5 comments about Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD).

1. This book is very informative and exciting to read page by page. I'd definitely recommend it to almost anyone...as I have been! Anybody looking to further their knowledge on how our wonderful devices (brains) work in correlation to many of our daily functions should give this one a chance...and I'm only half-way in!



2. Brain Rules is a great book - Medina takes a complex subject (your brain) and makes it seem understandable. His twelve rules are a roadmap for teachers, business people, politicos and really anyone trying to communicate to an audience. I highly recommend this book if you are in any of the above groups. It is light on science and heavy on practical use. If it isn't a mandatory book for every would-be professor it should be.
   
   The book has great practical advice - one such hint on communication is the layout of the 10 minute cycle. One of John's rules is that we only pay attention to things that are interesting and only in 10 minute increments. So if giving a fifty minute lecture you should break the lecture into 5 10 minute topics starting with the gist of the subject and within the first minute grabbing everyone's attention using an emotional attention grabber - if successful you have 10 minutes to get your message through. Repeat it often during the next four sessions and you have a chance to get the message to stick. Use a picture to express the idea and that chance to get your message to stick goes from 10% to 65% over a thirty six hour period. - It is in the book.
   
   Highly recommend!



3. This author, a well educated neuroscientist, has that rare ability to combine scientific wisdom, common sense and a sense of humor into a cocktail that goes down easy and creates a very pleasant feeling, but doesn't make you stupid. You then know what you need to do to be healthier, live longer and feel better. The rest is up to you.



4. Dr. John Medina, the author of "Brain Rules," is a tsunami of positive energy. If you're not lucky enough to see him speak live, take the time to explore the book's website ([...]) and view the DVD packaged with the book. His qualifications are top-notch - he's a developmental molecular biologist focused on the genes involved in human brain development and the genetics of psychiatric disorders. He currently holds joint affiliate faculty appointments at the University of Washington School of Medicine in its Department of Bioengineering, and at Seattle Pacific University, where he is the director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research.
   
   Here's the basic theme of the book... our schools and businesses are designed in direct opposition to how our brains work - let's challenge that and try out some new ideas - let's leverage our current understanding of the human brain to start over. This theme is covered through presentations of his 12 "Brain Rules" - each covered in depth in its own chapter of the book.
   
   Dr. Medina takes hardcore brain research and theories, and boils them down to easy-to-grasp ideas. Even though the book is written to the layperson, it is not dumbed down - it's just clearly written and supported through illustrative observations and stories. Some of his stories will have you laughing, others will leave you crying, and all will start you thinking. The last chapter will make you want to tear down our entire public school system.
   
   Here are the actual rules (also listed on the book's website):
   Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.
   Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.
   Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.
   Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things.
   Rule #5: Repeat to remember.
   Rule #6: Remember to repeat.
   Rule #7: Sleep well, think well.
   Rule #8: Stressed brains don't learn the same way.
   Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses.
   Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses.
   Rule #11: Male and female brains are different.
   Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.
   
   Each rule is introduced through an observation or story to gain the reader's attention (DELIGHTFULLY and creatively illustrated further on the DVD - lead actor Brandon Whitehead is hysterical!); then clarified and supported through a discussion of the research; and finally applied to today's learning, business, and sometimes even home environments with "ideas" for how they could be implemented.
   
   Note: If you're like me (and I know I am), you love to see references embedded in your text - Dr. Medina intentionally reduces distraction by not including them within the book. The references are, however, meticulously listed by rule and by fact on the website (you may have to do a little digging, but they're in there).
   
   Make sure everyone you know who has a voice in our school system reads this book!



5. Brain Rules is a fascinating book. Medina has taken the complicated brain and made it understandable and interesting with an engaging narrative. Not only did this book cause me to look at my own life and "brain health" differently, it caused me to see the world differently. Reading Brain Rules is like finding the missing puzzle piece to some perplexing life questions. That sounds like hyperbole, but for me it was true.
   
