Injuries Books

I read this book when it first came out, about eight years ago. It has always stayed with me, so much so that I am buying another copy now to read it again (I lent my first copy out, and hopefully it is still traveling around out there somewhere!). The story, beautifully told, is about a horrific accident and lengthy recovery, yes, but more than that, it is about a spiritual journey and transformation. Buy it, read it, you won't regret it!!!

What a beautiful book. I felt her pain and her triumph. I recommend this book to everyone. I was truly touched by Samantha Dunn.

I read a lot of memoirs and this one was very scattered. I couldn't keep track of where the author was a lot of the time. She grew up in many different places and she must have adopted that way of being--because that has become her writing style. I thought the cover looked good; but in this case 'don't judge a book by its cover.'

...you'll love this book. Dunn never met a comma she didn't like. After a while, her lack of attention to form becomes irritating. It's not just a stylistic affectation--it's an affront to her readers. I felt like asking the publisher for my money back. Is it too much to expect that the publisher give the book a decent copy-edit before asking customers to pay good money for it? Despite this gaping flaw, the story is interesting. Just don't expect a finished product.

I happened upon Not By Accident, at a yard sale of all things. This was a very lucky find. Samantha Dunn is an incredibly talented writer. Her story is courageous, honest, and intelligent. Her stoic and quirky humor propelled me on with an odd curiosity, only to watch her become vulnerable and naked in her healing process as well as her writing. I loved her internal musings and mental wanderings, it made me feel less alone, as though I were a part of a greater whole. I have recommended this book to many people and plan to read Failing Paris, if this is any example of what Samantha Dunn is capable of, I'm there.

Surfing's Greatest Misadventures is an outstanding collection of interesting stories from many of the sport's greatest and most interesting figures. From Rick Doyle, Matt George, Ben Marcus, and others that are talented with a pen share the greatest stories in the sport's history (tales of Miki Dora, Greg Noll, Ken Bradshaw all the way to modern day yarns). It's a great book that any surfer will breeze through with a big smile on his or her face.

A whole bunch of short stories from surfers around the world. Some sad. Some funny. Some very in-ya-face. But all a good read. Keep it in the glovebox of your car to read when you're sitting on the sand waiting for the swell to arrive.

heads and shoulders above most surfing books. Really great writing, short stories, great topic of course.

Surf stories are always the best things surfers write about. Maybe because they are such interesting people who usually sail along in the tradewinds of life but still find themselves in the most extraordinary circumstances. This group of stories nailed the genre just right, the way Steve Pezman explained the mystery of the trestles situation in the Nixon years, Matt George's very strange experience in Northern California, and on and on. I would lend it to one of my other surfer friends, but I will want to read it again and again year after year. This is a book you would never want out of your possession, but keep it in the car, take it to the beach and pass it around but be sure to get it back. What a treasure. Have any more stars?

This book expertly delves into the surfing subculture with stories that every surfer can relate to. I have never surfed Trestles, but the stories of what went on between the surfers and the military base were hysterical. Even non-surfers I read it to found it extremely entertaining.

A nice book. Easy to read and well-laid out. Not much to say about impotency controversy but virtually every basic cyling issue is otherwise covered. It helped me figure out my knee pain which I appreciated!

Anyone who rides can benefit from the great information and tips found in this book. You'll also learn about common bicycling injuries.

This is a great book for all who ride. It gives us a heads up on the common riding ailments and suggested treatments/preventions.

For the most part, there are two kinds of riders in the world: 1) people who ride, ride with others, and have expert knowledge based on experience, and 2) people who read and talk about riding, buy only the best and most expensive equipment, yet have trouble with such simple tasks as navigating obstacles or managing heat loss. The No. 2s out there are obsessed with weighing pasta, exact calculations of cadence, heart rate, aerodynamics, and shedding single digit grams from their bicycles. The No. 2s also make the No. 3s (novices who just want to ride more) nervous about taking on an event or increasing their distance because they're convinced by the No. 2s that they haven't the expertise or elite equipment needed to ride 'seriously.'

