1 comments about No Man Alone: A Surgeons Life.

1. You don't have to learn a little bit about neuroscience to understand why Wilder Penfield, M.D., was so important. You don't have to appreciate the contrast between the ridiculous 19th-century field of phrenology and the eloquent experimental data summarized in Penfield and Jasper's landmark _Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain_ to understand what the name Penfield means in neuroscience today.

   In fact, even a casual reading of Rudy Rucker reveals jacked-in cybernauts, their neurosurgeons doubtless Penfield's spiritual descendants.

   The work stands on its own, and this autobiography will barely touch on it, or the turbulent relationship between Penfield and Jasper (the latter is barely mentioned.) But if your question is, "Who was that man," this book provides the answer.

   If you're not interested in an out-of-print book, there's a book called "Something Hidden," by Penfield's grandson, that covers much the same ground; in fact, whole chapters are practically lifted word-for-word with only the person changed from first to third.

1 comments about Miracle Man of the Western Front Dr. Varaztad H. Kazanjian: Pioneer Plastic Surgeon.

1. The Miracle Man is an inspiring piece of work about a truly unique individual, who lived the American dream against all odds and managed to revolutionize the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Amid the turmoil of World War I and a campaign of genocide by the Turkish government against the Armenian people, Kazanjian, a dentist with broken English, managed to bring some peace to the ravaged allied soldiers. Revered on the battlefield, Kazanjian found himself relegated once again upon his return home to the US. However, this is the story of a resilient man and impressively, one who maintained his humble and humane attitude in life. This is an important piece of history for all to read.

2 comments about Of Time and Change.

1. In this well-written memoir, Frank Waters shares intimate details of his friendships with many of the artists who lived in Taos, New Mexico during the Mabel Dodge Luhan era. A pulitzer prize-winning author, Waters uses his talent with the pen to acquaint the reader with his artist friends in Taos and tell his own life story. Waters also shares his exploration of the history of Native Americans in the Four Corners area. If anyone is qualified to write about the art world in Taos at that time, it is certainly Frank Waters. A must-read for those interested in the Southwest.



2. While I agree with Steffanie Gibbons' view that the Waters' memoir is well-written, in that it flows with the pen of an accomplished writer, but I cannot not agree with a rating of five stars. The "intimate" picture portrayed gives a thin image of his artist friends. Moreover this picture is one of, somewhat desperate, people seeking to be significant as artists, but coming off more like hangers-on. After reading the book, Taos has lost much of the well manicured luster as an artist center, and comes off more like a tourist trap.

5 comments about One Blood: The Death and Resurrection of Charles R. Drew.

1. Spencie Love has written one of the few genuinely biracial explorations of the history of black-white relations in the United States. She uses the story of Charles Drew to illustrate the ways in which white Americans have misunderstood and distorted the contributions of black Americans to their shared culture--whether science, politics, education, medicine, or daily life. THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW called this a "superb book" and their review was spot on.



2. This wonderful book not only includes accurate, scholarly historical research, it tells a gripping story of two fine black families and their experience with health care for African-Americans in our society. Very readable.



3. I decided to look up the Amazon site for Spencie Love's book "One Blood," because I recently wrote a review of Phillip Roth's "The Human Stain, where I point out the erroneous information provided by a character about the death of Dr. Charles Drew. The character claimed that Drew bled to death because he was refused admission to a Caucasian hospital due to his race. Lo and behold I look up this Amazon site and read the Ingram review of "One Blood," only to discover that it too, has erroneous information. The review claims that Drew was refused admission to one hospital, then treated in the emergency room of a segregated hospital, after which he bled to death. Apparently, the reviewer didn't read Love's book either. That's not what she describes as happening. Drew was IMMEDIATELY admitted to the emergency room of Allamance County Hospital in Allamance County, North Carolina, where doctors couldn't save him because he was entirely too injured to be saved. Love makes this VERY CLEAR in the book. The Ingram review implies that first Drew was taken to one hospital and refused admission, then taken to a "segregated" facility where he was treated, but couldn't be saved. No!!! This is not what Love says happened. In the book she describes how it was JUST ONE HOSPITAL ALL ALONG where Drew was taken and treated. Part of the point of her book is to correct the long held fallacy that Drew bled to death due to the refusal of a hospital to admit him. Please someone at Amazon, GET THE BOOK. Then read what she wrote. Then post my review of Roth's novel, where I express my dismay that Roth got away with furthering a myth that is still well entrenched among those who should research such matters before commenting about them (or having characters comment about them).



