotely concerned about a better quality of life.

"Healthy @ 100" claims that milk/dairy is bad for you, but what the book fails to mention is that the European and Near-Eastern Caucasian people underwent a natural selection process that enabled them to digest milk. Meaning, that ancient individuals that couldn't digest milk died off, and the humans that could digest milk thrived and reproduced, and thus furthered their milk digestion genetic make-up .

So obviously, mother nature thought it best to consume dairy products. The individuals with the ability to digest milk grew big and strong, and survived, the ones who couldn't, shriveled up and perished.

If you saw John Robbins interviewed in the movie "Super Size Me", he looked emaciated, quite honestly, I thought he looked liked an AIDS/HIV patient. Sunken eyes and very little muscle mass. Hardly the image most men strive for.

No, I refuse to give up dairy......ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, cheese and milk chocolate is what I live for. I hate the taste of chalky tasting, estrogen laden soy.

anyway, all the claims in "Healthy @ 100" are a crock of cow excrement.

I'd give this title 5 stars if he wasn't so darn wordy and repetitive. Very useful information and lots of data to back everything up.

The supposed mainstream medical professionals have us all hyped into believing that a pill here and there will cure everything that ails us, and that many of the diseases we suffer from in this day and age are a result of it's just "the way it is". John Robbins, from analyzing those populations who have an extraordinary number of elders shows this is just not true. Over and over he documents cases whereby these elder populations suffer from none of the common diseases such as heart disease, cancer, etc. but, when the Western world knocks on their doorsteps in the form of unhealthy foods and ideas, the number of disease-free occupants takes a nose-dive.

It is very obvious it is our diet and lifestyle that causes these diseases, not the "it's just the way it is" and attack it with a pill doctrine.

A whole section of the book is devoted to feel-good things such as family and friends and purpose making a difference in how long people live as well.

Nothing complicated about the ideas in this book - just common sense once you've read the data. Ignore the almost daily studies that espouse this or that being good for you with contradictions galore. Time to get back to basics and use your head. Read this book and you'll be convinced.

Although there is much to like about this book, there are also some glaring inconsistencies. While it may well be true that the healthy societies presented in the book live on plant-based diets with little animal protein or fat, other societies in which the population eats high proportions of fat from animal sources are similarly healthy but not mentioned. Robbins set out with his own prejudice and excluded research that did not coincide with his hypothesis. To conclude that a low-fat, plant based diet is optimal for everyone based on these few examples is by no means conclusive proof. Even in Okinawa, the population eats plenty of pork and uses lard in their cooking, something Robbins conveniently omits from his discussion.

Additionally, Robbins praises the Okinawa diet and the Asian diets in general for their high intake of whole grains. Yet he never gives us an indication of what these whole grains might be and how much is consumed. Actually, Asians eat white rice, often three times each day. There is a saying in Japan that "white rice is easier on the stomach." But Robbins makes no mention of the high intake of white rice in the typical Asian diet. So when he can't explain something that blatant, he ignores it.

I think it's time for Americans to stop looking for the magic bullet answer to their diet woes. We only need to look at our own history to see where we made a turn for the worse and correct our course. A mere century ago, we did not have an obesity crisis or epidemics of modern chronic disease. And at that time, we were NOT consuming a low fat, plant based diet. What's changed? Plenty.

If you want a very thoughtfully written, well-researched book that busts the low fat myths wide open, read Gary Taubes' new book, "Good Calories, Bad Calories." Robbins is one who has bought the low-fat myth hook, line and sinker, even when faced with his own contradictions.

The portions of "Healthy At 100" devoted to exercise and lifestyle are quite nice.

John Robbin's book Health at 100 is one of the finest books I've read on living a healthy, vibrant life. Based on his own life experience and more particulary on the extensive research around the longest lived and healthiest, happiest people on the planet it is a must read for any person, at any age and stage of life, seeking sound,commensense input on living a healthy life. Very well written and engaging I was truely reinspired the whole book through. I have purchases copies for family and friends.

