Environmental-Health Books

Sherry Rogers was my doctor for a number of years. She was always ahead of her time and now it shows! All of her books are wonderful, informative, easy to read and life saving. I hope everyone gets as much from this and all her books as I have. You'll be amazed at how much you DON'T know about your body, the environment and how we are killing ourselves until you read these books. Trust me, I am only a consumer here, but I pass these books on to everyone I care about and have for years! I'm going to post this to all the books I have read by Sherry. I just can't say enough about this woman. She literally saved my life (allergies, life and health threatening mineral and vitamin deficiencies) and my husband's too (bladder cancer). Love, Susan Manchester

This is a great book written by an a woman who obviously loves her work. I have started my Enviromental Medicine library with a copy of all Mrs. Rogers books. (So far I just own them I certainly haven't had the time to read them all yet) I would recommend this book to anyone who one suffers from "mysterious" symptoms, or two anyone, who wants to learn about the damage our enviroment does to our bodies. I've learned so much in such a short time. The only drawback which is easily overcome if the desire to learn is there, is that this book has SO MUCH information, it can be a little tedious learning all the terms and following the scientific basis for Mrs. Rogers studies. Take heart, take it slow and make sure you understand the topic you are interested in before moving on. I would love to meet Mrs. Rogers in person but thanks to her book I have an appointment with a Enviromental Specialist in my area. I hope that I'm able to adopt enough good habits into my own life to relive my life altering symptoms.

The author presents a lot of important and useful information on the field of genetic engineering, particularly to the risks involved in the planting and consumption of genetically modified crops. His text is very well written and well substantiated through many references.

I was very impressed to read the thoroughly researched topics such as ecological risks of using genetically modified crops, which includes discussion of the emergence of herbicide resistant crops and insecticide resistant crops. The ethical and moral issues were also covered. Also, the possible health risks, such as allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance from eating genetically modified foods were particularly relevant to me.

As a consumer, I found this book a very informative and excellent read. Bravo!!

Genetically modified foodstuffs are one of the most contentious subjects in the world today and will become more so as trade talks include their export. Nottingham has written a clear, balanced and judicious summary of both the biotechnology involved by how it impacts both developed and developing nations. The book is a must for anyone who wants to avoid the hype of both the agrochemical companies who produce GM products and the antis. Highly recommended.

A call to anarchy, this slim book includes all of the incitement anyone could possibly need to join the organic/vegetarian revolution. The modern agro-industrial food system is poisoning us and the earth, torturing animals and starving people. It is a heavily subsidized, often monopolistic and is being run for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many. Fox calls out to all of us to pay attention to what's on our plates, look hard at where it is coming from, and mend our ways. He includes a short list of easily followed guidelines for purchasing food, and ten commandments for farmers and food merchants. This one will leave you wondering if Ronald McDonald seems amusing to the 50% of Guatemalan children who are starving to death while that country ships millions of pounds of hamburger to the U.S. each year. It will make you question who's paying off whom to keep the USDA behind dietary suggestions that are unscientific and unhealthy. It will strengthen your resolve to buy locally produced, organic food and thank the farmers who are gentle to our earth.

Dr. Fox has written a concise, readable, and utterly non-extremist review of Agribusiness. I thought that when I opened this book, I might be faced with ranting and horrid pictures. Not the case. This book explores the political arena, the ethical arena, the consumer arena of our food chain. At the end of this chain rest the animals---pumped with drugs and hormones, living unhealthy lives and passing that dis-ease in their bodies onto us. We call it steak and breast meat. It is, in a sense, poison---really---and Fox shows us why and how. Beautifully done!

Great book for any pet-parent. The recipes are quick and easy and the pictures are adorable! Lots of great craft ideas and green-cleaning tips too.

Lots of photographs,recipes and projects in Eco Dog.

The book begins with the advice that, unlike wolves, dogs need to be groomed and washed regularily. Homemade recipes, like dog tonics and an herbal flea powder, are included. The pet owner is also advised to avoid commercial dog shampoos, as they may be harmful.

The chapter on dog food advises to feed the dog high quality food or homemade food and a meatloaf recipe is included. I would have liked to have seen more recipes and more information on feeding good quality food.

I really liked that natural cleaners for the house were advised, with good recommendations. The authors point out that dogs lick stuff--like the floor--and that safe cleaners are imperative to their health.

