Disability-and-Health Books

Dr. Fancher makes many excellent points in this book. There is a lot more reform that needs to happen in psychology and psychiatry. It's good that there are courageous people like Fancher who will raise these crucial issues.

I am giving up half-way through. The outline of this book is great, and the points made are valid. But it is not written well. Specifically, it is very wordy and repetitive. The author makes a point, discusses the point, then makes the point again a page or two later. I got it the first time.

I am toward the end of the section on the Behaviorists, and have just decided it is not worth finishing. I would give an example of the wandering wordiness, but it would take too much text to convey this oft-repeated problem. An editor needs to get hold of this and fix it up.

That's a shame - the author does a very good job of defining the theory and the scientific basis of the major schools of psychotherapy, and then noting how far the theory is from its scientific claim. For the intellectual content, I agree with other reviewers that this is one of the best books to do this. However, it is a lot of work to slog through all this writing to cover the wide but discrete range of theses presented.

The author makes profound statements about the human condition, normalcy, and pathology, including as understood by the schools of therapy. But he presents this elliptically. His case could be stronger if he simply stated his counter-arguments, supported them, then went on to the next chapter. The counter-arguments actually add up to a nice profile of what it means to be human, whether disturbed or not!

I was excited to get this book. I have read a lot on this topic. Like the author, I am also trained as a psychotherapist, and like the author, I am quite concerned about the way that therapeutic training ignores the truth that most of what we do is based on philosophy and belief and only to a small (but increasing) degree on science.

I was surprised at the quality of writing when I began reading. I then figured out my mistake: I picked this used book up for a good price, thinking it was written by Raymond Fancher, who wrote the marvelous book, Pioneers in Psychology. That also covers historical and philosophical bases of psychology. When the writing proved annoying, I looked closer and realized it was a different Fancher!

If you conduct research in this area and want a good account of the premises of the major schools of psychotherapy, and you want a good account of their criticisms, this is a valuable book. for example, an ambitious undergrad could write a strong paper with guidance from these arguments. But you will have to work at it -they are not clearly presented.

If there were still hippies, this book would not have to be written. Thinking back to those days, I recall my friend Alex coming from therapy one day and saying, "Psychologists basically want you to conform." He was right then, but in our age of conformity, common sense statements like that will not be enough to educate a public inundated with data showing the efficacy of therapy. This book fills that vaccuum and reveals the hidden ideology of each of the contemporary schools of psychotherapeutic schools so cogently, succinctly, and logically that it would probably be blacklisted by most graduate Psychology departments. It is equivalent to Galileo's revelation that the Church had a vision of the solar system, not based on study but on wish-fulfillment. Taking on the psychoanalytic enterprise, behaviorists, Beck's cognitive psychology, and psychopharmacology in one fell swoop, he demonstrates effectively that that the theorists and practitioners of these various "methods" have molded their views in the same way pre-Columbian map makers designed atlases: through conjecture, impressionism, and powerful cultural biases. Regardless of the implied assertions by many that psychotherapy is rising to the level of a science, Fancher shows this to be far from the case. This is of particular importance today as there is a strong move toward defining evidence based or empirically based therapies that work--probably an artifact of pressures from HMO's rather than greater sophistication of understanding the nature of mental illness. Fancher presents two major problems: one is that in dealing with what is a "healthy individual," one must have an ideological basis; and second, the "subjects" are not reliable. Ever take an employment test with a question "Have you ever stolen from an employer?" How would YOU answer? This is a rather crude example, but you get the point. But if you think about the claims therapies make, and think rationally, it seems fairly obvious psychologists are either poorly trained in logic, poorly educated in the nature of human culture, value, and imagination. One gets the feeling from reading the anayses of the reasoning behind what makes therapy work that most psychologists/psychiatrists don't even read the newspaper. One salient example is the popular Beck Cognitive Therapy industry. Your thinking determines how you feel; change your mind, change your emotions--all in 12 easy sessions. I can imagine Doestoevsky or even John Steinbeck in these sessions. "See, John, when you THINK people are poor and exploited and powerless, you will feel sorry for them and write those pessimistic books of yours. Now, just look around, do you see anyone starving to death in my office?" That might be a bit of hyperbole, but not far from the truth. But it is certainly the truth that such methods--if taken at face value--have the potential of converting the search for the end of psychological suffering and the search for meaning to a reductionist level that approaches the quest for mental health on the same level of taking dance lessons to get dates. Fancher hits home when he challenges each of the popular forms of therapeutic schools, showing even psychopharmocology is an enterprise based on Nielson ratings, figuring out what therapists want their patients to feel, then trying to get the chemistry right. At times the author uses a bit more ammunition than he needs. Having hit the nail on the head, he will occasionaly add a few swings of the hammer. Also, while psychopharmocology does have its ideology, it does appear to relieve some suffering at least some of the time, so I'd be hesitant to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Rather than provide more summary, I'd make the point that if you are interested in the field of therapy or counseling--either as a professional or consumer--if you don't read this book, it would be like trying to play chess without knowing what any of the pieces do or how the game is played.

