5 comments about The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York.

1. I want to say this at the beginning- Deborah Blum is an astonishing author. Her subjects are meticulously researched and she brings them to life in the pages of this book. This was a book that was very hard to put down- until the end when I had no choice. So I went and bought another book by Deborah Blum- Ghost Hunters- and it is thoroughly researched and as engagingly written as The Poisoner's Handbook.
   
   Gertting back to The Poisoner's Handbook, it is a well written book chronicling the state of catching poisoners in early nineteenth century America. At that time in our history, poisoning was the easiest way to get away with murder. We take it for granted now that when someone passes away from poisoning that the family will find out via batteries of toxicological tests what happened to their loved one. However, in the early nineteenth century, with toxicology at it most primitive basics, this was not the case most of the time. Murderers (especial poisoners) could carry out their crimes in impunity, assured that there would be no way they could be identified beyond circumstantial evidence. This began to change however, in New York City. With time New York University (NYU) would become the birthplace of toxicology. Poisoners could be found and put on trial with facts facing them. The group of doctors and chemists that made up the fledgling NYU toxicology department often spent their own money on lab supplies- that is how much they believed in the importance of their work and what it would mean for the future. It is wonderful that for a field we now take for granted- toxicology- that someone has written about it's origins in a way that non chemists and doctors can appreciate and enjoy.
   
   Even though many of the stories in the book are rather ghoulish and grotesques, Ms. Blum provides enough humor in parts of the book to make it a very balanced and enjoyable read. I learned that criminals are not the smartest of those around us- quite the contrary. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and immediately went to see if I could find another book by Deborah Blum as I stated earlier. The Poisoner's Handbook is a book for those who love history, science, and mystery thrillers. It is definitely one of the top five books I have read in the past three years or so. It is that good!



2. I loved this book! Each chapter chronicles a poison,cases where it was discovered ,effects,
   the NY medical examiner's office efforts to thwart further poisoner's attempts. What heroes!
   The writing flows,is interesting without being extremely technical or overly simplistic and educates while it entertains. The insights into Prohibition were fascinating.



3. In New York City in the 1920's, poison was a common cause of death. Speakeasies served bootleg liquor that contained wood alcohol, which was toxic. New "miracle" industrial chemicals sickened and killed factory workers. Murderers used poisons that were hard to trace in the body, and they got away with their crimes. But a few dedicated medical examiners developed better lab tests for poison.
   This book is a winning blend of suspense and historical facts.



4. Many books on forensic sciences, aimed at a general readership, have been written over recent years. I have read many of them and, in my view, this is one of the most spellbinding. In the early twentieth century, forensic medicine and forensic toxicology were in their infancy - then along came two great pioneers, Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler. Struggling through the Great Depression and the Prohibition years, they would develop these fields into reliable, indispensable tools in the war on crime. Using, as vehicles, the professional lives of these two scientists working in New York City, the author focuses on the criminal uses of various poisons. Although each chapter concentrates mainly on a particular poison: its availability, its effects on the human body, its detection in human tissue, etc., as well as on related criminal cases, there is some amount of spill-over from prior chapters in both the poisons used and the criminal investigations. This establishes more continuity in the overall narrative than would be the case if each chapter were to stand alone. The poisons featured include chloroform, wood alcohol, cyanides, arsenic, mercury, carbon monoxide, radium, ethanol and thallium. In addition to being clear, friendly and accessible, the most salient feature of the writing style is its tremendously engaging nature; the book is very hard to put down. This is a book that should appeal to all forensic science buffs as well as general readers who love to read good true crime stories.



5. This is an incredible book! I could not put it down. Very informative about the beginnings of the medical examiner's office and the history of how testing for everything from cyanide to radium poisoning came to be. It covers the 1920's Prohibition era including what people would drink (and that was some very disgusting stuff!). I did not know that "typhoid Mary" was a real person. I would give this book 10 stars if possible. Recommend to everyone.

5 comments about Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2010 Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition (Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia: Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition).

1. I was very shocked when I received this larger book. Some of my classmates had the pocket version and I thought that's what I was getting but I was very happy when this came. It has a little more information in it than the smaller version and I got it for the same price as I would've paid for the smaller version. Very satisfied!



2. This is an always helpful resource. The Tarascon folks always work to balance putting as much useful information in the shirt pocket books as possible with keeping them small. I find the pregnancy and breast feeding icons especially useful



3. Great asset in the clinical setting. Can't imagine not having it in my pocket



4. it's a great reference for work. the only problem was that there was some slight damage when i received it.... there was a "hole" on the back cover that also affected some of the back pages, probably from shipping cause there was some damage on the packaging material also. but not so much that it affected usage. i just didn't like damage on my new reference tool.



5. Tarascon Pharmacopoeia 2010 Professional Desk Reference Edition offers all the vital drug information from the Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition, offering additional information on drugs and dosages, drug interactions, adverse effects and more. A free online subscription is included for updates to this outstanding professional drug reference, a pick for physician reference collections and health libraries alike.

5 comments about The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us And What We Can Do About It.

1. I'm an avid book worm, and usually churn through books at light speed. The topic for Mr. Ramo's book is of utmost importance, so I borrowed the book at my local library. They gave me three weeks to return it, and I thought I'd be done in three HOURS, not weeks. Maybe my librarian knew something I didn't, 'cause its been a tremendous pain to go through Mr. Ramo writing skills, famous name dropping, endless parallels, and superficial arguments. His thesis could be summarized in one page, rather than forcing the reader to withstand the pain of going through it all.
   On the lighter side our author is a competitive aerobatic pilot, so I'll give him some credit afterall...



2. This book is entertaining and thought-provoking. Ramos is a wonderful writer and has weaved together many interesting stories which reflect the complexity of the world we live in. But Ramos oversteps when he claims to offer a solution for the problems we face. His "deep security" solution lacks real prescriptive ideas. While it would certainly make sense to encourage our intelligence and other government agencies to be more creative and prepare themselves to flexibly deal with unanticipated problems, this will not be enough to solve America's or the world's problems. I would have been happier with this book and might even have given it 5 stars if Ramos had simply written a set of essays and told his stories without trying give them more significance than they deserve and pretending that he has solutions for the world's problems.
   
   Ramos is right that the modern world requires governments to react more quickly and more flexibly. But the institutions that really need repairs are our political ones. America in particular is beset by total gridlock in dealing with the enormous environmental and financial problems that we face. We know that we need to rapidly convert from fossil to renewable energy sources, but we allow 17% of our potential workforce to be unemployed when they could be building and installing wind turbines, solar power, and nuclear energy reactors as fast as possible. We could be using these currently unproductive people to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and stave off global warming. But the U.S. Senate hasn't even passed climate change legislation 11 months after Barack Obama became President. And whatever they do pass will be inadequate and take too long to address both climate change and our high unemployment.



3. 
   This is a disappointing book with an exciting title. As others have noted, the writing is sophomoric and sprinkled with factual errors and inconsistencies. The thinking is decidedly leftist.
   