Some cool projects include green toys to make for your dogs out of recycled objects like socks. Brilliant! Most toys for dogs are made out of synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals, so I really thought the idea of natural toys was great.

Overall, a smart, green book for raising healthy dogs.

From the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet

Forest Health and Protection is an excellent book which include an actual vision the three aspects very important in forest ecosystems. It is a contribution in the forest protection.

This is a softcover reissue of a hardcover text put out previously by McGraw Hill. The content is unchanged, but students will be happy that it's about half the price of the original. It appears tightly bound, durable. The paper is thicker and coarser and so the photos have lost some detail, mostly more contrast and darker. Otherwise I'm very pleased with it. I've been using the previous edition for the past four years as the text for my Forest Protection class at Humboldt State University and I find it's a great overview of wildland fire, forest entomology, and forest pathology. The section on animal damage is deficient, extremely small, and requires supplemental material. Otherwise it's a great desktop reference, good coverage of the material by knowledgable authors, and you cannot beat the value.

I liked this book for its brevity and thoroughness. If you want to pick something up you can read in a few hours that gives a wealth of reliable information and interesting ideas on an ever more important subject then this is a great book for you. Plus the author doesn't leave us hanging in time: there is an associated newsletter that follows up on each of the areas discussed in the book with new research, news, and data. This book covers all your bases and will let you discuss environmental (including energy) policy with anyone and everyone.

I would call this a briefing into the world of environmental policy not only for someone who is just starting to learn about this subject but also for experienced observers. There are numerous up-to-the-minute technologies discussed in the areas of energy, waste, and water. The latest theoretical views of biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainability economics are also integrated into the discussion. This book is perfect for the advanced high-school senior looking ahead into a career and for the bored housewife wondering about how she might fit into the larger picture. And the book is practical too answering many everyday questions about how to deal with trash, energy, and so on, as well as providing many reliable internet links for further reference. This book is both a breezy read and dense with information and well worth snapping up. I give it a 4/5 because I would have liked to see more of the evidence of climate change and species loss, but as the author says, there are plenty of places to find these data.

Any Environmental Educator or Scout Leader who has ever gone to a program like Geosphere, Project Wild, NatureQuest or Project Learning Tree will LOVE this book.

Everything is organized by lessons and activities that are coded to match certain skills like Predation, Plant Succession, etc.

I have used this book for years at Boy Scout Summer Camps and I know the American Camping Association recommends this book for anyone involved in teaching Environmental Skills & Nature at a camp setting.

Perhaps the only draw back is the plain colorless sketches of the book. A teacher would appreciate the book's content but I would not get this book for a kid. Having said that, this book is a great pick for any leader, summer camp, or school where teaching an understanding & appreciation of nature is a priority.

This Revised and Expanded Edition of Hands-On Nature is an engaging how-to activity book--for children and for anyone looking to bring them before nature, whether at home, school, camp, playground, hiking, a workshop, or other pursuit. Here is a practical guide for the environmental enthusiast. Page after page it exhibits a wide range of detailed illustrations in black and white, many that appear as works of art. The text is well-written and easy to follow and understand with keywords that are highlighted in bold type, easily directing the attention of the reader to an order of valuable terms and particulars on nature. The book is divided into chapters, namely: Adaptations, Habitats, Cycles, Designs of Nature, and Earth and Sky, with related subjects like birds, insects, plants, flowers, streams, earth, deer, logs, and clouds. The chapters are organized into two sections, starting with an informational essay to introduce each chapter, followed by an activity and experiment segment that may include a brief script for a puppet show or play, and a suggested reading list. This book was made possible with the help of a large group of teachers, professionals, students, and volunteers. It should be included in every family's collection of books to read and share.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part tells the "story" of Love Canal five times, each from the perspective of a different interest group: the chemical company that produced the wastes, the homeowners affected, the New York Health Department, etc. These stories are different, often inconsistent. The second part reconciles, so far as is reasonable, the conflicting claims. Like peeling the layers of an onion to finally get to the core, we get an unusually cogent view of what really happened at Love Canal -- and what did not happen.

