5 comments about The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy, 2008.

1. I was required to buy this for a class. The print is so small I have trouble reading it. I would not buy it again because of that. What good is current info if you can't see it.



2. This is an invaluable resource in terms of content. It is the pocket size, which is convenient. Understand that the small size means that the type is incredibly small. You might need a microscope to read this!



3. For all medical practitioners this Sanford Guide is the definitive pocket guide for infectious disease treatment. Updated annually with the latest treatment recommendations from professional groups. I use it nearly daily when considering antibiotic selection and disease treatment.



4. The book had all the information I wanted but the print was totally unreadable due to size...I opted for the more expensive spiral bound version.



5. for medical doctors who work in a busy health unit and need at any time a handy book to review antibiotics, bugs and side effects.
   very-very helpfull for clinicians with a subspesialty (rheumatology, nephrology, hematology etc) who need fast to have access on information such as the appropriate antibiotic and the first in line medication.

5 comments about Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.

1. Mr. Gladwell is very talented. He certainly did his homework on this one. At the end of the book though I was left wondering, "Okay...so what is the conclusion?" The book came to a rather abrupt ending and I couldn't tell if the author was for or against snap judgments.
   
   My biggest disappointment is that there was no warning regarding explicit language. I was listening to this work on CD with my young daughters in the car when all of a sudden he starts using profane words in an effort to quote others. Was it necessary to include such language?



2. one of he cd ()no 2
   was dameged and in no shape for playing
   its ashame i am not pleased at all
   
   DR mishali moshe



3. Gladwell is a writer for the New Yorker so it's not surprising that this entire book could have been summed up in an article. Gladwell basically says we should follow our instinct and concludes at the end that we shouldn't be judgemental at the same time. Wow, what insight! He gives some interesting examples which are what I enjoyed. It's a quick read though so you won't waste too much time even though the book is a little drawn out.



4. Like the reviewer who posted just before me, I also thought the book could have made an excellent article. You can certainly skip around in this book and get the point of it. I forced myself to read the whole book even though I lost interest maybe halfway or 2/3 of the way through because the author seemed to be just supporting his main idea with more and more examples. I thought I should force myself to read the whole book in case I missed some amazing new insights, but there was nothing new in it. I enjoyed the examples though, which is why I give this book 3 stars. All in all it was truly mediocre at best.



5. Blink has changed the way I think about decision-making. From an early age we are discouraged from making "snap" decisions, we are not taught to develop our natural instincts. While some snap decisions can be mistakes, if we tune up our "gut" feelings, it may be possible to make excellent decisions based on limited information and time constraints. Gladwell calls this "thin-slicing" and make no mistake about it - it is a SKILL that must be cultivated.
   
   In a nutshell, thin-slicing is defined as "the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behaviors based on very narrow slices of experience." The most fascinating part to me is just that - as a human being, we do have this capability. If you're like me, you do a significant amount of second-guessing, and that is where the trouble starts. We have the instincts inside of us, our brains are powerful tools - more powerful than the most sophisticated computer, they tell us, right? So why do we not trust ourselves?
   
   To be honest, the book started out great with some fascinating examples of thin-slicing and adaptive unconscious (the part of the brain that leaps to conclusions and is capable of making very quick decisions based on very little information). Towards the end I felt like it was just the same information over and over again. I got the gist of it all in the first couple of chapters. Many reviewers here indicated that it could have been an article instead of a book, but I understand why it is a book: Books are taken seriously, are reviewed, are cited, and are easy to find after publication.
   
   Blink is worth the read, even if you only skim a few parts, if only to get you thinking differently about the way we make decisions.

5 comments about Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything.

1. This book serves a valuable purpose in challenging some of those long held beliefs that are perpetuated in media; and if this is purpose of the authors then I think they have done well. However, I think we need to be careful in accepting some of the statements of Levitt and Dubner as fact in their own right.
   
   Some other reviewers have pointed out that there is a distinct lack of econometric rationale behind the conclusions. Drawing causation arguements (even if ceterus parabus has been observed) without providing so much as a reference to the study is hardly academic, rather an editorial opinion. This is a confusing aspect of the book as there are numerous references to other authors and people of note (especially if their views are supporting) about all manner of topics, but when the actual effect of variables needs to be discussed there is a complete void (so what is the actual % decrease in crime resulting from % changes in abortion rates which may have occured through changes in abortion law?). The non-specific reference to authors et al gives the impression of a well researched academic book, but the core conclusions have no stated and verifiable statistical basis. Would it have been so hard to provide the figure (ceteris paribus) and a reference to the published analysis, if it exists?
   