This book dispells the witchcraft of cycling. It's about what practically happens to a person when they take up cycling even semi-seriously--particular ailments and stress disorders; simple explainations of how muscles, the circulatory system, blood, and body chemistry all work as it relates to cycling; and the low-down on even the most minor of performance enhancers, such as vitamin overdosing and sports drinks, which he doesn't particularly recommend and tells you impartially why you should or shouldn't use them as well as provides the home cookin' alternatives to expensive gels, drinks, and the like.

BOTTOM LINE: Authoratative yet practical, this book applies equally to the Sunday afternoon 10 mile "epic" rider as well as the 'professional' rider. It will explain everything from the benefits of beer to why you get butt cramps, and will never make such rediculous recommendations as "buy a more expensive bike" or belittle the relatively small amount of riding you No. 3s out there do.

It's the 'obsessive compulsive' free guide to healthy cycling for all levels of riding and riding experience.

The author makes statements that are no longer valid, current, or that are flatly inaccurate. One diagram stated that muscles attach to bones by a ligament. This is not true. Muscles originate and insert into bones via a tendon, with some tendons longer or shorter than others, and with muscle/tendon transitions having different anatomies. This is important in understanding injuries and how to treat them. Arnie also opens up the topic of nutrition with the USDA Food Pyramid, another problematic scheme, since we now know that a high percentage carbs diet of breads, cereals and pastas is a source of stripped-down carbs, not good quality carbs. The medical advice for treatment of painful conditions is outdated. NSAID medicines are now known to have deleterious effects on our bodies. Current research suggests that NSAIDS interfere with the healing of tendons. And, especially for neck and back pain, chiropractic should be the first choice, since it has been demonstrated in several studies over the years to be safe and effective. Lance Armstrong couldn't have performed well without his chiropractor...
The author seemed to have a boiler-plate approach to presenting information. Hopefully his next edition will be more current and clinically accurate.

This is an excellent, easy to understand book. It offers a clear way to evaluate the value of your claim. It also helps you understand when you might handle the case yourself and when it might be better to pay a lawyer.

It helped me evaluate my own case, then I bought a copy for my mother after she was hit by a tow truck driver who had a suspended license.

Highly recommended.

This is the second NOLO book I've bought ("patent it yourself" was the first), and I'm equally impressed at its organization and vital usefulness. This guidebook is as essential for navigating a damages or personal injury claim as a travel guide is for navigating a new city. It specifically lists steps that you need to take, forms that you need to fill out (including their URLs when possible), letters that you need to write, and walks you through the whole process. It also informs you what types of shenanigans insurance companies can and cannot get away with.

90% of my legal questions were answered in this book, so that when I finally met with a legal ad adviser face to face, I was well prepared and only needed to ask a few more nuanced questions.

My car was totaled and without collision coverage, I was forced to deal with the other guy's insurance company directly (Liberty Mutual, ranked one of the lowest in consumer reports because of their aggressive tactics when filing a claim). Liberty Mutual denied liability without giving any written justification even though their guy hit me while taking a left turn. This book has prepared me for the fight though. I plan to represent myself in small claims court.

This book is also more useful and broadly applicable than just personal injuries. In my auto accident, I was not injured and was not even considering faking, so most attorneys wouldn't take my case. But I just ignored the chapters on personal injury and focused on the sections discussing liability and property damages.

I had a boating accident (I was a passenger) in 2001. I heard terrible stories from people who had hired lawyers and ended up with nothing. I bought this book and after 2 years of medical procedures & appointments, when I was done, I composed a letter requesting $85,000 from the insurance company (who had already been paying all my medical bills), State Farm. The policy was for $100,000 and the boat owner had only made one month's payment. I figured I would negotiate down to $65,000 minimum. I reasoned that if I ended up having to get a lawyer, I would ask for the $100,000 and end up with $66,000 (lawyer would get 30 percent). With my letter, documentation and before, during and after pictures, State Farm ended up awarding me $90,000. $5,000 more than I had requested. I highly recommend this book, but you must be thorough and patient. It's a lot of "legwork". A lot of research and stuff, but who knows your "pain and suffering" better than you. Certainly not a lawyer!!! The money is gone, but I used it to keep my paralyzed 83 year old mom at home with a caregiver until she passed away!