This is the best book on comparative clinical psychology/psychiatry I've ever read.

If psychotherapists/psychiatrists were considered faith healers (which this book makes clear they are), this book would qualify as a book on comparative religion, and it would make one question their faith.

Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, Cognitive Therapy, and Biological Psychiatry are all analyzed, with their core beliefs and assumptions described in detail. Each school's standing with the scientific facts is mentioned.

Cultural reasons why Americans accept certain therapies, or come to accept them in spite of their unscientific bases, are also given.

The most noticable omission is the lack of any discussion of Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Therapy, although many of the comments about Beck's therapy apply to RET too.

The chapter on biological psychiatry could have provided more background on its history, as well as mention more specific psychiatrists' and pharmaceutical companies' influences. For biological psychiatry, "Blaming the Brain" by Elliot Valenstein (mentioned in this text's acknowledgements) is also recommended.

Without coming out too strongly (which could create a backlash), the book does an excellent job of pointing out how biological psychiatry's illness model is used to justify prescribing psychoactive drugs with no proven specificity in treating "illnesses", in a culture which otherwise wages war on psychoactive drugs.

The only noticable editorial error was a major misspelling of "renaissance".

Okay, I wrote this, so of course I like it--and since I have to give it "stars" in order to post, I give it five.

But the point of this "review" is to say that the book will be back in print this Fall (2003), from Transaction Publishers/Rutgers, with a new intro and a new title--"Health and Suffering in America: The Context and Content of Mental Health Care."

The hype about mental health care in the last five years or so has grown more and more outrageously false. I'm glad Transaction wants to keep this book in print, as a corrective to the nonsense that those who profit from mental health care would have you believe.

A very good, nuts and bolts book that helps greatly with the caring of a patient with a fading mind. Thank You

I think this book is an excellent book in givig ideas as to the different problems that can occur when caring for one that has AD. It gives examples of the do's and don't's during various problems that can arise in caregiving

I had the opportunity to work with Ms. Bell at the Helping Hands center almost 10 years ago. It is an amazing program and she is the most amazing person I have ever met. This book teaches you the fundamentals of how the Day Care operates and how to communicate with those afflicted with Dementia. After all these years I still rely on this book and its teachings in my work as a therapist.

This book was very easy to read and understand and for someone just starting caregiving the book gives some good ideas. I do think though that for more indepth information there are better books out there.

As a professional in the Alzheimer's field, as well as a family caregiver, I have read dozens of books on caring for people with Alzheimer's disease. Though there are many excellent ones (Claudia J. Strauss's "Talking to Alzheimer's" and Bell & Troxel's "The Best Friends' Book of Alzheimer's Activities" are other favorites), this is the first book I most recommend to anyone on the challenging journey of caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease. It is simply superb.

