5 comments about First Aid for the USMLE Step 3 (First Aid).

1. It's a good quick review for who is taking step 3. It's a good option if you taking the exam soon and don't have time enough to read lots!!! I recommend.



2. A very good book to review for step 3. Its not enough by its self but a very good complement to other books like Swanson Family Medicine.



3. I bought this product and I regret it. First Aid for Step 2 ck would have done a better job. This book lacks too much detail to be the only referral.



4. I used this book as well as several others (i'm guilty of buying TOO many books...)! This book very much helped me with the detail I needed to do very well in areas I didn't remember from Medical School. As a Pediatrics Resident, I highly recommend this book to fill in "the blanks" so to speak.



5. Basically, it is very skeletal review with too little detail and too many missing topics. It does overall good job to address some (yes, only some of the vast amount of step 3 facts) of the high yields topics though.
   
   The cardiology section is unacceptably brief and missing out too many facts such as the management of the major valvular disease, which is critical on step 3!
   
   So if you go over the online Q banks, especially usmleworld qs (very picky and detailed oriented questions) you would keep searching for the better explanations, which are completely missing out on this book.
   
   Of course, I am referring to a review book, not a major text book. But even a review book, it must be reasonably detailed with sufficient coverage of the related topics.
   
   This book would have been much better if the authors would add more details and add more diseases such as Rocky mountain spotted fever, Hyper/hypothyroidism in pregnancy, Geriatrics, opthalmology, trauma medicine, and Pediatrics/Adolescents medicine of better coverage.
   
   It is simply too "lazy" book that hampers the hard earned good reputations for the FA step 1 and 2 in which I did use them extensively for the step 1 and 2.
   
   
   

5 comments about Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art.

1. Essential Reiki by Diane Stein has been the very top book on my required reading list for students for several years. I have purchased this book a few different times and have managed to pass it on to a scholarship student every time.
   
   If you can only purchase ONE book on Reiki, this book is the one to get! The title says that it is a Complete Guide, and it truly is.



2. I have added this book to my others as a good reference for assembling Reiki training classes. As with all manuals of this type, the author presents the information from her perspective, based on her experience and expertise. The reader must take what works and leave the rest, which is fine. Stein is a fine author and instructor and I applaud her approach to opening the doors to Reiki. I found her negative references to male participation in this healing art unnecessary. It served to distract from her overall purpose and credibility of her text and was best left out of print.



3. This book was recommended to me by my Reiki Teacher before beginning my Reiki Training. That was about 2 years ago and I still can't seem to put this book down. It is full of information. For anyone who wants to open their minds to Reiki this is book is an absolute must.



4. This book is an absolute must for anyone wanting to get totally back in tune with the Universe and their total purpose and place in it.



5. Although those who have dedicated themselves to the Healing power of Reiki may have various positions on this ancient healing technique, this book is well written and will inspire and engage all those interested in Reiki. I learned a great deal of her book and reflected on my own ideas.

5 comments about The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self, Third Edition.

1. I read this book for the first time when it was first published and it had a great impact on me and on understanding how I had grown. It was painful but at the same time healing. I continue reading it and it continues having those characteristics. Thanks



2. Reading books about psychology, especially books dealing with childhood trauma, is a bit like looking into a shattered mirror. Some parts will accurately reflect aspects of one's own psyche; other parts will be too distorted to have any relevance. As far as mirrors go, I think Alice Miller's "The Drama of the Gifted Child" provides for excellent viewing.
   
   The core of the book is about narcissism, or more precisely, the way that children are negatively affected by the emotional unavailability and/or abuse of their parents. These emotional wounds can create severe dysfunctions and personality disorders later in life - disorders over which the victim has absolutely no control, unless they begin the long and painful road towards breaking out of their "Inner Prison" (as Miller puts it).
   