   It is not that I disagree with any of the statements, it's just that I don't see anything to make me agree with them either. This book could benefit from a few enhancements, such as reference to the actual analysis so that I can verify the results myself. Otherwise this is just a long editorial.
   
   Oh, and one last point, Chapter 6 on names is such a stretch that it threatens the credibility of the whole book, it is really quite rediculous.



2. Well, I felt very enthusiastic as I started reading it. But eventually, the book appeared to have so many flaws, I don't even know where to start.
   
   First of all, it has little or nothing to do with economics. Except, let's say the "humans respond to incentives" premise, which is not new, by any account. And you don't even have to be familiar with Mankiw's famous principles, which, by the way, are not even referenced. Second, I still don't get what is there so extraordinary and creative about Levitt's views. Don't we all understand and doesn't our personal experience prove that when it comes to mercenary objectives, self usually comes first? Haven't you ever had a chance to face a person in charge (including a teacher) who would help you out just to look better and receive some kind of a bonus, be that a praise, or a prize? And you don't even have to go through all of the boring figures and calculations to see that people (including, naturally, sumo fighters) will tend to come to arrangements, where they can give up a short term benefit for the sake of receiving a long term one, or, for what it's worth, a peer's approval.
   
   Not to go into much more detail, I found the book outright boring and way too lengthy. It says the same thing over and over again. In fact, the authors could have made their point on 50 pages at most. At times, the book just felt like a pile of sentences overloaded with some factual statements. And yes, as the introductory part says, there is no leading, unifying theme. Which, in my opinion, did put the whole undertaking at a serious disadvantage.



3. IF LEVITT TITLED HIS BOOK ECONOMICS 101, NO ONE WOULD BUY OR READ IT. HE SHOULD GO BACK & READ ECONOMICS 101, TO REFRESH HIS UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
   FIRST, BLUE CRIME RATE GOES DOWN IN GOOD TIMES (UNDER CLINTON) & GOES UP IN BAD TIMES (UNDER REPUBILCANS). WHITE COLLAR CRIME GOES UP WITH DEREGULATION (UNDER REPUBLICANS). IT DOES DOWN WITH REGULATION & OVERSIGHTS UNDER DEMOCRATS. TO SUGGEST THAT THE INCREASE IN ABORATIONS AMONG MINORITIES CAUSES A DECREASE IN CRIME IS SOME KIND OF JOKE. FUNNY, ONLY TO LEVITT. WHEN YOU JUDGE WHITE COLLAR CRIME, VS BLUE COLLAR CRIME. WHITE COLLAR CRIME WINS HANDS DOWN WITH THE DAMMAGE TO SOCIETY. IT DISTROYES THE INTRASTRUCTURE, CREATING CHAOS IN THE FINANCIAL SECTURE WITH ITS TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT ON THE WORLD ECONOMY & MARKETS. REAGANOMICS & IT'S EXTENSION BUSHONOMICS ARE NOT RANDOM BY CHANCE PLANS. BUT A WELL PLANNED REVISION OF THE WILLIE SUTTON PLAN (ROB BANKS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS). THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MILTON FREIDMAN MENTALITY SUCKS.



4. The author has admitted, in print, that he has fabricated data and intentionally misrepresented statistics - especially in the abortion chapter. He justifies it by saying his intentions were good. He admitted this in an interview with Gene Epstein in the book "Econospinning."



5. Interestingly, the book starts off very nicely with catchy questions and a unique perspective in answering them. However, you quickly realize that the author is beating around the bush and comes back to the same question and answers. The authors are prejudiced to begin with and therefore play with numbers and carefully framed sentences to win the reader's vote. In addition, the authors dismiss other works as providing 'little evidence' while providing little/no evidence to their own work.
   
   In short, the book is interesting and insightful but don't take it seriously.

5 comments about The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives.