Lisa Elliott shares short scenarios of the life of her son who is diagnosed with Aspergers/autism. The book covers many of the typical characteristics of individuals with ASD. There is laughter, and sadness, shared in her stories. A good book for all who work with, and love, individuals on the autism spectrum.

This book is a Godsend. It makes me think of the Stone Poneys' 1968 hit, "Beat of a Different Drum" and Herman Kelly & Life's "Let's Dance to the Drummer's Beat." You are treated to a drum medley of delightful anecdotes about life with Asperger's Syndrome (AS).

AS is the spectrum partner to autism and is a sensory, neurobiological condition that affects sensory integration, processing and communication to varying degrees. One of the many good things about having AS is that people with it make things more interesting and present logic from different, but equally valid perspectives. That's what's so wonderful about this book -- it does an excellent job of underscoring that point. Best of all, it instills pride among the autism/Asperger's (a/A) community.

Celebrate being on the a/A spectrum; enjoy some wonderful drumming and march to your own different drummer while you dance to the beat of a different drum done by the drummer's beat. I love this kind of book!

As a professional I feel this easy-to-read book provides insights into the everyday experiences of a family living with a child with autism spectrum disorder. Lisa invites the reader to take a glimpse into her family life by sharing poignant and humorous stories of their experiences. Through the experiences of her son, Clark, Lisa reminds is that although living with a child with autism spectrum disorder often leads to embarrassing moments, nobody ever needs to be ashamed. This enlightening book is a must read for parents, family members and professionals who live and work with individuals who have autism spectrum disorders

This is absolutely one of the best books I have read on Asperger Syndrome! When our son was diagnosed two years ago, I read and read and read as many books as I could on AS. Many were way over my head as they were so technical, some were hard to follow, several seemed to focus mainly on the negatives . . . EMBARRASSED OFTEN, ASHAMED NEVER IS THE PERFECT READ FOR A PARENT WITH A NEWLY DIAGNOSED CHILD OR FOR AN EDUCATOR.

When our son was first diagnosed, we weren't sure about the diagnosis as we had never heard of Aspergers. We researched on the internet and thought, "okay, this is familiar, maybe so." We read this book and thought, "WOW, THIS IS OUR SON!"

The title and the theme of the book fit our life . . . we are often embarrassed but we are never, ever ashamed. Be sure to buy this one, you won't regret it!

Embarrassed Often Ashamed Never is an easy to read book. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down until I was finished. I found this book full of "human real life" stories that touched my heart. As I was reading I could picture in my mind just what was actually happening in the story she was telling. I appreciate the openess that Lisa and her family shared with us in the book. One of my friends that works with children in the school that have Asperger Syndrome recommend that I read the book so as a parent working in the school it would give me a better understanding of some of our special children. Now I try to look at situations through their eyes when I'm helping out at school. Everyone should read this book.

Some of these stories will make you say, "If not for the grace of God..." or "It could of been me" or "Geez, I'm lucky." But more than that these essays show me how much more alike I am to everyone than how different. They inspire me to capitalize on what I've got rather than concentrate on what I lack. From that viewpoint, we all have a disability of some sort. In short, these are tales of life lessons and you don't have to be disabled to get something out of them--mainly, a sense of perspective. Professionally written (without being clinical), these are stories you will want to curl up with in a warm bed, not on a cold examination table.

This is a wonderful compilation of stories that explores many different conditions of life. Whether you are facing a difficult illness , or not
this book is filled with humor ,and luminous moments. The authors included,
are adept at portraying the challenges and triumphs they have experienced.
I would recommend this book for anyone working in the health field , or anyone , who would like to enjoy a book of diverse and captivating stories.