John's watershed book "Diet For A New America" was the catalyst, 20 years ago, for me becoming a Vegan Vegetarian. This is every bit as profound and compelling. John A Wood, Darlington, Western Australia

I have been doing sprint triathlons only for a few years now, and went up and down in both fitness and weight during this time. I am actually gearing up to lose at least 20 lbs before the spring/summer season begins all over again. Not for vanity but for health (My BMI actually puts me at very overweight, because I'm very short!)
However, going back to this book, knowing that the author has overcome, and that not ALL triathletes are super-thin and genetically "made for this" inspires many more of us than she would know :) I know that I'll continue to do triathlon no matter what i might look like at the time, and also do my very best to stay healthy, not so much for what I wish to look like, but for how good I know it feels... and how this in turn inspires others to pursue health, fitness and their dreams.

I started training for my first triathlon in April (completed it in August) and I am still 30 lbs over my goal weight. I am so glad I didn't wait until my body was 'perfect' before taking the plunge. This book is the user guide for anyone wanting to do the same thing. It takes the perspective of the healthy curved woman, not the stick thing mega jock. The author is inspiring and hilarious! I highly recommend this book to any woman doing a tri for the first time, especially if you are bigger than the typical super thin endurance athlete

I love this book!!! It's great for unsure beginners!! The author really helps you with even the smallest details you need to know. I was so afraid to enter the tri world b/c I thought it was so elite but the author made me realize that ANYONE can do it and so can you!! Buy this book if you are new to triathlons and unsure of yourself. You will feel like a winner even before you race!!

I loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down. It offers inspiration to all of us who are fat and slow or just new to triathlon, and want to compete. I bought this one and Triathlon Training in 4 Hrs. a week. They go well together.

This is a solid book written for the tri newbie or anyone interested in learning more about the sport. Don't buy this book if you're looking for a training manual or trying to figure out what you need to do to get prepared for your first race. It's a solid book to kick you in the rear and lead you to that next step if you can get past all the cliches & attempts at humor. The Triathlete's Training Bible is a "must read" if you're serious about putting together a plan of attack.

The book was just as described on Amazon. My local Post Office out of no where decided my house was vacant. So I worked that out, meanwhile seller got the book returned to them. Anyway seller emailed me, and i said ship again sorry about everything. Soon the book arrived. Very happy with everything.

The book was just fine and I really appreciate that you sent me another bonus book, as you thought that the book purchased was not the quality that you thought was acceptable, though I thought it was quite acceptable! Thank you very much.

This is one of my favorite Iyengar books. THe illustrations and descriptions of the poses are very clear and easy to follow. Good for any begginer or more seasoned person.

It also tells you how each Asana benefits asn stimulates different organs- I find this very helpful and I can find even greater motivation to practice.

Highly recommend. A must have in any yoga library.

This book is beautifully designed with full-color pictures
throughout and a lot of insightful commentary indicating the
areas of each pose where the most challenging and rewarding
"work" will be done.

Many yoga postures are beneficial even when performed with
poor alignment. The most important thing is to TRY. I remember
starting out - my alignment and flexibility were poor - but
I improved and refined my Yoga over time.

Iyengar's "Light on Yoga" covers more postures and in more
depth - but it is not a practice manual like this one - meant
to be laid out on the floor while you practice.

If you are a beginner this is excellent. If you are more
than a beginner this will help you learn and refine your
understanding of the Iyengar approach - which is highly
influential for very good reasons.

This book gives you easily digestable information of the Iyengar yoga. Very clear instructions and steps how to work into the posture. I have recommended this book to my students since it gives you a solid support for the home practise.

I want to respond to those who think the book doesn't have enough in it to help them get started, they should check out the web site shown in the book multidiet.com because it has some great helps too. I printed a lot of the stuff and made a note-book to go with my journal. I am very excited about this book and recommend it to you.

This book is fun to read. The guy doesn't preach, in fact he's constantly poking fun at himself and everyone else. And he treats you like you might actually have a brain that you might even know how to use! You don't get endless breathless hype about the sin of sugar, or recycled pabulum about fat, or snotty rants about chemicals and the evil modern lifestyle. Instead, you get a clear explanation of what nutrients your body needs and how much of them it needs and how to get them without getting a lot of Calories besides. I don't think the book is perfect. It probably ought to have a diet plan for the beginners. But I don't think any serious dieter is going to have any problem doing it.