1. this is a great book, but it made my brain hurt.
   
   basically, the drunkard's walk is a history of the mathematical study of randomness, including physics, probability, normal distribution, and other concepts. but, really, it's a look at the role that randomness plays in our lives, and how most things are quantifiably less random than they may seem.
   
   there were dozens of times, while reading, that i thought, that makes complete sense, but i can't imagine that i'm going to remember it. this was often because the proof of the theory made sense at an objective level when explained, but was counter-intuitive to real life and regular ol' human thinking. a great example of this is the author's extended explanation of the marilyn vos savant "let's make a deal" problem. marilyn vos savant writes a column in parade magazine where she answers questions from readers, using her "world's record highest iq". she famously responded to a question, years ago, that posed this problem:
   if a contestant on "let's make a deal" (the 70s game show) were given three doors to choose from, and told that a new car was behind one of them, and lousy prizes behind the other two; then, after choosing a door, and having monty hall reveal one of the remaining doors as a loser prize and given the opportunity to shift choice on the remaining two, should the contestant make the change? her response was that, statistically -- yes, the odds are better if the contestant changes her answer.
   
   people freaked at her response, including lots of professional mathematicians, who (wrongly) argued that, with two remaining choices, the chances are still 50/50 that the car is behind the door of the contestant's original choosing.
   
   the proof of this fallacy is all based on probability computations. the contestant's original choice had a 33% chance of being correct -- or 1 in 3. but monty hall removed one of those three (knowing which doors had the good and loser prizes). so, sticking with the original choice still leaves the original probability of 1 in 3. but changing choices raises the probability to 1 in 2 -- better odds.
   
   the author acknowledges that while this kind of proof is true, and mathematically observable, it's contrary to how our brains are wired to consider options.
   
   that said, it was this kind of story - the book has hundreds of them -- and the author's wittiness, that kept me reading through the brain strain.
   
   oh, btw, the title refers to the term scientists use to describe the path of atoms and sub-atomic particles -- seemingly random as they carom off each other in a willy-nilly path. ultimately, this path is not actually random, but is merely beyond our ability to compute, based on the absurd quantity of possibilities rising from interactions with other moving particles.



2. First, if you are bad at math,like me, most of this book is beyond reach or can at best be half understood. While he writes well, and makes a great effort to be clear, his talents can't overcome my brain wiring.(I have read over the Monty Hall deal three times and still don't get it). But when my knowledge and his explanations sync, there are great insights : regression to the mean(in any series of random events an exrtraordinary one is most likely to be followed by an ordinary one by chance; the insight is used in explaining how we confuse cause and effect); good thoughts on availability and confirmation bias; thoughts on why some businesses do well and others do not(same territory as "The Halo Effect"). But the gem is the last chapter, its title the same as the book's, where he says:give yourself a break, stuff happens both bad and good for no reason other than it does, but never forget that success may come your way if you are open to the universe and keep swinging away. "What I've learned , above all, is to keep marching forward because the best news is that since chance does play a role, one important factor in success is under our control: the number of at bats, the number of chances taken, the number of opportunities seized...or as IBM pioneer Thomas Watson said,"If you want to succeed, double your failure rate." The chapter is worth the price of the book.



3. Here's a curious focus on how the cards are dealt, rather than who the dealer is. Despite all the erudite reviews, I believe there is an unfortunate omission of the factors resulting from crazy behavior. When the drunk drinks, he gets drunk. He KNOWS he'll reap disaster. But exercising his own willpower, he drinks anyway; he gets drunk anyway; and he reaps disaster any way.Cured! Proven Help for Alcoholics and Addicts. Then the drunk returns again to repeat the march back to the vomit and the mire. Mathematics may look on all this as random. But there is a completely different approach. Early AAs favored the Book of James and considered it absolutely essential to their program.The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials. Why? For one thing, its very first chapter presents the compelling choice. One can choose, with unwavering belief, to seek God's wisdom, strength, and guidance. Or he can choose to pursue temptation, enticement, disaster and death. The answer is still part of the first chapter. "Do not err, my beloved brethren." "Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Self-deception is not random. It's nuts. Yielding to temptation is not random. It's nuts. Dying at the end of the process is not random. It's assured. And it's nuts too. Well, that's the choice - God or transgression of God's rules. Drunkenness is a no no. The drinker pursues it at his peril if he is an alcoholic.God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century. And even alcoholism is not random. It may come from genes. It may come from bad friends and bad behavior. It may come from stress and distress. Or it may come from chemical imbalance. The scientists like to experiment with controlled conditions. The alcoholics like to drink in uncontrolled conditions. And it's crazy. So then comes the Book of James again with the early A.A. solution: James 4:7 says: "Submit yourselves therefore to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you." In other words, if you can't hack it yourself, humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up (James 4:10).When Early AAs Were Cured and Why, Third Edition. If all this seems too "spiritual" or too "religious," that's OK with me. But he who overlooks the wiles of the Adversary and the very present availability of the Creator's help is nut making a random choice in a random situation. He's just failing to put on the whole armor of God in recognition of the slings and arrows of the Adversary. So I'd add some other factors to this picture: temptation, the devil, and God. And their contrasting roles were well laid out in John 10:10.Why Early A.A. Succeeded: The Good Book in Alcoholics Anonymous Yesterday and Today God Bless, Dick B.