I love the broad range of stories in My Body of Knowledge. Opening the book is like taking a seat in a spacious theater, settling in as the lights dim, and watching as one compelling story after another graces the stage. As someone who has struggled for many years with a debilitating pain condition, I savor hearing what others have to share on living with illness and disability. We all deal with such a complex range of issues, it's fascinating to see the myriad ways people navigate their lives. I love hearing folks tell it like it is, allowing their authentic voices to speak their stories. It sure makes for a great "body of knowledge"!

If you or your loved ones are coping with illness or disability, this book is a must-read! This book leads the reader through this process - from affliction, to isolation, to integration, and all other steps in between - all through the voices of those who have walked this path before. You cannot read this book and be unmoved, either through a greater recognition of yourself in these stories or through a greater understanding of those who live with illness or disability. A book you will keep forever and reach for again and again when your spirit needs rekindling.

I thoroughly enjoyed this diverse collection of pieces about different states of body beingness. I didn't read it cover to cover but rather jumped around, beginning with what subjects felt most relevant to me, and soon found that all contributions had something vital to offer. I appreciated most of all the vivid descriptions of daily life, like the sounds and smells of Karen Myers' climb up a flight of stairs towards dinner, as well as others' similalrly compelling tales of dealing with life's profundities and humor without sentimentality but with much grace.

Very interesting theories about the intersection of ADHD and prisons. We tracked down most of the research quoted in the book and it seems to be solid. We brought the authors to Littleton, Colorado after reading the book to meet with the Greater Littleton Youth Initiative members. Patrick Hurley's 17 years experience as a law enforcement officer (and his experience with his own ADHD) combined with Bob Eme's research around the criminal justice system make for a very compelling duo. This is a quick read but has some deep insights into how ADHD kids are wired to go wrong if they don't get help.

Obviously a copy of this book should be in every police station, jail, and prison. The book covers more than just the interface between the person with ADHD and the criminal justice system, though. It gives very good information on what make people with ADHD prone to negative contact with law enforcement from the beginning of their lives, and how that can be reduced or avoided. In addition to law enforcement personnel, I'd recommend this for anyone who has ADHD themselves, or is partnered with or a parent to a person with ADHD.

As a psychiatric social worker for almost 20 years I have been aware of the tragedy of people stumbling into the criminal justice system who did not belong there. This book does not apologize for criminal behavior in any way, however, it illuminates the struggles of individuals with ADD which can often render their behavior incomprehensible to the professional. I particularly appreciated the lay-out of the book - I found it to be comprehensive, well-designed and well-researched. The writing style was personal and accessible without being sentimental. I also appreciated the many anecdotes which successfully illustrate the problems which ADD people face that are so often hard to describe. The problems of ADD can manifest in a vague way - but are nonetheless incredibly destructive to the individual. I think medical and mental health professionals (as well as those in the criminal justice field) will benefit greatly from this book!

As someone who's been recently diagnosed as ADHD, I've been on fire to learn as much as I can about the condition and traits. So far, along with a slew on online articles, I've read "Delivered from Distraction" by long-time expert Edward Hallowell as well as the ADHD memoir by Robert Jergen, "The Little Monster." Both of these books I appreciated for their positive outlook, even in the face of extraordinarily discouraging problems as a result of ADHD. Further, it strikes me as essential that these authors don't try to deny ADHD as just inattentiveness that can be "cured" in 20 minutes (as one book I saw on Amazon did!) or a condition that doesn't require medication. Some children and adults with ADHD perhaps don't need meds, and in fact medication doesn't work for everyone; but it's important that people seeking credible information about ADHD get an objective sense of appropriate and helpful treatment options, rather than someone's anti-drug agenda.

In terms of Hurley and Eme's book, I respect how they've done more than anyone I've read so far in documenting the research that went into the observations and information they provide. They don't quibble about whether ADHD exists or not, just state that it does, and back that up with excellent sources.