After years of doing everything from hours of exercising to starvation, all fat, no fat, food combining and "magic" pills, I am finally losing weight. If you are looking for "fast" weight loss (that will just come back in a month or two) this is not for you. I cannot believe I am actually losing a pound or two a week WITHOUT EFFORT! I am not even doing the suggested 20 minute a day walk. But ALL of my cravings have completely disappeared. Somedays when I am doing this I think "I'm just not hungry, how am I ever going to make myself eat the required number of calories and protien grams." When do you ever hear that from someone on a diet? I feel like someone finally has given me the secret combination that has changed my life from food/weight focused to simply living my life. Thank you Dr. Anonymous!

The 2000 Multi-Diet: Taming The Beast! shows the reader how to easily control his or her weight through eight vital factors that dominate body weight. The author (a researcher who deliberately chose to be anonymous) argues the obesity is a major problem for industrial societies and is a by-product of the success of modern societies at providing better nutrition for their peoples. Fortunately, these societies also have access to the tools and techniques needed to solve obesity problems. The 2000 Multi-Diet: Taming The Beast! offers a new approach to ending personal obesity called "The Threshold Theory" and extrapolates a technique the reader can use to make this approach work for persona weight loss. Obesity is neither a disease nor a "moral weakness". It is caused by an obscure (but normal) reaction to the lack of enough certain non-energy nutrients in the diet, and learning to correct this lack allows weight loss to begin almost automatically. The 2000 Multi-Diet: Taming The Beast! is recommended reading for anyone concerned with personal weight loss and proper nutrition in their diet.

The threshold theory is an ingenious explanation for why we get fat and what we can do about it. If this guy is right, and it looks like he might be, it changes the world. When you eat the right things, your body has no reason to make you hungry, so you can stop eating so much and lose weight. The Multi-Diet shows what to eat to make this happen. This author definitely makes a persuasive case for the threshold effect being what causes people to get fat. His ideas are clear and consistent with most of the known facts. I do not believe that he has proved his case, that probably won't be done for years. But nonetheless this is some very original thinking tied to some very solid research and I'm certainly losing weight myself.

Did not read like a Primer to me. Nowhere near as good as Dr Walsh's book.

Well organized and illustrated. Especially helpful for early stages of diagnosis and in meeting family member's concerns. I wish I'd had it sooner.

The book is really well written. It is chock full of information...figures, web links, and references. Great place to start to educate one's self if newly diagnosed.

This book is perhaps the best book of its genre in describing prostate cancer and the various forms of treatment for prostate cancer.

When a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, he will be surprised to learn that there are a variety of treatment modalities. This book is excellent in that it lists all the available treatment modalities, lists the possible side-effects of each treatment, explains the diagnostic tests for prostate cancer, and writes extensively on which prostate cancers respond to which therapies the best.

The most confusing thing to a patient with prostate cancer is how to treat it. One needs to understand the type of cancer they have (the staging of the cancer tumor(s), how diagnostic tests are interpreted and what they mean, and then what treatment options are best for the specific cancer one has. This is where this book excels, as it thoroughly explains the entire process and informs the reader of all the various options that are available to treat prostate cancer.

Ultimately, knowledge is power in the issue of prostate cancer, so the informed patient is able to make the best decision to treat his cancer. This book will help you choose the best treatment. There are real and potentially serious life-altering side-effects to cancer therapy. One needs to know these adverse outcomes before making an informed decsion on treatment. I highly recommend this book as it does empower the man with prostate cancer to make these important decisons. After reading this book, you will have a sound knowledge of prostate cancer and the options for treatment. It is very reader-friendly and all medical terms and tests are explained in a manner that can be understood. It is required reading for anyone with prostate cancer.

Highly recommended.

Jim Koenig

Book Review
A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide, 2nd Ed.
Stephen B. Strum, M.D. and Donna Pogliano
Hollywood, FL: Life Extension Foundation, 2005, 124 pp.
Ranked in the Top Ten of my Cancer Bibliography.
Ranked in the Top Five of my Prostate Cancer Bibliography.