   Early editions of this book used a lot more psychological jargon, and the revised edition makes things quite clear and concise for the layman, without losing the essential concepts: the role and critical responsibility of the primary object (usually mother); the suppression/repression of feelings in favour of a need to please; the cycles of grandiosity and depression; contempt and its role in perversion and obsession; compulsion to repeat behaviours; the societal role in propagating psychologically diseased values through generations; the severe shortcomings of tradition psychotherapeutic methods (although this was first published in 1979), and the key to healing - consciously experiencing hidden emotional pain.
   
   The case studies and quotes from patients are relevant and add an extra dimension to the theory. I found that some of the examples struck a stronger emotional chord than Miller's own observations, which is important if one is reading a book to gain insight rather than for simple curiosity.
   
   Although a short book at approximately 126 pages, there is very little "fluff" or filling in it. Miller gets straight to the point and has little patience for "parental apologia", which is an approach I think needs to be taken. It seems from other reviews though that some parents bought the book thinking it would affirm their own notions of their child's "giftedness", and were a little "miffed" to find out that wasn't the case. In my opinion, parents like these are the exact reason professionals like Miller need to focus the lens directly on their behaviour.
   
   While it is somewhat of a cliché these days to blame one's parents for one's neuroses, that isn't really the point; responsibility for healing rests with the victim, not the perpetrator. This is something Miller makes clear, although the point is better made in other books, notably Martha Stout's "The Myth of Sanity: Divided Consciousness and the Promise of Awareness".
   
   That the book is now still in print and in its 3rd revision is a testament to its long-term appeal. Despite having read it twice now, I still find revisits to be enlightening and worthwhile. I am very glad to have it on my bookshelf and consider it money well spent.
   
   Readers with a deep interest in the subject may also find "The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment", "Why Is It Always About You? : The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism", "Unholy Hungers: Encountering the Psychic Vampire in Ourselves & Others" and the previously mentioned "Myth of Sanity" to be excellent sources of additional information.
   
   Overall, an immensely valuable work and I thank Ms. Miller for her long-term efforts in sharing such important knowledge with the wider public.



3. Alice Miller explains how a lot of us have been affected from childhood. The book flows well and is a page turner when you see that a lot of the situations relate to you in some way. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to improve themselves!



4. Great read for adults who were parentified as children by their own parents, and helping you to cope with and MOVE PAST the legacy and wounds your parents accidentally left you with. They learned it from their parents, and it's important to break the cycle if you don't want to pass it to your children too. You will, unless you work very hard to heal the wounds. It's inevitable.



5. a fascinating and remarkably candid memoir written by another brilliant and compassionate woman: That's How the Light Gets In: Memoir of a Psychiatrist by Susan Rako, M.D. The title comes from a song by Leonard Cohen: "There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Rako was herself notably a "gifted child," -- actually a child prodigy on the piano who performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 14, and who became a psychiatrist to heal herself and others on the journey founded on courage to stand to one's own truth. Rako's memoir is wonderfully well-written and a great read. The writing just flows.

5 comments about The Web That Has No Weaver : Understanding Chinese Medicine.

1. For the last several years I ended the winter with coughing fits and lung congestion, for which I sought and received the usual western remedies, which proved somewhat useful. But the congestion usually remains, with my coughing and hacking provoking my wife to nag me into seeing her herbalist/acupuncture practitioner, who invariably succeeded where my western medicine had failed. I finally asked the herbalist/L.Ac. to recommend something which explained the workings of Oriental Medicine, and he recommended this book. Although I'm now familiar with concepts such as qi, yin and yang, I find that, even armed with this book, I'm still mystified, and find I still must uncomfortably rely on simple belief that my L.Ac. knows what he's doing, since the logic of these treatment protocols still eludes me.



2. Very good introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The autor explains very clearly the difference between Oriental and Western thinking.



3. This book is great for the student and profesional alike. It explanes everything in a way that is easy to get a grasp on. Im a second year student of T.C.M and recomend this book to anyone desiring a better knowledge of the practice.



4. i'm still busy reading the book (final chapters).
   dr. kaptchuk succeeds in presenting the chinese phylosophy to physicians reared on conventional ideas and practice.
   the book is very efficient in pacifying any conflict between the two schools of thought.
   great book, great purchase.



