5 comments about What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character.

1. In this sequel to "surely you must be joking Mr. Feynman," Richard Feynman once again uses his cunningness and his scientific genius to entertain. This book starts off with a brief history of him and his scientific career. Then it goes on to his wife's death. This is a very sad excerpt of the story and in this part, he communicates with you the sorrow he goes through, showing he does truly love his wife. During this portion you realize that although he is a brilliant man and is nearly untouchable in the scientific realm, he is still down to earth and goes through every thing that we do. Also in this book is the main feature, the Challenger investigation. The Challenger exploded shortly after leaving the ground and NASA wanted to know why. They pull in a group of the top scientists, mathematicians and some other random people that don't have names. Their job is to see what went wrong with the Challenger in an effort to stop this mistake from being repeated. Feynman and the others work in Washington D.C. over six months. He finally figured out and proved, with simply a glass of ice water and a part off of the Challenger, what the problem was. He used his ingenious brain and his sense of humor to establish his point and to show NASA their miniscule piece that was causing such a major problem. This book is incredibly funny and is not such a book that has large vocabulary and crazy concepts never heard by normal human ears. It is an easy read and a fun read.



2. The book does not give as much pleasure and joy as 'Sure you're joking...", however the section on shuttle crash analysis is of highest interest and justifies alone the reading.



3. I have always liked reading about Dr.Feynman! Infact it all started with Surely..Mr.Feynman. This book goes out to show that any guy, can split his time between love and work(which is most often missing from these high profile Scientists/Physicist).
   His desire to know the root cause of Challenger mishap, and how he goes on to demonstate what transpired the failure of Challenger mishap is very inspiring.
   All in All a good buy if you are an ardent fan of him!



4. "The scientist has a lot of experience with ignorance and doubt and uncertainty, and this experience is of very great importance, I think. When a scientist doesn't know the answer to a problem, he is ignorant. When he has a hunch as to what the result is, he is uncertain. And when he is pretty darn sure of what the result is going to be, he is still in some doubt. We have found it of paramount importance that in order to progress we must recognize our ignorance and leave room for doubt. Scientific knowledge is a body of statements of varying degrees of certainty--some most unsure, some nearly sure, but none absolutely certain.
   Now, we scientists are used to this, and we take it for granted that it is perfectly consistent to be unsure, that it is possible to live and not know. But I don't know whether everyone realizes this is true." Feynman, The Value of Science
   
   The book's title relates to Feynman's telling of his relationship and experiences with his first wife, Arlene, a victim of Hodgkin's disease. But the subtitle of this book would have made a better title than the one used. Feynman was indeed a curious sort, and he begins by telling how his father encouraged his curiosity.
   
   Feynman achieved a measure of celebrity that few scientists do, and as a result, he sometimes found a forum for his thoughts outside of strict science. He was a fun and likeable man, and an innovative thinker as regards certain scientific difficulties; he wasn't much of a philosopher (evidenced by the fact that he thought Voltaire was a good philosopher), and in fact didn't like philosophy. While he was intelligent enough to admit that his views on art, culture, history, religion, and politics should not be taken too seriously, he was generally happy, and perhaps anxious, to offer such of his views anyway, and they are usually entertaining: "I believe that a scientist looking at nonscientific problems is just as dumb as the next guy--and when he talks about a nonscientific matter, he sounds as naive as anyone untrained in the matter. Since the question of the value of science is not a scientific subject, this talk is dedicated to proving my point-- by example." RF, The Value of Science
   
   It hardly seems correct to call the short articles he wrote `essays', so I'll call them writings. This volume is a collection of Feynman's personal writings, with some contributions from physicist friends Freeman Dyson and Henry Bethe. Most of the book is Feynman's account of his work as a Commissioner investigating the space shuttle Challenger disaster.
   
   This isn't a great science text, it isn't great literature; it's more like listening in on Feynman's thoughts and conversations. Apart from minimal aspects of Appendix F (Feynman's appendix to the Presidential Commission Report) his book isn't particularly technical. It's rather `light' and entertaining, and anyone interested in Feynman, in NASA and the US manned space program, or in bureaucratic `ethics' (or perversion thereof), will almost certainly enjoy it.