I have surveyed or read so far over 100 cancer books in researching my own book. This ranked in the top 10% in both my categories primarily because of the excellence of its useful and professional content and presentation and the sophisticated level of the discussion. After my prostate cancer diagnosis, quickly learning I would not get enough time with my doctor, I dug deeply into many libraries and web sites. Public libraries are helpful, but severely incomplete and rarely up to date. With a background of two college degrees and Managing Director of a large research corporation, I knew how to do research and began to seek deeper information sources and understanding on cancer and medical websites. Here, also, there are problems: insufficient depth, too general, uncertain or dated reliability, suspect motives and dispersed value in millions of locations. Studies have shown that patients have a lot of trouble finding good material on the web, trying to find diamonds in the rubble. Then, I turned to Amazon and began to build my own library of the best available. This solved my problem.

Dr. Strum is a specialist in prostate cancer. This book is condensed and loaded on almost every page with color diagrams, charts, tables, photos, scans, Physician Notes and medical writing and details I would expect in a med school text. With my previous preparation, I was able to understand and apply almost all of it to my own situation, a great leap forward for a non-scientist. Not every prostate cancer patient will be ready for this, but buy it, refer to it as you do your homework elsewhere and your disease progresses, and it will soon become the core of your understanding and view of your future.

Along with the beautiful, colorful and clear presentations, I loved the several examples that were identical to my own journey, followed by the explanation of choices and exact treatment I have had: what a relief to study, decide and then get the same confirmation from my own doctors as we moved through several stages of diagnosis and treatment; what a thrill to study a photo of a problematic bone scan and compare it to my own favorable, cancer-free scan following treatment.

Your doctors are, of course, the final and up-to-date authority: be well-informed, so you can participate in the decision-making with the experts; but recognize that the busy medical community may not have the time or detailed knowledge of your situation to give it the attention you can. As you go, you will find a number of excellent books like this to guide you. It is important to have current information about the fast-moving science of medicine. That makes it a lot easier to get past the basics, ask good questions and accept or refine the doctor's judgment and recommendations. Seek out and devour books like this one, and you will be miles, perhaps even some time, ahead of most patients. With that confidence, your improved mental attitude will assist in your progress.
John Roberts (www.CanFighters.com)

This "little" book has a huge message: a message of compassion! The book has become a classic - it is a highly recognizable work of self-acceptance and self-awareness. The book offers a much needed normalization and de-pathologizing of the daily struggle over eating. It offers a humanizing, healing experience that soothes the wounds of overeaters' self-loathing. It has much to teach - in the way of letting go of the dieting perfectionism that creates problems as it tries to solve them.

Pavel Somov, Ph.D., Author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices for Overcoming Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, Nov. 2008)

This is a fabulous little book. It's a series of fifty very short advisory essays all about how to love yourself when you hate yourself. Specifically, Roth's work deals with compulsive eating, and this is her focus here too, but unlike some of her other work, this book is clearly meant to be more broadly applicable to any and all situations in which one might find oneself swimming in a sea of self-hatred. Roth is a humorous writer. She has a similar sort of wit as Anne Lamott, who has written the introduction to this book. Overall I found this book hilarious and moving. I stayed up all night to read it.

No matter how many times it happens, I'm always amazed when I find that there are other people in the world who go through some of the same things as me. This book really did it, it really showed me that I'm not alone in the frightening world of body-image. By the time I finished the second chapter, I had decided that I was going to get this book for my best friend for her birthday, and by the time I had finished the sixth chapter, I realized that I was going to buy it for every single one of my girlfriends for their birthdays.
This is a really amazing book, and the author really knows how to talk to women who are in need of reassurance as well as a little shove (or a big one) in the right direction.
I suggest it for women of all ages who struggle with any sort of body/self-image, no matter how long that struggle has been going on.

I originally checked this book out of the library. I loved it so much I bought a copy and am reading it again. I also purchased two copies to give to good friends. This book may or may not help me to loose weight, however, it is so uplifting and encouraging it has really helped to change my attitude towards food and not to be so self-loathing.

I read a few books by Geneen Roth, including this one, in the beginning of 2003. After reading them, I gave myself permission to stop "dieting", and allowed myself to eat the food I like, thinking that if I didn't feel deprived that I would eat less and lose weight. I also kept away from the scale. The result was I gained 30 pounds in 9 months, before stopping myself from this upward climb. Its taken over 4 years to lose those 30 pounds. To this day I still regret reading those books. While I don't think its healthy to obsess about food and counting calories and body image, I do think we need to be careful about what we eat.