5. five stars because could't give more. Definitely interesting. It is a good source for the non oriental student of chinese medicine. Not abstract mysticism but instead a non passionate discourse of the phylosophical background of TCM

No comments about CPT 2008 Standard Edition: Current Procedural Terminology (Cpt / Current Procedural Terminology (Standard Edition)).

5 comments about Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven: A Gutsy Guide to Becoming One Hot (and Healthy) Mother!.

1. I found this book fun to read simply because there are NO current day books out there that focus on veganism and pregnancy.
   
   I also understand the authors "style" of writing, so their cursing and "in your face" approach didn't really bother me because I knew what to expect.
   
   A fews things you may have to be concerned with is:
   
   1) that this book's audience is most likely middle class people who live in locations where a whole foods vegan diet is "easy". I question how feasible any whole foods diet is (vegan or omnivorous) for people who are the working poor in this country and located in areas such as the inner city, in which there have been a plethora of public health reports indicating that there are no farmer's markets, natural grocers, or health options available.
   
   2) this book kind of assumes all pregnant women reading this book are straight and married to a man. If you are lesbian identified woman, the heterosexual oriented nature of the book may irk you. If you are a single woman looking to become pregnant or are already pregnant, it may irk you a bit.
   
   However, I commend that fact that the authors wrote this book, simply because NO ONE ELSE IS providing current books on how to achieve a healthy vegan pregnancy.



2. Don't let the cute cover and catchy title of this book deceive you. I was given this book as a gift recently and am currently pregnant. In NO WAY is this book helpful to any pregnant woman who is not looking to convert to veganism. This book isn't even targeted at vegans because throughout it you are instructed to stop eating animal products and the brainwashing mantra "you and your baby are what you eat" is repeated after every anti-meat message. There are so many half-truths and exaggerations in this book it's diffucult to pick out any useful information. The authors' attempt to frighten pregnant women into thinking they are destroying their unborn babies by drinking a glass of cows milk or by having a plate of scrambled eggs is completely ludicrous. PETA must have given the authors some kickbacks for getting this published with all of the graphic depictions of "animal cruelty" in this book that is supposed to be about pregnancy. These Skinny Bitches are Vegan Nazis and I hope non-vegan women read this warning before they waste money on this worthless propaganda.



3. This is a great book for information on being a healthy prego. If you have read Skinny Bitch some of the chapters can be skipped since they are repeated and I honestly didn't want to read about animal abuse again. I do wish this book would focus exclusively on pregnancy when it seems alot was just rewritten for a new book. I also wish they had talked about possible interference of hormones with soy products during pregnancy. I recommend this book though along with Bitch in the Kitch.



4. This being my first pregnancy, I have read almost every book out there on having a healthy, safe pregnancy (especially one with twins). I guess ALL those other books are idiots because according to these two vegans, you shouldn't eat meat, fish, eggs, milk...essentially every single thing the other books and medical doctors insist are VITAL to a healthy pregnancy.
   They berate and belittle the very organizations that make our food safe i.e. EPA, USDA, FDA, making them sound like a bunch of middle schoolers.
   This book dedicates an entire chapter on slaughter houses. Methods for killing animals, testimonials from slaughterhouse employees. While I agree it is disgusting, if true, this book is not the place to educate us on the practices of killing animals. Basically, I feel this book was just a soapbox for these 2 women to try and get all women, pregnant or not, to give up all foods that are healthy and necessary for the vegan lifestyle. not gonna happen here.



5. I am not at all squeamish about cussing or euphemisms for the vagina. I love strong women who are empowered and informed and strive to be one myself. And it is in that vein that I question everything I read. Furthermore, I love to laugh. That being said...
   