I would recommend you buy this book which is published by Nolo Press, which is probably the most prominent self-help legal publisher. It is a very good overview and covers alot. If you had to buy one book only, this is it.


I had also bought "Car Accident Secrets" which is written by an insurance "insider". I don't really recommend it. It only provided general/basic info. which is covered by Joseph Matthew's book. Good luck.

This book is very vague especially relating to car accidents. I had much better luck with Car Accident Secrets. It contained more information and was very easy, had step by step instructions to follow. I would recommend purchasing Car Accident Secrets if you have been involved in a car accident.

Ray Bourhis has written a shocking expose' of the games and scams of the insurance industry. In my experience as a claims adjuster, I've found that policyholders and claimants try their best to be nice. At the same time, because they don't usually read their policies, they are completely at the mercy of the insurance companies in the claims process. The insurance companies, for the most part, control the claims process. That is, unless you know how to take control of the claims process. Bourhis chronicles the bad faith of the companies. Knowledge is power, and once you're informed, you can do something to protect yourself. Great job, Ray!

The author gives us an inside look at what happens when someone goes through the process of filing a disability claim and being denied benefits. This book does an excellent job of preparing you to handle a very difficult process that could lead you to personal and financial
disaster.

Ray Bourhis has done a masterful job of telling the story of his client, Joan Hangartner, (and several others) in their battle with the Unum-Provident disability giant. This book is an easy read that will terrify anyone who is thinking about making a claim against a disability insurance policy. As Bourhis points out, Unum is no worse than any of the others--the disability insurance companies have "done the math" and figure out that denying valid claims and forcing people to litigate for years if very profitable for the companies.

The disability insurance companies don't care about getting hit every once in a while like the massive verdict he got on behalf of Dr. Hangartner... their profits are still enormous. Bourhis also does a great job (discouraging as it is) of showing how most states lack any real "bad faith" laws that can be used to discourage the disability insurance companies from continuing to look after themselves before their insureds. Finally, Bourhis accurately shows that there is no effective meaningful oversite of the insurance industry by the federal government.

Simply, it takes lawsuits like his to break down the veil of secrecy that the insurance companies hide behind.

In short, if you like to read legal non-fiction, (and you like, for example the Gerry Spence books about his trials) then you will enjoy this book

When you read this book it is very clear that Mr. Bourhis is writing it from a plaintiff's attorney point-of-view. Which is fine, just accept that fact when you read the book and know that the book is very one-sided and filled with only partial truths.

In his book he slays insurance companies, UnumProvident in particular, for not being fair, objective, or reasonable in their claim handling practices. Mr. Bourhis is neither fair, objective, nor reasonable in his depiction of insurance claims.

Mr. Bourhis clearly thinks a lot more of himself and his legal prowess. His writing skills, however, leave a lot to be desired. I had to laugh at some of his descriptions of UnumProvident employees. Example - "I don't know where insurance companies find these people but Ryan seemed like yet another excessively clean-cut looking guy - the kind of fellow you might expect to see wearing a white uniform and selling ice cream cones at Disneyland."

What did you think, Mr. Bourhis, that insurance companies only hire the "wolves in sheep's' clothing"? Did you expect all claim examiners to look like witches and ogres out to terrorize the villagers and eat their children? This is, after all, another vicious attempt by insurance companies to charm and disarm the claimant so they can swoop in for the kill, you know.