I have been a pastor for 37 years and have never had a really honest and yet hopeful book to offer cancer follks. This is the one. I am buying copies to give to those who are dealing with cancer, either themselves or someone they love.

This is an excellent little book filled with hope and positive thinking to help someone you know or love to overcome the overwhelming feelings that come with a cancer diagnosis. It helped me so much that now I buy it for anyone I find who has been diagnosed with cancer.

very uplifting and inspirational! I will give this book to my patients and friends who are living with cancer in their lives.

The Cancer Prayer & Support Team of the Cicero UMC in Cicero, NY has purchased this book to give to those in our church who have been "touched" by cancer, either in their own life or a family/friend.

This book has received fabulous reviews and we will continue to purchase the book when our current supply is depleted.

I have given this book to many people when they learn of a new diagnosis of cancer. It was given to me 7 years ago when I had lung cancer.
When I opened its pages, I felt like I had found somebody who knew what I was feeling and had written it down. My feelings were now validated. And they were validated with hope. "Hope" was the theme through out the book.
The title says it all.

The tools that I have learned reading this book has changed my life drastically. If there is anyone out there who needs a subjective look at eating, this is it. I am amazed at how I am more comfortable with myself and food. I am so happy that I am back to being the instinctive eater I once was. I have never felt this good. This book will help you on your journey with food and overeating.

My doctor suggested this book, and this non-diet approach and I am grateful that he did. This book changed my life. It has not only helped me improve my relationship with food, it's improved my relationship with myself and with others. It has improved the over-all quality of my life. I will never diet again. This book easily explains the reasons why diets don't work from real-life perspectives. I was able to relate so well to the people who shared their experiences. The journey has been amazing. If you have struggled with food or eating disorders this book can change your life as well. It's probably the best purchase I have ever made.

Okay, sorry, maybe the title of my review was a little extreme but that was how I was starting to feel last year. For the last 23 years of my life I had been in a never ending battle with my weight and food. Every extra ounce of energy went into planning my next meal, wondering when I could eat again, dreaming and longing for the foods I wasn't "allowed" to eat and worrying about how many calories I'd consumed.

After losing and gaining the same 80 pounds twice, I lost 80 pounds again and was well on my way to gaining them all back for the third time. The thought of having to go on another diet filled me with despair and dread; I just knew I couldn't do it again. And, then by some small (or maybe big) miracle, Dr Michelle May and the "Am I Hungry?" program was introduced into my life.

Have you ever watched a baby eat? When they are done eating there is no way, no how you can make them eat without forcing them and in a similar manner, they will let you know EXACTLY when they are hungry and need to eat. As adults, we still have that inner wisdom in us - the little voice that tells us when to eat and when to stop when we've had enough. But, for me, years of dieting had beat that out of me. I could no longer tell when I was hungry and I sure as heck could not tell when I was full.

Let me tell you, when you can't feel or hear your own body's hunger and satiety signals, it sure makes it hard to stop eating when you've had enough!! As a result, I was constantly starving myself to lose weight and then overeating my way (because I couldn't hear my body tell me when to stop) back into weight gain. Am I Hungry? explained why diets never have and never will work as a long term solution. Am I Hungry? helped me get back in touch with my internal hunger cues and helped me learn how to tune back into that inner wisdom my body has about how much, what and when to eat. When you listen to your body, it will tell you EXACTLY what it needs!

So far I've lost a little weight and it continues to come off slowly. But, that is okay with me because I have found a way to eat and a way to live that I know will last me for a lifetime!

I purchased this book a few months ago, along with the workbook, at the advice of my family doctor. I was very resistant to the idea of this program, but am glad I gave it a chance. The book is well written, easy to follow, and just makes sense. So far, I'm down 15 lbs. No diets have worked for me, but this truly is not a diet, its not even just about food - its about life. Make this your first choice, not your last go to when you can't do anything else.