   There are references to art, science, psychology, and political science throughout, but no depth, limited logic, and very little that is new or convincing. The book is built around anecdotes and analogies; it reads as though this consultant put his imagination into finding a common thread through all of his diverse life experiences, whether there is a thread or not. He has no solution to the problems of our day other than to suggest that we be more nimble and operate with wider peripheral vision than we may be accustomed to. He says "we're thinking too narrowly". He also says we need to be more "resilient" and better able to take the punches and move on. We should think broadly, think about networks and decentralized solutions. This is new?
   
   In contending that governmental policy actions can have self-defeating consequences, Ramo suggests reversing course and trying an opposite approach. He suggests fighting terrorism by building schools and hospitals in the terrorist hotbeds; muses that the U.S. may need a Department of Social Decency and a Deep Security Council, and proposes that the road to peace in the Middle East is to approach the problem with a handful of unknown, low-key, negotiators, with no expectations and no timetable; i.e., with no pressure to succeed. We are led to believe this approach is likely to lead to success. This is silly!
   
   In a lengthy but confused discussion he lauds the owner of a failing Brazilian business for turning it into a successful "free-for-all-corporation" where "employees were turned loose to do whatever they wanted". This is a low point of the book. Unfortunately it's not the only one.
   
   Avoid disappointment. Pass this one up.



4. Complex manipulation attempts to control the environment as a means to an end rather than individual characters. Ramos advocates being the "Rebel". The Rebel disrupts, imbalances, and forces new innovation, at the edge of chaos. High disequilibrium is the objective necessary to create change of sorts. Earthquakes, financial meltdowns, subprime panics shakeup the global institution structures and governments causing them to react with stimulus bills and emergence funding. At the same time that the chaos and confusion is running strong there is an invisible and real logic running hidden in the system.
   
   Power and decision-making decentralizes to the people, centralized decision-making yields to autonomous agents, and humanist investments in people increase and create a new social engineering. Investments in infrastructure, innovation, education, and healthcare radically transform the group into a "better" and more resilient system, a phoenix rising form the ashes. Resilience is the objective of the hidden logic and rebellion, self-organizing principle and behavior are part of the sandpile, complexity increases with the network as more agents join, and self-healing of the autonomous agents promote innovation and change. The group starts to behave like an immune system and swarms potential threats and recovers from disasters through autonomous action. The empowerment of group is believed to overcome the destabilizing evil of the bad agents. The fight starts without a fight. The fight starts by manipulation of the environment. The battle between good and evil depends on the creativity and imagination of the coherent groups of like agents working in cooperation too the betterment of the system. Good agents confront bad agents and pursued them to change through debate and argument rather than violence. The battle of ideas is the method of change.
   
   The sandpile theory suggests that grains of sand are being added to the pile forming a cone shape. No one knows what grain of sand added will cause an avalanche of sand. The sandpile is both self-organized and unstable. The instability is intrinsic to the system because of the complexity. The key is to watch the variables in the environment causing the complexity for signs of change. Change is not predictable. However, external forces can cause change causing the sandpile too slide. Large and long-lived Institutions can de-stablize and breakdown.
   
   Inflation concerns and the tightening of money Supply in China can cause investor to buy dollars. The Earthquake disaster in Haiti, drops in Germany production, and a destabilizing euro can cause investors to buy dollars. Central Bank concern in Europe can pressure Japan to extend credit to Europe.
   
   In 2009, the financial meltdown destroyed many small banks, but the large banks and security firm were set to report record profits and employee payouts. Banks like JP Morgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman, Morgan Stanley, asset managers - BlackRock and Franklin Resources, and online trader Charles Schwab. Analyst reported projected earnings of $449 billion and employee payouts of $145 billion. The profits are in part the result of consolidation: JP Morgan acquired Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns; and Bank of America bought Merrill Lynch and Country wide.
   
   
   Ricard Semler managed Simco. Simco empower employees to solve company problems. Simco start to transform, workers cross train to provide increased flexibility, and worker solve problems. The old methods of doing business are abandon, the company is relocated, and new ventures start with profit sharing terms. In 2002 Semco Group was one of the founders of Tarpon investment, in 2005, Semco partnered with Pitney Bowes in document and postal management, and 2006, the Bioenergy project is created. Originally, Semco produced mixers for chemicals and in 1984 began manufacturing refrigeration equipment, and by 1986 had started manufacturing refrigeration equipment. What is Semco? The company is constantly changing.
   
   People can act. Small action can create change. Millions of people acting in a small way will transform how things are done.
   
   Questions:
   1. Does complexity necessary "persuade men to do good"?
   2. Does rebellion and disruption of established institutions transform the institution into a more responsive and adaptable organization of empower individuals? How does high unemployment help anyone or organization?
   3. Is disruption of the environment, a means to transfer wealth? How much wealth moved from Banks to Hedge funds? Hedge funds leveraged bet on a Real Estate Bust while convinciing Banks to sale CDO at the same time, hedge funds bought up CDS? How many billions of reported dollars did Hedge funds gain in 2009?
   4. Will America remain resilient during periods of high debt, high government spending, and stronger regulation and governance? Politics and business objectives seem disparate. Are moral system more stable than immoral systems?
   5. How is the network of small businesses transforming? Has the global paradox been challenged. Is the death of small business leading to large monopolies and bigger big business and higher prices? Why did big business keep $900 billion in the reserves? Is big business planning to buy up all the small business competition and increase prices and profits?
   6. Will China be able to sustain their growth. China is the place to watch. China has been investing in infrastructure and growth. However, China loan rate has been huge. Between 1998 and 2000, China has increased expenditures by $1.2 trillion. State Banks have been forced to loan to state enterprises with non performing loans. Deteriorating loan portfolios are sure to have an impact by 2012. There exists 39.6 trillion yuan in outstanding loans.
   7. Will US exports to China increase exponentially over the next decade?
   8. Why are we so clueless about the bond market?
   9. What happens when the Fed soaks over a $1 trillion in Bank Reserve funds? Will Banks report record earnings for the next decade while credit remains tight?
   10. What happens when China stops selling the Renminbi (RMB)?
   11. Why is Hot money flowing so fast into China? Is a new real estate bubble forming in China caused from China increasing its money supply and high inflation?
   12. Why is China resisting a Strong Yuan?
   13. How long will China inflate its money supply?
   14. What happens with a strong Yuan?
   15. Will large China auto companies purchase portions of GM and Chrysler to sell Chinese cars in the US?
   16. Will US inflation increase in 2010?
   17. What is the relationship between Gold and Banking reserve ratios?
   18. Is the Yuan and the Euro linked?
   19. How is the eBike transform transportation in China?
   20. What are the energy alternatives for India?
   
   What I want?
   1. I would like to know, if micropower energy production will be the next big revolution of change.
   2. I like my questions about China answered.
   3. I would like a peaceful world, less warfare, and more production.
   