You will also notice how he refers to the employees primarily by their last names in an attempt to de-humanize those individuals. If they seem less human - less like your brother, sister, neighbor, or friend - it is a lot easier to hate them and vilify them as he has done in his book.

Insult to Injury" focuses on a disabled chiropractor driven to the brink by an insurance company (UnumProvident) that unjustly denied her claim for benefits; the "good news" is that Bourhis and his associates were eventually able to right the wrong after a long legal battle made incredibly difficult by the company's calculated mendacity and the industry's success in prior lobbying of Congress and state legislatures.

When Dr. Hangarter first purchased her disability policy from Paul Revere Insurance, companies made their profits primarily on double-digit investment profits. However, the market changed and the companies found themselves under increasing pressure. In the meantime, Dr. Hangarter was injured providing treatment to a patient, and despite significant efforts at treatment, had to give up her practice and rely on disability payments from Paul Revere. Eventually Revere was sold and then became part of UnumProvident, and Dr. Hangarter's world was turned upside down.

New corporate leadership was brought in and began a deliberate policy of searching for ways to deny benefits - goals were set, customers were lied to regarding whether they could appeal and what was covered, expert testimony was slanted through incomplete information, documents destroyed, and the disabled often forced to go through lengthy, risky, and expensive litigation to collect. Possibly most frustrating of all (to me) was the fact that even when the company lost, it simply continued the same practices with other customers, and made it as difficult as possible for those victims to learn of the firm's already uncovered pattern of deceit.

Eventually because of all the resulting bad publicity UnumProvident's CEO was "forced out," given a $17 million payment, and all his cronies were left behind. Not much of a victory for truth and virtue. Meanwhile, President Bush touts his efforts and legislative victory to make righting such wrongs more difficult, and most state insurance commissioners and laws remain toothless. (California was a fortunate exception.)

"Insult to Injury" also goes a long way towards explaining why large punitive damages are sometimes necessary in the absence of innate corporate honesty and laws that mandate such.

And now we're reading about insurance companies and how they are managing to not pay Hurricane Katrina victims.

After reading an article about William Bonadio's book, "Julia's Mother" in my local newspaper I knew I had to read it. Too many books are written about hospital experiences and stories of tragedy in the ER. This book was amazing! The stories Bonadio told were so incredibly touching it really makes you think about your own life. Too much do we think of doctors as those people on "the other side of the fence," that don't really know what we are feeling. Bonadio proves to us that yes, doctors do feel too. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

I was initially drawn to this book because I remembered Dr. Bonadio from his residency in Cincinnati. He was always a very intense, hardworking, caring physician. His book brought back many memories of similar situations I have encountered as a pediatric emergency nurse. His descriptions are very vivid, and written in a style that draws you completely into the story he is telling.

An amazing collection of stories from a children's emergency room. Bonadio allows reader to see not only the gripping details of events but also his feelings about his patients and his work. Doctors are not often this forthcoming. I was especially taken with his awarness of the impression he was giving to anxious parents with his body language and facial expression as he worked over their stricken baby, deeply moved by his search for words to tell Julia's mother that her child had died.

I read this as part of a research project, but wholeheartedly believe that this book would be fascinating to any reader. Bonadio's skill as a writer is phenomenal. I hope he writes other books, even novels, in the future. My guess is that he will.

I enjoyed this book more in hindsight than in actually reading it. Be forewarned -- this isn't strictly about the pediatric E.R. There's a lot in here about medical school and other experiences significant to the author. The book is more a long philosophical rumination about and reflection on the importance of doctors.

There is a certain tone to it that I couldn't quite pin down but that I found off-putting. Maybe it is the distance of an extremely disciplined, intelligent, and dedicated human being trying to relate to all the rest of us poor slobs. He even admits that is why he chose pediatrics because he couldn't stand dealing with adults (I didn't hold this against him--it's why I used to teach preschool--but it stung to see it in print from a man who is supposed to care about people). I was impressed by the hard work that goes into being a doctor. I knew about this but it was important to hear it again. You may have read about it or seen it before in medical movies and books, but the personal take on it here gives it a newness that impressed me. If you're looking for brief and many stories about chaotic and dramatic medical tragedies like in the t.v. show ER, you won't find it here. But if you are interested in reading one man's insight into his demanding and difficult career, this will make a very absorbing read.