4. Too often, what passes as "Black History" to the public on radio shows, the internet, etc. consists of myths and conspiracy theories as the "Willie Lynch Letter," The first president being Black, African-Americans being descended from Ancient Egyptians, ad nauseum. Spencie Love performs a well-needed service by debunking one of the most common (albeit one of the more plausible) of these myths-the idea that Black blood plasma pioneer Dr. Charles Drew bled to death because he was refused admission to a segregated hospital. Fact was, as she carefully demonstrates, this actually happened to another Black person named Maltheus Avery around the same time while Dr. Drew was treated responsibly at the time of this death.

   As a Black scholar, I have long decried the use of fabrication in the telling of Black history as something a people starved for true knowledge could ill-afford. Thank you Miss Love for showing people that REAL history does matter.




5. This is an excellent story on both Charles Drew and the power of myth in the African American community. I too grew up on the story of Charles Drew being refused treatment at a segregated hospital. Given the history of African Americans and the medical establishment, this was easy to believe, especially by those living under the oppressiveness of Jim Crow. For example, the sad story of WW II veteran Maltheus Avery being turned away by Duke University Hospital shows us why the Dr. Drew hospitalization refusal story took on a life of its own.
   
   The book also gave me some additional insight into just who Dr. Drew was as a man and as a physician. He truly was an outstanding man who exemplified manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. If I'm not mistaken, there is no comprehensive biography of Dr. Drew that has been written outside of the dozens of children's books about him. That's very surprising to me, given his accomplishments and his legendary status in medical circles and in the African American community.
   
   I applaud Ms. Love for writing a truly fascinating story that needed to be told, both of Dr. Drew and the stories that surrounded his death. This is non-fiction writing at its best.

No comments about Labor of Love: A Midwife's Memoir.

3 comments about Chasing Daylight: How My Forthcoming Death Transformed My Life.

1. This is an excellant book which we coulde all learn from on bring all our relationship to victory.



2. There is a peacefulness and great joy in this heartwarming story of fully living life even in the face of death. I am grateful for having had the experience of reading it and for the reminders of how to live life with gusto.



3. I found this book to be inspirational. I also found it to be painful to read. The author faces his own iminent death and does so with great dignity. There are great lessons to be learned but it is nonetheless a difficult topic and a difficult read.

No comments about Enabling Lives.

5 comments about Neither Red Nor Dead: Coming of Age in Former Yugoslavia During and After World War II.

1. Have you ever wondered what motivates those who make great contributions to society? Neither Red Nor Dead is the mesmerizing autobiographical account of a young teen-ager caught up in the horror of the Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II. Blessed with intelligence, incredible insight, perhaps an overabundance of courage and much luck, the author describes in great detail the activities of Yugoslavian partisans and a young boy, largely separated from his family during this horrible time. After the end of World War II the author and his family attempted to reconstruct some semblance of a normal life during the equally terrifying Communist takeover. We follow the trauma of life during the author's education in University and Medical School with amazement, laughter and sadness. It is difficult to put this captivating and fast-moving account down. What makes the epic so much more incredible is the recognition that despite the difficulties and personal loss sustained during this period, the author developed a keen sense of humor and used his brilliance and insight to make many major contributions to the benefit of mankind. This is the personal story of one of the great hypertension (high blood pressure) researchers of our age to whom hundreds, even thousands of people are indebted for his services as a physician, teacher, researcher and friend.