4. The author is clearly knowledgeable and tries to explain probability and other mathematical theories clearly with good examples. He also includes a basic history of mathematical thought which I found fascinating. Chapters 9 and 10 depart from the theory-discussion and talk about how randomness impacts our lives and was much easier to understand. I liked Mlodinow's writing style and found his approach very warm and friendly - even if some of the concepts are difficult to understand.



5. Mlodinow has a good track record of making complicated subjects accessible to the average person. This book extends his track record. As a computational chemist/physicist, I am someone who is very familiar with the idea of randomness. Having done many Monte Carlo simulations myself, I had the thought that our lives are much like Brownian trajectories. That is, the direction our lives take is only partially dictated by our abilities, and the remainder is due to random unforeseeable forces that push us about. This is Mlodinow's thesis in his book which he presents in an easy to read and entertaining manner.
   
   Even with a strong background in math this book renewed my interest in probability. My conclusion is that you will enjoy this book no matter what your exposure probability and statistics.

5 comments about Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

1. good resource, but consider also getting a more user-friendly book to help with APA, too....you will waste a lot of time looking for information in this one.



2. I bought this book because most of the internet guides are not comprehensive enough to cover specifics addressed in this book. I agree with other users that say this book lists material on the same topic in multiple places, requiring you to waste time checking around for something you think you remember seeing before. The index needs to be re-done, something I hope they fix for the next edition. Electronic resources are very generally addressed.



3. This book is required for all college students pursing a degree in any major. It may not see like the most interesting book to have on your shelf, but is crucial when writing college papers.
   
   It is an essential tool you will be glad you have for reference.
   
   Merna
   
   Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!



4. This is one of the most cumbersome and difficult to navigate reference books out there, and it is notorious for being so. I highly suggest getting an APA formatting program for writing your papers using this style. I use APA PERRLA myself, and love it. You will still need to refer to the publication manual for your more rarely used reference types, etc. Unfortunately, it's a necessary evil.



5. The best thing that I ever did was to purchase the APA Manuel.
   It has helped me with formating and the proper way to cite in text and referance in APA format. This book is much better than the Diane Hacker book on APA.

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

1. I got this audio book very fast and it was in excellent condition. Thanks a lot.
   
   Take Care
   Have Fun
   B.L.Morgan



2. I just finished YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE by Louise Hay and would recommend that you
   get the print version, if just to see the beautiful work of artist
   Joan Perrin Falquet . . . it will increase you enjoyment of this
   bestselling self-help book that was written many years before
   THE SECRET became such a success.
   
   One other recommendation: Skim the book first . . . then read
   the chapter, toward the end, where Hay tells her life story . . . it
   will put things in perspective and show you that she really
   puts into practice what she writes about ; e.g., in this passage:
   
   * We need to choose to release the past and forgive everyone, ourselves
   included. We may not know how to forgive, and we may not want to forgive,
   but the very fact that we say we are willing to forgive begins the healing
   process. It is imperative for our own healing that "we" release the past
   and forgive everyone.
   
   I found myself reading and agreeing with just about everything
   the author wrote . . . but perhaps my favorite part was her list
   of ailments and the emotional causes for each, along with an
   affirmation to help overcome the illness . . . she recommends
   you follow this four-step approach whenever you have a physical
   problem:
   
   * 1. Look up the mental cause. See if this could be true for you. If not,
   sit quietly and ask yourself, "What could be the thoughts in me that
   created this?"
   
   2. Repeat to yourself, "I am willing to release the pattern in my
   consciousness that has created this condition."
   
   3. Repeat the new thought pattern to yourself several times.
   
   4. Assume that you are already in the process of healing.
   
   Whenever you think of the condition, repeat the steps.
   
   So, for instance, when it comes to multiple sclerosis:
   
   * The probable cause is "mental hardness, hard-heartedness,
   iron will, and inflexibility." The healing "thought pattern" would
   involve saying this aloud: "By choosing loving, joyous thoughts,
   I create a loving joyous world. I am safe and fee."
   