   The chapters on memory are particularly sticky. Have you ever wondered why someone remembers an event you were both at so differently than you? The memory is so crystal clear, you are sure you are right and they are wrong. It turns out, you are probably both wrong. When you read the memory chapters, you will understand how and why you remember certain things, and why you don't. In the process you will learn how to remember more effectively. You will also begin to call into question the accuracy of some of your most precious memories.
   
   Don't worry, the book is not science gobbledy gook. Medina use stories and visuals to make the concepts understandable to everyone. And in each chapter he gives advice and practical applications for education and business.
   
   It's the best book I've read thus far in 2008.

5 comments about Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.

1. The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is really well organized so you can find information quickly, the drawings are informative and accurate, and the tone is not dumbed down at all. I looked at reviews of pregnancy books before I bought this one and I'm really glad I did. This book was consistently rated the highest and I totally agree. I haven't felt once like we needed another resource besides this book (and my doctor) to answer our questions.



2. Great information and it gets to the point. I appreciate the unbiased, straight forward info.



3. I bought this book on a whim because I thought the Mayo Clinic must know some things about pregnancy. As soon as I opened it, I realized how much time I wasted reading little bits of "What to Expect" every month. I love the way this book is set up: the week by week development bits are all together. The pregnancy illnesses and complications are all together. The labor and delivery bits are all together. The birthing complications are all together...thus you don't end up reading all kinds of information you don't need. There is a very usable index at the back if you're searching for an answer to a question. I look at this book constantly when I have a question about something, and it takes me 2 minutes tops to figure out what I want to know. I thought the language was very easy to understand without being patronising. I would recommend this book to anyone embarking on a pregnancy - it's a very valuable resource!



4. This book by far was the best of the 10 books I was given as gifts...including "what to expect...blah blah blah". would recommend this book to the families who like things straight to the point and don't want any nonsense. it tells you exactly what to expect and does not try to scare you into thinking things are going wrong. GREAT BOOK!! Also makes a great gift to any friends you might have that just found out they are pregnant.



5. I bought this book based on the reviews on Amazon. This book is very reliable and straight to the point. Many of my questions were answered in this book and every advise in this book is the same as what my OB would advise. I would recommend this book to any pregnant woman. If you have this book you wont need any of the other books out there.

5 comments about Anatomy Coloring Book, The (3rd Edition).

1. I bought this book because I give massages and find it a very helpful guide in therapeutic massage. I refer to it all the time for more than massage-- understanding injuries and health conditions in general. A must for the curious.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805350861/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title



2. Good selection for me. I need it for class. It came promptly and what I could afford. Thank you.



3. I purchased both this and the Physiology Coloring Book and they are great! Not only does coloring in the images reinforce what I'm studying, but the text portion (explanations) are added bonuses. I highly recommend both.



4. I am still reading the book but overall the information given is good academically. I am preparing for ACSM examination & I feel this book will really help men in my studies. The detail info with diagram really help you to understand each part of the human body, this way no one will forget what he/she is reading.



5. As an A&P teacher, I find that students who use this anatomy coloring book get it faster and retain the info longer than any other. It is much more accurate than other anatomy coloring books. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

1. This book may contain good information about babies and their sleep habits, but I wouldn't know because I couldn't follow a word of it. Maybe it's just my lack of sleep and "baby brain", but I found the book disorganized and hard to follow. It is also riddled with alarming warning messages with little explanation. I wish the author had a better editor or a co-author because there might be some good information here.



2. We have three children 8,4 and 3. We read this book when someone recommended it for our first child's sleeping problems. Since our oldest was 3 months old ALL of our children have had succesful sleeping patterns. They all go to sleep awake and always have, they all have the "natural" wake times (ie. around 3:00 am) and because of this book they soothe themselves back to sleep. How awesome is that! Do your babies wake up from there naps screaming crying? That is a sign that they are NOT well rested. My 4 and 3 year olds still take naps EVERY day 2-3 hours and still go to sleep 8:30 pm every night. Children have to have success in everything they do so they will continue to do it. This gives the success to the child and takes the fear out of a lot of sleeping problems. Read this great book with an open mind. When the Dr. says 3 days to form a new habit, it is unbelieveable that is exactly what happens. I have friends that state "my kids just do not need that much sleep" or "you just have kids that sleep more than mine", it is a learned HABIT just like a LACK OF SLEEP is a learned HABIT. Great book, cannot say enough.