   Advice:
   1. Prosperity is based on the law of righteousness. America is a land of promise because the people are righteous God fearing people.
   2. God blesses those who are righteous
   3. The people that possess that land of America must remain righteous to preserve their inheritance.
   4. America is a choice land above all other lands: liberty, freedom, resources, law, and vision.
   5. God will not tolerate an unrighteous people to possess America.
   6. Repentance from unrighteousness restores a people to productivity, industrialism, and safety.
   7. God is the source of knowledge, direction, and inspiration because God know all things. God knowledge encompasses all complex systems. There is nothing not known to God. Therefore, look to God for answers to complex problems.
   8. America responsibility is to bless all nations by: engaging in free trade, not entangling in the internal affairs or workings of foreign governments, and promoting liberty, too all nations.



5. Joshua Ramo's The Age of the Unthinkable is about how, in the face of survivability, conventional wisdom is ill-suited for the modern world and how some people cope with reality by thinking about the unthinkable.
   
   This book reminds me of Thomas Sowell's Applied Economics and Intellectuals and Society, Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, and Nassim Taleb's The Black Swan. Sowell mentioned the notion of the second stage thinking which is looking past the most obvious, or most apparent, solution and going after the subtle solutions that actually make the difference. Sowell also mentioned the advantage of the distributing knowledge among the masses instead of being horded by a few. Gladwell mentioned in his book about how small things or actions can make a big impact on society. Taleb mentioned how people never foresee high impact, highly improbable events until it is too late. Ramo's thesis has elements similar to those from the aforementioned writers.
   
   Ramo explains a notion called the Sandpile Theory which is congruous with the ideas of the Tipping Point. Ramo explains the Sandpile Theory in physical terms (a scientist thought this up) and analogizes the theory in real world terms. Like an avalanche, you can pile sand up on itself up to a certain point before a little speck of dirt will collapse it.
   
   This is a different book. It is not a rehash of the Black Swan or The Tipping Point. Ramo seem to go one step further with the Sandpile Theory. The book might provide some insight on how to identify Black Swan events before they happen. The book is similar to Applied Economics but in a global realm.
   
   Unfortunately, I don't agree with his conclusions. Neither was I crazy about the first 25 pages of the book. The first 25 pages seem to go nowhere. I think his conclusions are disparate from what Ramo is describing about the unthinkable.

5 comments about The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health.

1. This book along with The Engine 2 Diet changed my life. After a dear friend of mine had a stroke at 36 years old, I decided that I needed to take a look at my own eating habits and health. I picked up this book and The Engine 2 Diet. After 28 days of following a vegan diet, I lost 15lbs, lowered my cholesterol 20pts, and my blood pressure 30pts. I no longer have the mid-morning or mid-afternoon energy slumps like I used to when I ate dairy foods. I can't tell you how much better I feel all day long because I do not eat animal protein or processed foods. I know what you are thinking--how do you give up ice cream, steak, cheesecake? It is easy once you realize how those foods make you feel right after eating them (tired, lethargic) and reminding yourself that consuming those foods can eventually lead to life-threatening diseases or even death. Contrary to popular belief, I still enjoy food very much. In fact, I think I may enjoy it now more than ever. There are so many restaurants that cater to vegan diets and so many wonderful vegan cookbooks!! (The Conscious Cook, Skinny Bitch, The Engine 2 Diet, Quantum Wellness and so many more)
   
   Stop making excuses for why you can't follow a vegan diet. Trust me when I say that once you try it, you will feel so much better and your quality of life will improve so much that you won't even think about what you aren't eating...



2. I recommend this book to everyone. If you accept the validity of the information provided by the authors and follow implications, you have the power to prevent and treat chronic illnesses.



3. I got the book cause it was recommended to aid me in some of Illness and for learning to be Vegan eater. So far I have just read over some of the pages to make sure I am eating Healthy . Which is a great help.



4. After reading "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes, I thought I would investigate this book which purports the exact opposite of Taubes findings. "The China Study" was obviously written by a scientist who has his opinions and wants them to be right no matter what the outcomes of his cited study. As a masters in nutrition student, it has been drilled into my head that you have to go with the results of the study, no matter how disappointing they are in supporting your hypothesis. This is how science works. You do an experiment, you assess the results and publish. Your hypothesis is either proved or disproved. "TCS" obviously has a bias and that is: don't eat meat, eat vegetables and you'll be healthy. But after reviewing the study that this book was based on, somehow they find it ok to tweak the results and support their view that eating meat is bad.
   
   This debate will go on likely for many years to come. Only once people actually read the science that backs up low-carb, higher protein intake for good health, will we ever make any headway here. About 40% of what I have just spent 3 years studying in order to become a registered dietician is wrong. Low-fat diets may work by starving the individual to eat less calories, but when the diet stops and the person goes back to their regular way of eating, they usually gain all the weight back and then some. For most people, eating low-fat just makes you fatter or atleast keeps you from losing.
   
   Protein and fat fill you up. Carbs make you more hungry. Study after study and diet after diet proves this. If you are vegetarian, this will make you mad. I understand. I also know that when I spent 10 years eating a low-fat, mostly plant based diet, with occasional lean protein like egg whites and fish, I gained 30 pounds. I exercised, which made me more hungry. I would not eat when I was hungry at night, thinking I'm losing, so get used to the feeling of hunger. I would eat "balanced meals" through out the day, spacing out the calories I was supposed to consume (1700 kcal) and recorded all this in a food diary.
   
   But 30 pounds heavier, I have to conclude that low-fat/high-carb is not for me. My body craves protein and fat and after reading well-substantiated books such as GCBC and Atkins books, I have already lost 10 pounds in 2 months. I don't consider low-carb/high-fat/higher-protein as a diet. It is a lifestyle. I no longer need to record what I eat. My body tells me when to stop eating, not my food diary calorie allotment. I exercise less vigorously and enjoy it more with my young children just taking walks with them. I eat sustainable protein sources from grass-fed farms, organic leafy greens, full fat salad dressings, and cream in my coffee (among many other delicious things). I have more energy, I don't think about food all the time, sleep better, have clearer skin, and need a new wardrobe.
   
   I look forward to practicing as a registered dietician one day. It will be an uphill battle teaching others about the well-supported benefits of low-carb eating, and with poorly written books like "The China Study" out there, it will be even harder.
   
   Educate yourself. You HAVE to look at the science and do what is right for you. If you can eat as a vegetarian and you feel great, good for you! You are one of the "lucky" ones. I, on the other hand say.....please pass the bacon and get yourself a copy of "Good Calories, Bad Calories" instead. It will set you on a totally different course and change your life for the better.
   
   PS: Remember that if you want to look like a hippopotamus, then eat like one - a vegetarian.



5. Humans evolved as hunter-gatherers. One of the main driving forces behind human social cooperation and increase in brain size, as well as pattern recognition, was the hunt for animal meat. Almost all human societies, to this day, eat animal products of one kind or another.
   