   The concept may seem far-fetched to some, yet if you are
   ready to accept what Louise Hay has to offer, it may well
   work for you. Do give it a try.



3. I obviously have a different view of Western Medicine than the major rebuttal against Ms. Hay's book. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and given less than six months to live. When I walked out the door of my Dr. office, I never looked back, nor did I ever return for further treatment. As I write these words several years after the fact (and in good health) my decision was to walk away from Western Medicine, and the hegemony it asserts over our lives.
   
   Afterword, I embarked on another journey by accepting responsibility for my own healing. I travelled to remote corners of the world and worked with indigenous healers, sages, and holy men and women; I began to explore the mystery of spiritual healing that Ms. Hay advocates on behalf of.
   
   At the point I walked away from the Western 'box' so common in our contemporary moment, I also walked away from my fear based belief system. Death will eventually come for all of us. None of us will escape it. It is also nothing to fear as we are eternal beings.
   
   The main rebuttal against this book is mired not only in the fear of death, but also of the fear of a fully embodied life. It fears responsibility for the underlying causes of disease. It fears change, and it fears transformational outcomes. Its primary belief is that health is the sole domain of medical science, and that our life choices do not contribute to our condition.
   
   Now, here is a secret the medical establishment wants kept under wraps, but with indigenous healers, and spiritual healers (or spiritual knowledge that leads to healing) is that healing is an inside job. Once a healing is introduced, the subject has to also change the life style choices that led to the health dysfunction; if the subject returns to the old habits, the condition will return too. Spiritual healing does not offer a magic bullet, it provides another chance to change. The change is up to the person undergoing the problem. If the courage to change is weakened, so to will the healing be reversed or rendered illegitimate.
   
   The aim of spiritual healing is to transform the underlying causes. And the only savior you will find in this process is oneself. This is the prime focus of Hay's work.
   
   In the final analysis, only you can decide which direction to go. No one can do it for you. The only one you can save is yourself!



4. Although I looked at this book from a skeptic perspective because of all the ideas of our thoughts creating our reality, etc, I could not help but be inspired by Louise. She seems to just basically live a simple life and find happiness within herself, and always emphasizes that we can also be like this, and everyone deserves to be loved for the person that they are. I am definitely going to try some of her tips.
   Some of the ideas about diseases being caused by negative thinking were a little hard to swallow. For instance, cancer and other ailments are supposed to be caused by all these pent up feelings and unforgiveness that we have bottled up...it is just a little hard for me to understand how a newborn could be born with a disease or a small child could get a disease. It's possible that there is more to it though than what is discussed in the book. I definitely think you should give some of her ideas a try, because just hearing Louise or reading her words and seeing what a difference she has made in people's lives is enough to show that she must be doing something right.



5. I am so glad to finally find something that resonates with me and what I have always believed in my being but did not have the words to convey. Thank you Louise for bringing this to the world.

5 comments about Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness.

1. If you want to know more about your subc.I heartily recommend these CDs:
   
   The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
   The Master Key System
   Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World
   The Science of Getting Rich
   The Science of Mind
   Think and Grow Rich: Original Version



2. I initially saw Dr. Amen on PBS television show. Something about him made me watch. I became very interested in what he was discussing and as a result purchased the book and CDs. The book was very interesting and well written. Very easy to understand, especially when reading about a rather technical subject. Dr. Amen made is easy with his explanations and use of examples. The CDs followed the book very closely and made everything fall into place. I have heard many public speakers and listened to hundreds of CD programs; Dr. Amen is best speaker I have ever listened to. He is articulate and clear and speaks with sincerity, care and knowledge. I plan to take the master questionnaire as soon as it arrives. In my opinion his work is ground breaking and has the potential to help many people. My only regret is that I live on the East coast and it would be very difficult to visit him. As I feel at this time, it would be my number one choice if I could have three wishes. I hope that anyone considering purchasing this book does so.