Dr. Bonadio shares pieces of his medical career and of lessons he has learned. It was fascinating to learn of his medical school career and of all the insecurities a doctor-to-be would have. The lessons he learned from his patients and their families are invaluable. His compassion is heart rendering. My only complaint is that the book was too short. I really wanted to know Dr. Bonadio and his life better. Will there be a sequel?

About 10yrs ago, I developed CTS....pain was similar to electric shocks at some moments...desperation and internet searching found the Rossiter method.... a few weeks of determination found complete relief and I've never experienced any further discomfort. btw...I'm an Electical Designer who spends 8-10hrs/day on the 'puter; plus 5-10 hrs/week on the home 'puter...

Half of this book explains Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMI), and the other half describes exercises to overcome RMI. I never read the half that explains RMI. I just read the half that describes the exercises. I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and was wearing a cast 24 hours a day. My doctor was ready to start injections and then maybe surgery. The exercises in this book completely cured my problem with no medical treatment needed. I then gave the book to my doctor.

I am sorry, some people say this book helped them but I found the exercises to be very tedious and ineffective. It was actually a pretty upsetting experience, because it was all so uncomfortable to do, and I really needed to find a solution to my Repetitive Strain Injuries but could not.

Finally I discovered The Triggerpoint Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies (which saved my life) and It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by Suparna Damaney & Jack Bellis (which is essential for anyone who has a computer-related Repetitive Strain Injury). The MindBody Prescription by John Sarno also gave me a different perspective, though it didn't help me personally as much as the others a lot of people swear by it. If you happen to live in Los Angeles they are all available from the library, I don't know about other cities.

Oh, and Sharon Butler's book, Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is also good for teaching gentle stretches. In the end, it was this collection of books that told me all I needed to know and now I have completely recovered. But unfortunately the Rossiter Way did not help me at all. I'm giving it 2 stars just in case it has some merit I missed.

As a musician, I play the piano about 30 hours per week. This became difficult with the onset of tendonitis and carpal tunnel symptoms. I did these exercises daily for about 6 mos. with a personal trainer and physical therapist. I now live symptom free! Thank goodness I said no to the cortisone injections! I highly recommend it to anyone with similiar problems. You can be healed with this system of exercises.

I had a chronic clenched muscle on the left side of my mid back for about 7 years. Some days it would be no problem, some days the pain was almost totally debilitating--I couldn't sit still for more than 5 minutes, which was a huge problem since I spent most of my time on the computer or at a drawing table. I tried chiropractic, massage, rolfing, yoga. Nothing gave me long-term relief. Then I found this book through my rolfer. I was skeptical about the back exercises, because you work on the thighs, not the back at all. Well, after doing the back exercises twice, the pain was gone. Entirely. Doing them once every three months now is enough to keep me pain free.

The exercises on the arms are fantastic for relieving carpal stress. Both my girlfriend and I have had periods of intense computer activity where we can feel the tightness building dangerously. But running through the forearm, bicep and shoulder stretches offers *instantaneous* and sustained relief.

It seems too simple. But it works.

With the high cost of medical care and drugs, improving the healing process
could not be better. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments are breaking down doors
in areas of infection, altzheimers, brain tumors, auttistic disorders,
diabetes, arthritis, and list goes on. The upper class is now even purchasing private home hyperbaric chambers. People who fly a lot or
even NASCAR drivers are turning to these oxygen treatments for detoxification. It is no longer only for scuba divers needing emergency
care for the "bends". If you dont know what this new exciitng breakthrough
is all about, this book is a must have.

