Environmental-Health Books

Is this book alarmist? Not even close. It spells out many of the known facts, plain and simple. These facts are not known by many people, granted, but that is their fault ultimately. Does this book answer the big "why" questions? Not really, because the truth in these areas is too controversial in order to get published, and after all, the author's main goal is to get a book out to the public. In this way, all mainstream published material can only tell half the real story at best.

The truth sounds closer to the following: all things produced by all corporations - especially the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and tabacco industries - are done so with an extremely high technological level of biochemistry. Mistakes are not made. Extra chemicals or compounds are not added without cause. The effects achieved are intentional and very much expected. There are no accidents, miscalculations, or incompetance within these labs. All the additives, preservatives, dyes, chemicals, flouride, aspartame, MSG, etc, etc are in their products not just for color, flavor, preservation, or profit. Addiction and debilitation (ie. sickness and disease) are the MAIN reasons for some very good reasons: 1) addicted people are huge sources of profit because they continue to buy and consume product regardless of the value or harm to them, 2) addicted people will actually defend their products even if the damage is obvious because they don't want to face withdrawl symptoms or admit that what they put in their mouth "voluntarily" caused their illness, 3) sick people are also huge sources of profit because they want to quell their symptoms and don't know any natural ways to do it - so they look to the medical profession, 4) addicted and sick people are distracted and unable to see what is going on around them, and don't have the energy to fight it if they could understand it, 5) addicted and sick people die early and don't collect on their "benefits" or cash in on their dreams, 6) addicted and sick people are easily scared, manipulated, and directed by those who want to control them and profit from them.

That's the truth in a nutshell people. It may sound evil, it certainly does involve a variety of conspiracies, and although it is difficult to say for sure "who" or "what" is pulling all the strings, it is easy to see all the puppets involved. Corporations kill and mame, thus, avoidance of anything corporate is the key along with a solid education on the benefits of the natural World. But, it was only 3 generations ago that this advice was fully understood and practiced. Why did we forget and how did we get so brainwashed, you say? I'm certain these affects are all part of the corporate biochemical agenda also... Do NOT underestimate the brilliance, the cunning, the motivation, the funding, and the technology these corporate / governmental / military people (pirates?) have. Reading labels has become useless (legal definition of words versus the common usage definition). Taking mainstream multivitamins / minerals is useless (all produced now by Big Pharma). Genetically modified food will be absolutely devastating to us all and be forced on us whether we like it or not (thanks to Monsanto). The organic industry has been hijacked also (legal definition of "organic" radically changed in 2001 without our knowing). It is already a big challenge just to get quality water without a ridiculous amount of toxic garbage in it (flouride, chlorine, drug residues, arsenic, etc). And not surprisingly, our "utilities" (hydro, power, gas) have all been privatized. Government / corporate sponsored science (which is 95% of science) is completely bought and paid for and will state anything that their financiers request, regardless of how shameless of how contradictory to common sense. The media has been gagged for decades (a la Operation Mockingbird) and used for misdirection psych-ops on a daily basis, as true objective investigative journalism has been extinct for almost as long as the dinosaurs. Any trust or good assumption of any corporate entity is a deadly mistake. Starbucks, for example, although now ingrained into our social fabric and generally celebrated is involved in activities and aligned with other forces that would shock the $250 jeans off the average metrosexual. Just think how your body appreciates that chemically decafed latte with pus/viral/hormone contaminated Monsanto milk, combined with the horrific neuro-toxin Aspartame (Sweet & Low), and topped with some corn syrup derived (pancreas debilitating) topping. Yummmmy. Why do we do it? Mind manipulation, addiction, social pressures, ignorance, and apathy to name a few.

Total corporate avoidance and REAL education are the keys, although radical in most people's minds. Mark these words and god's speed to you and your families.

It was a great book. I am was not really interested in the subject at first but the cover seemed catchy and so I pick it up. The book was the best I read in a long time. It is very informative. A must read!

This is a must read for people who want to live to a "healthy" old age.

This is a great book to have if you are interested in knowing how what you eat or drink, everyday chemicals you use in your house or your job, medicine, cosmetics and toiletries,and everything else around you affect your health and well-being. I bought this book along with "The Crazy Makers - How the Food Industry Is Destroying Our Brains and Harming Our Children" by Carol Simontacchi. I wish I would have had this book when my kids were growing up, but I have grandkids, so this book will definitely come in handy in keeping them physically and mentally healthier. I highly recommend both of these books.

Many of us have heard bits and pieces of what's contained in this book -- chemical body burdens, unintended and disastrous side effects of drugs, toxic households, lead in toys, etc. -- but to have it all together, in one well-researched book, was literally more horrifying than the best Stephen King book. This book was an epiphany for me -- and I haven't had one of those in years.