5. Not quite as funny as "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman", but just as touching. A pleasure to read. This books makes us like not only the man, but it also inspires us to join his quest for scientific knowledge and rational thinking.

2 comments about The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques: Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Anxious and What You Can Do to Change It.

1. Anxiety taken to the extreme can be a disabling disability, but one that can be managed like anything else. Licenced psychologist Margaret Wehrenberg's "The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques: Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Anxious & What You Can Do to Change It" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide for facing anxiety and dealing with it on a day to day basis. Over forty million Americans deal with this problem daily, and "The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques" offers plenty of fresh advice for managing it the best one can. The ten tips are sure to help many, making "The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques" is a 'must read' for anyone suffering from a condition of chronic anxiety whether it is a low-level condition or a traumatically crippling one.



2. "When talking about anxiety and how to control it, it is important to understand that the nervous system is automatic and operates without your control, but you can take it over on purpose." ~ pg. 11
   
   "The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques" is one of the most helpful books on anxiety I've ever read. Margaret Wehrenberg believes in using the brain to change the brain. She is well qualified to write this book as she once suffered from panic attacks and worry.
   
   There are many practical ways to avoid panic and one of them was surprising. Avoiding coffee or other beverages with caffeine can help you avoid panic attacks. To read more about this subject look for Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug. It was also interesting to read about avoiding aspartame (stevia is better and natural) because it increases anxiety. I was surprised to also read that mitral valve prolapse (a heart condition one doctor told me I had) can trigger panic.
   
   Margaret Wehrenberg gives good advice about how to deal with cell phones and e-mail. She suggests a few essential oils you can put in the tub to help you relax. Emptying the mind by making a list also seems to be calming. While these things work, the best part of the book is about breathing deeply.
   
   If you are suffering from anxious thoughts there is a way to stop them even if you think that is impossible. By persisting and using the techniques in this book you can see good results. There is a section on the importance of positive self-talk and how to deal with perfectionism.
   
   Since drugs have unwanted side effects you may want to try out some of the techniques in this book that deal with panic attacks, social fears and worrying. While Margaret Wehrenberg doesn't go into detail about exercise and stretching, I think Yoga works best to calm the mind and the effects are cumulative. I can highly recommend Crunch - Candlelight Yoga. By calming the body you also calm the brain.
   
   ~ The Rebecca Review

5 comments about Depression-Free, Naturally: 7 Weeks to Eliminating Anxiety, Despair, Fatigue, and Anger from Your Life.

1. The book is very interesting and certainly has merit. Most of the diet recommendations would not work for me because of dairy, cholesterol, sugar, and arthritis issues.
   
   If the author could find a diet that more people could be on or more choices in the diet, I might have followed it.
   
   I did take the time to fill out the questions, and found the results interesting. Worth getting the book, just for this.



2. depression can be enourmously helped with a comprehensive program primarily with nutrition, psychological and family support as well as other good therapies. This book takes care of the first part in a step by step program easy to follow. Handfulls of pill are a challenge but if you want results, by all means try it, we did and are glad.
   BG



3. This book is based off of truthful and real information about handling depression naturally. The approach to using vitamins and amino acids is honest and in my opinion would put a lot of psychriatists out of business. I feel blessed to have read this book and followed the principles to the letter. My doctor agrees with the vitamin regimen 100%. For a person who can discipline themself to take more vitamins on the regular basis throughout their lives then this is the right book for you. To Dr. Larson all I can say is thank you for writing this wonderful book and you have done an excellent service to people who want to overcome depression, anxiety and any other mood disorders naturally.



4. What she says in this book works. That all I'm saying. It has worked for me personally, and has worked for two other people that I know, helping them feel better just by doing the mega-doses of Omega 3. You don't have to buy all the expensive vitamins that she sells in her propietary doses. You can approximate them and buy them much cheaper elsewhere.