3. One of the problems in today's treatment approaches--whether they be the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, the psychiatrist's counseling, the scans, the pharmaceuticals, nutritional imbalance, or altering behavioral disorders--is that they don't touch many of us who believe in cure by the power of God.By the Power of God: A Guide To Early A.A. Groups and Forming Similar Groups Today ; God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century; and Cured! Proven Help for Alcoholics and Addicts. As a recovered alcoholic, I've done my turn in a treatment center, a psychiatric ward, a therapist's chair, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Christian fellowship. And I've profited from all. But sad it is that a popular book and approach such as this just doesn't cover help from the Creator. Belief in God, acceptance of Christ, study of the Bible, prayer, renewing the mind to God's word, and working with others were all part of the highly successful early A.A. fellowship.When Early AAs Were Cured and Why, Third Edition And I believe strongly that professionals like the good doctor should be introduced to, understand, and be able to work with the power of God as an element of healing much used and needed by many. All the areas of his practice involve human means, but they need to take account of spiritual help. Not self-help, not group-therapy, not rehabilitation, but embracing these within the original, old-school A.A. Christian approach.Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Good Book As a Youngster in Vermont



4. I first saw Dr. Amen on a public television fund raiser. I was surfing
   and stopped cold when the list of behaviors he was describing fit my current
   boyfriend, I'm talking about all of them. He has had a rough go of it; I believe
   he has had ADHD from birth (maybe never diagnosed), but two yrs he suffered
   a brain aneurysm and stroke.
   I needed help!
   I tuned in and immediately sent for the book. It gave me so much insight into
   creating a more successful environment to continue my relationship and it
   empowered me with strategies to use to deescalate situations when circum-
   stances arise. I haven't shared the book yet but I plan to because it makes so
   much sense to me that the physical brain would dictate what is going on
   behaviorally. I would love to attend some workshops of Dr. Amens', that is
   my next goal.



5. Instead of repeating other reviewers, let's focus mostly on some unmentioned and undeveloped content. The deep limbic system is responsible for such things as PMS, clinical depression, negative emotions, etc. These problems are exacerbated by ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) which become self-perpetuating with constant repetition. To eliminate them, the person needs to reframe negative thoughts and experiences as positive ones. Philippians 4:8 is cited as to the need for focusing on positive emotions. POLYANNA is mentioned favorably, including her statement that the Bible has about 800 "Glad Passages', indicating God's priority in this regard. Medications such as Saint-John's-wort can also be helpful in alleviating limbic-system dysfunction.
   
   The basal ganglia are the person's natural "idle". When set too "high", they are responsible for such things as anxiety, fear, avoidance of conflict, the "freeze" response during emergencies, sloppy handwriting, TS (Tourette syndrome), OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), etc. To deal with problems related to the basal ganglia, the person should, besides killing ANTs, engage in guided imagery, diaphragmatic breathing, meditation/self-hypnosis, etc. Medications such as lithium and Valium can also help with basal-ganglial overactivity. In cases of basal-ganglial underactivity, as in ADD, the person often enjoys conflict with others as a form of self-stimulation.
   
   The cingulate system is the person's natural "gear shifter". Problems with the cingulate include oppositional disorder in children, cognitive inflexibility, repetitive thoughts, and persistence of grudges. Such problems can be helped with SSRI drugs such as Prozac, as well as by physical exercise, the making of paradoxical requests, etc.
   
   Other sections of the book include discussion of problems related to the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes. The book concludes with a list of references, to articles in medical journals, which the research-oriented reader can use for further study.

5 comments about The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.

1. Simply put, if I could force one book upon every living soul, this would be the one. I don't see how anyone couldn't learn something at the very least, and more than likely it will change your way of thinking to some degree. It would bring the industrialized food market to its knees if even a percentage of people took this book to heart as much as I have.



2. This book was extremely informative and very interesting. Some parts are a little slow but if you're driving down the road its easy to get lost in the discussion of various foods and how they succeed or fail based on their ingredients, big corporations, and government intervention.
   
   Corn is a substance nearly incapable of growing without human intervention and is being used, regardless of health issues, in just about anything.



3. An amazing tour de force of food in the US! Pollan writes with wonderful wisdom and honesty. The book has a wonderful bibliography.
   
   Industrial food is at the heart of all the major health problems in this country. Pollan will open your eyes to the fact and make you wnat to learn about the alternatives.
   
   Highly recommended!



4. The well written, most interesting read on the state of agriculture in the United States is definately "food for thought." The book's author, Michael Pollan visited three different kinds of farms: first a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO); second, three big business organic farms: Cal Organic, Earthbound Farms and Cascadian Farms; third, a farm committed to locally grown, free range food called Polyface. The last part of Pollan's journey involved foraging for own food. Pollan even killed a wild pig to serve at the meal he cooked his friends. Each phase of his jouney concluded with a meal derived from the type of farming operations Michael had just visited. For example, Pollan and his family ate at McDonalds for the CAFO meal.
   
