Diet Books

After years of going through the maze and jungle of nutrition and diet and health books, and after years of total dissatisfation, I finally have struck paydirt. "Get a Real Food Life" is the perfect title for the perfect book. It has changed my life...after only a few weeks I feel and look a million times better. So, if you're looking to change your life and change yourself, STOP HERE. THIS IS IT. Marion and Janine, you are ANGELS!

After reading "Get a Real Food Life" I was inspired to push myself to get rid of the extra weight I had gained form my pregnancy. Janine Whiteson has a motivating outlook on living a healthy life with a diet that anyone can live with!

I initially purchased this book to give to a family member that has deplorable dietary habits. Since I am an avid reader I decided to look through it before giving it away, and it is still on my bookshelf today 4 years later.

This author has a nice common sense approach to improving your health. The first third of this book gives you the nutrition basics. The second third details the 8-week approach to the plan. The last third is all recipes.

I like the gradual introduction of lifestyle changes. It is always easier to make a few changes at a time than to make a lot of changes all at once. The author is very good at encouraging those with a standard American diet and lifestyle to make little changes that will result in big health improvement payoffs.

The recipes in this book are very nice. Being a numbers geek I appreciate nutritional information that is provided for each recipe. I use many of these recipes in my everyday cooking not only because they are healthy, but because they taste good too.

If you need to make some healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle, this book is an excellent starting point. If you are experiencing elevated cholesterol and/or other inflammatory problems that require more drastic changes I suggest you check out books by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Dr. Richard Fleming.

Finally, a book that will make a true difference, by people who KNOW what they're talking about. It's one thing to look better and another thing entirely to feel better-that's what this book is all about. So far this book has brought me BOTH. I am indebted to these two women and so too will you be.

In the nutrition guide Get a Real Food Life, Whiteson and Rosenfeld tackle the obstacles that dieters and non-dieters alike face on a daily basis, from late night binging to restaurant orders. I was particularly impressed with the balance of advice and nutritional information; one section lists the types and combinations of meals that give us the nutrients we need, how much of a given nutrient/vitamin we need in a day, etc.

In addition, the authors delineate several different types of eating plans, and give an overview of carbohydrate-based eating, protein-based eating, three-square, and grazing style...they know that each of us is unique, and we need to do what feels right for us--not what the latest trends dictate.

They teach us how to keep a food journal, how to set realistic goals, and how to assess our progress. Most importantly, though, there is no end-all, be-all; on the contrary, Whiteson and Rosenfeld take a sensible approach to providing each of us with a unique key to more healthful living.

Maybe, just maybe, if every law maker would read this book, and/or every voter held their feet to the fire, this nightmare could end some day. EVERYONE should read this book, whether from a moral (all the lies), health (all the DNA damage we will face), ecological (cross pollination, destroyed native plants), economic (talk about a monopoly; buy my seeds or starve), religious (Leviticus 19:19)...it is beyond the pale of human imagination that this is happening with government approval. No, more, with government running interference. Buy your openpollinted seeds now before it is FOREVER too late.

Nice DVD! Interesting concepts about GMO foods. Great Seller!!! No problems. Item as described. Will buy from this seller again!!! A+++++++

Actually this book not for me i bought it for a friend who is intersted in GM foods and how it affects human body and health. He told me to order this book. I think it's good book with alot of vauled information.

This is one of the best topics covered today by Mr. Smith and very in depth as well. He tells us who is and how we are being deceived through the genetic engineering of our main food supplies. He has very astutely pointed out the problem how to deal with it and what political means we can take to stand up for our rights to not be poisoned.

Most of us do not know what Genetically Modified Organisms are, let alone that they have been added to our diet, with potentially deadly results. As major food corporations have attempted to play God with our food supply, all in the name of more profits, they have made consumers their guinea pigs. Learn how these GMO's have not been thoroughly tested for long term affects on humans, yet have been allowed to be added to the U.S. food supply, though numerous countries worldwide have banned the same GMO's. There are also stories of scientists that have attempted to raise alerts regarding these GMO's and have been threatened for their efforts. All food is not created equal, and you need to learn why. Read this book.

About a year ago I had very uncomfortable gastro-intestinal issues. Specialists performed a series of horrifying tests and and after four months had no diagnosis. Taking matters into my own hands, I picked up and read "The good gut guide" and begrudgingly changed my diet and lifestyle. I am pleased to report that my guts are good. Thank you for the well written and user friendly guide book.