   It's overkill to think that a diet based only on plants is best. It neglects that throughout human history, fish have been one of the healthiest foods one can eat (perhaps not so much now, due to toxins). It neglects that even red meat consumed in minimal amounts is quite alright. Granted, if all you are eating is red meat and dairy, that's a different story.
   
   Where is the balance? In my opinion, Americans are so confused and frightened by the obesity crisis that they are willing to believe anything about any diet, in their never ending quest to eliminate all pain and suffering and be the first person to live to 200 years. Get over yourselves! Are Americans really that crazy? Half of them obese and in terrible heath, and half of them so obsessed with disease that they try to avoid anything that may or may not cause it. I'm sure most Chinese people would laugh at this book.
   
   Of course, a mostly plant based diet is probably healthier. Notice how I said mostly, not entirely. There is no magic bullet to health. The author is doing a disservice to many people (but a great service to himself through book sales to zealous vegans) when he implies that all chronic disease can be prevented, if only people would eliminate animal products from their diet.
   
   Just because the author is credentialed does not mean he knows everything. Smart individuals can sometimes be predisposed to trying to find a "theory of everything" in this field - see Linus Pauling and Vitamin C.
   
   If there was a diet that everybody could and would follow that would enable all of to avoid disease, it would have been found long ago.
   
   Bottom line - if you want your kids to grow up fragile and dimwitted, and if you want to miss out on one of the enjoyments of life, by all means, avoid eating meat.

5 comments about The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right.

1. Atul Gawande has written another thoughtful book, this one titled, The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right. In it, Gawande highlights a simple method to provide protection against failure: a checklist. Even the most expert professionals can benefit from help in the form of a structured approach to ensure that communication and engagement occurs among team members working together to achieve results. He examines the way pilots and builders use detailed checklists, and describes how the use of a surgery checklist led to improved results. His writing style allows readers to remain fully engaged, and any expert upon finishing the book, will be hard pressed to conclude that those involved in complex work can get by without a tool like a checklist. Resistance is futile: try a checklist as protection against unintended ineptitude.
   
   Rating: Three-star (Recommended)



2. The Checklist Manifesto is not just a great book and a valuable resource for all who read it. It is a warning sign on the slippery slope to technological disaster. My first thought, even before I finished this book, was to buy a number of copies, carry them on my various visits to doctors, ask if he or she has read the book, and, if the answer was no, then hand a copy to that doctor and say, "Please read this, my life may depend on it." It's that important, and may save your life, too.
   Phrases like the following show he's aware of the problems:
   
   ". . . the volume and complexity of what we know has exceeded our individual capacity to deliver its benefits correctly, safely, or reliably."
   
   "Medicine has become the art of managing extreme complexity--and a test as to whether such complexity can, in fact, be humanly mastered."
   
   I could add more, but you get the idea. However, the key question, once framed by Mark Twain, is not where we stand but whether we're gaining or losing. For all the good ideas in this book, the answer is still in doubt.
   
   Here's why: As good as this book is, and as important as checklists are, neither are sufficient to the problem at hand. In fact, we don't really know the dimensions of the problem (the most important of these is obviously time). It's not just managing complexity; it's more like triaging complexity. Triage is something doctors like Gawande know about, but here it is in brief for those who might not. On a battlefield someone has to decide quickly (given the circumstance and the resources) if the wounded soldier who just arrived either a) will be worth those resources, or b) won't be (too difficult to save), or c) will probably survive if left alone.
   
   Of course, these categories don't apply exactly to the problem we're discussing here. But there has to be some comparable, and simple, classification system we can use to begin managing this problem. For example, a) can the immediate situation be handled with our standard procedure, or b) do we need to refine our procedure, or c) do we need to completely rethink our approach. If we rephrase Pareto's Principle (more commonly known as the 80/20 rule), we could say 80% of situations can be dealt with using standard procedures (20% of our effort). Fine, but how do we deal with the remaining 20% of situations? We can't simply say they deserve 80% of our effort because it may take more than just effort. It may take a extensive revision of all our procedures.
   
   What we need to understand is that checklists are just the first crude defense -- albeit effective -- against the increasing complexity of modern technology (especially computers). Checklists are just the first step toward addressing the safe flow of the exploding information that necessarily accompanies expanding technological complexity.
   
   Yet, as good a job as Atul Gawande does in telling this story, it is shocking to note he doesn't see the opportunity for our potential extrication. He has discovered that medicine is lacking a much-needed discipline. However, he seems unaware that discipline already exists in abundance and is taught around the world. That discipline is engineering. He touches on this in Chapter 3 ("The End of The Master Builder") about the problems of complex structures. But he doesn't refer to any of the classic engineering books on failure, books designed to improve the discipline (for example see Henry Petroski). Nor does he make the obvious connection between the needed safety of these buildings, the safety we all desire for commercial aviation, and the medical profession: they are all responsible for millions of lives. Nor does he offer any insight as to why the medical profession has been so lax in recognizing the safety procedures of these other industries.
   
   He doesn't but I will. One reason is that I've been told by many doctors, "What we do is not so much science as art." Therein lies the problem. Medicine may be part art and part science, but what it mostly needs to be is engineering. And what it needs to do -- and The Checklist Manifesto is a good first step in the right direction -- is learn from various engineering applications and (as he rightly acknowledges) acquire their discipline. Medicine must acknowledge it can benefit from the methodology of engineering. Only then can doctors exercise the self-discipline necessary to use that methodology.



3. We all use lists and even checklists, but keeping them down to six or seven items was a great tip for me. As an example, we launch rockets. Big rockets, just for fun. And we get busy with ignition systems, launch towers, equipment & electronics. On more than one instance, we have buttoned everything up and forgotten to attach the quik-link to the parachute (sometimes they're over thirty feet in diameter). At ten or twenty thousand feet, it isn't the best time to find out. A short checklist of the critical items is helpful as the group is on the pad, hooking up the wires. We can see that Dr. Gawande's expertise is in selling the idea to folks who don't take suggestions too well. I think everyone can relate to that & it's helpful in my work to implement a little system to avoid errors. It's improved our performance.



4. Gawande provides an excellent understanding of how checklists are being used in various industries and how they can be applied to healthcare. What I learned from this book is how checklists provide a framework for communication among members of a project team. As suggested by the title, this is an advocacy book, but Gawande provides a balanced presentation with limitations as well as advantages. I would recommend this book to anyone who manages complex tasks requiring cooperation among multiple people.



5. Since Malcom Gladwell ignited the pop-science boomlet, many authors have climbed aboard pretending to search for the deep hidden principles in everyday activities.
   
   Atul Gawande is different in a way since he brings actual credentials to a part of his task. He is a surgeon.
   
   But ultimately his 193 page self-described manifesto boils down to three points. First, procedures should be distilled into easily comprehended checklists. Second, people should be trained and disciplined, particularly in extreme situations, to rely on these carefully prepared checklists. Finally, members of a team or crew should practice utilizing their respective checklists together.
   