I found that this book lingered in my thoughts long after I'd finished it. I think that Williams did a fine job paralleling the environment with her own sense of ebbing loss. I am certainly no ecologist, in fact a speech language pathologist, so I can't comment on the factualness of the ecology references. But I felt nature while reading it. Never been to Utah--can't comment on the accuracy of descriptions. But I could sure see it in my mind. I am a woman so the anti-male climate I may not be best to judge. I read it as a dialogue of women, a sisterhood or lack there of at times. Having lost a loved one to breast cancer, I can comment on the sense of impending loss and the need to search for something you that you can stop and "save". I enjoyed this book for what it was to me.

A rare combination of personal journal and field notes, this story compasses the death of a marsh and the death of a mother, the tenacity of struggling species and the re-birth of a daughter. It moved me to tears -- a decidedly rare experience for me with non-fiction -- and surprised me with those tears at odd times: the beauty of a bird and a place and a moment, or the stoic wisdom of the women who battle with and lose to cancer. In addition to possessing a questioning spirit, and a lover's eye for birds in the wild places she roams, Williams is a downwinder. She and her family are among the officially "inconsequential" population who were conveniently ignored during America's atmospheric nuclear testing in the 50s. The several women (and a few men) in her family who have died from cancers probably linked to those tests have moved her from interest to activism. This book is a record of her baptism in nuclear fire as well as her search for wings. REFUGE is among the armful of books I would grab if my house were on fire. I own two copies so I can lend one without fear. It is absolutely first rate.

Terry Tempest Williams is a national treasure. Her unvarnished verse carries one deep into the mystery of the Earth and sends us helplessly into the depths of our own hearts. The landscape of wildness breaths a spectacular wisdom under the watchful eyes of this keen observer of wind, rock, desert, sky, sage, along with the birds who soar and dance and play in a benediction to non-sentient life.

When I need to recapture my own mortality along with my own humility, I always return to the verse of this elder of silence and truth. Williams stands alone in the power to convey both outer and inner wildness. Her verse is poetic and healing. One does not read these words but are instead initiated into the heart beat of wild nature. Savor its beauty as you might a calming sunset or a wind swept sea shore calling you ever deeper into your own soul.

Read everything she writes and find peace deep within.

I loved and hated this book. It is beatifully written. I found the author frustrating at times. Some parts got a little long winded about the birds. It takes you on a emotional rollercoaster but the pay off of finishing this book is worth it. Any one who has been affected by cancer will find this book very inciteful to the process of going through treatment and also the death process. Terry Tempest gives the most authentic and honest account of what life is like living through cancer I have every read. She put into words thought and feelings I could never express fully.
The research of the history of the Great Salt Lake was very fun to read about. I have lived in Utah all my life, but I have never been to the Lake I now am very curious to see it and the bird refuge. I think I will find the trip much more interesting now than if I had gone before reading this book.

The first time I went to Utah, I read Edward Abbey's "Desert Solitaire" and loved it. This time, at a bookstore in Moab, I picked up Williams' "Red" for a contemporary view of the ecological issues around this gorgeous desert landscape, which is unlike any place I have been. Although I liked "Red," people told me "Refuge" was even better.

This is a very special book. I'm no birdwatcher, but it made me want to be. I'm no scientist, but I wished I were. I'm no Mormon, but it gave me respect for a religion I have never been able to fathom. Terry Tempest Williams has profound insights into the natural world. Her observations of the Great Salt Lake and the many migratory birds that visit it are as moving as her account of the death by cancer of her mother and grandmothers. Not surprisingly, they taught Williams awe of birds and sunsets and their own bodies. All of them are brave and spiritual women, and we would be wise to learn from them.

I think what I most admire about Williams as a writer is her emotional courage. Time and time again, she strikes out where more conventional writers would hesitate. She finds redeeming passages from the Book of Mormon. She follows her mother through her long and circuitous spiritual journey with cancer. She follows her grandmother as she moves into Eastern thought and modern physics. She dips respectfully into ancient Indian and Mexican culture. She walks in the desert at some peril to her well-being. She speaks of the intimacy of her marriage and about her decision not to bear children.

Yet his is not a book "about" the desert or cancer or birds or Mormonism, but about life and how it can be richly observed, experienced. shared and redeemed. It's one brave woman's answer to "Desert Solitaire."

This book by Jane Goodall really speaks to how interconnected our health is to the foods we choose to eat.

This book was more about Jane's views on food than on food itself. Good book if you are a fan of her work. Bad choice if you are buying it for any insight regarding the culinary industry.