An incredible collection of what can go wrong with your gut. The Good Gut Guide provides answers and direction for the unknowing parent, friend or neighbor that has been battling just about any type of intestinal problem you can imagine. Zinser uses humor to break through the embarrassment we all generally feel when talking about constipation, gas or other sensitive issues like these. The book is reader friendly, educational and still amazingly detailed. My nine-year-old daughter suffers from chronic constipation. The Guide provided me with invaluable insight for treatments that had not previously been explored by top physicians over the past five-years. I applaud Zinser for writing such a classy book! When word gets out about "The Guide's" usefulness, I believe that millions of people may very well be healed in the years ahead. The Good Gut Guide is the best tool you can have when you aren't sure why your stomach hurts. Take it with you to your next doctor's visit, he or she may just learn a thing or two. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

This book clearly lays out disorders of the digestive tract, and even addresses personal issues with embarrassment, intimacy, and other non-medical impacts of these disorders. I liked the anatomy section in the beginning which laid a foundation for understanding and imparted new respect for digestion. I actually found myself wanting to eat better and somewhat dismayed at the stress bad food & drink habits have on my body! I also liked that it offered medical, wholistic, herbal, and even aromatherapy ideas for treatment. I read the whole book in one sitting the day after I got it. While my diagnosis in quite minor, I feel this book gave me an overview of where it could lead if untreated, and lots of practical advise on how to deal with the situation and improve my lifestyle. I guess my only regret is not paying for expedited shipping so that I could have read it sooner!

An incredible collection of what can go wrong with your gut. The Good Gut Guide provides answers and direction for the unknowing parent, friend or neighbor that has been battling just about any type of intestinal problem you can imagine. Zinser uses humor to break through the embarrassment we all generally feel when talking about constipation, gas or other sensitive issues like these. The book is reader friendly, educational and still amazingly detailed. My nine-year-old daughter suffers from chronic constipation. The Guide provided me with invaluable insight for treatments that had not previously been explored by top physicians over the past five-years. I applaud Zinser for writing such a classy book! When word gets out about "The Guide's" usefulness, I believe that millions of people may very well be healed in the years ahead. The Good Gut Guide is the best tool you can have when you aren't sure why your stomach hurts. Take it with you to your next doctor's visit, he or she may just learn a thing or two. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

An incredible collection of what can go wrong with your gut. The Good Gut Guide provides answers and direction for the unknowing parent, friend or neighbor that has been battling just about any type of intestinal problem you can imagine. Zinser uses humor to break through the embarrassment we all generally feel when talking about constipation, gas or other sensitive issues like these. The book is reader friendly, educational and still amazingly detailed. My nine-year-old daughter suffers from chronic constipation. The Guide provided me with invaluable insight for treatments that had not previously been explored by top physicians over the past five-years. I applaud Zinser for writing such a classy book! When word gets out about "The Guide's" usefulness, I believe that millions of people may very well be healed in the years ahead. The Good Gut Guide is the best tool you can have when you aren't sure why your stomach hurts. Take it with you to your next doctor's visit, he or she may just learn a thing or two. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

"Good Nursing Home Care" by Patty Robinson is a powerful and invaluable work for the new millennium. This is step by step guide dealing with significant nursing home health care issues. Her own family experience and extensive career background make this book and extraordinary guide. Life is a series of profund events through which we all must pass and dealing with loved ones which meed continouous care is the most arduous endeavor we face in todays world. This book is timely and gives us a road map to discern, confront and resolve problems we face to protect and care for our loved ones in the nursing home environment.

Ms. Robinson's book provides the information I wish I would have had a decade ago when I had a grandmother in a nursing home facility for over 20 years. At that time we were totally at the mercy of the facility and had very little recourse if there was a problem. Such information would have been an invaluable help in the process. I appreciated the conciseness of her information as well as the inclusion of her personal experience, and as my aging mother my soon need help in making similar choices, I know I will use this book as a resource.

My father was recently in a nursing home - although I am a registered nurse, I could have benefited by reading this book first. The topics discussed are areas where I was inexperienced. Having insight into this process will guide the caregiver and at the same time allow the support that is needed.