5. Yes... the book has a few hokey infomercial statements... However the bottom-line is... If you can be honest and truthful with yourself and follow the recommendations presented in this book, you can feel better naturally. In a nut shell, this book helps you to analyze your symptoms and provides you with various natural recipes (supplements/diet changes/exercise) to follow. For me... After several weeks of following the recommended recipes, I began to feel better. However - my journey was not easy... it was not quick... But with dedication and perseverance, I am confident that this book will work for you too. It has been over a year since I bought and read this book and I continue to have loads of energy and zest for life. Please note that this energy comes from my diet, supplements, and exercise and not from any prescription drugs or short-term energy drinks/foods. Thanks you Dr. Joan Mathews Larson for helping me to understand why I was feeling like I did and providing me with the information and direction to rejuvenate my life - naturally.

2 comments about Mastery of Your Anxiety and Panic: Workbook (Treatments That Work).

1. Hi.
   I've suffered on and off from acute generalized anxiety and panic attacks for the last 7 years.
   
   After 4 weeks of following this workbook I am now feeling better than I have for quite some time and am making definite confident inroads into a freeing myself from this debilitating condition.
   
   Let me first point out that this is NOT a "magic pill" (I've searched years for such and they don't exist). This workbook will take time and effort on your part. The end result however will be a life free of anxiety and panic and a trail back to feeling, thinking and acting "normal" again.
   
   This workbook is much more simple to understand and follow compared to other CBT books I've read (and there are many). The steps are very easy to follow and the principles have been reduced down to their bare elements which I found helped enormously when dealing with issues amid panic and anxiety. Most importantly though, through constant practice and "homework" it en grains the thinking and ultimately bends our irrational beliefs/fears back to where they should be. Normal!
   
   I've been following the program through with a psychologist who practices CBT and have found this beneficial. That said though, I'm also of the firm belief that it's been 90% my own work which has made the difference so if you aren't able to afford or have problems seeing someone I'm still convinced this workbook will work wonders for you.
   
   In short this is a fantastic workbook which has changed life for me and will for you if you have the guts to make a commitment, accept some changes and start living again to your full potential.
   
   If I can so can you!



2. I like this book a lot and it offers a step-by-step guide to help manage anxiety and panic.

1 comments about The Anxiety Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Deal With Anxiety & Worry.

1. Excellent resource for teens and adults. Practical hands on activities for personal use, school, or treatment settings. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Telling Yourself the Truth: Find Your Way Out of Depression, Anxiety, Fear, Anger, and Other Common Problems by Applying the Principles of Misbelief Therapy.

1. The book is excellent. Im' reading it for the second time which I rarely ever do with books. The dissatifation I have is the 1st week I had it the book started to come apart. Books are not made as good as they use to.



2. After reading this book, I've since given away my copy and bought it twice. It's based on a simple concept: eliminate negative self talk by recognizing it, arguing with it, and replacing it with the truth. Anyone who has ever been discouraged, experienced doubt, or been angry at themselves will learn from this book.



3. This is a wonderful book written by Christian couselors. It teaches a person to re-train their thinking to overcome depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, etc. A lot of people, especially when very young, are given wrong messages about being a bad person or a failure, etc, and it carries through adulthood causing shyness, low self-esteem, etc. This book tells you that those wrong messages are lies and are not the truth. In lots of cases, we have more capacity than we think we do, and we deserve more credit than we give ourselves.
   
   This is a really awesome book, using Christian backing.



4. This is an essential book for anyone who struggles with depression and they don't know why! I have learned so much from this book, and I recommend it to everyone.