3. Thank goodness we got this book. I never ever thought the sleepless nights would end. But, they did. It was a little confusing for us because we had to tackle three problems at once. We had to transition to crib, get the baby to fall asleep on her own, and stay asleep. Read it! It makes sense and it works.



4. This book is terribly confusing. The author switches between ages without warning. I makes it hard to understand if the information given is for an older infant or a newborn. This book just needs a better structure.



5. Our baby did not sleep! She only slept when she was being held or walked around. When we got this book, we changed everything according to what was written and she began sleeping 14 hours at night in the matter of a week! It changed our lives!!

5 comments about MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition.

1. This handbook is a great thing to own if you are a writer in any way. I purchased it for school at a lower price then the bookstore's price. It helps with correctly writing your papers in school and correctly writing things for work.



2. The Modern Language Association has developed a crisp contemporary style with ready application well beyond the realms of modern literature. The style is an evolution of Chicago style. The reference format for the "Works Cited" in MLA-speak, are virtually indistinguishable from those in Chicago-style bibliographies. However, MLA has added a unique parenthetical "author-page" citation to reference sources in the text. This is easy for both scholars and non-scholars alike to comprehend and use, making this a good general-purpose style.
   
   The MLA Handbook does an excellent job of representing the style, though with occasional foibles. These tend to be more a distraction than a nuisance, and are often ignored when the style is used in scholarly publication. For example, there is a marked predisposition for the use of abbreviations in references. This is unnecessary, and can present some rather unsavory phrases when sounded out, such as "U of Chicago P" for University of Chicago Press. Page space is rarely so confined as to make the parsimonious use of letters productive, so many authors and journal editors forgo this frugality. The handbook devotes an entire twenty-page chapter to the topic.
   
   There is a tendency in the handbook expand features beyond their useful application. In the last edition the requirements for presenting quotations was elaborated far beyond the needs of most scholars. This was circumscribed in the current edition, but references to electronic sources were elaborated far beyond their credible application. Such references can have up to fifteen elements! An ephemeral online source cannot be made permanent and credible by elaborating the reference to it, and this appears to be an attempt to do just that. These features, too, can be employed as needed or safely ignored.
   
   Missing from the handbook is any reference to the use of headings and subheadings in research papers. The handbook claims that most instructors discourage their use. However, an informal sampling of articles published in the MLA's own journal, PMLA, found that about half did make use of subheadings. This seems a bit hypocritical, especially in a handbook that gets a mite preachy about plagiarism. Do as I do, do as I say, or what? To be credible the handbook should reflect the style as applied in print.
   
   These criticisms border on the trivial simply because there is nothing else to complain about. At its best, the style employs simple rules. For example, if a number can be written in one or two words write it out. Otherwise use numerals, and always use numerals for precise measures. In contrast, APA (American Psychological Association) style has elaborate rules requiring some small numbers to be written as words, others as numerals. MLA style is free of such exceptions. As long as the style and handbook are approached with a measure of tolerance for its idiosyncrasies, it is easy to use and adequately comprehensive for all the tasks of scholarship. Only if you have delved into other research styles such as APA, AMA (American Medical Association), and Chicago can you appreciate the simplicity of MLA style and the masterly way it has been documented in the handbook. There is elegance in ordered simplicity, and more so than any other research style, MLA style has achieved that elegance.



3. This book was for a college class that my sister had, and it worked out just fine.



4. it seems to have everything that i needed in it and has more pertinent information than the internet. Has been pretty useful for me so far



5. This book seems to answer all questions I had and all questions I am likely to have.

5 comments about The Edge Effect: Achieve Total Health and Longevity with the Balanced Brain Advantage.

1. This book along with my Doctor saved my life! My total cholesterol was 293 and it is now at 152. My triglyceride level went from 625 down to 230 and is still improving. The quiz section in this book is right on. It fit myself and my sister to a "T". If you are serious about feeling younger and improving your all around health this is the book.Check out the "Younger You" book also.