What a wonderfully written book! The information was plenty but not overwhelming. The kind of book you never think you'll need until it's too late. Thank You to the author for sharing your story and giving us the tools to ensure our elders are being given the care that they not only need but that they deserve!

My mother is aging before my eyes and I have not known who to ask and receive straight, honest, reliable facts regarding what is best for my mom. It is always difficult making decisions when we are out of our expertise. Patty Robinson is very thorough explaining all aspects of nursing home care. I did not want to get the education of such facilities at the expense of my ignorance which would have impacted the last phase of my mom's life in a negative way. Thank you, Patty Robinson. Her father was a very lucky man to have a daughter who knew how to best help him at the end of his life.

This book has been a source of both comfort and inspiration to me in my times of need. Feeling depressed? Lonely? He has the answers for you. He talks about things that we experience every day - Expectations, Love, Doubt, Forgiveness, Friendship. A timeless companion...

I have really enjoyed this book. One thing I like about it is a daily study with scriptures to back it up. I like to sit and read each morning with a cup of coffee and my bible. I really recommend it as a daily devotional.

This book covers a lot of thoughts and feelings that can be shared with your family, or used as an interactive group study guide.

I would like to give some compliments to this book, I once had a copy, but am now trying to reaquire another. Charles Swindoll has devided his book up into 144 essays so a person can read 3 a week. Some of my favorite essays is called the electronic drug (reference to television) taliking about how TV can be so mind numbing almost like some of the illegal drugs. And the other essay refers to consistency. Charles Swindoll talks about being consistent in daily habits toward toward virtues like kindness, generosity etc. Also choosing to be diligent in working your way to a goal. This book may not be a quick road to wealth, but it can lay the foundation for the use of other wealth building books. I highly recommend it.

Charles Swindoll talks about life and spirituality in a down-to-earth, easy-to-grasp fashion. He shows a keen understanding of the human condition...it's strengths as well as weaknesses. He suggests practical, sometimes fun actiivities after every chapter to start the readers on their way to true, meaningful change. A very helpful guide to daily living....

The Hand Reflexology book I ordered is just what I wanted. The book came in excellent time and in good condition as offered.

I would purchase again from this party.

This is a great (old revised) book on hand reflexology. The headache remedy works great - I've tried it numerous times with excellent results.

I found this book to be a very good introduction to the subject of reflexology. Hand reflexology was appealing to me, because I couldn't imagine working with my feet in a self-help way. However, after reading Hand Reflexology, I was inspired to learn more about foot and body reflexology as well. Even though the book has that folksy, old-fashioned style of older self-help manuals, it does contain tons of really useful information and presents it in a clear, easy-to-read way. I've read many books on reflexology since first acquiring this one, and I still feel that this is one of the best.

Have been using one of Ms. Carter's book many years.
..this updated book is much more complete than earlier books
i prefer hand to foot reflexology--- too many ticklish feet...

Bought an extra copy for my daughter also....
Better living with less technology....

Excellent book on "how to" maintain good health and relieve everything from headaches to high blood pressure! An easy read on the various zones and pressure points relative to the body's organs et cetera.

Lovely artistic interpretation of asana that only comes to light when one has fully embraced the practice.Nicely organized and detailed enough to explore one asana and how our mind reacts in that asana.
The copy I have has a front cover that has symbols on it rather than the person in posture, and I think that is a better reflection of the books content. camella Nair - Author of Aqua Kriya Yoga

I thought hatha yoga, the asanas, was about the body. Then I picked up this book and found out that the poses have a much richer purpose than making my body feel good. I tried just standing in the Mountain pose, just standing still going nowhere as Swami Radha suggests. Oh, I thought, that's easy, probably too easy. What does it feel like to stand still? Just standing there. I can do that! Ten seconds later my foot's tapping the floor. And my mind's thinking, thinking, thinking--I got things to do--I can't just stand here.

That was when I began to understand how the asanas reveal what my mind is doing. I've tried several of them now using Swami Radha's suggestions for reflection. Balancing on one leg in the Tree, asking, Can I bend like the willow or do I stand rigid like the oak? I waver and suddenly realize I'm hanging on, gritting my teeth. Bending forward in the Tortoise, looking for that quiet place within, I feel sheltered, protected, safe, and my body eases itself deeper into the pose. It likes this place. So does my mind. Triangle, reflecting on the cave of the heart. What are the three steps to the sanctuary? Patience, maybe? Compassion? The words start to flow, words to reflect on, words to think deeply about.