Jane Goodall, the chimpanzee lady, gives an overview of the issues with food, water, transportation of the food, etc. in this book. She does a good general job of explaining the issues. She discusses how crops are raised and used, how animals are raised and treated, genetic engineering, organic growing practices, how food is distributed, fast food and water! She uses an anecdotal style with facts and studies to back the stories up. However, the facts are not always referenced in a way the one could easily follow up. Overall, I liked the amount of information she conveyed in a very readable way.

As a huge fan of Ms. Goodall, I was delighted to discover this book just recently. I purchased it right away and read it over a weekend. I have always respected her opinions and was prepared to learn. This book changed my life!

As an environmentalist, I have always wanted to reduce my impact on the planet but thought buying organic was too expensive. Ms. Goodall's expose' showed me that it was not expensive in the long run. After reading about factory farming and its use in the fast food industry, I cut out fast food and was able to purchase organic. Not only does one get the satisfaction of doing something good for themselves and the Earth, but the food taste SO MUCH BETTER! This is how we were meant to nourish our bodies - without chemicals, fertilizers, or frank o foods!

Her coverage of genetically modified foods that bombard the grocery aisles was extremely eye opening. I now find myself shopping only at EarthFare (our regional version of the Whole Foods grocery chain), farmer's markets, and local co-ops for certified organic products.

I loved the reference section which gives the reader website links to learn more about the topics Ms. Goodall covers in the book. I spent two whole days reading more in depth about a variety of topics.

I highly recommend this book to everyone! The reader will walk away realizing that we are but a thread in the web of life and that in our quest to receive nourishment, we shouldn't destroy our natural world.

This book is always next to my chair. I review it always. I have bought and given this wonderful book to friends and family. My why of passing the word. This book is an Eye opener for what we put in our mouths & how we are hurting our selfs and our plant.

This was a great read, there was just so much information that I was ignorant of. After reading this book many of the choices I make in my day to day life have been improved. Everyone should read this book. Perhaps if we can change and simplify the way we live there will be less demand for all those chemicals that are currently playing havoc with our lives.

This book was a great read. It was very informative and credible. I learned alot of things I did not know in this book.

This true detective story has been favorably compared to Rachel Carson's SILENT SPRING by writers including Al Gore and Donella Meadows. It is a highly readable documentary of the scientific sleuthing that has linked birth defects, infertility and intelligence deficits to persistent chemical products which are poisoning our planet. From falling human sperm counts, to crashing bird populations, marine mammal die-offs and alligator sexual mutations, the authors demonstrate that we are performing a planet-wide experiment in which all life forms are unwitting subjects. The chemicals now impacting the whole biosphere have caused the same effects in laboratory animals for years -- and, surprise, surprise, nobody listened to the few small voices of alarm. This work may be the definitive and ominously final answer to the famous line from THE GRADUATE, "Plastics, there's a great future in plastics." No. There may literally be no future at all.

Great credit needs to be given to Dianne Dumanoski, the writer who teamed up with researchers Colborn and Myers to produce this very readable warning to all of us. Research information can easily bog a reader down but this book keeps moving with revelation after revelation. I kept running to my PC to check for later information on the studies covered in this book (written in 1997) and I found nothing to refute the central claim that we are "flying blind" by releasing thousands of chemical formulations annually without knowing what the results will be in the wild.

Once released, many chemicals have very long lives and several accumulate in our bodies to be handed on through a mother's milk to the next generation, with a likelihood that fetal development is affected and with it the future...a future that is being stolen in this way.

The reader is never left confused. The book starts with a clear and simple explanation of the power of hormones and the way they work within our bodies (and those of other animals). Then we move through accounts of troubles in the natural world and the link they may have with hormone disruption either by enhancement or blocking. No wild claims are made, instead a case is made with reasonable hypotheses given in each instance as we move through what the cover rightly says is a scientific detective story.

Ignorance can hurt us and humanity has a track record of ignorance resulting in damage (think CFC's, lead, DDT, Thalidomide). Profit is a powerful incentive to minimize risks and the chemical industry is a very very big business so we must be extremely vigilant for our own good. This book provides a public service to us all.

The inside cover of Our Stolen Future says: "...by two leading environmental scientists and an environmental journalist, is the first book to piece together the compelling evidence from wildlife studies, laboratory experiments, and human data and to lay out the emerging scientific case regarding this largely unrecognized threat. Picking up where Silent Spring left off, it reveals the underlying causes of the symptoms that had so alarmed Carson."

In this book, I got a look at the role that certain chemicals that have been put out into the environment since the 1950's might be affecting plants and animals, including human beings, specifically as "endocrine disruptors" and "hormone imposters." I know there has been some review of Our Stolen Future that call into question the validity of the study that the core ideas in this book are built upon...I honestly don't know enough about the subject to make my own decision about that, YET.