Authoritative and well written. Pretty broad coverage of a complex subject, not real deep in parts, but very useful nonetheless. An essential text for anyone interested in recent developments in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The Oxygen Revolution is a dynamic book about HBOT. It is a must for anyone interested in HBOT therapy. The first three chapters are critical readings for anyone and then you can pick the chapter that deals specifically with the aspect you are researching such as stroke victims.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is researching solutions for medical problems.

No, the insurance physicians are paid to perscribe drugs, office visit costs, etc. Doctors are in business for themselvels too. They have to bring in patients to get paid by insurance companies. Make Sense?

Without drugs, what would they offer that the insurance companies would pay for. Nothing. Pharma has a headlock and a tight one on the AMA. What can we do? They donate hundrends of millions to medical schools - Speak out and discuss so the word revolves around the world.

This book is a must read for everyone. Many people could improve their quality of life with a few treatments of oxygen.

Dr. Harch is truly the strongest advocate for people to recieve help who have had brain injury. Including individuals who have had brain injury in Iraq.

A must, must , must ready. For EVERYONE.

I have personal knowledge of individuals who have been treated and have had great sucess. I whole heartedly support everything Dr. Harch has written about.

Okay, first of all, I like this book. I enjoyed the read just like I enjoy reading most of Piers Anthony's books. Shade of the Tree cleverly ties together all the essential elements for a proper horror story - bitterly cold weather, forebodingly sharp objects, hallucinations and nightmares, and an increasing sense of isolation and doom. I will also add that the two children in the novel are superbly written and manage to seem both realistically childish and yet reasonably mature without ever edging too far off either spectrum.

That said, the story DOES have its issues. The father's stubborn refusal to adjust his lifestyle in the face of the supernatural is jarring - he doesn't deny the existence of the ghosts that fade in and out of his sight by chalking them up to hallucinations (which would be a credible response), but rather he accepts them as real and as a potential threat. However, this tacit acceptance is the end of his response - he doesn't take steps to actually DEAL with the ghosts (ideally, by moving out and taking his two children with him) or to try to minimize their affect on his family in any way.

Piers also falls into the two major flaws he introduces into pretty much every other book he's written. The first flaw is that of the "Perfectly Pert Patty" character - Piers is never happy until he introduces an impossibly buxom barely-legal type which must, of course, be introduced as a flawless physical specimen every time she enters the scene. No mere "Bonnie showed up at the doorstep," for Piers - it must be "Bonnie showed up at the doorstep and she brought her stunningly spectacular breasts with her," or not at all. Yes, the story needed a maternal figure, but I'm not certain that a 19-year-old Sophia Loren look-alike was mandated. But I digress.

The other major flaw that Piers can't help but introduce is his need to reduce everything to a computer-analogy. A telepathic tree is not a computer, and trying to describe it as such in a novel otherwise completely devoid of such sophisticated devices is extremely jarring. And, of course, we're left with such amusing sentences as "a telepathic being, even a tree, was easier to accept than the supernatural," leaving us to muse what, exactly, is "natural" for Piers that a telepathic tree who summons mental ghosts and zombies to kill people ISN'T supernatural.

Again, it's a fine book. I gave it four stars - I like it, it was worth the $1 I paid at Half Price Books, and I'll even probably read it again someday. Just be aware that there are problems, but if you like Piers Anthony, the problems are ones you've dealt with before and you'll muddle through like I did.

I liked this book. This is a simple, typical horror book. The characters aren't very deep- Josh-A manly father who has lost his beloved wife, Sue- his daughter who's a little genius and Chris- his son who's hyperactive. There are numerous families in horror films/books with a very similar structure.
The Pinson family moves into a property in the countryside after the mysterious, bloody death of a relative who used to live there. Josh, who came from NYC, ignores the warnings of the neighbors about his land being haunted and settles in. He is ruled by rationalism. Soon enough, strange things begin to happen...deaths, near deaths, weird deseases, ghosts, animals going mad, walking sekeltons and everything you can imagine.
The big flaw of the book is the ending, which tries to make the book more than it really is. This is not a philosophical book. Inserting 10 pages of heavy philisophical ideas is just NO GOOD, especially when these 10 pages are the last pages of the book.