   There you have it. Those are the lessons.
   
   There is nothing to be found directly discussing the issues of how to build an effective checklist. No examples of successful checklists are shown. While checklists for commercial aviation operations and surgery are extensively discussed, there are no illustrations, verbal or graphic, of what these effective checklists look like.
   
   In short, Dr. Gawande is hitchhiking on his New Yorker magazine colleague Malcom Gladwell's success and pretending to bring special insight into the ordinary, that is the use of checklists.
   
   Not a very satisfying read for me, but others may find Gawande's great discovery that checklists are helpful in surgery interesting, if it wasn't already obvious.
   
   Jerry

5 comments about Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic.

1. Two conditions were mentioed in the book that brought to mind a few patients. I have caled them and we are testing the protocols presented by Dr. Starr......I shouls know the results in two weeks.



2. So they will do whatever big medicine will want them to. This book is very powerful in that it exposes how doctors are like most other people : SHEEP that trust an authority rather than challenge the status quo. Highly recommended.



3. I heard about Dr. Mark Starr and his book on Coast to Coast, this guy really knows his stuff and Hypothyroidism. If you are small business owner or have a high demand job and over 35 yrs old, get your thyroid checked. And don't always go along what your doctor says if you have it to take the medical, read this book and give it to your doctor before going on a T4 medication, this book will make it a lot easier understanding the facts about hypothroidism. Thanks for being this review up, people need to buy this book, it can change your life for the better knowing more about your throid, thanks from <[...]> services.



4. I have listened many times to Dr. Starr's radio response given on Coast to Coast AM and have bought and read his book. I am left wondering... how is it that Dr. Starr treats people in Az with doses so large that most MD's find to high? Especially when he claims to be treating as a homeopathic paractitioner? As most people already know if homeopathic offers something that is regarded as a prescription, they sidestep the issue by offering it in doeses so small they are not detectible. This is true with antibioticss and most people remember the market created for homeopathic growth hormone. I wish I could talk to him and see how he obtains iodine/desicagted thyroid in that volume for his patients.
   
   Bill



5. It would be hard to review this item as it has not been received as of this date. The item was back ordered & when "shipped" has taken over 7 days to receive.

5 comments about Eating Animals.

1. I've read & respected both Michael Pollen & Barbara Kingsolver's books & thought this book might just rehash what I already knew, not so! The author touches on other important issues such as antibiotic resistance/new pathogens emerging & the global significance of meat consumption. He fairly explores both side of the issues. I've always been interested in animal welfare (as well as my own) & was surprised how much this book has already changed my life.



2. What? You want ME to read that book?
   
   Nah! I don't need no stinkin' Vegetarian horror stories ...
   
   Chances are, that - if you always, regularly or sometimes eat meat - you are right within the target group for this book ... but you are most likely not going to read it.
   
   There are many reasons for that ... You do not want to spoil your appetite with new horror stories. After all, you know that if you look closely at how meat is made, you expect that you will not find much there that is pleasant.
   
   But, what I found most interesting about the book, is, that - if you DO eat meat - then you will find a lot of very useful information why you should at least avoid some kinds of meat (not because your heart bleeds because of animals suffering, but rather because you value your personal health)
   
   So, you might find the book very interesting reading...
   
   Best regards,
   Andy



3. If you are human it is impossible not to relate and be changed by this book. It has been nothing short of life changing for this hardened carnivore... Ignore the bad reviews from those who have never read the book or who are still in denial of the reality this book brings to light.



4. This book should be required reading for anyone who decides they want to eat meat during their lifetime. If you know the truth, you can make a better informed decision, and I think the problem is that people just don't know about what goes on. I found this book horrifying in some parts, and was astounded at what can and does go on when it comes to the treatment and death of animals all because we feel like eating some chicken nuggets that day. He writes in a way that is not some empty, factual, industrial exploration. It is actually interesting and he draws you in with his narrative, correctly and meaningful connecting eating meat and it's implications and influences on a human beings life, which I believe was the point of the book; Connecting what it means to eat animals with your own life. I have read Michael Pollan's book, and very much enjoyed it. But I read this book after Omnivore's Delimma, and was blown away by how much more impact and meaning it had for me than Pollan's. And while I still like his book tremendously, I see how Foer's book really made me want to 'do something'...while Pollan's just made me think about it.
   
   Also, after reading this book, in regards to the facts and truth he reveals, it made Ominvore's Delimma feel like a high school course in factory farming. Perhaps that is because he was willing to go all the way, show us the disgusting dirty truth, because he isn't going to turn around and eat meat later. Pollan still eats meat, so I wonder if that has anything to do with how his book actually treads lightly in regards to slaughter and inhumane issues. He covers them, for sure, but not as in depth as Foer did. And that makes me curious.
   
   Overall, I wish I could convince everyone to read this book. It is so important. Not only to animals, but to people and their environment they are choosing to destroy in the name of profit.



5. Let me start by saying I am not a fan of Ted Nugent's politics. But he and I do have one solid thing in common. Vegetarians get on our nerves. Somebody actually gave me this book with hopes of "converting" me to a vegetarian lifestyle. I had previously saw this snotty author on a couple talk shows promoting this book. Besides being an uber snob, he was rather rude to those who disagreed with his point of view. I have found this personality trait to be consistent with most vegetarians. Could it be they are protein deprived? If I want to be a vegetarian the decision will be mine to make, not Mr. Foer's. I'm sick of vegetarians and vegans jumping on carnivores with the zeal of televangelists. That said, I tossed Mr. Foer's book in the garbage. I usually pass good books along to friends. Note I said "good books." This one is just full of propaganda and lofty vegetarian platitudes. Mind you, it's not that I don't like animals. They taste wonderful with A-1 sauce. Get a grip, Mr. Foer's. The world is not entitled to your narrow minded opinions. Now if you'll excuse me, my porterhouse steak awaits.

5 comments about New Atkins for a New You: The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great..

1. I read my book cover to cover the day it arrived!
   
   I believe that the Atkins way of eating is the healthiest choice one could make, whether you are looking for a weight loss program or not.
   
   I've lost 20 lbs in 8 weeks, and have gone from stuffing myself into a size 12 to a size 6.



2. The most exciting nutritional medicine development in recent memory is the fact that saturated fat consumption is not a significant cause of heart disease and premature death. The same goes for for total fat and cholesterol. When enough physicians, nutritionists, and dietitians learn this, low-carb eating will take off like a rocket.
   
   For those unfamiliar with the Atkins diet, it is designed for weight loss via high fat consumption and major carbohydrate restriction. Protein intake is a bit higher than average. As long as carbohydrates (carbs) are kept low, other foods are mostly unlimited. Atkins has four phases. As you graduate from one phase to the next, more carbs are allowed, adding some carb sources before others (the Carb Ladder).
   