What I can say, is based on previous reading on loosely related subjects (The Crazy Makers, Eat Here, The Omnivores Dilemma), is that I believe that this is entirely possible and if so, it is also deeply disturbing. I did enjoy reading it, though it took me six days to work my way through it because it is fact intensive and books of this nature are, for me, harder to absorb in general (compared to fiction). The information contained here is both enlightening and disturbing...ranging from problems like decreased sperm count and motility in males over the last thirty years, to birth defects, sexual abnormalities, reproductive/fertility issues, the increase of certain types of cancer, and even touching on aggression, attention deficit disorders, and similar concerns. I am glad to have read this one and will read more on the subject to gain a great understanding of the issues touched on in Our Stolen Future. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

As a mother searching for resources and help for my ADD son, I found this book incredibly helpful. It touched on so much more than just the ADHD label and taught me more about how my son perceives the world around him. The book hit the nail on the head for me and showed me how, as a parent, I have so much more involvement in the healing process (and hindering process!) than what I was initially taught by some of the doctors and counselors. The best part about this book is it tells exactly what to do to help you and your child manage and improve parent/child temperaments. Wonderful book and resource!

Being both a doctor and having ADHD I found this book both informative and insightful. The concepts of both nature and nurture are seemlessly interwoven to provide an excellent perspective on causality as well as direction for treatment.

Having a past personal interest in child psychology lent me familiarity to many of the concepts the author brought forth in his book. If his ideas seem 'cooked up' you are mistaken. The author is quoting cornerstone teachings of well known developmental psychologists.

One must realize that research into ADHD is still evolving. Whether or not causality can be determined in each specific case, it does not detract from the author's direction in treatment (whether through family therapy, psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy). More specifically, ADHD may in fact arise in 'functional families' but the requirement for ongoing support/'unconditional positive regard' remains pivotal.

But one should realize this is not a 'How to Book' nor a brief synopsis. With all that aside...... an eloquent book which made me laugh, cry and take heart.

This is the first book on the subject that explains some of the newest research regarding ADD. The author, despite being a doctor, writes with the individual affected by the disorder in mind. It's easy to understand and finally gives the ADD person some real insight and background on the origin of the disorder. His personal experiences including his family history help the reader see a full picture of the affects of ADD.
This book should be a must read for any person newly diagnosed or affected by someone close to them affected.

Five years ago, I picked up this book and, mesmerized, read it in one sitting. With content so rich and insightful, I felt perhaps I should stop and absorb each chapter before continuing. Yet Mate's elegant writing was too captivating and flowing to put down.

Today, it is the book in my extensive ADHD library that I turn to when I need reminding of some core concepts, such as "counterwill," Mate's term for oppositional defiance. So many other books about ADHD float on the surface or focus on medical treatment options. While I would be the last person to minimize the importance of medication -- I've seen in too many people medication's dramatic effects and their immense gratitude -- there is so much more to understanding ADHD.

For example, here is an excerpt on Counterwill:
"Children with attention deficit disorder are often characterized as stubborn, oppositional, cheeky, insolent, spoiled. "Wilful" is a description almost universally applied to them.... ADD children can hardly be said to have a will at all, if by that is meant a capacity which enables a person to know what he wants and to hold to that goal regardless of setbacks, difficulties, or distracting impulses....

"...Counterwill is an automatic resistance put up by a human being with an incompletely developed sense of self, a reflexive and unthinking going against the will of the other. It is a natural but immature resistance arising from the fear of being controlled. Counterwill arises in anyone who has not yet developed a mature and conscious will of their own. Although it can remain active throughout life, normally it makes its most dramatic appearance during the toddler phase, and again in adolescence. In many people, and in the vast majority of children with ADD, it becomes entrenched as an ever-present force and may remain powerfully active well into adulthood. It immensely complicates personal relationships, school performance, and job or career success."

[...]

Passages such as that completely unlocked the door to understanding for me. When it comes to ADHD, I've learned, what's "obvious" on the surface seldom holds water under close scrutiny. Despite having read dozens of books and articles on ADHD, I've not seen this perception on counterwill expressed and yet, from my observation, it is bedrock truth. And, it is only one of the profound concepts Dr. Mate exlains.

As for the nature/nurture issue, we know so little about genetic expression. Last time I looked, at least 7 genes, in various combinations and subsets, are thought contributory to ADHD. Perhaps it will be 10-20 years or more before we understand this highly heritable condition. I do know many mothers of children with ADHD who say that, even in utero, the child was clearly hyperactive. Some cases are less clear-cut. There are no hard and fast answers here.