I found this gem of a book while searching for another title. I read the positive reviews and thought that I should order the book. Why was I searching for a "diet" book? I lost about 55 pounds with an international (points driven) weight-loss plan and promptly begin gaining the weight back (about 25lbs to be exact). Wanting to avoid the lose-weight/gain weight back cycle, I realized that the program I was on did not really teach me how to eat. I could easily count points but the program did not teach me how to resolve my emotional eating issues. I needed a better solution. Hence my search and subsequent purchase of this wonderful book.

The book is easy to read and I will have it finished within a week. I applied the skills as I learned about them and have already lost 5lbs during my first reading. The book explains how to eat and each chapter focuses also on eating healthy (without telling you what to eat) and exercise. It is a comprehensive program that is different than any other "diet" book I have read prior.

While waiting for the book to be delivered to my home, I thought about returning to the "points" program but decided to wait until I receive this book in the mail. I am glad I did because now I feel asthough I can begin to live my life to the fullest because food no longer controls me because "Am I Hungry" puts ME in charge and not a set of rules from an outside authority.

What I hated most about overeating is that the habit caused me to be "out of myself" because my mind was occupied with thoughts about feeling uncomfortable in my clothes, guilt over what I just eat, thinking about what I was going to eat next and mentally beating myself up because I hadn't exercised in weeks. The "real me" couldn't shine forth because of my pre-occupation with eating, losing weight and hoping that no one was noticing the pounds I was packing back on. What a waste of time and energy !! Chapter 8 of the book, "Where Does My Energy Go?" resonated with me and is worth the price of the book alone. Consequently, my thoughts are freed-up because I am longer thinking about food all the time and I am able to devote my "full self" to other areas of my life. This IS freedom!!!

I have been blessed to find this book and also work with someone that is a Instinctive Eater. I often wondered how my co-worker could eat only part of the company paid lunch and leave the rest while I has devouring everything in sight. As I read, "Am I Hungry", I totally understand how and WHY he does it!!!

This book as been very liberating for me and I have read other diet books that claim to be the "only diet book you'll need", well "Am I Hungry" truely is the last "diet" book that any overeater or restrictive eater will need. In fact, it really isn't a diet book at all. Purchasing "Am I Hungry" is money well spent!

This book not only contains all you need to know about running but also goes into great medical and scientific details. Dr. Tim Noakes is a true schollar of sports science and had managed to blend the experience of many elite athletes together with medical research and scientific fact into a compact journal - the true Runners Bible!

I bought this book because I'm told it has everything about running. It does, but, as a beginner, it's not what I was looking for. It doesn't advise so much as educate. I can now tell you all about pronation and the history of waffle treads, but I'm still not sure what my next pair of shoes should be.

Excellent and thorough book though. I've read much of it.

This is a broad, sweeping view of running, primarily from the marathon and up. Noakes covers history, physiology, current runners, ethnographic issues, and several other topics. It is very readable and each chapter is well edited, so that it can stand alone.

Noakes own views also comes through - over-training did in Bedford and Hill. My only comment is that over-training does in every runner, but perhaps this is the cost of burning brighter rahter than longer.

There are several other subjects that can be lumped into all the other various purveyors of training thought - Hadd, Lydiard, Daniels, Canova. They are all directly or indirectly addressed here.

This is the ONLY comprehensive text touching on virtually the entire spectrum of issues surrounding running which I have found. Noakes has his opinions, but this in no way detracts from this fine read.

VERY detailed and explains WHY certain training recommendations are made. I'm a physician and was surprised how technical this book was. If you are not scientifically minded, this is still a great reference, but do not plan to read this cover to cover unless you took a lot of biology in college. I have used this book for help with an injury and the recommendations and explanations seem very sound. If you are merely looking for training schedules, there are other places to find them, but this book has a wide variety of "formulas" for race preparation. For serious runners, this book is a bargain. Probably cheaper and more useful than any running shoes or other equipment you are putting on your wish list.

Noakes's book on the "Lore of Running" covers just about everything, from what happens inside your muscles to training plans for various races, from biographies of great runners to how to stretch. Noakes seems to be writing both for the runner who wants a deeper understanding of the sport, and for the runner's trainer.

Despite the specialized nature of some of the subject matter, Noakes's writing is quite readable. If you like endurance reading and endurance running, treat yourself to this book.