2. I found this book very interesting and helpful regarding some health problems I was having. Makes sense to me. Highly recommend it.



3. Came in great shape, will use this service again. Recommend this seller to anyone looking for clean, great shape material.



4. This book is about achieving total health by balancing your brain chemistry, based on a quiz you take (in the book) to determine your dominant neurotransmitters. Once you take the quiz and find out which of the four major neurotransmitters is dominant, you can take supplements and eat foods that supposedly restore your brain's normal biochemistry (normal meaning how it was before you started having symptoms of disease).
   The author says everyone is born with a dominant neurotransmitter that determines their health and their personality, and when this gets out of balance, signs of illness begin. He lists the supplements you should take and the foods you should eat to get back in balance again, and also recommends some exercises, both physicla and mental. At the end there is a section of exercises you can do to improve your memory.
   In his private practice the author claims to have healed many people by simply balancing their brain chemistry, and this is a wonderful thought, but he doesn't say where you can find a doctor to work with who would be into this type of treatment. Most doctors would not agree to do some of the tests he recommends, and would not be open to his ideas. He claims you can do it on your own, but I am concerned that the high doses of some of the supplements may be harmful. On the other hand, I'm a bit of a risk taker and decided to start the supplement and diet program to see what will happen. If anyone else has tried this program, I'd like to know their results and whether they would recommend it. This book has a very interesting and believable theory, but I think is too new to be accepted by mainstream medicine, so you're pretty much on your own if you apply it.



5. I can't believe there aren't more rave reviews here. I had to jump up and down when I realized that 10 years of discomfort, allergies, forgetfulness, and other annoying symptoms had a chance to finally be resolved.
   
   Of course, one cannot make any medical claims. Its just a window into what could be an answer for you.
   
   After taking the test (questionnaire in beginning of book), and reading about my Dominant type, Deficient type, and other personality/physical characteristics of the 4 neurotransmitters ... I put the book aside for a bit. I found just that knowledge had given me alot to ponder. Why do I procrastinate, why do I love to be creative... Is it good for my type to drink caffeine...? Well its alot of questions no one ever asked me, and it made me take a second look at what I do and when I feel sick.
   
   I did quite poorly on the deficiency scale. My most severe defiencey being GABA, and hence I have had chronic hives, Irritable bowel, anxiety and other things. But could GABA have anything to do with it?? Well I have taken many credits in Neurology-- this never came up. I have been to Neurologists, Dermatologists, Allergy Specialists-- why has no one given me a GABA promoting drug (atleast)?? Guess there is a disconnect between wellness and typical medical protocols.
   
   I followed the GABA promoting diet (Almonds, oranges, bananas, oats, whole wheat, broccoli, spinach, fish, eggs, and much more...). No drugs. It made a huge difference. I also drank an herbal tea (passion flower, valerian), that helps promote GABA. I decreased caffeine. I focus on what's good for my body to make and store enough GABA to keep my body relaxed. It made an impact-- big enough, that I finally feel my health can be great again.
   
   Thank You Dr. Braverman!
   
   The other reviewer is correct. You cannot get all the lab tests you want run by your MD. Its not considered necessary. You will have better luck with a Chiropractor, or just going on faith and following the diet to see how you feel.
   
   The diets are not hard-- they might include alot of foods you crave since you need building blocks of that neurotransmitter most.
   
   One thing that alot of health enthusiasts may be weary of, is his notes on aspartame containing the Dopamine promoting element phenylanaline... since fake sweeteners are typically considered toxic. I do not know what to say on this. I guess in certain situations your body can make use of it.
   
   I still give the book 5 starts because the advice outweighs the drugs and artifical stuff. Many books I've reviewed showed me weak points in my health and toxins in my environment... but few have given the remedies to fix the problem. Check out this book!

5 comments about A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Seventh Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing).

1. The book arrived in a timely manner, and was in good shape. We got exactly what was stated in your description.



2. Not only have the editors updated Turabian for the internet age, they have greatly improved the layout and made it easier to use.