I went to the library in search of more than self-help guides on ADHD -- I was interested in the cultural and social implications of the condition because it strikes me that so many more people have it than is currently estimated. "Spinning Out of Control" was the only book I found that even touches on the wider implications of ADHD -- and the authors have done a great job defining the condition in the myriad ways it manifests in those likely to commit criminal acts as well as in non-criminals. They've done terrific work in outlining, then describing either by further explication, anecdotes, quotes from ADHDers, case histories and, surprisingly, self-disclosure what it's like to have ADHD. And they're far more comprehensive and systematic about it even than the Hallowell book I mentioned above! What I most appreciate about "Spinning" is its straightforward, distilled and no nonsense approach.

Finally, "Spinning" doesn't sugarcoat ADHD and what often happens to those who have it and don't get treatment for it. While I appreciate the positivity of Hallowell and Jergens (who both have ADHD themselves), who both understand well that ADHD can often lead to depression and pathological behavior, I was glad to read Hurley and Eme's nuts-n-bolts book. ADHD can be quite destabilizing and lead to real trouble, and the only way we can deal with it effectively on that level is to view it without rose-colored glasses. While ADHD isn't necessarily more widespread among the underprivileged, certainly this segment of society hasn't got the means nor the inclination to address what turns out to be a problem of enormous proportions. Hurley and Eme seem to be in the vanguard of people willing to address the problem on a grand scale -- isn't it about time someone does, instead of continuing to debate the existence of ADHD or morality of using drugs to treat it?

No doubt further research will show the condition to be much more complicated and differentiated among individuals than it is currently understood to be. Remember, for instance, that studies on the brain -- while more sophisticated and informed than ever before -- still aren't as complete and comprehensive as we'd like. The same necessarily must be said about ADHD. In my view, that doesn't mean we ought to take a wait-n-see posture; rather, let's begin to put what information and understanding we have together, and try to do something about it. Kudos to Hurley and Eme for their attempt to do just that.

I am currently an inmate at the Idaho Prison in Orofino, Idaho. My name is Richard Eugene Brewer. I was recently sent the book "ADHD and the Criminal Justice System". I was a Ritalin kid growing up, which was before many people really knew much about ADHD. I related so much to the information and descriptions contained in this book. It seemed like the book was almost written about me specifically. The restlessness, inability to sit still and not paying attention in school settings were my classic symptoms.

I feel this book should be a prerequisite for people who are involved in the criminal justice system as it applies to my everyday experiences in life. I feel that we with ADHD are often misunderstood and often times end up in situations that could possibly have been prevented. I sit in prison and watch the news now and see people on the outside having problems that I think could be related to undiagnosed or untreated ADHD and I wish I could let them know about this.

My opinion of this book is that I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was informative and knowledgeable and easy to read. I feel it could have a tremendous positive impact on the Criminal Justice System and how people like me are recognized and treated. I hope it is read on wide scale basis and helps others as much as it helped me.

Richard Brewer
I.C.I.-0. C-2-B-10
Hospital North Drive # 23
Orofino, ID 83544

I wish that I had had this book when my teenage daughter was a newborn. I am trying to undo the poor choices made along the way in her nutrition in order to maximize her health and physical well being. This book has been tremendously helpful.

You don't have to be an expert to understand the concepts in this book. It's written in such a way that the average person can understand the issues and put the tools to work. It tackles every feeding/eating issue that a person with Down Syndrome faces, from birth to adulthood. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has a family member with Down Syndrome or who works with people with Down Syndrome.

Posted for, Brian Chicoine, MD of the Adult Down Syndrome Center

The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook is an outstanding resource for people with Down syndrome throughout their life span. It contains excellent information and practical suggestions for people with Down syndrome and their families. A wide variety of topics are addressed from general nutrition to nutritional intervention for diabetes mellitus, celiac disease and other health issues.

The book is well written, person-centered, and health-centered. It is beneficial when read cover-to-cover as well as when saved for use as a reference book. In addition to the writing style, the pictures make it a valuable education tool for people with a wide variety of reading abilities.