That said, recent genetic studies reinforce Dr. Mate's theories, showing that the presence of a "behavior"-related gene does not guarantee its expression. For example, the recently discovered "shyness" gene seems to express in children who have it only under stressful conditions. (You can read more about this in a Jan 2006 Wall Street Journal's "Science Journal" column.) The idea is not to make parents feel guilty, as some have suggested, but to expand our knowledge and help future generations of children as much as possible. For instance, the epigenetic factors are good reason to encourage parents of children with ADHD to undergo screening for ADHD themselves. Studies have shown the often deleterious effect of living with a parent's untreated ADHD.

Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.? Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHDRollerCoaster.com

Dr. Mate provides an interesting thesis, but it just doesn't ring true. We have counseled thousands of children with ADHD, including hundreds which came from stable, two-parent homes where the parents were very in tune with their child.

Parents don't need this guilt trip. What they do need are practical solutions and steps to cultivate their child's natural gifts, talents and passions. This is what breeds confidence.

We use Kirk Martin' Celebrate!ADHD paradigm in our practice, and it has worked wonderfully for both parents and children. Kirk Martin has been called the "ADHD Super Nanny" and we'd recommend his E-Courses and Book, "Celebrate!ADHD" before you read "Scattered." You can find free tips and a newsletter at the celebrateADHD website.

It's difficult to endorse Dr. Mate's work when his underlying premise has so many flaws.

Growing up using chemical cleaners, and not growing up with anyone who is chemically sensitive, I never thought about going through life without needing the stuff. This book was a real eye-opener. I picked it up as I am about to embark on owning a new home and trying to maintain it in an eco-friendly (and inexpensive) manner. I found the book thorough, entertaining, and reasonable. It covers a myriad of topics besides household cleaning; eco-conscious fabric/material/building choices, natural personal hygiene, safe lawncare/gardening, home safety, etc. I was not a big fan on how each chapter was set up though. For instance, while the theme may be "laundry," all the laundry info just seemed tossed in without any organization. It also would've been nice to have had a key with all the supplies recommended for each chapter. In order to get an idea of the supplies you would need in order to upkeep your home, you basically need to read through each chapter and just write down the supplies she frequently refers to (there's only a handful of products she refers to throughout the book so she could've even annotated them at the beginning of it). It's not that big a deal, it just would've made it more handy. Even though the chapters seem disorganized, its saving grace is a decent index, so you can get the info you need. While the book alerts the reader of all the toxins chemical cleaners provide, it offers them in an informative manner, not in a way that would make you feel guilty if you used them. I didn't feel like this book was preachy, which is something alternative living books tend to do. All in all, this is an approachable, helpful guide that just may change your life and make you think about your choices in the future. This would make an awesome housewarming gift.

This book is excellent, if you are looking for an easy approach to going organic in your home. The author is witty and not afraid to tell you like it is. Her tips are simple and attainable.

Best book on this subject I have ever read. Easy to read, thoughtful, funny and practical. Common sense in paperback.

I am impressed with the wealth of information available in this book. We have a problem with clutter and I have already begun using her ideas! Throwing things out, making a rolodex of where items are and labeling cabinets so items go where they belong. I also tried borax for cleaning my marble bathroom sink and it did a better job then anything else I've ever tried.

I like how the book is written and if an item relates to something else in the book, it tells you what page to find the related item on so you don't have to search for it. This one book covers what 3-4 of my others books combined cover! I think the book was worth every penny.

Organic Housekeeping: In Which the Non-Toxic Avenger Shows You How to Improve Your Health and That of Your Family, While You Save Time, Money, and, Perhaps, Your Sanity

great tips. I can't wait to start cleaning green. The one thing that would be great is if the book had a list that summerized the cleaning supplies that were needed to clean each room. How many spray bottles do I need and what is in each bottle? I have started to go through the book again and write down my own list, but it is a bit scattered. Does anyone have their own list?

I see myself as relatively environmentally conscious. But this book really made me think more closely about this, and also provided various options for improvement. I really appreciated the suggestions for certain brands or website so I could then go and do my own further research. I am pleased to say that I believe I'm now better informed, and my buying decisions are certainly more environmentally friendly and more gentle for our baby than previously.

This book is a great resource for parents who want some ideas on how to make their children's environment more healthy. The author presents many ideas for ways to go green in your home from building to existing structures, helps parents make healthy food choices and explains why it is important to be aware of the products you are using on your child. I also must note that the author mentions homebirth as a positive choice that may be right for some families which is very open-minded for an MD. I have 3 children and am constantly trying to find more eco-friendly options and was happy that this book provided me with some new ideas as well as many excellent links!