   It took them a full ten minutes speeding down the highway to finish their McDonald's meal. I liked his comment about fast food eating. He says, "Perhaps the reason you eat this food quickly is because it doesn't bear savoring." He goes on to say about fast food, "The more you concentrate on how it tastes, the less like anything it tastes. I've said before that McDonalds serves as kind of comfort food, but they are selling something more schematic than that-something more like a signifier of comfort food. So you eat more and eat more quickly, hoping somehow to catch up to the original idea of a cheeseburger or French fry as it it retreats over the horizon. And so it goes, bite after biite, until you feel not satisfied exactly, but simply, regretably, full."
   
   For all of their good qualities, the big business organic farms have driven many smaller organic famers out of business. Places like Walmart and Target do not want to buy organic food from various small suppliers, but from one large organic supplier that can supply them with all the vegetables, etc. they need. Big organic farms do much harm to soil by continually running the weeding machines over it. Since they don't use herbicides, they have to have a way to control the weeds.
   
   Polyface Farm raises a variety of animals (chickens, pigs and cows) that are pastured and eat the food they were created to eat. Polyface farm doesn't raise more animals than it can care for in a humane manner and refuses to ship it's prcuduct out, but only sells it locally.
   
   I personally buy organic or free range meat. After looking at how our farm facory animals are raised on unnatural feed, in overcrowded conditions, dosed with antibiotics and growth hormones, I will pay the extra money for healthy meat. How far you can go in eating local depends on what part of country you live in (I live in Wisconsin, with its short growing season). It also depends on whether you live close to a source of local food or can grow your own, and also your budget restrainsts.
   
   Now on to the reasons I could not give the book a five star review. Contrary to what Pollan says at the beginning of the book, bread and pasta are not two of the most wholesome foods known to man. Try telling that to a carbohyddrate addict or someone with celiac disease and see what they say. Also, saturated isn't bad for you. It's a traditional fat that's been used by healthy cutures for thousands of years. The trans fats, as well as, fats from CAFO animals are the real killer fats. When you feed animals unnatural diets, their ratios of saturated to unsaturated fat changes in a very unhealthy manner. Free range meat has a healthy balnce of various kinds of fats. Also, how could a person who has seen how a CAFO is run say he would ever again eat at a McDonalds. If I were starving and had no other food choices, then and only then would I eat there.



5. This book was very well written. Before starting, I was worried that it would be a rather dry read (after all, how much can you say about food?). Well, apparently there is an awful lot to say about food, and Pollan does a great job at making it interesting. He brings to light some of the problems with industrial agriculture that I just never knew existed. He doesn't just present problems is this book however. He also talks about some ways to help make things better. The one thing I did not like was when he had wine while hunting. However, this has nothing to do with the book's readability.
   
   I reccomend this book because I'm not a food fanatic and I found this book interesting.

5 comments about My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey.

1. I've told all my relatives about this book and Dr. Taylor's unique and amazing experience. The book should be required reading in medical school (even though it is written for the general public) or else its groundbreaking findings should be included in medical textbooks. The manner in which her mother GG re-raised the late-thirties author from infancy again is most inspiring and educational.
   
   I do have a few complaints, but these didn't stop me from giving it 5 stars. There is a lot of repetition of certain themes and vocabulary; I would have preferred more anecdotes about Dr. Taylor's recovery and less emphasis on nirvana (important, but the reader gets the point early on).
   
   I consider this a must-read and hope a second and more detailed book will be available someday.



2. I loved it, BUT it may not be so enjoyable to a non-medical person. I was a little disappointed because the reviews said it would teach me how to better use my "right brain." This it didn't do well. A good read, neverless!



3. I have an AVM just like the author and I was really interested in reading about her experiences. I enjoyed the book, but it could have been about 40 pages shorter.
   
   Like most books for a large audience, the technical details about the brain were lacking. In fact, Chapter 2 is called "Simple Science" and anyone with a middle school education could understand it. I really wish authors would treat science as if I actually made it past 10th grade. Also, I was quite surprised that the author, a neuroanatomist, couldn't find better drawings of the brain.
   
   The author recalled her experience via psychotherapy years after her stroke. I was a bit surprised that the author treated her recall of the day of her stroke as if her memories were fixed, as if they were just sitting in a file cabinet and the Gestalt therapy opened the drawers. The author is ecstatic about the plasticity of the brain yet she never acknowledges that memories are much more "plastic" than the brain.
   