After reading some of the enthusiastic and grateful reviews for this book, there is little that I can add. Clearly, everyone who reads Trisha's tale is able to extract something that aids female life in today's world. Apart from cessation of hot flashes following Trisha's suggestions, the most important information for me was that menopause does not immediately throw ladies into the visage of dried up sexless old crone. No one should start gulping hormones in fear of losing youth and good looks--Trisha has blazed the trail for all of us, looking much, much younger than her years and living and loving life.

I had heard about this book but when I went to get it in the hardcover it was out of print. Well, when it hit my local bookstore in paperback, I got a copy and devoured it in a few hours. It's been a lifesaver! Thank you Trisha for not making menopause into the negative journey that most books cast it as, and thank you for not only giving those of us who fear hormones a choice, but for so clearly setting forth a natural path that works. Since going on Trisha's regimen, my hot flashes are history, and I feel much better and in control (not to fail to mention 12 lbs lighter on the scale!)
With all the new news on hormones, this book is a MUST for any woman approaching menopause!

I have long been troubled by the two available sources of menopause advice: 1) questionable medical research relying on broad generalizations and possible drug company resources; and
2) women who have "passed through," and present their experiences as if they had just fought the Gulf War single-handedly.
I've never trusted "research" on HRT, and I'm very tired of the "rite of passage" horror stories.
There's also the unasked question--HOW DO WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY VERY PHYSICALLY FIT AND EATING WELL FARE IN MENOPAUSE?
Those of us who have been following many of Trisha's suggestions for years are lumped in with all other women and told we're going to shrink/dry up/get fat/fall apart at exactly the same rate as the rest of the female population. I don't buy it. And I'm glad Trisha has written a quick, personable, and very readable book about the alternative opinions and options.
I'm 52 and I've been resisting HRT now for several years. I work out for an hour six or seven days a week--I'm a black belt in Shotokan Karate. I welcome Trisha's suggestions for the non-HRT path. I'm with you, Trisha!

Anyone facing menopause either directly or indirectly (you men out there could benefit from reading this book, too) should read Trisha Posner's account of her own battle with the changes being forced on her, and how she dealt with them. From the most common - hotflashes - to the least - auditory hallucinations (one which I have experienced) - Posner lists the symptoms and side effects of menopause in a highly organized and informative way.

Posner's own interest in a less clinical approach to menopause arises out of her family's history of breast cancer. She had a very real fear that hormone replacement might trigger cancer in her own body, and so she went out to research the alternatives. She's a professional researcher, and has done the research for her husbands books on history and current events. She is meticulous in her work and it pays off for her readers here in the assurance that she has thoroughly investigated the available information on each aspect of menopause.

While she never prosletyzes for any regimen, she does outline her own program very throughly (exercise, nutritional supplements, particularly soy; dietary changes) explains the thinking behind each point, and gives the reader an honest assessment of her progress. It is not her intention to persuade any of us that this is the right way, only to show that there are always alternatives to medical intervention for treatment of menopausal problems.

Her research is persuasive, her plan of action one that virtually anyone could follow. That doesn't mean that everyone will be won over to her way of doing things, but that's okay, too. The benefit of this book is in its wealth of information, not in any plan or magical formula. I recommend it for anyone who wants to understand this life passage a little better, and recommend it highly for those who want to take more control over that passage.

According to Posner, reducing fat intake, running, and weight training are a really great way to lose weight and reduce menopausal symptoms. She expresses great suprise about this, which makes me think that she slept through the 1980s. Who wants to pay for yet another book that discusses this subject in great length without adding a single new thing?

I found the author's perspective rather difficult to take. She repeatedly makes reference to her wealth, yet make no reference to how expensive her herbal recommendations are. She repeatedly makes the point that men are attracted to her still, that everyone is shocked that she's old enough to be going through menopause, and that her husband is the most supportive man on earth, which, frankly, he seems a bit creepy in the book.

If you're not bothered by her narcissicm and ignorance of excercise and diet information popularized in the 70s & 80s, you might find value in her herbal recommendation, so long as you can afford the hundreds of dollars it will cost you each month.

Instead, I recommend: New Menopausal Years : The Wise Woman Way by Susun S. Weed.