My wife and I just finished "Raising Baby Green" and found it to be informative - but not preachy - providing practical advice to help us make decisions that will not only help raise our baby-to-be in a more healthy manner, but also help the environment itself in the process. Dr. Greene is right on with his theory that our health and the planet's are interwoven - and it's great to do things that accomplish both!

I absolutely love this book! As a mother of a two-year-old and one due in October, this book is a must-have for any family wanting to live a healthy, smart, and eco-friendly life. There are small, simple changes suggested in the book we can all easily make as well as less obvious ideas that the average person probably would not be aware of. This easy to read book is straight forward and extremely educational. I have personally recommended Raising Baby Green to several friends, and I wish I had it when I was pregnant with my first child. You don't have to drive a Prius and live off-the-grid to appreciate Dr. Greene's ideas. One of the best on the market!

I think this is a very good to start raising a green baby. I wasn't the most eco-educated person out there, but I tried to do my part. When my wife and I started to try to have a baby, I wanted to have a healthy baby and started to do more research. What I like about this book is that it has a ton of information and resources and all laid out in a logical manner. The book was very easy to read, although I did not read every single page. I took note of a lot of tips (just bought some castile soap from Trader Joe's w/ my reusable bag) and websites. I liked the pages on the chemicals you should not purchase. I actually wrote them on back of my printout of the Environmental Defense Fund Seafood Selector guide. I used that chemicals list to check against sunscreen that I was looking to purchase, which I found that most sunscreens have one or more of those chemicals even the ones that say organics. I won't follow every single advice in the book just because of practicality or cost reasons, but at least I'll be a more educated parent on raising a greener baby. As with every book, you should use your own common sense when following an author's advice.

On a side note, there is so much information out there and sometimes conflicting information. It seems to me that one study will contradict another study that was done just a few months ago!! Case in point is Brenda Murray's review on when to fill-up your car. One study says it doesn't matter and another says it does matter (take a look at the comments on her review). I live in Phoenix and they actually do say you should fill your car up at night (or early morning) not because of air pollution, but because of how the regulators (I think) on the pumps work. It actually cost less to fill-up when it the temperature is cooler than when it is hot. I wish I could find the Arizona Republic article that talked more to the technical side of why this is the case and why the state is trying to change the regulators.

Lastly, in Brenda Murray's review, the author (Alan Greene) actually comments on her review. Some people might find this self-serving or being an ego maniac, but I found it very refreshing as he wanted to provide additional insight. I don't know if many authors would do this, but I found it very refreshing for the author to do this and the tone of his comment was not negative or preachy. In my opinion, he does really seem to care about the subject.

new zealand is a beautiful place

The Guide is very informative, but there is a new edition that has come out in October, so wait to buy the new one!!

This book is a lot better than the other Lonely Planet books in that it is the same size as the others but as it is only about one small country, it can fit most (not all there's still work to be done) of the towns and attractions backpackers want to see in New Zealand.

The main difference between this and Let's Go is that this is written for a North American audience whereas Let's Go is more for your British, European, Australian, South African and the like markets. This means those not from North America may find a lot of the information as common knowledge, especially historic things and would prefer to have more further detailed information which is contained in the competitor Let's Go. Since the American education system doesn't teach this stuff American audiences will find it fascinating and will have a need for it maybe.

A fair amount of the hostels in New Zealand actually do appear in this book which is very surprising for a Lonely Planet as they usually miss about 75 per cent of them. Be aware that there are other hostels out there though, so don't completely rely on the book and use the best method word of mouth from other backpackers as well. Of course the price information is out of date as usual.

If only Lonely Planet could achieve as good a book for their other country/continent versions then they might be a worthwhile purchase. I'd say buy this if you're a North American but get Let's Go if you're not. Well actually I'd say don't bother with either as you're just reliving someone else's experiences and it's better to explore for yourself but for hostel listings and background info if you don't know much about New Zealand then this is useful.

If you're going to New Zealand - and want to enjoy the country to the fullest - DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THIS GUIDE! I embarked on a 6-week long trip last June with this edition of 'Lonely Planet New Zealand' and fate as my only guides. I was impressed to the max! The only other guide I needed was a road atlas I picked up at the airport in Auckland (and since I was touring some of the Lord of the Rings film locations, Ian Brodie's lovely 'Lord of the Rings: Location Guidebook'). I do recommend renting a vehicle - as someone under 25 years old, Budget was a good bet for rental. Just remember, "Left, left left." It's a cinch! With the US dollar exchange rate favorable, we cheaply rented a top notch 4WD SUV for the entire time based on the recommendation of this book. I love the Lonely Planet series for the sheer fact that it gives you pointers on fantastic locations that may be slightly off the beaten path while at the same time informing you of the best of the best in those tourist meccas. It's a lovely balance. My only regret is that 6-weeks is far too short a time to see everything there is to see in New Zealand!