   By the end of the book, the author is writing in broad, flowery language:
   
   "If I want to retain my inner peace, I must be willing to consistently and persistently tend the garden of my mind moment by moment." (Uh oh. I think the author is starting to shovel the manure.)
   
   "The focused human mind is the most powerful instrument in the universe." (Huh? Really? Has the author ever considered that there might be other aliens with minds that are more powerful than ours?)
   
   "Paying attention to how you burn energy and how foods make you feel inside your skin should be a top priority." "Let [scents] move you into the here and know." (Ohhh....aromatherapy! Is there a chapter on feng shui?)
   
   This is all fine and dandy but I was expecting something more scientific and analytical from a neuroscientist.
   
   For example, the author argues that everyone has complete control over how they react and behave. Unless, of course, they are are "truly" mentally ill (her word, not mine, see page 157). I disagree with the author on this point--mental illness is not like a switch. There are shades of mental illness, from a bit of depression to manic/depressive.
   
   This book will be quite inspirational for both stroke victims and their caretakers. The author recovered so well because of the intense, loving efforts of her mother. And she recovered completely. Quite amazing.



4. I learned a great deal about the basics of how our brains function by reading this book. How the brain can recover from various injuries/illnesses has always amazed me and I love reading about it. I first learned of Jill Bolte-Taylor through her presentation on the TED website. I was completely fascinated as I listened to her tell us about her stroke experience. I knew I wanted to read her book to get an even more detailed account than what she spoke of in her presentation.
   
   All of the wonderful things previously said by the previous reviewers are true. I doubt I can add more to the wealth of information available concerning this book. I will state that I greatly appreciate learning what stroke victims really want or need concerning how they are treated and related too, verses what we think they want or need. Jill gave a very good list of of those wants/needs in the back of the book. Very understandable needs such as, "please don't get upset if I have asked you the same thing 15 times in a row", and "please be patient and gentle with me" sort of things. Caretakers of stroke victims will learn so much from this book since it was written by a brain scientist who later documented her own journey into her right brain. Absolutely fascinating.



5. I read this book in one afternoon and found it to be full of great insights into the brain and how we have the power to direct its impact on the life we want whether we've suffered a stroke or not. The final chapters on choosing to live "right brained" are especially enlightening, but if I were looking for a primer on stroke recovery, this is "Stroke Therapy Lite." Nonetheless, her suggestions on how to be when working with stroke victims are very perceptive and I trust many hospitals/recovery centers will be changing protocols in this area. Jill, in being given a second chance to do life right is indeed "being the change she wishes to see in the world." (Gandhi) We could all take her insights to heart.

5 comments about The Post-American World.

1. This book elevated me from the hyper-in-your-face daily news to look down and take a broad perspective on current events. I am impressed with the documentation and the clarity with which it is written. It is hopeful, but very realistic. For those who, like me, are tired of opinion arguing against an opposite opinion, I highly recommend this book. I was so impressed that I took it to our financial adviser, recommending that he read it to understand more of the big picture.



2. Informative on the world situation (especially economic) today and thought-provoking about the future. It has the broad view usually lackling in media news.



3. This is a well thought out and clear exposition. It is high on facts and useful concepts which is, unfortunately, punctuated by some non-sequitor political bashing . .which detracts from the solid material here.
   
   Forgive the author the Newsweek (Newsweak?) political bias but buy it for some very solid observations.



4. Contrary to the title, this book is not about the demise of America. It is about the rise of the rest of the world and its global implications.
   
   The author makes somtimes contradictory statements. For example, he firmly believes that India will economically surpass China mainly because India is a democratic country (democracy is better for long term economic growth he says). His conclusion ignores his own data that India is growing at 6.9% versus China's 9%, the China's economy is about 3 times as large, and there is no indication China is slowing down anytime soon. And he ignores some major long term problems in India, such as its decisively 3rd world literacy rate (around 60%).
   
   The same goes for his purported demise of America. He says that America has too many long term competitive advantages (democracy, top notch universities, market flexibility, willing to accept immigrants, demographic trends etc) to be relegated to anything less than a superpower in the next few decades. So how does that translate into a "Post American World"? America just will not be AS influencial, says the author, since it must share its power with the rest of the world.
   
   It appears the author has trouble coming to a firm conclusion on most subjects except that there is an unprecedented global economic growth.



5. Fantastic read. The author sums up a lot of history in a few pages with insights that opened my mind to what was really happening and what is now happening. Wish all our candidates would read this book.