3. This new edition of the venerable Turabian manual is no more than a rough draft. It is perhaps a second draft, but a work in process nonetheless. The need for a deft ediorial hand to finish work is soon evident to any knowledgable reader. First, the same material on tables and figures is covered in two separate sections. This material could have been consolidated in one place. Second, essential information on references is overly wordy and convoluted, requiring five chapters to present the same material that needed just one in the previous edition. Third, there is a serious lack of focus. The promise of the first section is not fullfilled in the second. The focus shifts. Were this a thesis or a dissertation, it would not get past the student's advisor to the full committee. Were this an article submitted for publication, the editor would return it for needed revisions. Were this a patchwork body of Dr. Frankenstein's creation, it would still need an energizing spark to bring it to life.
   
   There are two distinct sections to this text. The first is an elementary, but polished, introduction to crafting research papers by eminent and accomplished scholars. The second seeks to present "Chicago style for researchers and students," which is the subtitle of the volume. The transition between the two is not smooth. While the first section is for beginners, the second is for advanced students, presenting numerous graphics to help format a dissertation, but just a single graphic for class papers, a title page. Thus, the neophyte is given the task of inferring from the format of a dissertation how a class paper should look. This seems backwards. Shouldn't the task of translating from one format to another be given to the more advanced student? Better yet, why not present both formats? Students writing a dissertation are well beyond needing the elementary guide to doing research found in the first half of the book. The focus shifts from beginner to near-professional with no closure for the beginner and no preparation for the grad student. Could this be the patchwork creation of a mad (but competent) scientist?
   
   An appendix is the literary equivalent of an afterthought, and that is where the page format graphics have been relegated. Apparently the editors of this venerable "manual of writers of research papers," considers the format of words, sentences, tables, figures, paragraphs, and quotations more important than their presentation on the page. Perhaps, "A Manual for Writers of Research Text" would be a more honest title. The subtitle, not the title, appears to be the ordering principle of the second half of the book--Chicago Style for for Researchers and Students. The emphasis is on the style and not the final product, the research paper. This may be a fine point to some, but both the APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association) place page formats in the body of their style manuals.
   
   The previous edition presented the three Chicago reference formats--footnote/endnote, bibliography, and reference list--side by side in a single chapter. This proved so effective that the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style elected to do the same thing. But this edition of the Turabian manual has expanded this one chapter into five. The question is why, for whom? Shouldn't students be treated to the simpler presentation? William of Occcam is the author of a famous priciple in philosophy know as Occam's Razor. He argued that when given a choice of alternative explanations the simplest will generally prove the most reliable. About 600 years later, William Strunk, Jr., advised his students to "omit needless words," and we might add, needless chapters.
   
   Given these observations, how would you grade a text with these problems? To me, it reads like a rough draft in need of additional work. I would not want to present a text in this condition to a dissertation committee. And by that standard, a revised edition is called for. With both the Turabian manual and Chicago manual on my bookshelf, I invariably go to the Chicago manual when I have a question. Ironically, with the previous editions of both texts it was the other way around. The new Turabian manual does manage to cover the essential features of Chicago style, and though it is a great buy at amazon prices, it is no bargain. It is a disjointed patchwork offensive to a disciplined mind. Dr. Frankenstein, would you care to hazard a second opinion?



4. The item I received was exactly what I ordered at a lower price than I would have paid at our university bookstore.



5. If you are a student and are wondering how to write a paper. This book offers great DETAILED advice in making sure your paper is what you wanted it to be. You can find clarity in the details of which are at times a step-by-step walk through of the sometimes daunting task of writing a major paper (thesis, dissertation, etc.). Use the book and enjoy how much you will learn from writing your paper and how much you will be able to teach with your paper.

5 comments about The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition.

1. This is a great resource for massage therapists and laypeople alike. Practical suggestions for self-help in pain relief, but the information can be easily adapted to use to help others. It translates trigger point therapy it into simple, concise, and readable text. The illustrations are helpful as well. Highly recommended.



2. This book is a great self-help resource for many types of pain, and also provides an interesting and fairly easy understanding of anatomy.
   