The top 5 places you shouldn't miss on the North and South Islands:

North Island
1) Take the short ferry ride from Auckland to Rangitoto Island and hike to the summit - otherwordly!
2) Do a touristy bus tour to Cape Reinga out of Paihia - on the bus to Cape Reinga you'll get to: learn a lot about the Maori culture, hug a Kauri tree, stop and surf down sand dunes, wonder in awe at the northern most point of the North Island where untouched white beaches are visible as the Tasman and Pacific Ocean meet and clash (an amazing scene), and to top it all off you'll cruise down 90-mile beach as waves lap the wheels of the bus (yeah, the beach is actually a registered roadway).
3) Drive around the gorgeous Coromandel Peninsula - leave the Thames area just before sunrise and the landscape will just take your breath away! You will come to understand the meaning of Aotearoa/New Zealand: land of the long white cloud.
4) Wander the volcantic parks of Rotorua - Wai-ti-pau was a highlight! Don't forget to sign-up for a traditional Maori concert and haka at the Tamaki Maori Village for a cool cultural experience!
5) Cruise Cuba Street in Wellington for food and shops, and don't forget to visit Te Papa - the national museum of Wellington.

South Island
1) Plan a kayaking trip out of Motueka: the Tonga Island wildlife option is cool - we saw wild Orca and New Zealand Fur Seals up close and personal and then lunched on a secluded beach reached only by kayak!
2) Take a helicopter ride up to Fox Glacier and do an afternoon hike - see where semi-tropical rainforest meets glacier meets the Tasman Sea.
3) Go white water rafting on the Shotover River in Queenstown (be sure you get an option with the Oxenbridge Tunnel)! Then go jet boating, then bungy jumping, you name, it they do it there! Don't miss Deer Park Heights either - say hello to the free roaming buffalo for me!
4) Head to the beautiful city of Kaikoura for whale watching and a dolphin swim.
5) If you love wildlife - head to Dunedin and take a tour out to the Otago Peninsula (you'll see albatross, fur seals, sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins and a variety of bird life up close and personal - by up close I mean walking on the beach less than 10 feet away from a Hooker Seal Lion twice your size). While in Dunedin, visit Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world, and don't miss the Cadbury Factory! It's well worth the admission price!

There is so much more to see and do that I haven't listed - and this guide helped me find it all and point me in the right direction every step of the way. The only thing the guide failed to mention was the abundance of rainbows in this enchanted country - I don't know about you, but where I come from rainbows are a special once in a great while occurance. In New Zealand you see them on a daily basis. I guarantee that with the help of this guide you will leave New Zealand with enough fantastic memories to last a lifetime. Kia ora.

I looked at and compared this to all the other guides from Frommer's, Eyewitness, Footprint, Rough, Insight, Moon, and Fodor's, and I thought this one was the best.

I used this guide on an intensive, 3-week trip to New Zealand several years ago in which I drove over 6000 kilometers and got to just about every part of the country except Ninety-Mile Beach on the tip of the north island. I visited spots ranging from Stewart Island, Doubtful and Milford Sound, and Queenstown in the south, to the Coromandel Peninsula in the east, to the Franz-Josef glacier and the small western town of Greymouth in the west, to Lake Taupo and the capital city Auckland in the north. I crossed the southern Alps several times, and got to just about every major city and town, and I found the book very useful and accurate and a very valuable resource on my trip.

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful and delightful places you can visit, and there is something here for everybody. There is still quite a lot of wildlife, and in the south I saw lots of Tui birds, who are like myna birds in that they can immitate just about any noise, and shellducks, which are larger than any American ducks I've seen. One of them even raced me in my car on a road crossing the Alps for a while, until he surprised me by flying under my car and losing all his feathers. Oh well, I hope he grew back those feathers.

If you're into wildlife, another fun activity is to see the little blue penguins and the yellow-eyed penguins in the southeast coastal town of Oamaru. But watch out for those big shellducks. The big Kea parrots in the southern mountains are surprisingly bold. They come right up to you and you can get great pictures. A famous kea was the one that lived in a park in Sydney, Australia. This might be the only world-famous bird I've ever heard of. He would let the air out of automobile tires while people watched and laughed, which he seemed to do for the fun of it. As the New Zealanders say, they're cheeky little buggers.

Another thing not to miss is the New Zealand Wildlife Refuge on the main road north of Wellington on the way to Auckland. Several of the other things that I enjoyed that I learned about first from the book were (on the south island) the Te Anau glow- worm caves, the big boat tour of Doubtful Sound, the boat tour of Milford Sound (the wettest place on earth at sea level, with 25 feet of rain per year), and (on the north island) the Maori cultural town of Rotorua, which smells like rotten eggs everywhere because of all the volcanic steam vents containing sulfur dioxide. In fact, the steam comes out of the ground just about all over the city.