The way my body does the pose tells me what my mind is like.

This book takes hatha yoga to deep places inside. It's been a revelation to me.

Sometimes my body feels like it's speaking in tongues. That tight shoulder, the pain in my lower back - what does it mean? What is my body trying to tell me? Originally published in 1988, Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language details Swami Radha's systematic approach to understanding the symbolism of the asanas and messages from the body.

I first encountered Hidden Language a couple of years ago during a morning Hatha Yoga class at an ashram. I was surprised when the instructor asked us to pull out our journals and write words we associate with trees before we lifted into the Tree pose. We came out of the pose and reflected further on the tree as a symbol, and then the instructor posed questions: Where are your roots? What nourishes you? We went into the pose again, reflecting on the questions and being receptive to insights. It seemed so mysterious and yet obvious: Hatha Yoga asanas are based on real, tangible things - trees, flowers, birds, structures. Of course these physical forms have the potential to function as metaphors as well.

"Hidden Language Hatha Yoga is both deeply personal and brilliantly universal," writes ascent columnist Swami Lalitananda in her introduction to the new edition. "Through attention to the symbolism of the asanas, we can discover layers of meaning and make connections that change our lives. Because we are listening to the body, our reflections take on an honesty and reality that the mind can't deny."

After that initial class, I bought the Hidden Language book and have worked with it on a regular basis. The questions and reflections on the poses have helped me translate the discordant dialogue between my body and mind. My copy of the book is dog-eared and covered in notes - this new edition is to be released just in time.

It's difficult to make a good thing better, but this new edition is a vast improvement on the original. Much remains the same: each chapter is a different asana, with twenty-two altogether - basics such as Tadasana (the mountain), Matsyasana (the fish) and Garudasana (the eagle) - and they are presented in the same order.

There are some new additions as well. The line drawings have been replaced by the artful photography of Derek Shapton. This is not to say that the changes are merely cosmetic - the new edition is much more user-friendly. The bibliography is updated and appendices on mantra, Kundalini Yoga and other spiritual practices have been added.

I am still trying to decipher the secret code of my body, and Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language is an excellent guide. This book will satisfy long-time practitioners of Hidden Language Hatha Yoga and introduce a new generation of yogis to a brilliant approach to the deeper meaning and full potential of Hatha Yoga.

This book is an amazing resource for taking your hatha practice deeper, not in the body, but in the mind. It has clear instructions about how to work with an asana and how to really use it to learn about yourself, beyond the body, into the mind and spirit. As a physical therapist, a Somatics practioner and a yoga teacher I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in taking their hatha to a new level of understanding.

I loved this book, took lots of notes, and review it often. It provides things to think about in yoga poses, symbolism and possibilities. Great book! Covers about 12 poses.

Ms. Jordan's book is written in a very personal style, full of her experiences which make the book readable and credible as a guide to better eating. Her book takes the fear out of changing eating habits and leads the reader in to a healthier way of looking at foods, ingredients and flavors. Changing one's palate takes time, but her advice on how to make healthier substitutions helps the palate changes more immediate. Overall, this delightful book is a great place to start changing what we eat and how to enjoy the changes for a healthier life.

Melanie's down-to-earth way of showing people how to adopt healthier eating habits with their favorite foods is a winner. I wish I could get more of my patients to adopt this kind of healthy eating style!

Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! by health, fitness, and food safety expert Melanie R. Jordan is a practical, straightforward, "reader friendly" guide to balancing a healthy overall diet with a limited yet delectable amount of indulgence in luxuries -- such as the American cheeseburger. From grocery shopping with an eye for health, to learning how to effectively maintain one's ideal weight, Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! is practical, informative, quality of life enhancing reading for the health-conscious.

Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! has given me information for a new goal -- to make positive changes in my eating habits. Melanie's fun approach to a usually boring topic has made me think I can make changes and enjoy the process."--

This book was written by a real person with a normal life, not a celebrity with their own in-house nutritionist/chef. The chapters "Making The Transition", "So, What The Heck Am I Going To Eat", "What To Expect From Other People" and "Eating Out" were especially helpful and realistic.