   The first day I had the book, I visited my father who was suffering from a very painful inflammation of the big toe, which his doctor had diagnosed as gout, although his urine tests did not indicate the acid which is a sign of gout. (He has had gout several times.) The book stated that a certain trigger point condition is often misdiagnosed as "gout" or can exist simultaneously with actual gout. I used the illustration in the book dealing with "symptoms of gout" and other foot/toe pain, found the trigger point in his shin and pressed on it - my dad was MAD at this point! It hurt! But within a few minutes he admitted his toe felt a little better. The next morning he was astonished, saying "I don't know what to think - the pain and swelling is completely gone." Throughout the week he massaged that sore trigger point a few times a day while doing yoga stretches, his toe remained pain-free, and within a couple of weeks the trigger point stopped hurting too.
   
   I've been using the book's suggestion for back, neck and hip pain. Although my results haven't been as dramatic and permanent as my dad's (since he was more consistent in self-treatment that I have been) I can relieve the tension pretty easily following the directions in the book. I will also get a Theracane, a recommended self-massage tool, because many of the trigger points are hard to reach or massage by hand.
   
   This book makes me appreciate a good, professional masseuse who can do the trigger point work for me. But it's great to be able to take care of myself as much as possible. This is a resource I will use for the rest of my life.



3. I bought this book after years of suffering shoulder and neck pain that could not be attributed to anything specific. Chiropractic care and Acupuncture helped some, but the treatments are expensive and not always available on a weekend. So I tried the book and found that by manipulating the trigger points, the pain would eventually dissipate. Its rather amazing that this simple therapy is not better known.
   
   The rating is 4 stars instead of 5 because it seems hard to find the specific parts of the body and how to treat them. I solved my problem by buying brightly colored tabs and affixing them to the different chapters - problem solved.



4. I have dealt with golfers elbow for years getting by with ice and rest but it would never go away. This book suggested a trigger point in the upper arm that I eventually found-a little hard ball that is not present on my good arm. I was amazed at how a little massage on that gives the elbow immediate relief. It was literally instantaneous. The elbow isn`t cured but 75% better with no more instances of extreme pain. After a little more research with the book I found trigger points in my back that give relief to lower back pain. A fanastic book, easy to read and use.



5. This pain started in a Ti Chi exercise class about 6 years ago. Just a nagging mid back pain that came and went. Chiropractic treatment helped but I could not do aerobics because it would come back. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook showed me where and how to treat it. I got relief from the first self treatment and was cured within one week. Since then I have helped my son with his knee pain. I highly recommend this book, much pain and suffering can be avoided!

5 comments about The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness.

1. I was actually led to seek out information on meditation as a treatment for depression through a book called Surviving America's Depression Epidemic by psychologist Bruce E. Levine. That book takes a highly insightful approach to investigating the sociological and personal genesis for depression and I credit it for saving me from succumbing to this condition. Afterwards, I bought "The Mindful Way through Depression" to supplement Levine's more brief explanation of meditation as a therapeutic modality.
   
   Three psychologists - J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale and Zindel V. Segal began investigating why it was that people who became depressed once would experience constant relapse even after treatment. They eventually were led to the work being done by Jon Kabat-Zinn who had been researching the benefits of meditation at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
   
   The approach they eventually created is called Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (or MBCT), which begins with the understanding of human psychology branching out of the Buddhist contemplative traditions of ancient India. This understanding of reality is then applied to findings of Western cognitive-behavioral therapy. Despite its Buddhist influences, the practice is completely secular. There is no mention of Buddhist concepts such as anatta, dharma or nirvana but the essence of the contemplative traditions is still present. The meditations in the book and on the CD are focused on experiencing the present moment as it unfolds here and now. This is what is meant by mindfulness.
   
   Some of the reviews on this page mention "curing" depression. Yet, like Dr. Levine, the authors of this book redefine depression - not as some inherent chemical or genetic fault that needs to be eradicated with psychotropic drugs - but as a habitual reaction towards our unpleasant feelings. Taking a poignant insight from Buddhist philosophy, the authors realized that much of our suffering is due to an aversion towards our own unpleasant feelings. (Note: Depression is NOT unpleasant emotions themselves. Negative feelings - sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, etc. - are benign in and of themselves. It is a pattern of reactions towards these feelings that is the depression.)
   