5. At first the authors' sef-help suggestions seem almost too simple to be effective; akin to Nancy Reagan's, "just say no...". But as I continued reading I began to see their point with greater clarity, and finally had to agree with them: I am a person of value who is loved and can love others. Neither they nor I need to try to measure up to any unrealistic expectations in order to be acceptable and to enjoy life.
   The book is based on the core teaching of the Bible: even though we are hopelessly messed up from day one, God loves us, forgives us, and gives us the ability to become what we are meant to be. Because of this, no matter how full of resentment, emptinesss and hate we are, we can change and enjoy inner peace, free of guilt and self-condemnation.
   I was surprised at how, in some of the case studies, the authors seemed to minimize people's anguish, telling them what they were experiencing was, "...not so terrible...". But eventually it began to make sense. It's a matter of getting a better perspective; correcting the negative 'can't see the forest for the trees' view so many of us don't even realize we have.
   I recommend this book to anyone who really does want to get past the "gotta play the bad hand life has dealt me" mentality. Too many people have overcome horrible circumstances; the rest of us need to know that we can as well. This book helps us see how.

5 comments about Indigo Dreams: Adult Relaxation-Guided Meditation/Relaxation Techniques decrease anxiety, stress, anger (Indigo Dreams).

1. Very good. If you learning to meditate this one is good. I like the breathing excercises,the "belly breathing" as he calls it. I fall asleep to it alot as it is relaxing. Its a guys voice but very soothing. Very little music on it though. I gave it five stars because it does what I believe meditations CD's should do, destress, teach you how to destress, and relax you enough to fall asleep. Period.



2. While I was listening to this CD and the breathing technique, I was wondering, "Oh for heaven's sake, how's this really gonna work?" At some point during the 2nd technique I was in a state of deep relaxation and then fast asleep. So, whether you complain or question or not, if you just do the techniques they work.



3. I bought this tape because I was told by my doctor that I needed to learn how to relax. I have a back problem that gets severe at times and the relaxation methods on this CD are just great. I told my doctor about it and how it has helped me and he took the name of the CD and said he would recommend it to his other patients that were also having problems with relaxing. The affirmations also helped me like myself again. I am so glad I got this CD.



4. This is exactly what I had hoped: a variety of techniques and a good speaker that make this highly effective for me.



5. Took almost 3 weeks to get. Missed my vacation which is the main reason I purchased. So I haven't even had a chance to listen to it yet.

5 comments about The Instinct to Heal: Curing Depression, Anxiety and Stress Without Drugs and Without Talk Therapy.

1. Reading this book, reiterated a regimen I once used to follow. Taking fish oil, (as one of the procedures). Could not believe how effective it was. Here I am on one of the worst days of my menstrual cycle (usually) day 27, smiling, relaxed, and totally happy, without a care in the world. So unusual is that for me. This book has a few other solutions such as excercise and acupuncture, and one of them is bound to work for you as well. Thanks David Servan-Schreiber, for writing this book!



2. This is a great book on depression, stress and anxiety. I had a little "baby blues" after my first child was born, so I checked this book out from the library. I liked it so much that I bought it for reference and to lend out to my friends and family. It is full of very good information on depression, and the examples are very interesting. It reads slowly at first because it is so dense with information and new ideas, but if you can get through the first 100 pages, it moves a lot faster. It seems like we all know someone who suffers from these problems, and we all have them ourselves from time to time. I recommend this book without inhibition to anyone interested in the subject.



3. When a member of our book club picked this for our discussion, I was less than enthusiastic. Oh, another one of those, I thought. Then, as a loyal member, I started to read and was amazed. Well documented scientifically, extremely well written and eye-openning. The Instinct to Heal is an invitation to a way of looking at alternative ways of managing both physical and mental health that even nay-sayers can enagage with. Well worth a read.



4. This book gives both an excellent scientific basis (the author is an MD and a neuroscientist) for how emotions work and an excellent roadmap for how to gain emotional wellness through the physical self (attention to certain dietary aspects, exercise, and Eastern practices, along with the author's special technique of EMDR.) This book is easy to read and understand, with excellent practical advice. It is refreshing to get advice from a Western doctor that is not just about pill-pushing! The ideas and goals in the book are attainable by everyone.



5. This is a wonderful book for health practitioners and also people who experience depression. This book is full of alternative options to explore the mind and body.

5 comments about I'll be Home Soon.