   Atkins has been around for years. It's not just a weight-loss diet; it's a lifetime way of eating.
   
   Doctors Westman, Phinney, and Volek are leaders in low-carb nutritional science. The last time Atkins peaked (2003), we didn't have the scientific studies backing up safety of the diet. Now we do, in large part thanks to these guys.
   
   Physicians see beaucoup patients with overweight-related medical conditions. We're not going to recommend a diet that causes heart attacks, strokes, and other major medical complications. Published research over the last eight years has established the relative safety of very low-carb diets, particularly Atkins. Low-carb diets may even be healthier than the low-fat, high-carb diet that has been recommended by U.S. public health authorities for the last forty years. Come to think of it, our current obesity and diabetes epidemics started around that same time.
   
   The book covers nutrition basics, day-to-day practical application of Atkins eating, recipes and detailed meal plans, and the science behind the program.
   
   
   What's New Since 2002's Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition?
   
   1) adaptations for vegetarians and vegans
   2) adaptations for Latinos
   3) coffee is now OK
   4) more flexility, such as the option to skip Phase 1 (induction)
   5) focus on adequate protein intake, based on your height
   6) emphasis on getting enough omega-3 fatty acids
   7) no emphasis on supplements and low-carb products sold by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.
   8) diet journals (a personal record of your weight-loss journey) are recommended
   9) eliminate or minimize "induction flu" and constipation (in Phase 1) by eating at least 1/2 teaspoon of salt daily [I'm skeptical.]
   10) discussion of the trendy omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio
   11) favor monounsaturated fatty acids (e.g., olive oil, canola oil) over certain polyunsaturated fats, as in oils from corn, soybeans, sunflower, cottonseed, and peanuts
   12) no mention of testing urine for ketosis
   13) more discussion of psychological aspects of weight
   
   The lack of ads for Atkins Nutritionals products is welcome and refreshing. Too many of the official Atkins books read like infomercials, which diminishes credibility.
   
   A vegetarian or vegan "Atkins diet" is just not something I can visualize.
   
   What Could Have Been Done Better?
   
   1) no specific amounts given for these recommended supplements: calcium, vitamin D, omega-3 fats, multivitamin, magnesium and other minerals (except "no iron"). [Is the idea to encourage a visit the official Atkins website?]
   2) little guidance for physicians who are to advise diabetics doing Atkins. Few physicians are familiar enough with the program to make the necessary changes in particular diabetic medications.
   3) little discussion of the constipation and leg cramps that often accompany very low-carb diets.
   4) the hype on the cover: "How would you like to LOSE UP TO 15 POUNDS IN TWO WEEKS!" [To their credit, the authors note that such results are not typical.]
   5) nearly all the measurements are U.S. Customary. Metric users are out of luck.
   6) four phases seem a bit much. The beauty of Atkins Phase 1 is its simplicity.
   
   My favorite sentence: "White flour is better suited to glue for kindergarten art projects than to nutrition."
   
   My least favorite sentence: "We can't stress strongly enough that the best diet for you is one composed of foods you love." I love apple pie and Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, but they won't help me manage my weight.
   
   The only error I found worth mentioning is minor. The authors state that the American Heart Association recommends consumption of fish three times a week. The official policy is still "at least twice weekly."
   
   The book is very practical and easily understood by average people. Most will skip the science chapters at the end. I know the basic Atkins program works at least short-term; many of my patients have done it.
   
   In summary, the book has nearly everything you need to be successful with the Atkins diet.
   
   As far as I know, there are no comprehensive long-term studies (e.g., 10+ years) regarding health outcomes of Atkins-style eating. In other words, does Atkins have any effect on longevity, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, etc.? But very few of the popular diets have these data either. The best researched ways of eating in this respect are the Mediterranean diet and vegetarian diets.
   
   -Steve Parker, M.D., author of The Advanced Mediterranean Diet: Lose Weight, Feel Better, Live Longer



3. I enjoyed this Atkins book...its good reference. I am familiar with Atkins low carb plan...and this book helps to follow in a positive way. Good book and update



4. This book speaks to the science behind the controlled carbohydrate eating and explains further about not being a heavy protein diet as the media has you falsely believe, but rather it is eliminated refined unhealthy carbs and limiting natural carbs while losing weight only to incorporate back in all healthy carbs once you're at your goal weight. When you follow atkins you are not limited in food choices, your menu is extensive and you are satiated all day.
   People wrongly associate Akins with the Induction phase when this is only one phase of the diet and not long lasting. The true diet is a lifelong change incorporating healthy eating. They now have more than 4 decades of research material completed, hence the newest book outlining the latest information. What's not to love?



5. Although the authors of this book certainly promote a message that they believe is scientifically valid and useful and although a very large number of people agree with them, I take exception, for several reasons. With minor exceptions this book represents nothing more than an extension of the arguments for the Atkins diet. Thus my comments relate to what I believe to be wrong with those arguments.
   
   There are numerous instances where the authors' misuse scientific evidence. Of course, they will disagree because they are claiming quite the opposite, namely, that their book highlights a growing body of scientific evidence now supporting the Atkins diet, a position also publicized on the Atkins website. Trivializing and marketing the science began early with the Atkins group, starting with Dr. Atkins himself who had no use for the scientific method. According to his widow, he was proud that he never published a single peer-reviewed scientific paper. This is dramatically contrary to professional scientists in this field who have published at least dozens, even hundreds of papers that, MOST IMPORTANTLY, are subjected to critical review by peers. Thus, Atkins' enthusiasts rely much more on personal testimonials and anecdotal reports for their arguments. This kind of evidence need not be entirely dismissed but, without systematic and transparent organization of scientific research that is critiqued by qualified peers, it is very hard to validate claims. The give and take of peer review, for example, is absolutely demanded for claims being made about personal health, especially when these claims are intended for large segments of the public.
   
   More specifically, the authors try to convince the readers into believing that the science 'establishment' has finally begun to validate this diet on a wide scale, but this is simply not true. The authors, for example, highlight in the introduction that "in the last few years more than fifty basic and applied studies have been published which, in addition to validating the safety and effectiveness of the Atkins Diet, also provide new insights into ways to optimize the Atkins lifestyle." For most readers, this implies, according to the authors, that there are 50 studies that document the superiority of the Atkins diet over other dietary strategies that can be considered for a long-standing dietary lifestyle. But, in Chapter 1 they somewhat paradoxically say that there are 7 studies (only) lasting 6 months to 2 years that compare the Atkins diet with "other common weight loss strategies", a time considered by them to be long-term. But, in reality, this time still falls far short of the lifestyle of many years that they advocate for using this diet.
   