2. As a reader with only a vague awareness, understanding, or even interest in Yugoslavia and the history of the south Slavs, Julius' book not only opened my eyes to that part of the world but also enhanced my strong feelings of empathy for persons ensnared in the horrors and anomalies of war. His reminiscences of how he handled his ordeal are lively, pointed, and get to the heart of how people react in times of great upheaval. In spite of the serious character of this autobiography, the author was able to see the humorous side of the human condition. Maps and a brief history primer help explain the geography and the times. Not only for history buffs, this book gives all readers a better perception of events in a part of the world that has moved from relative obscurity to major importance in present times.



3. Reading this book has added greatly to my understanding of a significant set of social and political events in the Balkans. It is more important, though, in providing insight into the ways in which individuals cope and grow through being part of those events.

   Prof. Julius is a wonderful scientist and clinician. This book addresses issues well beyond medicine and science.

   For the American, Prof Julius' book provides a the history of the Balkan peoples and describes the maelstrom there during and after World War II. Often our histories overlook this region. Through his eyes, the very unique state of post-WWII Yugoslavia becomes plausible. Secondarily, more recent events in the area are more understandable.

   However, it is the experience seen through the lives of his father, mother, and brother that capture the imagination in a unique manner. The struggle of the individual within large social and political movements is captivating. Late at night, when I wake from sleep, I often wonder about one or more of young Stevo's experiences described in the book. It is a life well-lived and aspects of his life will always remain with me.




4. Neither Red nor Dead, an autobiographical memoir by Dr. Stevo Julius (Medvista, Ann Arbor, MI, www.medvistaa.com, Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com) is a great read! The author, who is an internationally known researcher in the field of hypertension, is now the Frederick G.L. Huetwell Professor of Hypertension at the University of Michigan. He describes his childhood growing up in a Yugoslavia that was occupied by the Nazis during World War II. He is separated from his family, becomes involved in the Partisan resistance, and then suffers excruciating hardship under the post-war Communist regime. Despite such difficulties, he survives and even thrives under these career-threatening circumstances.

   His story is told in fine detail but with great charm, humor, and optimism. The descriptions of the Yugoslavian countryside, people, cities and politics are extremely informative and well written. The text maintained my intense interest throughout the 481 pages. Accompanying the text are maps showing specific areas of the country where the action takes place. One small concern here is that many of the towns are not depicted on the maps and so the most intricate details of his travels cannot be carefully examined.

   While most of the account takes place in Yugoslavia, only the Epilogue deals with the author�s leaving the country for Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. Unlike the rest of the book, the facts leading up to this emigration are less detailed. The last chapter, The South Slavs, is an historical primer, which describes the background of the establishment of the Yugoslavian country after World War I. The author clearly displays the reasons for the internal strife, which has so damaged this territory in the past decade. I might suggest that the interested reader read this chapter first to better prepare for the unfolding of this fascinating memoir.

   Dr. Julius maintains his wonderful humor, humility and sense of family and country throughout the book. There are many interesting literary details (stories and poems) included in the text. Most importantly, the writing is not at all medically oriented, so that readers of any background can enjoy the book. After reading it, besides offering it to my friends, I found that I would very much like to meet the author and shake his hand...