   Feelings - both the pleasant and unpleasant - are important messengers which contain vital information about whowe are and the state of our lives. However, when depressed, we often become paralyzed by our unwillingness to be with our fear, sadness, anger, anxiety, etc. This initial aversion cycles into depression in a complex interplay between our emotions, thoughts and behaviors. This is why we often find ourselves sinking deeper into depression the more we try to "think" our way out or just "snap out of it." At worst, these attempts only serve to further estrange us from our emotions or cause us to start ruminating, cementing our depressed thoughts. At best, they serve only as a cosmetic and temporary solution.
   
   I was happy to discover that MBCT addresses some of the shortcomings of traditional CBT that Levine criticizes in his book. CBT has a preoccupation with thoughts specifically - neglecting the nuanced relationship between our external circumstances, our emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Likewise, I found CBT tends to be exhausting. Who can stand to analyze their thoughts constantly, especially when they don't have an understanding of where those thoughts are coming from to begin with? The mindfulness practices in this book place thoughts in the wider context of life itself and bring us out of our own heads. The "Body Scan" that begins the CD is an excellent way of bringing one into the entirety of the body and opening to the physical, sensory experiences most of us have come to ignore.
   
   Eventually, what these practices serve to do is awaken one to the true nature of living. Depression itself can be seen for what it is - a pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviors - that we eventually learn to transcend. If you are currently depressed, this may all sound highly dubious. I myself was skeptical at first. But, having nothing to lose, I read through the book, practiced the meditations as described and suspended judgment for the eight weeks recommended by the authors. Within the first two weeks, it started making more sense. I felt I was living more "in the moment." When depressed, our days often feel monochromatic - everything runs together in a big jumble of anxiety, numbness, inaction, etc. Weeks go by and we feel like we haven't actually LIVED through them.
   
   Mindfulness completely transformed this familiar experience for me. My days feel longer and more varied. I started noticing tiny details like where I hold tension in the body, when I needlessly and repetitively feed anxieties with negative thoughts, and started to notice things in the world around me more. Many people construe "curing" depression with banishing all unpleasant emotions. However, this is neither possible nor desirable. These sorts of emotions will always arise. However, the aim is to learn to be open to them instead of becoming overwhelmed by them. I can't really explain exactly how different this feels, but it felt like being a child again: awakening to the newness of each and every moment, as a child experiences the world, is really the heart of mindfulness.
   
   This book and CD would certainly do fine as a stand-alone if you are just interested in feeling better. The insights into the workings of the mind and emotion are remarkable and all supported by the latest research. The CD narrated by Kabat-Zinn is extremely helpful as well in setting up a regimented practice and commitment to yourself to get better. If, however, you are also interested in learning about depression as a cultural, sociological and historical phenomenon, I highly recommend Bruce Levine's "Surviving America's Depression Epidemic" which touches on many topics not dealt with here, including the role of schooling in teen depression, shyness or social phobia, abuse and neglect, the role of depression for artists and musicians and loss of community in modern-day society. Both are excellent books, however, that deal with different aspects of the same topic.



2. I feel very grateful to the authors of this book, having suffered from recurring bouts of depression over the past dozen years or so. For help, I tried several books on cognitive therapy and saw a few therapists who focused on this approach. But, each time, after initial improvement, I ended up in a mental boxing ring fighting with the same old repetitive, negative thoughts. I would try to substitute negative thoughts with more realistic ones, as cognitive therapy encourages, but I soon realized this process would go on endlessly, without any real change. As someone wrote in an earlier review, it was exhausting. It never seemed possible to me that depression could be dealt with at the level of thinking since habitually negative thinking is the main problem in depression!
   