   They illustrate a so-called long-term effect by citing a study done in Kuwait that highlights the magnitude of the health benefits that can be achieved with a "low carb" diet (<20 g/day, later adjusted to 40 g/day). This study certainly improved clinical lipids and lowered body weight (an average loss of 60 pounds). But the authors of this new book fail to tell the readers that this Kuwaiti diet was extremely low calorie, containing only about 970 calories per day for subjects weighing, on average, 235 pounds with a body mass index (BMI) of 39. Any diet this low in calories, regardless of its nutritional composition, will reduce body weight like this. Omitting this information, the authors of this new book then go on to state that, with coaching of the subjects for a year, "this diet outperformed that of any of the randomized groups in the other seven studies."
   
   Knowing nothing about the other 7 studies, the reader must then accept at face value the superiority of the Atkins diet alleged by the authors. This is an unacceptably superficial way to compare the findings of these studies. The reader is entitled to know whether the weight losses of these several different studies were compared on an absolute or relative scale? Whether severe calorie restriction was part of these other studies? Whether these comparisons were statistically significant? Whether the baseline weights for these studies were different? Whether there were consistent changes in the various lipid biomarkers? Without this information, it is not acceptable to make such a brash and sweeping conclusion that the Atkins diet "outperformed" any other diet group.
   
   I know something about these other studies said to confirm the superiority of the Atkins diet, especially the study that the authors list first in their book and repeatedly cite in their list of references. This is a study by Gardner et al at Stanford University that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2007. The flaws in this report are serious and are often repeated in other studies on the Atkins diet. Of even more concern was the rapid and widespread media recognition quickly given to the findings of this Gardner et al study. Major headlines were published across the country in a way to lead most people to believe that the Atkins study had finally made the grade as a superior diet. Now, in this new book, the findings of this Gardner et al study appear once again, this time being repeatedly cited as evidence of good science.
   
   Because the Gardner et al study had serious flaws and was destined to create major media comment, it therefore required critique at the time it was published. Conventionally in science, after publication of a study, this is initially done using a widely accepted, letters-to-the-editor format that might be considered as an extension of the peer-review process. Four of us in the profession therefore duly submitted our letters to the editor of JAMA to point out these flaws and to seek the investigators' comments. Most of the time, such letters, after some modest peer review, are routinely published, but not in this case.
   
   In my letter, the flaw that I found especially repugnant--and obvious--was their comparison of the Atkins diet results to the low fat, plant-based diet of Dean Ornish pejoratively called "extremely low" by the researchers. The original Ornish diet--and other similar diets-- contains only 10-12% fat like other whole food, plant based diets but Gardner et al inappropriately tested a grossly distorted "Ornish diet" that contained 29% fat! To add further insult, they called this falsely fabricated diet "extremely low in fat". The distortion of the diet was even more serious because the Gardner version of the 'Ornish' diet contained 18% protein, which is 70-80% higher than the amount recommended and which is usually found in Ornish type diets. Fat and protein together comprised 48% of the Gardner version of the diet, rather than the 20-22% usually seen in whole foods plant-based diets. In the Gardner study, there actually were two more diets being compared and, together, these four diets were nutritionally very similar (at least when compared with a truly low fat, whole food plant-based diet), thus severely limiting the ability to detect meaningful and statistically significant differences. Nonetheless, a non-significant slightly lower body weight was observed for the Atkins diet and this made headlines as if it was really important.
   
   I have published many papers from our laboratory and have served on several science journal editorial review boards. Never have I witnessed such unprincipled behavior as that of the JAMA editor when he denied all four of our letters, especially a letter from Dr. Ornish whose study was being so grossly misrepresented. Readers had a right to hear a response from the investigators but this was not forthcoming, thanks to the JAMA editor. It was as if someone had wanted these Gardner findings published and publicized, regardless of its flaws. It is as if the funding of the study, the design of the study, the interpretation and discussion of the results, the pre-publication review of the manuscript, the refusal to publish our post-publication letters and the media reporting of the findings were script from a well-designed marketing plan. Now, three years later, the authors of this new book, who seem oblivious to the flaws of this study, herald it as important evidence helping to prove the superiority and widespread applicability of the Atkins diet.
   
   This practice of Atkins diet researchers of making improper diet comparisons like this has occurred far too often. As a result, unsubstantiated claims are repeatedly made and dressed up as good science. Even more confounding in this history is the repeated misuse of terms and words that define high and low amounts of fat and carbs. New words (like 'carbs') with nebulous meanings are created. Improperly defined benchmarks of 'high' and 'low' dietary levels of fat and carbohydrate are used that greatly confuse comparisons with other dietary strategies.
   
   Atkins himself seems to be the first to have developed the now widely used term 'carb'. I am of the strong opinion that this was a contrived marketing word that was originally meant to question the recommendations being made at that time to consume more whole vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains. Generalizing the so-called nutritional advantage of 'low carb' diets had the effect of diminishing the health value of these plant-based foods because these are the only whole foods that contain carbohydrates. Even though more recent attempts are being made to distinguish 'bad' carbohydrates from 'good' carbohydrates by superficially 'counting carbs' (as if these are entities that can be counted!), this still stigmatizes the exceptional health value of a whole food, plant-based diet. Virtually anyone of any scientific substance during the past half-century has known that relatively simple ('bad') carbohydrates like sugar and refined flour, cause health problems. But this does not mean that we can generalize this large and complex class of nutritionally valuable carbohydrates, as found in whole plant based foods, into a single class called 'carbs', then demonize the superior nutritional value of these high carbohydrate foods.
   
   I have many other concerns with this book as to its scientific credibility, too many to document here. Their discussion on protein, however, merits attention because of the not so obvious but nonetheless pivotal role of this nutrient when justifying the Atkins diet. The authors' protein discussion not only sends the wrong message and is extremely superficial, but also it is factually wrong. For example, they emphasize that the RDA (about 8-10% of total diet calories) for protein "reflects the minimum, not the optimal, amount of protein an average healthy person needs." Wrong. The RDA is not and was never meant to be the minimum amount of protein needed. The RDA is about 2 standard deviations above the minimum daily requirement (MDR) so as to insure that the minimum requirements of virtually all people are being met. (If all people theoretically consumed the RDA level of protein, about 98% of them would be consuming in excess of their needs!) The authors' perception that the RDA is a minimum requirement encourages, in effect, a higher than necessary consumption of protein. This is a clear bias favoring higher protein consumption (meaning animal-derived protein) that then extends to further comments by the authors that plant protein is, in effect, not as good as animal protein (1) because it is "incomplete" and (2) because it does not "satiate" as well, thus suggesting, in the authors' view, the need for still more oil/fat to this already high fat diet.
   