1. This book is brief and small but I liked that because it contained a lot of good information and gave me some great pointers to do right away. If you want more than this you'd probably need to hire a dog trainer or behaviorist to help you anyway.



2. This is very helpful for anyone who has or is considering getting one of the "velcro" dog breeds, anyone who has a dog and comes home to destruction, anyone who works all day but wants to get a dog...basically anyone who has or wants to get a dog!
   She starts out by telling you that not all behaviors add up to Separation Anxiety but that any dog can benefit from a little preventative training. I am working on teaching my little velcro buddy how to play by himself and that he doesn't need my attention 100% of the time to be okay.
   I would recommend anything written by McConnell because a) her books and pamphlets are clear and easy to read with lots of stories to help you visualize what she means and b) because I really like her approach to training your dog.



3. This is an excellent book...The author is very straightforward and doesn't waste her time (and the readers) with fluff...Reading this book allowed my husband and I to understand what our dog may be feeling.



4. I bought this little booklet because I have had a dog in the past who had problems with separation anxiety, so I already know I don't know what to do to help such a dog. Also, the breed I am considering for my next dog has a high need for companionship, and I wanted to know how to forestall any behaviour (on my part or the dog's) that would result in separation anxiety. The author defines what separation anxiety is (and is not) and explains how it can develop. She then gives examples and exercises that will help you and your dog, inch by slow inch, learn a different behaviour and become sound of mind again. It's a short book that doesn't sugar coat the seriousness of the problem or the work and time involved in solving it, but it is also sprinkled throughout with good humor and clear evidence that the author loves dogs and wants to help them lead happy lives.



5. For $11, I thought I was getting a BOOK. This was a big pamplet, maybe more like a booklet. Not worth $11. I have another McConnell booklet and one that's an actual book, and I will read them because her info is good. But not worth $11. Please don't gouge me again - I cannot afford it.

5 comments about Living Fully with Shyness and Social Anxiety: A Comprehensive Guide to Gaining Social Confidence.

1. The book begins with the usual discussion about the symptoms of social anxiety. But then the author goes into presenting some ideas that are novel to the broader discussion of social anxiety. An example of this is how anxiety is a process rather than a fixed thing. Yes, this is a simple idea and yet it provides a new perspective on social anxiety that makes the condition less monolithic and more changeable.
   
   The author also presents a must-read section that ties in information that has come out of recent scientific research about how the brain works.
   
   The author's insights and information are easier to hear and therefore easier to apply in our own lives thanks to her easy and fresh writing style. She writes with a natural feel that is strikingly authentic in the face of the more dry, scholarly writing of other social anxiety books.
   
   The second half of the book then offers solutions in the form of goal-setting, visualization, therapy options and skill-building. Her emphasis on action takes more of a coaching approach than the traditional therapy models and this keeps us from just dreaming about what we want and actually forces us to move forward.



2. This book contains all you ever wanted to know about social anxiety, and is sure to help you understand the condition. However, I would have preferred more focus on solutions rather than so much reaching (about 300 pages). I might suggest starting with a shorter book or course (I used the program at mc2method.com which was great), and then reinforce your efforts by following up with this book. Good luck!



3. If you are going to buy only one book on social anxiety, this is it. This book that not only compassionately presents various perspectives on social anxiety, but it also offers a vast array of solutions. These solutions are divided into easy to follow areas of mind, body and action. Once you've figured out how social anxiety affects you most, you can choose exactly which solutions suit you best. For extra guidance, there's an excellent appendix item full of goals that you can choose from, again, divided into areas of body, mind and action. I highly recommend this book.



4. This was a very well written book, with no questions left unanswered. It helped me immensely in dealing with social anxiety and shyness, and I've incorporated alot of the suggestions into my daily life. It turned out to be more of a "self help" book than I expected in more areas than just shyness. It has helped me extremely. The author had experience in social anxiety, so she really hit home with things she expressed.



5. Great book - really helped my client who had big time problems with shyness - I am a psychotherapist and this is the best I've found.