If you're the adventurous type, don't miss Queenstown in the south, the self-styled (and rightly so) adventure capital of the world. There you can do things like bungee-jump from a helicopter, and fly this interesting plane around which is tethered to a central pole. I don't know how many people do those things, but a popular attraction here is a jet-boat tour up one of the rivers. The aerial tramway in Queenstown up to the top of a local mountain gives you a spectacular view of the entire area. There is a decent restaurant at the top, which makes for a popular dining spot with a great view in the evening.

On the north island, another interesting and fun thing I did in Auckland was to take the Rangitoto Island tour in Auckland Bay on my last day there, which takes you around this small, volcanic island in the middle of the bay. Also Waiheke Island made for an interesting overnight stay in Auckland bay before flying out the next day. Kelly Tarkington's Arctic Experience is worth seeing. And last but not least, Auckland has some surprisingly good restaurants and dining.

Overall, an excellent and well-written guide and worth the price. New Zealand is one of the best and most enjoyable countries I've ever visited, and this guide was an important part of that experience on my trip.

This book was very informative and helped me through my transition a lot. But there were some parts in the book that were vague but overall it's great!

Guess I didn't look over this book enough before I purchased it. I expected much more....than just a list of ingredients. This book has a list of ALL animal products...but for vegetarians who still allow certain things in their diets it doesn't decipher where the ingredient is actually derived from... and even if you are against all of the ingredients....... for my buck, I'd still like to be able to explain why a certain ingredient is not acceptable...other than "uhh b/c its animal derived"

Like it has been said many times already, this book is an essential book for all vegetarians, vegans, or just anyone who doesn't care to eat the worst parts of animals. Pretty thin, light book, easy to carry with you. I keep it in my messenger bag wherever I go.

Handy guide and small enough to carry in my purse or laptop bag. This was very useful as I made the transition to a vegan lifestyle.

I am completley blown away at how many animal derived ingredients are in everything from toothpaste to shampoo to lotion. I shudder to think that while I have not eaten meat for years, I was rubbing something that came from a sheeps stomach on my body every day.

Probably the most surprising thing was learning that wine and beer are also something I need to consider carefully.

If you want to know what is in the products you are buying, this is a very handy reference. I highly recommend for beginning vegans.

This book is very quick to read. It's small so I keep it in my purse and I use it everytime I go grocery shopping. Beware, some of the information is very shocking. I definately recommend to anyone trying to become a vegetarian/vegan.

This book taught me more about myself than I had ever known. I kept stopping while reading with amazement, so much of it resonated with my own struggles, I got answers to a lot of questions I did not even know I needed to ask.

A decent book; I especially liked the Aura bounce & aura rub. Not enough information on using technology or crystals to protect yourself. FYI though, there is plenty of free material out there which is just as good and won't cost you, like Dr. Michael Smith's Inner Power material at his website.

Over the years I'd hear comments like "you're so empathic", but I know now that I didn't really understand what empathy was - what it wasn't - and how to use it wisely or turn it off. In reading Empowered by Empathy I began to understand the differing styles of empathy. And most importantly I recognized myself as an untrained empath.
The teachable moment for me was when my neighbor and I were talking and I began rubbing my right knee as it had begun to ache. I asked (silently) Is this MY pain? If not, I don't want it. And remarkably, the pain left. Now I have tools to protect myself from the moods and pains of others or I can use the information to assist if and when appropriate. I have choices that I did not know I had. This book Empowered by Empathy is aptly named. I highly recommend it to empower your life!

There are few books out there that both inspire and inform at the same time. With each sentence, I kept nodding my head in approval because it all applied to me. As I read the part on emotional onneness and emotional intuition, I could not help getting teary eyed because for the first time I had an explanation for what I had. I was not abnormal, or an emotional wreck. I had a gift all along and I did not even know it. Also the fact that it is written by one who has actually been there is a a sigh of relief because you are not alone. I recommend this book to anyone who believes that empathy might be a part of their every day life, and I hope it is as much a blessing to you as it was to me.

Some of things are long winded and not all that well explained, such as some of the exercises. I got the impression that you sort of had to understand things a bit more to really get use out of some of the exercises. Unfortunately, shutting it off and turning it back on isn't quite as simple as she'd have you believe. My empathy is very ingrained in me and I still have trouble doing it without the aid of my guides, and I'm far more advanced now. BUT... it is a wonderful book for beginning to understand more about a latent gift I didn't realize I had.