The book was spooky, easy and fun to read, if somewhat unsatisfying.

I can't remember now why I was randomly searching through Piers Anthony's books - I had mostly given up on him years ago when I realized that after the first couple of books in any given series (Xanth, Apprentice Adept), that series would devolve into repetitious silliness and idiocy. Maybe it was in hopes of finding another gem like Firefly (which is another amazing read, if you can find it). Well, I ran across this book and was immediately intrigued and set about to find it. I'm glad I did - I couldn't put it down. It starts out slow - setting a mood, slowly inserting more and more elements that just don't quite belong. Joshua Pinson, the new owner of the property, is a rational man - a computer programmer - and finds it harder and harder to explain away the occurrences, although he continues to attempt to do so, not wishing to give in to the superstitions of those who live in the area concerning his property, and especially the large tree under which shade his new house sits. Finally during an extended rainy period things seem to hit a sort of critical mass . . . but I don't want to ruin anything, so you'll just have to read it for yourselves. I highly recommend this book for those who like a good ghost story, a good mystery, a good scare, or just a well-written book. You won't be disappointed!

Piers Anthony demonstrates his competence at horror novel writing. This story enthralls almost immediately, about a father and his two children taking refuge from The Big City in a safe, rural setting. Anthony builds empathy for the plight of the family, who have just lost their mother to NY crime. But as he does this, he begins to insert elements into the rural Florida setting that don't quite fit, that can be explained away at first, but then ...

I won't give anything away, but this could have made a great X-Files episode. Anthony demonstrates that he can run with King or Straub with this story. His characterization is much deeper than usual, but he doesn't neglect his perversely creative ability to plot beyond the lines.

Great bedtime reading for city dwellers. Not certain I'd read it at all if I lived in an old house under an old tree, miles from anywhere ...

There was a day when Piers was known for more than his stupid and silly fantasies, and this is one the best books from those times. Much of the scenery and background is taken from his real life, but here he creates more suspense and drama than I've ever seen in any of his books. The characters are real and believeable, the writing is tight and descriptive, and the overall suspense of the book keeps you turning the pages until the very end -- where the book goes from suspense/horror to outright light fantasy. But hey, I'm not complaining, at least it's not some cope out, splatter the wall with blood ending that Stephen King has come up with a hundred and one times already. I highly recommend this book to all who are even remotely interested in this genre of writing; it is not, however, for those who are incapable of conceiving of literature beyond Xanth.

This eminently accessible book contains a wealth of information on a subject about which there are tremendous misconceptions, foremost of which, in our culture, may be the idea that being strong and fit and healthy requires a large output of muscular force (pain=gain). Porter proposes that in fact all that's necessary to achieve these things is correct alignment of the bones and joints. She's not by any means the first to teach this principle--Alexander and Feldenkreis and a multitude of others, including the best t'ai chi teachers, have taught and written about over the last few decades--but in Western society most of us are either ignorant of it or simply don't believe it. I had the good fortune to take a short workshop with Ms. Porter a short while ago, and found her kind, caring, lighthearted, enthusiastic and deeply knowledgeable--all traits that are reflected here. My single reservation--far outweighed by the value of the information, which alone earns it five stars in my opinion--is that the book suffers somewhat from repetitiveness in both text and images as well as inefficient layout, and would have benefited by better editing. But if the subject interests you--as I believe it should--the book is well worth the modest investment.