5. Stunningly powerful, this tragedy and triumph of a non-practicing Jewish family portrays a happy and privileged family life dedicated to medicine and intellectual pursuits. All that changed in late May of 1941, when first German motorcycle with machine guns arrived practically in front of their home. Forced to run and hide, first from Germans and soon from Ustashe, Julius family with two sons barely survives attacks and joins resistance.
   The parents, father a doctor and mother a nurse, worked day and night to save wounded communist partisans. Their youngest son Stevo, the author, at age 14 is appointed a military courier, given an outdated gun, and sent to roam alone through mountains, forests, and small rural villages of Croatia. Their older son, 18-year-old bravely defends the territory of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Severely wounded, caught by Germans, he talks his way out with fluent German.
   "Neither Red Nor Dead" is an inside story, full of details and naming names among 481 pages, explaining why communism failed in Croatia and former Yugoslavia (now referred to as f-Y).
   After the WWII, in 1953, the Julius family suffers a fatal blow, when dirty communist politics in Zagreb pins the father, a hard working and totally dedicated head of a hospital, against the wall with false accusations. Meddling into hospital administration in a typical communist style, Dr. Julius sees no way out and commits suicide.
   The elder son dedicates his life to the communist ideals, but when he critizes Slobodan Milosevic (now a war criminal), he is considered a persona non grata in the country he loved so much. He dies from cancer.
   The author, Stevo Julius, educated in Croatia is now internationally recognized as one of the leading scientists in the field of hypertension.
   
   Submitted by Katarina Tepesh

5 comments about Curing the Incurable.

1. Jacque Rigg dared to do what the medical establishment tells the patient is iether incorrect or ineffected... taking control of your own health and denying the establishment 16K a year to pay for harmful pharmacueticals. I agree whole heartedly with most of what I have read. I myself refuse to take the medications which cause tremendous side effects, often leading to a host of other illnesses and disorders. I have turned only to organic/living foods, magnetic matresses, yoga, prayer, nutritional supplements, acupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In a matter of four months, almost all of my symptoms have disappeared. This I know, is not due a "natural" remission, but my body's capacity to heal itself through proper nutrition and lifestyle. This is a wonderful introductory guide for those seeking to avoid the horrendous side effects associated with traditional "western" medicine. There are however several other natural protocols not included in the book that readers may also want to explore. Ironically, I am an Epidemiologist who teaches at a medical school, but who under any and all circumstances would follow Rigg's advise before taking the toxic medications which are currently available to MS patients. Thank you Jacque for a "true" contribution to the field of health. There are many of us out here who truly love and respect you for your efforts. Dr. Liza Molina



2. I thought this was a terrific book on using nutrition and related approaches to "heal" MS, primarily because Ms. Rigg does not advocate any one particular approach but rather emphasizes the need for each person with MS (or any other health challenge) to do lots of research and figure out what works best for him or her. Her emphasis on keeping a diary to record reactions to different foods and the inclusion of many recipes are both practical and useful ways to help the person with MS. After almost a decade with this disease, I am tired of medication and even more of insurance companies, and am committed to trying the nutritional approach to MS by starting a diary this week. Thanks Ms. Rigg!



3. This was fantastic. my partner has been diagnosed with ms but chooses not to take medication. this book has helped both of us and has improved his symptoms no end. it is so good to read a book that isn't full of medical terminology but just states things how they are. easy to read, easy to understand and the recipes really do taste good



4. In '97 I was diagnosed with MS. Someone told me about this book and I ordered it. Its a best buy with the best advise!!! A must read for anyone who seeks to listen to the inner self. Don't do as I did. Read the book and follow it. I wasted a lot of time before I finally followed it and my own inner self to wellness.



5. It should be pointed out that this book was written before the DMD or CRAB drugs were used to help suppress MS. Chemotherapy is only used in aggressive relapsing-remitting MS and in conjunction with Copaxone now. Jacqueline Rigg wrote this book from her experiences with active MS, over 20 years ago.
   I found this book's recipes to be quite useful. I don't believe that there is a 'cure' for MS, but that it is best to examine all options.
   Personally, diet plus DMD has worked very nicely for me. However....this could have happened anyway.
   Sticking rigidly to a diet just because it has worked for someone else is very common and can be encountered in all diet groups, Raw, Vegan, Best Bet, Swank, Atkins, you name it, there will be diet evangelists and their devout followers.
   Diet is not a religion and it's time that people grew up about this. The same goes for medicine.
   When you live with a disease that can affect your body differently each day, you learn the hard lesson of living without absolutes.