This book provides a systematic, balanced account of the history of Love Canal as it concerns various interested groups--Hooker Chemical, Love Canal Homeowner's Association, Niagara Falls School Board, press, etc. It is unique in that it does not lean toward any one side in its recounting of the various sides of the story. Its analysis of the impact of the events and the where the responsibilities might rest is certainly one of the best I've read. Also a terrific book on EPA response to a policy crisis--it provides a springboard to further discussion of the media's role in public policy as it concerns environmental issues.

Kabat's book should be required reading for all public health graduate students and single-issue health activists. From the office of the Surgeon General to city hall, advocacy has frequently supplanted sound science in the service of "good public health policy". The hallmark of advocacy triumphing over science is a selective and result oriented use of data, starting with the institutions that fund the studies. It is currently heresy to challenge the science behind ETS research and regulation. You cannot get a study approved that challenges the validity of the questionnaires and other proxy measures used to characterize ETS exposure, or openly seeks to challenge inadequate measures of bias and confounding. As a consequence, a mountain of research money is being spent piling on more biased studies conducted by advocates. It's not a conspiracy. It is what political correctness does to public health. We need more public health heretics like Kabat.

Professor Kabat does an excellent job in describing how a combination of zealous regulators, activists, and media can combine to magnify "alarming" results of preliminary, usually inadequate or poorly done studies. Once these headlines are in the public psyche, it can take years, even decades, of further, expensive studies to demonstrate the early alarms were false. Meanwhile, many are scared, and billions of dollars are spent to "fix" or "avoid" the so-called problem.

Four examples are explored in detail, complete with literature references. They are: a) environmental chemicals can cause breast cancer, b) electromagnetic fields (mostly from power lines) can cause various cancers, c)radon gas in homes can cause lung cancer, and d)the (lack of)effects of second-hand smoke. The discussions are thorough and convincing. In addition, Professor Kabat has a chapter describing the science of epidemiology, and points out the usefulness as well as the weakness of the technique.

This is an excellent read for both the layman and the professional in the field.

This mother-and-daughter account of their experience of the Hollister Ranch upon which they both grew up moves the reader into a good feel for how land and psyche interact. There is a minimum of speculation and a maximum of sense and event. The life of the ranch, its voice, surfaces now and again through human conflicts and encounters against the backdrop of its imminent sale. As Jane Wheelright says: "The coastline of the ranch is like the floor plan of my life...."

Both writers are Jungian analysts, and most of the Jungian commentary is provided by Lynda Schmidt, who on occasions describes the ranch as a "manifestation of the Self" (for Jung, the Self with a capital S meant the archetype of totality; he also called it the God-image).

I think we must be very careful--and Lynda Schmidt generally is--when we bring in archetypal concepts, because how we do so can either illuminate or devalue their manifestations. It's like describing one's wife as a Goddess figure or an anima container: what happened to the actual woman? If we see wilderness as a manifestation of the Self, or even of God, is this helpful, or does it shift our attention away from the wilderness as an entity in its own right?

This is one of the few books that take the land seriously. Here is a characteristic passage:

I had a strong sense of being buried deep in the soil, lost under the vast, rocky ledges, melted into the landscape, submerged as an integral part of that place. None of the others in my generation had the remotest sense of being so influenced. I was starting at scratch and I felt like a child about to be orphaned.

Jane Wheelwright and Linda Schmidt -- a mother-daughter team -- authored this book, which is really a conversation about the intricate relationship between one's psyche and one's place. Both are trained in psychology -- Jane in Zurich at the Jung Center -- and both bring a refreshingly honest self-critical flair to this book.

The Long Shore is the story of the Hollister family ranch -- a vast oak-studded arroyo-dipping range of coastal grassland near Santa Barbara, California -- and how each author experienced the place psychologically. Their experiences are extremely different, much of which seems related to the gradual conversion of this vast cattle ranch to a series of late-20th century subdivisions. Sound familiar?

By treating this as a personal exploration, and by calling each other down from any soapboxes, the authors go new places in literature. The Long Shore remains the BEST examination I have read of how one's psychological state is derived -- at least in part -- from the state of the land surrounding. How a wild environment parents us. How it challenges us. How it forces a kind of a reflective relationship that few nature-writers have the first-person confidence to detail on the page, and few psychologists have the wherewithal to examine directly in themselves, much less in others.

If you incline toward this kind of exploration of inner nature and outer nature, The Long Shore is a book to own, to savor and return to. If you don't incline toward this, what else are you doing that's more important?