Kathleen Porter has written the seminal book about the most disregarded aspect of health/wellness/fitness of our times. Most of us, and by that I mean about 95% of human populations in technologically advanced countries (TACs), are simply unaware of this issue. Hence, her little pebble, thrown into a very big pond of ignorance . . . Its ripples are circling out, washing up against the amazing disregard with which we live in our bodies. Oh, many of us exercise like mad, driving ourselves to the edge of endurance, even participating in ancient modalities of spiritual physicality like Hatha Yoga (the physical expression of the broad study of the Mind which is yoga) or t'ai chi chuan (Why is t'ai chi chuan done slowly? So you can get a look at yourself.) in increasingly competitive fashions. Yet, we're missing the point entirely. And we're hurting ourselves in the process.
To what is Ms. Porter attesting? Simply that we are no longer natural in our bodies. She mentions that other animals move as their bodies' designs dictate: tigers move like tigers, giraffes, like giraffes, hawks, like hawks. Only humans move in our oddly disparate, sometimes personality-driven manners, each of us, whether striding or hobbling or waddling, moving in anomalous ways, counter to our body's basic design. You'd need to go to Bali or Myanmar or India or even Portugal to find adults who have remained naturally aligned in their bodies since childhood. Almost all of the rest of us went out of natural skeletal alignment in our fairly early youth. Ms. Porter's book helps you recognize what constitutes natural posture and offers concrete advice about how to rediscover it in your own body. This primer is a revelation. As more of us become aware of its "open secret", shared, the more likely that we will create increasing improvements in our physical wellbeing. It's such a remarkable study. Please do yourself, and everyone you love, a favor and read this one! There isn't an issue in our overstimulated, over-the-top, self-absorbed, ignorance-driven times that is of greater import to our physicality.
There are still individuals, to be found largely in parts of Asia, especially India and Southeast Asia, also in Africa and South America, and corners of the Middle East, who have remained naturally aligned in their bodies into adulthood (one good example, in the U.S., is Yao Ming, the NBA player from China). They, however, are not aware of that as a fact separate from their being. They just are aligned, that's all. A very intriguing possibility is, if enough modern humans become aware of this remarkable situation, that almost all of us (in TACs) have lost that innate naturalness of posture which we found as toddlers, that we are out of alignment but have the opportunity to learn to be self-correcting and can work at becoming aligned in our own bodies again, that perhaps we can evolve spiritually, mentally, emotionally, in ways that wouldn't have been possible if we hadn't gone out of skeletal alignment in the first place and on such a huge scale and had then, through the observation of a very few, Ms. Porter among them, been made aware of this. It may be a evolutionary step on the spiraling ladder of our psycho-physio-spiritual awakening.
Ageless Spine, Lasting Health: The Open Secret to Pain-Free Living and Comfortable Aging

This is a great book which broke me out of the muscle-bound-fitness mindset, which actually can cause more problems by creating tight joints, inflexibility, tension, disc damage, and poor posture. Kathleen Porter's writing and examples are very convincing. I recommend checking out Stuart McGill's (The leading PhD back specialist) books on low back disorders for a very scientific perspective on back health, which supports Ms. Porter's book. These two authors' books have made me much healthier and have saved me a lot of (damaging) exercise time.

The books seems to try to prove to people the benefits of good posture. If you don't already know you probably wouldn't read the book. Then it provides little practical advice on the fixing the problem: to be precise, there is essentially only chapter out of a dozen dedicated to improving your posture.

Kathleen Porter's book is must reading for anyone suffering from spinal disorders including disk degeneration, disk herniation, or back pain. The book presents a well reasoned, practical approach to an area of fundamental importance that probably does not receive enough attention in research and in treatment of spinal disorders. She provides an approach to reducing stress on the inter-vertebral disks and muscles through alignment of the bones by adopting a natural posture. While there is little scientific data to provide an evidence base for the importance of the approaches that she advocates, the anecdotal evidence and theoretical analysis that Ms. Porter provides with the use of photographs and schematic drawings makes for fascinating reading, and seems sensible and plausible. As a physician working on development of new non-operative treatments for spinal disorders such as disk herniation and low back pain, I would recommend the book to anyone interested in assessing different non-operative approaches to the achievement of improved spine health.