   In "The Mindful Way through Depression," the authors really take the reader to a different level in handling negative, ruminative thoughts and their accompanying difficult feelings. I love the underlying theme of the book: that it's not the content of our thoughts that's important, but rather the present-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and surroundings. Emphasis is also placed on deeply accepting all of these sensations -- not running from them in fear or aversion, but approaching them with gentle awareness and curiosity and allowing them to be there. There's a huge freedom in this, but it takes perseverance.
   
   One point to note: I think it was wise of the authors to state at the book's outset that a person suffering from fairly severe depression should wait until he or she is on the mend before attempting to use the book. Personally, I think trying to do some of the exercises would be very difficult during a deep depression.
   
   Finally, while the book is completely non-secular and beneficial to anyone, it will probably be particularly appreciated by people already interested in areas such as mindfulness, yoga, meditation, and "Westernized" Buddhism.



3. I have used Mindfulness techniques with many clients in my private practice, but in the last couple of years have begun working with mentally ill inmates in a maximum security prison. These inmates are often depressed and feel out of control. I was looking for a way to help them understand their feelings and regain a sense of control over their circumstances. They have responded very positively and are applying the principles to their lives. We recently started a meditation time where they meditate at the same time of day even though they are in separate cells and not able to directly communicate with each other. This has been a powerful, positive experience for them. The book has been a hit with a very tough audience.



4. Before I start I just have to say that this book is FANTASTIC and is a really exciting step forward in the treatment of depression. At last - a non-drug approach to one of societies most overwhelming problems: Depression.
   
   As a person who has suffered from depression in the past and as a therapist, I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It told me all I needed to know about mindfulness and taught me the process in a very comprehensive yet easy to follow way.
   
   I had read several books on mindfulness by various authors before receiving this book. Compared against the others that I read, I found this one to be the most clear, so even if you do not suffer from depression, but are looking to learn mindfulness, this book could be just what you are looking for. The other bonus with this title is that it is not repetitive like similar titles I have read - it just tells you what you need to know.
   
   Some observations that I would make though are as follows.
   
   1. There were a few spelling and grammar mistakes throughout, however they didn't affect my `reading flow', so this should be an issue.
   2. The layout of the separate sections could have been better laid out. It shows you how to follow an 8 week program in the end of the last chapter. I would have liked to seen it laid out so that you read and practice a section at a time rather than learning everything before you start.
   3. There is a warning in a couple of places in the book that warn you not to us the program in is entirely now if you are experiencing an episode of clinical depression. This somewhat confused me as the title of the book is `The Mindful Way THROUGH Depression.
   4. The book comes with a CD... It was recorded using the voice of one of the authors, Jon Kabat Zinn. The meditation entitled `The Body Scan' seemed a little rushed. As a personal preference, I used an old CD that I had from Jon that was much better quality for me and worked well.
   
   These were the only negative things that I picked up and wanted to include them to make this review as balanced as possible. There were so many things right with this book though that the comments above are small concerns against all the things that you will get out of reading it.
   
   So in conclusion: this book is easy to follow, very inspirational and motivates you to learn mindfulness and overcome your depression. It is simply fantastic.
   
   Warmly,
   
   Richard MacKenzie
   Author of Self-Change Hypnosis



5. Not only did I like the tape, it was so inspiring. The shipping was within alloted times.

5 comments about You Can Heal Your Life (Gift Edition).

1. I love everything I have read from Louise Hay. She gives us all so much hope.



2. I bought this book yesterday and I finished reading it in one sitting. I could not put it down. I'll read the book again slowly and start to do the exercises today.
   
   Although this book was first published over 20 years ago, the message is still so relevant today, especially after the phenomenon of "The Secret".
   
   I recommend to read this book together with "The Sedona Method: Your Key to Lasting Happiness, Success, Peace and Emotional Well-Being".



3. This book was recommended by a friend who permanently keeps it on her bedside table. I am reading it now and without even finishing it, I have already purchased 4 others to give to family and friends. I like the author's straight forward approach of taking charge of your life. GREAT book!



4. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in helping himsef/herself improve their thoungts and positive energy.



5. I have read a lot through the spirituality and new age genres, but this book helped me to my core. For me, it was the first step on the right path. Highly recommended.