   And finally, they recommend 20-25% dietary protein, then claim somewhat defensively, that this is not a high protein diet. This is nonsense. The present range of dietary protein for the vast majority of the population is about 11-22% of calories (average of 17%), with three-fourths of this protein provided by animal-based foods. The Atkins recommendation for dietary protein is triple that of the RDA, high by anyone's standard (except for these authors!). A whole food plant-based diet of mixed vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains and tubers can easily provide the RDA of about 8-10% dietary protein, based on long established experimental evidence (since 1943) that this is more than enough protein. Increasing protein above the RDA of 8-10% up to an average of 17% is generally obtained by consuming increasing amounts of animal-based foods. Furthermore, increasing dietary protein from about 10-12% to 20%, for example, eventually increases risk for most people for a large number of diseases and conditions too numerous to discuss here. These include serious diseases like cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and certain autoimmune diseases, as well as an overwhelming number of explanatory mechanisms. The authors mentioned none of these health problems associated with the high dietary protein of the Atkins diet. Like a house of cards, a diet ever higher in animal protein-based foods, usually along with higher dietary fat (the typical Atkins recommendation) leads to early death and disability resulting from the diseases that kill most of us in the U.S. before our time.
   
   The major problem with this book goes well beyond the numerous specific errors committed by these authors. It is the misguided Atkins diet paradigm into which this book is inserted that is a much more ominous problem.
   
   Most people agree that there are health problems with the standard American diet (SAD), which, on average, is 17% protein and 35% fat (totaling 52%), leaving 48% for carbohydrates. The Atkins diet rightly recommends reducing the 'bad' carbs but primarily by replacing these 'carbs' with increasing protein (30%) and fat (40%) (totaling 70%) thus compromising an already low intake of highly nutritious carbohydrate-rich plant-based foods. Within 10 years or less, I predict that most people using the Atkins diet will either quit or experience serious health problems, although many may see more health benefits than adverse health effects in the short run. The nomadic Masaai of eastern Africa who consume large amounts of meat, milk and eggs, incur like old American men, extensive atherosclerotic lesions in spite of their extensive walking.
   
   The same decreased consumption of 'bad' carbs advocated by Atkins' people, can be easily accomplished by a whole food, plant based diet but not by increasing fat and protein but by increasing the consumption of whole food, plant-based diet that contains the countless antioxidants and complex carbohydrates (e.g., fiber). This simultaneously avoids excessive intakes of protein, fat and bad 'carbs' (like sugar and refined flour) while enhancing the intake of the highly nutritious whole food, plant-based foods. There is far superior to replacing the 'bad' carbs with fat and protein, mostly from animal-based foods, that contain little or no antioxidants and complex carbohydrates.
   
   Finally, the authors in this book are committed to finding scientific evidence that encourages people to consume foods of personal choice (good marketing strategy!), generally meaning high fat, high protein based meats, milk and eggs. This pleases many people who like to hear good things about their bad habits, but this is a strategy that can seriously bias scientific objectivity. It should be noted that fat, salt and sugar are acquired tastes and, for fat and salt, there is convincing evidence showing that within a month or so, these addictions can be reversed while new and healthier taste preferences emerge.
   
   This brings me to my final question, namely, why do many Atkins-oriented people personally accustomed to high fat, high salt and high protein diets adamantly refuse both to personally try a whole foods, plant-based diet and even refuse to learn about its extraordinary health benefits? A partial reason for this may be that they don't realize that taste preferences can markedly change. It is irresponsible for scientists and would-be scientists to dismiss health-promoting scientific evidence merely to please companion readers and listeners (is this because of the lure of money?). I deeply honor, above all else, people having the right to choose but I strongly reject withholding information that may assist their making wise choices for themselves.
   
   I was initially inclined to give a 2 ranking for this book--to acknowledge the authors' effort to encourage people to reduce their consumption of 'bad carbs' (to use their words), but the remedy offered by these authors is so seriously misguided that I finally decided that a score of 1 is actually too generous.

5 comments about Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition.

1. The book came promptly and was exactly what I had ordered at a cheaper price than I had seen in book stores.



2. Product came in excellent condition. Took quite awhile to arrive in the mail, longer than what I expected. So if you need something quickly this would have not been a good option.



3. I just purchased this through Amazon (March, 2010), and then read the reviews afterward. I was unaware that there were problems with the early editions. I was relieved when mine arrived and it is a third printing. I haven't used it yet, so I only gave it 4/5 stars, but I'm sure it will be sufficient.



4. Product was new and priced same as some that were used. Arrived in about a week--better than projected time frame.



5. Beware! APA has come out with a second printing of this manual. The first printing had numerous mistakes and now I will have to bite the bullet and purchase the updated one!

5 comments about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

1. Other reviewers have covered the basics of this book already. The author combines the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells are the foundation of an industry and the source of many medical breakthroughs, with the story of the Lacks family and how she came to know them. There are serious social issues here, and a good story.
   
   The book most similar to this one is Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, in which the author gets to know the family of a girl at the center of a medical tragedy and cultural misunderstanding. The clash between the patient's family and culture and the medical culture is similar. The personal connection between the author and the family is similarly vital to both books.
   
   Some of the differences: Rebecca Skloot is a bit heavier-handed in making some of her points. She also includes a much more complete set of footnotes and sources - possibly reflecting the changes in the 15 years that separate the two books in how much trust we are willing to put in authors.
   
   So, should you read this book or is the extensive coverage in the media enough to acquaint you with the story?
   
   The story is much more complex and somewhat more interesting thatn the journalistic summary of it. It's a bit too long, in my opinion. But if Skloot had condensed her material on the family's fate and on how she got them to trust her, would we have believed it? Perhaps not.



2. Great read for anyone with interest in medical history. Very fair and accurate reporting of medical facts and the Lacks family.



3. I became interested in this book after seeing a review in the local paper. When I worked in a research institute, I actually worked with this cell line, it intrigued me to learn more, and I felt a personal connection.
   
   This book far exceeded my expectations. It was very well researched and written. I found myself fascinated with what had happened to Henrietta Lacks, her surviving family, and their progeny. There were many areas in this book that moved me to tears. The injustice done to Henrietta Lacks AND especially to her family really made me angry. Even a tiny portion of profits from the sales and resale of Mrs. Lack's cells could have made a huge difference in her family's lives. I was greatly saddened at the news of one of the key character's passing away. This individual should have been able to see the result of the many years of time spent telling their family story to the author. Even more sad was that she didn't get to enjoy the release of the long awaited book release.
   
   I went to the website that Rebecca Skloot set up, and was glad to see that they are in fact working on establishing the Henrietta Lacks Foundation, which should benefit the family through donations. Ms. Skloot should be highly commended for undertaking this not so small task of rebuilding the facts around Henrietta Lacks' too short personal life, and the long one of her immortal cancer cells. A MUST READ.



4. This book has a lot going for it: interesting science, written so it is accessible to the lay reader; fascinating ethical and moral issues having to do with cell research and profits from that research, as well as the meaning of "informed consent"; and disturbing (and deeply moving) issues relating to class and race. It is no wonder that it has found so many readers. It is a very satisfying book all in all.



5. I have been on the go and I am currently about half way through the book, and can't wait to get back to it. It is sooooo interesting and revealing of how she was exploited. A true depiction of what and how the medical world had gone over and beyond their boundaries as professionals. But at the same time you have to wonder had they not, would they had made the discoveries we take for granted today.
   
   Very Interesting and highly recommended!