   I purchased this book forgetting that the reason I hadn't bought the other Skinny Bitch books was because I had read somewhere that they espouse a vegan diet. Blame the pregnancy hormones for forgetting something that important. I was a vegetarian for fifteen years and perhaps I just really suck at nutrition but it was not the best choice for me personally. Similarly, this book is not the best choice for many people. Being a vegan is not a lifestyle anyone should adopt because someone writes and sells a book that uses scare tactics - and that is precisely the manner in which this book is written. To an extent, what is most troublesome about this book is not the content but the tone. There is a certain moral superiority akin to zealotry in the writing that is disconcerting. What I find further disturbing is that, essentially, the authors prey on women at a time when they may be hyper sensitive regarding the choices they are making and may be stepping outside of their comfort zones to seek information and support. Adopting a vegan lifestyle is one option however it is not the only option nor is it the best option for everyone. If you are already a vegan, you probably will not be reading anything you don't already know about if you purchase this book. If you are considering transitioning into vegan diet while pregnant, speak with your doctor. It is a serious decision and not one that should be guided by a book that's not upfront with its agenda. It makes you wonder, what else are the authors not being upfront about? As a reader and lover of books, the constant use of counterclaim (we're just telling you that the entire dairy industry is corrupt so you won't have a four headed baby, etc) is extremely tedious and actually undermines their argument. It begs the question, why did the authors feel they needed to constantly discount common sense in order to keep me reading?
   
   This is my first pregnancy and so after realizing I had wasted an hour and fifteen bucks (I really should have known to stop at the "Bitchclaimer") I could have spent on something I would have enjoyed reading, my wonderful husband ran out and got me good old What to Expect.... In terms of nutritional content, it far superior in terms of the voice it is written in, the scope of the information, the accessibility of the information and it is not at all the pedestrian read I thought it would be.
   
   Lastly, I did pick up the book again thinking it might have some nifty vegan recipes for mud masks or stretch mark prevention or some other concern. Well, even if it did, I couldn't find any. There is no index and the chapters are obscurely titled. So in addition to all my other gripes, this book is not user friendly and frankly I've got enough on my plate (pardon the pun) with the vomiting, headaches, ginormous breasts and first time mommy worries, to be reading about cows pooping when all I want to know is if I'm allowed to eat papaya.
   
   PS: Oh, and if the authors read this and decide to get up in arms - let me throw a little of your ubiquitous scattershot counterclaiming back at you - the word vegan does appear. It is buried on the second page of the forward. It might appear elsewhere but I would require and index to find it and I guess and this book is just not meaty (again, pardon the pun) to warrant one.

5 comments about Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss.

1. "Ultrametabolism" is by far one of the best books I have ever read on the subject of diet and its effect on your health. As a large endurance athlete struggling to lose a few pounds and keep up my stamina, this book has revealed the misconceptions of the typical low fat or low carb diet and throughly explained why the "calories in/ calories out" equation doesn't seem to work for many people. By learning why to eat whole non processed foods, my friends and I have all begun to shed unwanted pounds and become healthier and stronger in the process. Bravo to Dr. Hyman! Highly recommended and easy to put into action.



2. I bought this book because of a recommendation by someone that had implemented, and kept using Ultra-Metabolism "steps" with great success. Upon reading Ultra-Metabolism, I recognized information I use and share...all the time.
   
   Why read or buy another "weight-loss" book when the Seven Keys to the New Science of Weight Loss are listed on page 73-74? According to Dr. Hyman, everyone has his or her own instruction manual. So why purchase this book? I would suggest that you download guides from www.ultrametabolism.com. This may be enough for you. The book serves as support and offers reminders to help people keep on track.
   
   Ultra-Metabolism quizzes you and guides you, step-by-step, to deciphering your own metabolism, and a whole lot more, in what he calls an "Ultra-Metabolism Prescription". Again, Dr. Hyman instructs us that this is the basis for generating the right instructions to your own body, through diet, and ... Ultra-Metabolism.
   
   Dr. Hyman follows the premise of food containing information to talk to our genes, or "Nutrigenomics". In addition to offering exciting, cutting-edge research, he offers nutritionally-sound advice on how you can talk to your genes: Eat real, whole foods; eat foods high in phytonutrients; eat foods with a low glycemic to control appetite; eat more fiber intake to lower body fat; get your meal timing right to help turn on your metabolism; reduce stress (stress makes you fat, relaxation makes you thin); exercise in a manner that turns on metabolism; and reduce inflammation.
   