5 comments about Kate: The Journal of a Confederate Nurse.

1. Excellant Book covers areas of the war not gone over by others, I do Confederate Cemetery Research and she has in her Journal name of men who did and some unit information, that has help to lead to I.D.ing 5 Soldiers not listed in to N.Ga. cemeteries before



2. Kate's is a remarkable story, and this journal in her own words unfolds over the difficult days of the US Civil War. Kate Cumming is a fine, educated, intelligent and articulate woman. She is a woman of deep faith and lasting patience. Her journal passes on to us the daily routine, the sufferings of war and the deepest reflections of this noteworthy woman. The text is riveting, moving, thought provoking. The book is history from a very personal perspective - one well worth reading.



3. Kate's journal is amazingly well-written, and, as I said in my title, it is obvious from reading it that she is a true Southern lady.

   When I consider how I write any old thing, any old way, in my own journals, I am impressed by the way Kate kept all the wartime news- both on the battlefield and in her private life- so nicely organized. Don't let the word "organized" fool you, though, into thinking it is boring. This journal is anything but dull. Kate's writing style is intelligent, personal, detailed, and extremely interesting; the amazing part is that most of it is written whenever she can snatch a moment to herself from her nursing duties.

   From reading Kate's journal one quickly sees her devotion to the South and its "cause" for freedom. She was not a nurse before the war, but when the war began she volunteered to become one. As a nurse, she showed great compassion for the soldiers, doing everything in her power to alleviate their suffering and to make their stay in the hospital as pleasant as possible, under the terrible circumstances in which she worked. Sometimes her burden would seem too heavy, and she would almost make up her mind to quit, but her determination to be patriotic and her compassion for her patients would change her mind.

   Kate Cumming was a true lady, and this fact also made her journal enjoyable. She is well-mannered; for instance, when she does dislike someone she exercises reserve in writing about them, even though she is writing in her private journal. She does greatly dislike "Yankees", but instead of simply raving bitterly about them, she relates the incidents that cause her to dislike them. Overall, Kate is quiet and observant, and likes to write about the better things that occur in her life (something as simple as meeting a friend on the train, or having something extra nice for dinner) rather than dwell negatively on the hardships that she was experiencing.

   I highly recommend this wartime journal for anyone interested in a truly personal account of a nurse during the Civil War. The fact that Kate was a Southerner makes it even more interesting, because on the whole she went through more than her Northern counterparts did. She was a patriotic lady, and her attitude throughout the war makes her journal a pleasure to read.




4. This book is the masterfully written journal of Kate Cumming. Miss Cumming was a confederate
   nurse during the Civil War. Like Clara Barton in the north, Kate cares for hundreds of the suffering soldiers. Miss Cumming works at Corinth, Mississippi toward the start of the book. Here at Corinth men are brought in every day from the bloody battlefield of Shiloh. She works in Chattanooga for a few months. Also she did her duty as a nurse in Mobile, Alabama(her hometown) Kate relates in her flowing writing the many thoughts that ran through her mind during those long, hard, years. She tells of how much faith in God these men had. This really touched me. Kate said, while speaking of the men's faith, that she had not met one man in her hospital that did not know the Lord. This is quite a statement! To think of all that these men went through at Shiloh, Stone's River, and so many others! I would highly recommend this book because it reveals the true history from a woman who lived at the time and was a witness to these events in our country's history.



5. I heard about Kate Cumming at a Celtic festival in Virginia where Irish singer and songwriter Jed Marum (SOUL OF A WANDERER) told her story, talked about her diary and sang two beautiful songs that her life inspired him to write. I knew I had to read the book, and I was NOT disappointed!

   Kate's devotion to her adopted homeland and her deep faith are inspiring. Her thoughts and feelings about the war and her battle front experience evolve over the 3 years of the diary - and they are eloquently expressed in its pages. This book is a treasure!