I highly recommend this book for people with Down syndrome, their families and anyone who wants to help them with their nutritional goals.

Very good book
Easy to read
Very informative for parents with and without medical knowledge
Have found it very useful as a guide to my daughters nutritional needs and abilities

Don't let the long (boring) name fool you, it is a GREAT book! As our daughter is getting older (she is 16,) she is taking control of her diet. I can't be with her all the time, so I have to teach her to eat healthy. This might sound simple, but it isn't. Well meaning relatives offer her foods she shouldn't eat, and others don't know that she has some 'nutritional issues,' like Celiac Disease. Our daughter has to know what she can and can't eat, as well as portion control. The DSNH not only has information for me as a parent, but it has worksheets and teaching activities for our daughter to help her learn healthy eating habits and good fitness activities. Did I say that it is a GREAT book? We copy off the worksheets and post them on the fridge, so our daughter can track what she eats during the day to make sure that she has 'hit' at the necessary food groups and water intake goals. She even has her fitness goals for the week.

The book covers nutritional information and needs from birth through adulthood. Section three is the one that we are working on right now: Teaching Healthy Choices to Encourage Healthy Lifestyles. It has everything from menu planning, to cooking and fitness. It's full of readable and understandable information for me and hands on learning for our daughter. That is a great combination if you ask me!

Our daughter will be the one in control of her own cooking, fitness activities and health in a few years. This book will help me help her to make a smoother transition to become a more independent and healthy adult with Down Syndrome.

I was saddened to read about Christines struggle and eventual death of cystic fibrosis. This book does a great job of showing you the decline, and we watch as her lungs deteriorate until there is no quality of life left. It was awful because she loved life so much and knew what was happening to her and what she was missing out on.
Some of the dialogue was a little tedious in the recreations so I would have done wothout some of that-but Christines beauty and strength really shined through.

I have read the story and was brought to tears - but with so much laughter - Chris had something people try and get in their whole entire lives. Jackie I have somewhat of an understanding in having a child that is ill from a very young age. Chris is an insperation to parents and children. My son has had chronic asthma since he was four yrs old - and then 6 months ago he was diagnosed with a tumor on his spine the size of an orange. He went through surgery - all is well. The terror you must have felt - doing the hospital thing for years - I look up to you and your daughter - your book was very inspiring - makes the "I feel sorry for myself" feelings go away

I have read this book so many times that I had to buy a second copy-I now own the hardcover and softcover editions! I felt a 'kinship' with Christine from the very first page---we shared the same first name, was born around the same time, loved the same music and I was very familiar with the places Jacquie Gordon wrote about in this wonderful book. For anyone who grew up in the seventies this book will ring a familiar bell.You read of struggles, illness,but most of all you learn that Christine LIVED! Christine rung every ounce she could out of life and she certainly grasped the brass ring! She is a true inspiration to us all! This book brought a richness to my life and I thank Mrs. Gordon for sharing such a wonderful tribute. Christine (in her stardust) must still be singing!

I first read this book when I was in 5th grade and fell in love with it the first time I read it. Since then, I have read this book several times and it is one of my favorite books because there is so much one can learn from the lives of the people in the book, especially from Christine, a girl who has cystic fibrosis. What makes me read it time after time and keeps my attention is the strength and courage of one family and especially Christine. It is so encouraging when you can read someone's story like the one in Give Me one Wish and know that she was able to keep such a positive attitude and not let her illness "get the best of her". The lessons that can be learned from this book will stay with you for the rest of your life and so will the impact of this book. The person that wrote the book was Christine's mom and the story she tells from the journal entries of Christine's to evoking the emotions that Christine had are amazing. This is both an incredibly inspiring book and an incredibly sad book. It makes me cry every time I read it. All I can say is, incredible.