Having been a yo-yo dieter myself, my biggest problem was finding an eating style I could actually maintain for life. Melanie provides many solutions to select from. And while the book was an easy read, it also had some very good, serious facts about GMOs and trans-fats. I heartily recommend this book!

As a nutritionist I read a lot of nutrition books. This colourful and informative book is a great resource for writing diet plans for a range of illnesses. If you don't have a lot of knowledge on the subject you will get great ideas here. If you are already following the Zone or other program this is a great balancing adjunct.

This book presents the top foods to eat for maintaining good health. It presents the detailed information first by food, then by specific health category and condition.

The text is peppered with cooking tips, suggestions for amount of consumption and any potential problems.

Very highly recommended for someone interested in refining their menu to increase overall health.

Food can prevent and treat illness. Food plays a vital role in maintaining our health. Instead of living to eat, we should actually be eating well to live well. The foods are shown in full-color pictures and each has it's own page. The key nutritional values, therapeutic properties, how much to eat, choosing and storing, cooking & eating and recipe page information is provided for each food.

The strength of this book is in the health information that demystifies the scientific evidence as to what will promote health. Yes, there are some recipes and I tried the "Polish Carrot Cake." The taste was more "healthy," and tasted more like a Cliff Bar in many ways. If you like health bars, this could be a less expensive way to go!

The ingredients included honey, yogurt and whole-wheat flour instead of sugar and all-purpose flour. The result is that you feel full eating only a small piece for breakfast. The cake also freezes well. I would say it tastes more like a carrot bread. You could take slices of this cake on a hike! I've been eating this for breakfast each day and already noticed that I don't feel as hungry before lunch.

If you are looking to avoid fats and sugars, this book will show you the way to a healthier lifestyle.

The Contents Include:

The Balance of Health: Interesting discussions on Food as Medicine, The Basics of a Healthy Diet, What's in Food, Digestion and Absorption and Special Dietary Needs.

Food Profiles: Twenty foods that have outstanding health benefits and details of their therapeutic properties.

Good Foods: Thirty delicious foods with health-enhancing powers.

Improving Your Health: Foods that help to relieve particular problems: respiratory system, eyes & mouth, digestive system, bones & joints, circulation & heart health, women's health, skin, the body's defenses, diabetic health, kidneys & urinary system and emotional health.

The recipes are a collection featuring the 20 bonus and 30 good foods for better health. After a discussion on kitchen essentials for a healthy kitchen, you will find recipes for soups, appetizers, salads, main courses, side dishes, desserts, quick breads & cakes and salsas & dressings.

Foods that are not featured in the Food Profiles section are mentioned in the "Directory of Other Valuable Foods" section. A chart with Vitamins & Minerals that are essential to life also shows the importance, effects of a shortage and the major source. The index is wonderful for finding information on foods you already love or ones you are considering adding to your diet.

Recipes that looked tempting: Hot & Sour Soup, Asparagus with Parmesan and Nutmeg, Artichoke Heart Salad, Greek Fish Stew, Broccoli Stir-Fry, Dhal, Baked Ginger Bananas, Oat Bran Muffins and Pineapple Salsa.

A guide to Optimum Nutrition.

"The quest is not so much for extra years in our life, but for extra life in our years." -Miriam Polunin

~The Rebecca Review

I'm a high school librarian and had gotten the first edition from a display merchant. I know from doing health research that everything in this book is right on. The color photographs are fantastic. I have purchased 5 copies of the new book as a gift for family members. I think new research would include other foods which may not be in the book. For instance, chocolate and coffee have been found to have some health benefits if taken in moderation because of their caffein content. I was most disappointed that she hardly mentions olives and olive oil. Jean Calment, the former oldest woman from France lived to 122 and she stated that she attributed her longevity to olive oil. She said similar things about chocolate and port wine (non-alcohol drinkers should use purple grape juice). As a non-drinker I would put purple grape juice in moderation because of its high sugar content. Respectfully I would rave review this book at five stars so deserved because it's the best book on the subject that I've seen.

This is not a collection of recipes, but rather an indepth analysis of what we eat and what effect our food has on our health. That's not to say there aren't any recipes in the book, because there are, but they're not 'spectacular'. This is the type of book you buy when you want to eat genuinely healthy food while knowing exactly what vitamins, minerals, fibers, etc you are getting into your body. It's divided into chapters, beginning with a detailed explanation of a number of 'bonus foods', telling us what they are good for, how they improve our health, their vitamin and mineral content, and a few recipes in which they could be used. The next chapter focuses on a lot more foods, explaining in less detail their benefit to our health. There is also a section in which you could identify any health problems you might have, then follow their suggestions through a customized diet plan. Brilliant color photography makes this book as enjoyable to look at as it is to read.