   "Eat breakfast daily: Spread your food intake and calories throughout the day; Wait at least two to three hours after your last meal before going to sleep."
   
   Where have you heard this before?
   
   Another example of simple, effective suggestions are supplements to consider when you are turning on Ultra-Metabolism:
   
   "1. A multivitamin and mineral combination. 2. A balanced, absorbable calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D supplement. 3. An omega-3 fatty acid supplement.
   
   Many people do very well with a structured approach to weight loss. As the reader would expect, Dr. Hyman guides you to natural weight loss, step-by-step. Starting with Step one: Detoxifying the liver.
   
   In addition to offering a plethora of practical, easy-to-implement weight loss suggestions, the author busts a few "myths" while promoting education. He includes information regarding "Nutrition", and how we come to think about food:
   
   P. 66 The food industry generates more than a trillion dollars in annual sales, accounts for 12 percent of the U.S. gross national product (GNP), and employees 17 percent of the country's labor force. It spends more than $33 billion a year on marketing alone. Seventy percent of those dollars go to pushing fast food, convenience foods, candy, snacks, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and desert. Only 2.2 percent of those marketing dollars are spent on advertising for fruit, vegetables, grains or beans.
   
   I also enjoyed Dr. Hyman inclusion of relevant and stimulating quotes:
   
   "Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises."
   Samuel Butler
   
   As you would expect, Dr. Hyman offers the usual faire of delicious, natural recipes, and Ultra-Metabolism possesses its fair share of "buzz-words". Ultra-Metabolism also includes Dr. Hyman's attempt to generate an on-line Ultra-Metabolism community, which comes off as a bit far fetched. However, taking cues from various weight-watching groups, his efforts may very well bear fruit.
   
   The "Food is Medicine" premise of Ultra-Metabolism focuses this book as excellent "support" literature. Ultra-Metabolism reinforces your healthy lifestyle choices, which, in turn, support your health and wellness. Ultimately, in this "win-win" situation, you gain timely, user-friendly, effective resources and guidance to be well-inform about the choices you may make ... a recipe for success.
   
   I prefer to recommend natural health texts that acknowledge alternative health practices, and their long-time contributions to the health, stress reduction and wellness fields; this acknowledgement was lacking in Ultra-Metabolism. However, given the exceptional nature of this easy-to-follow, reader-oriented book, I am happy to recommend it.



3. What a great book! There's so much hype and misinformation in the thirty million dollar diet industry, it's refreshing to run across a book that offers sound information based on good science. Dr. Hyman covers every aspect of developing optimal health.



4. A great diet indeed. However, I was surprised when I read about his suggestion about including tofu into the diet. It is well known now amongst health practitioners that tofu is NOT a health food. Other than that, I highly recommend it.



5. I just can not believe this book came from UK with such a great shape!!!

5 comments about Medical-Surgical Nursing (Single Volume): Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems (MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING (LEWIS)).

1. This is a great book that is very useful for the begining RN student. It explains everything in detail and shows how things are done. Very useful for quick facts about the diseases and their processes. GREAT BUY!!!



2. This book is a required text for my nursing class. This one was in excellent condition. it is easy to use and understand.



3. Great book for nursing school. Amazon kept me posted on shipping dates & delivery dates. No problems, recieved the item in a timely manner.



4. The book and seller are both amazing. Shipped in reasonable time and got here rather quickly. Condition of book was perfect, no compliants at all. Thank you.



5. I utilize this book more than any other textbook required for my program. It is a great resource for careplanning, understanding the ramifications of procedures, and supplemental reading for particularly challenging subjects. As a nursing student in a baccalaureate program, I am inundated with complex and intricate explanations for disease processes. When I need a straight forward, simple answer, this is where I go. A great starting point!