I can't even begin to describe what an impact this book has had on me. I read it for the first time in 6th grade, and since then my entire frame of mind has changed. I've found that I really love things like Monty Python, 80s punk rock, the Muppets, and so much more. So it (this book) has changed me a lot in that way, but it also is such an inspiration because of the fact that Christine never really let her cystic fibrosis pull her down into the dumps. She had "spunk and a spirit" for life, and that in itself is something to admire. In the dozens of times that I've read my copy of this incredible story, I've laughed, I've cried, and I've felt like I can actually identify with Chris...she was a regular girl who just happened to have a fatal disease. Her mom (Jaquie Gordon, the author) caputured Chris's life in such an amazing way, and I wish I could thank her for being so willing to write about it and changing my outlook on life.

The former First Lady's book is a very compassionate effort which can help a person who has to deal with mental illness for the first time no matter what the setting. Mrs. Carter gives a good over-view of the "whole picture" concerning all mental illness with enough detail to give the reader a good foundation in the subject. I think the really profound thing that I read in every line of the book was the real sincerity that Mrs. Carter has for her work. She really is serious about changing the way some in society look at individuals with mental illesses. I applaud her for her work and her book.

This was one book I did not hesitate to buy as I know so many people with the mental illnesses.

I must applaud Rosalyn Carter one of the former First Ladies for her help in understanding Mental Illness and for trying her utmost not to see it as a stigma in this twenty first century......but for us to learn that getting help is the priority here.

From Depression to Panic attacks......Paranoia to Schizophrenia, caregiving with lots of love and understanding can go a long way. Buy this book to assist you if not now, sometime in the Autumn-time when friends and love ones will be taken under that dark umbrella. The treatments for each mental illness is remarkable.Thank you Roslyn Carter with help from Susan K. Golnat for a book that's going to help millions.
Congratulations.
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 26/10/01)

An excellent resource for family members and friends who wish to help a person with mental illness. I especially appreciated the book's emphasis on biological *and* social risk factors for various forms of mental illness.

The section on building resiliancy in children at risk for mental illness is reason alone to purchase this book. It is a wise, compassionate, humane treatus on a very important topic.

Rosalynn Carter's book tells it just the way it is and how you can treat the mental illnesses' the way they should be. Reading her book you cannot miss having the right treatment. I myself also believe a lot of the treatment comes from support of the family and guidance that is a must ,a mentally ill person whom does not have that benefit will become a difficult road to travel.

Mrs. Carter started her journey many years ago and never tired of it, she is a true believer that if you want to get well you can never stop searching for the answer of which she never did.

Understanding the illness is the first battle. When I seen Rosalynn on the Larry King Live Show and she had introduced her new book, just by listening to her speak I knew she gave a lot of her years on research, she is very sincere.

Thank you Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, as I have someone in my family with the illness and you could not explain it any better than you did in your book " Helping Someone With Mental Illness ".

Rosalynn Carter's new book evokes compassion from the reader as she unfolds her personal experience of becoming aware of persons with mental illness. This affliction has many facets and is painful for the family as well as the patient. Carter leads the reader through various types of mental illness, noting symptoms. The reader may use the book as a reference and not a 'read for pleasure' book.

Carter writes simply and without exaggerating, so she is easy to read and to understand. With the resources listed in index "D", she equips the uninformed reader to bring understanding in his interaction with his/her co-workers and friends. This is especially important as mentally ill patients need support of those around them. They also need the same financial help that patients with surgical and medical problems receive.

I am a sudden caretaker for my 90 yr old father's new colostomy. This book provided a lot of basic information and covered areas that we would experience after he left the hospital. It has given me the reassurance I needed to provide him with good care.

The Ostomy Book was helpful, scientific, covered many aspects of ileostomy, colostomy, and urostomy. Arrived quickly.

I am scheduled for a Permanent Colostomy in less than one week. Even though I had searched the Internet for helpful information, this book has been a tremendous source of help. It has greatly reduced my apprehension.

The authors are to be commended on they way that they have presented this information. It answers ALL of the questions that I had and more. I highly recommend this book.