I first encountered this book in the mid-1990s while living overseas in a review of recommended non-fiction and fiction called, "The Common Reader." I don't know if this review continues today, but the author of the review of The Healing Hand so completely sold me on this book that I ordered a copy and had it shipped to me overseas. I found the book fascinating and authoritative. The reader comes away with not only an expert assessment of wound treatment from paleolithic times to the near present, but also with fodder for odd conversational interjections such as, "Do you know what the treatment for a sucking chest wound was during the period of the Illiad?" Over the intervening years, I've purchased copies for friends--friends either with or without an interest in the treatment of wounds for whatever reason--just because this is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read, and one worth sharing with your intellectual affines.

Excellent historical work regarding wound healing. If one can obtain the original edition of 1975 in good condition, I find it preferable to the reprint of 1992 in that it is paperback rather than hard cover, slightly smaller than the original and the quality of the photos and such were not reproduced all that well in the re-print.

This book is a wonderful resource for gaining knowledge and insight into ancient medicine. Guido Majno not only explains what these ancient cultures did, but in many instances he explains why. He discusses their practices against the foundatioins of their whole culture, including their cultural knowledge base, their religions, their laws, and their technology. He give a great deal of background. For example, when he discusses the medicine of the egyptions, he goes through a basic primer on heroglyphics and then shows the symbols used by the ancient egyptions. This book gives you a real understanding of what these ancient healers struggled with and why they chose certain practices over others. Because of Majno's modern investigation and testing of these practices you also gain an understanding of what they did that worked and what didn't work. I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in medical history.

Majno's book is not only magnificently informative but great fun. His prose is a positive pleasure, his research and knowledge are immense, and he has the gift of combining several perspectives to explain why procedures that now seem appalling made sense to the physicians of the period. He has experimentally tested a number of ancient remedies, and he is refreshingly willing to assume intelligence and craft among early physicians, even when they seem to be doing precisely the wrong things. His discussions of how we learn what medical techniques might have been is fascinating in its own right. Of his major sections (Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, and Roman), the Egyptian is probably best and the Chinese weakest.

Most books on the history of medicine read rather like either horror novels or dusty tomes, with few authors finding that rare balance between entertainment at the price of detail or dullness for the sake of completeness. Guido Majno's work THE HEALING HAND manages to entertain the lay reader without bogging down in too much medical terminology. THE HEALING HAND intrigues without succumbing to that all-to-tempting penchant many medical history writers have of detailing the most absolutely vile and disgusting medical practices in the world while sacrificing attention to the ones that modern readers will recognize and possibly even relate to.

The driving force of Majno's work, one that comes through plainly in his writing, is that he really wants you understand what it is he's talking about. By examining available historical texts, piecing together data from archaelological digs, and even experimenting his theories on himself, Majno take you on a "journey" through medical wound healing history, starting with ancient Egypt and the Pharoahs and moving on through Hippocrates's ancient Greece, Ceaser's ancient Rome, ancient India, and ancient China. Few authors could manage the detailed tapestry of cultures and medical information Majno deftly weaves. He treats the subject of ancient would healing as few other writers do and, in the process, exposes you to how his mind works by writing how he thinks the minds of healers worked concerning wounds during the aforementioned time periods.

It's that spark of looking into his mind that makes his writing intriguing to me. It's rather like getting an easily understandable peek into the mind of a genius hard at work on an earth-shattering discovery. Combine the easily accessible text with the understandable pictures and graphics, complete and unobtrusive footnotes, and the wonderfully extensive bibliography and you have an invaluable addition to your library.

As a lay researcher in a medieval re-enactment society, I found this work a true gem, well worth the price of adding to my collection. Even though it would only be considered a "secondary source," the details were too rich and the clarity of the information too valuable to think twice about its purchase. Majno gave me the "why" behind so many medical practices I'm rather saddened that I didn't find this book sooner. Despite being written originally in 1975, I've read and reread it many times using it as a springboard for further research and experementation.