5 comments about Physiology Coloring Book, The (2nd Edition).

1. If you're a visual learner this book is an excellent addition to any physiology course. It's actually fun and it really does reinforce what you're learning.



2. The coloring book is extremely helpful. There were some aspects of Physiology that I was having a difficult time grasping simply reading material from text books and listening to lectures, the coloring book has made understanding many concepts "childs play". I highly recommend this as a supplement to any anatomy/physiology (or even biology) course.
   -Kat



3. Because I am a visual learner, this has been a wonderful adjunct to my textbook and other materials. I love it!



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



5. I enjoyed this book tremendously. If you're a student taking a biology course, it is perfect for review and helps solidify concepts.
   
   Look over the table of contents and see if it correlates well with your studies.
   
   My suggestion is to never color directly in the book. Just make copies and color on those. This also allows you to color in marker, giving you brighter colors that stand out.

5 comments about The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force.

1. Exercise is not only necessary for the body but for the brain as well. Great tie in of mindfulness with neuroplasicity and quantum theory.



2. This book provides the reader a very thought provoking experience regarding what causes a person to produce certain thoughts and how one is able to regulate unwanted thoughts and actually change brain morphology and thought patterns. It integrates concepts in neuroscience with physics and applies these concepts to patients with neurological/psychological disorders. There are spots in which readers interested in neuroscience may think the discussion of physics requires a bit of patience and thought, but if you continue reading it will continue to suprise you.



3. Schwartz provides a thorough picture of the development of neuroscience over the 20 years. His research into OCD is presented in a simple yet beautiful way. His book open my mind to the beauty of the human brain and to the idea of the mind. The chapter on physics was a little hard to understand.



4. This book presents a scientific premise that though you may be born hard wired or predisposed to certain thinking patterns those patterns are change able. You are what you think and how you think will make you what you will be. Yes we can inherit certain traits and chemical imbalances can affect our attitudes , but we are not bound , we are not slave to these patterns of thought . We can change the way we think . The admonition of scripture " to let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus " is achievable . We can develop new thinking patterns . That is one of the great blessings of meditating (thinking in a specific manner) on scripture that by this we can develop the mind of Christ in us . We do not have to be bound by hatred of another . When we consistently pray for one ( not pray against ) who is a perceived enemy , with time and practice our perception will change , our attitude will change , our MIND will change , even though they may not change their attitude towards us( this is about changing ourselves "0UR own MIND"). We cannot always make people like us but we can chose to love them . This book presents the scientific facts concerning the plasticity of the brain (the ability to reshape our brains by the application of our mind (will). ) This book is a great encouragement for personnel change . Chemical imbalances affect the way we think , but the way we think affects the chemicals we release . Bitterness is rooted in our habits of thought and can only be rooted out by a new way of thinking (Jesus is the way the truth and the light). This book is not a theology book but The Bible will shed a lot of light on it . The heart of man ( how he thinks , our emotional seat )can be changed . With the help of Christ we can break the chains and habits of (the motions) miss thinking , negative thought life , lustful thinking(sin) . Some may call it "the power of positive thinking" , the Bible refers to it as righteous living or , doing what is right in the sight of God (as defined by scripture in the Bible). We can develope an attitude of gratitude for the blessings in our life even as we strive to over come the difficulties we daily face . The fact that there are now instruments that can register our mental activity and quantify mental changes is a bonus.



5. This book was probably the most fascinating book I read about neuroscience and that's saying something since I find all of them fascinating. In this book the author explains neuroplasticity and how it continues to work in the brains of an adult as well as a child. The author also reviews many of the neuroscience experiments and projects done by various people as well as how those projects have confirmed the efficacy of mindful practices in controlling our habits and thoughts.
   
   What I found really fascinating was how the author's work with OCD patients help them overcome that affliction by learning how to rewire the thought patterns. Equally interesting is the focus on how we can deliberately change our brains not only to heal, but also to continue sharpening our skills. For people interested in the intersection of neuroscience and magic, this book is a must read. 5 out 5