This excellent book (half the royalties are donated to the United Ostomy Association) is written by a colostomate and an ET nurse and is characterized by numerous first person experiences and insights. Covering numerous topics from the typical descriptions of, different ostomies and surgeries to traveling with an ostomy, considering work situations, remaining active with exercise, children with ostomies, sex and emotional adjustments, etc., this book is written with a good sense of humor and a very down-to-earth attitude. Filled with lots of good resources, Mullen and McGinn do a great job explaining the role of the ET nurse and the role of the Ostomy Association in education of the ostomate and the public at large. A fabulous book and a must for the reference shelf.

This book is one of the few available specifically for people with ostomies. This book guides you from the ostomy surgery to dealing with social situations. I don't have an ostomy, but it gives useful advice and assurance, particularly in helping people know what to expect before and after an ostomy.

I recently attended the Autism Society of America conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. I had the pleasure of attending workshops presented by the authors, Maureen Morrell and Ann Palmer. This book received the national award from the Autism Society of America for "Literary Work of the Year". This book is a must have!! It will make you laugh and cry while providing you with a wealth of knowledge and information. This book is great for both parents of young children and adult children with autism spectrum disorder.

These two authors have opened up their hearts and shared their lives and their wisdom with us. How heartbreaking and bittersweet are the stories that supplement the practical guidance. You will laugh out loud, you will cry with heartbreak, you will wonder at these two mothers' strengths and you will say "I wish I had thought of that". The personal stories are riveting and intense but the abundant practical advice is invaluable and extremely helpful. The authors have earned my gratitude for sharing generously their unexpected lessons.

This outstanding book (and its authors!) have just been recognized by the Autism Society of America for making a "significant contribution to autism awareness, education, and advocacy in the last 5 years." The authors are two very experienced mothers whose sons (now adults) are on the opposite ends of the autism spectrum, and through this remarkable book they offer guidance, hope, and valuable personal insight to all parents of children with ASD. This is a poignant, intelligent, and honest work that has quickly become a classic in the autism literature. The personal experiences and knowledge that the authors share will benefit parents and professionals alike, and the book is highly recommended for anyone who lives or works with individuals on the autism spectrum.

If you would like a signed copy of this book (signed by both authors), please visit our website.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to know more about autism. An added treat is that it is well written and well thought out. The authors Maureen F. Morrell and Ann Palmer are moms who raised autistic boys at opposite ends of the severity scale, offering sometimes painfully honest accounts of daily life, disappointments and triumphs. I believe this book could be enormously comforting to parents grandparents, friends and teachers of autistic children--the advice and insights are based on experiences spanning babyhood and diagnosis to adulthood and leaving home. What's it like to be told your child has autism? How can you survive day to day? Will you love an autistic child the same way you love their siblings? What happens when autistic kids grow up? For each mom, the answers were slightly different, and yet the same. I found much of what I wanted to know, including one shocking statistic about the march of this affliction--one in 5,000 children in the 1980s to just one in 166 in 2005! The one thing I wish the book had included was a paragraph or two of opinion and analysis. I wanted to know what two moms in the trenches believe is happening to our kids. How scared should we be? Is there promising news on the horizon? Perhaps they felt that analysis is irrelevant in the reality of day-to-day living with autism. However, they do review a couple of dozen additional publications. I recommend this informitive, sad, funny book to anyone, whether they've been personally touched by autism or not.

This is a fabulous book that shares with the reader two different ends of the Autism Spectrum. Ann Palmer and Maureen Morrell have managed to share an incredible range of emotions seamlessly. As a parent of a child with ASD I truly felt I was not alone and that there is survival in raising a child with such a baffling disorder. This is a must read for any parent who is going down the ASD road and needs the honest and raw support these two writers offer. I hope all professionals and support people in the ASD area will recommend this book to those they work with. Thanks Ann and Maureen for opening your hearts and sharing your lives with us all.