Editorial Review

Cancer. Hepatitis. Migraines. Arthritis. Heart Disease. Emphysema. For years, the medical establishment has called these chronic or life- threatening diseases "incurable." But now, the Gerson Therapy offers hope for those seeking relief from hundreds of different diseases. Juice your way to wellness. One of the first alternative cancer therapies, the Gerson Therapy has successfully treated thousands of patients for over 60 years. Now, in this authoritative revised and updated edition, alternative medicine therapist Charlotte Gerson and medical journalist Morton Walker reveal even more on the powerful healing effects of organic fruits and vegetables. Not only can juicing reverse the effects of many degenerative illnesses-it can save lives. "The Gerson Therapy" shows you: How to beat cancer by changing your body chemistry; Special juicing techniques for maximum healing power; and, How to combat allergies, obesity, high blood pressure, AIDS, lupus, and other diseases. This unique resource will help and inspire anyone who has ever said, "I want to get well. Just show me how.""The Gerson Therapy" offers a powerful, time-tested healing option that has worked for others - and can work for you! ... Read more

Reviews

Read this book on Chronic Disease first, October 12, 2001
A Highly Recommended First Book On The Use And Application Of Alternative Medicine/Natural Healing for Chronic Conditions.

This is the book that I would first recommend for anyone wanting to understand the use of alternative medicine for the healing of any chronic condition including cancer I would also highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating the use of conventional medicine as well because of the excellent material on the disease process and the potential for using this or some other alternative therapy in a complimentary or combination process of natural and conventional healing. The issue in addressing healing of chronic diseases is for the person with the disease and their family to be sufficiently unformed of the causes and all possible treatment possibilities so that they can make informed and responsible decisions about their total treatment. Other therapies and approaches could be evaluated as to how well they addressed all of the healing concepts detailed in this book.

"The Gerson Therapy" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to the multitude of books that address healing of chronic conditions including cancer by using natural or alternative means. The specific approach is healing by a combination of high quality nutrition and total body detoxification. The Therapy is a total program and does require significant life style changes at least for the detailed therapy. Actually, lifetime lifestyle changes will be required to remain healthy, but these are easily done once one has gone through the detailed therapy.

This book accomplishes several needed functions. The Gerson Therapy is brought up to date, (the therapy is over 60 years old), with the latest information including program modifications for people who have had chemotherapy, for people who are in an extremely weakened state, and a modified program for non cancer chronic conditions. The information is provided in a highly readable and understandable format. The book details the background, theory, and enough specific cases to establish credibility without being overbearing. In fact most of the case studies are used to detail understanding of the therapy. The book does not sugar coat the difficulty of healing using natural therapy and states that the Gerson Therapy may be the most difficult to follow of the many that are available. All of the information required to do the therapy either on one's own or in conjunction with a qualified clinic or practitioner is provided in easily accessible section. (There is some redundancy in some of the specific sections but this redundancy eliminates the need to search for needed information for people who are following the therapy). The number of recipes is expanded from previous books, and this is a welcome addition for anyone who has followed the therapy. The mental aspects of natural healing are now addressed and are given a separate section in the book. Finally, many tricks and techniques needed to make the therapy more workable are included. The bottom line is that the book is both informative and is useable as a day to day guide for anyone deciding to do the therapy.

I feel qualified to make these statements about this book because three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and after much research and discussions with conventional and alternative practitioners, I chose to first start with the Gerson Therapy. The results have been wonderful with the cancer having gone in remission after about 18 months and numerous other problems have responded to the therapy as well. I have not had to revert to my back up plan of conventional medicine. Yes the therapy can be difficult to follow particularly because it is highly restrictive on food, requires time to make fresh vegetable juices several times every day, and requires time to do the detoxification procedures. And yes, the diet has different taste due to the salt and fat restrictions, but one quickly get use to the different tasee However, to be healed without permanent side effects is well worth the effort and the required life style changes. While I had excellent support materials available, this book is still a significant improvement to the available literature. I found nothing in this book that I had a problem with and with the improvements that have been made, the book deserves the five star rating

The process of natural healing is not easy, requires attention to detail, and continued study to avoid setbacks through the process. This new book on the Gerson Therapy will provide information that can assist the decision process and will provide up to date information on the therapy's application.

Outstanding Resource !, April 9, 2003
Much like the previous poster, I also suffered a degenerative disease. I did the research for a cure while healing from some conventional radiation therapy. I began the Gerson Therapy (GT)as indicated in this book in part, started feeling stronger and got into it full tilt. I must admit, Dr. Max Gerson MD, the author's father, hit the nail on the head in terms of a curative therapy. His is some heirloom information and techniques that have survived because they work.

If you need to buy a book on how to get well from degenerative disease, this is the first choice. Get started now. Begin now. Disease as simple as arthritis, and as tough as cancer respond to this therapy. I know from personal experience also. The program is nutritional and detoxification with minimum supplements. The book informs as to what and why and when to use what. They do not sell vitamins, or expensive publications, just straight forward truth.

I also, particularily for Multiple Myeloma or Plasmacytoma patients, but cancer patients generally, highly recommend the book, 'Living Proof', by Michael Gearin-Tosh, published 2002. It is a wonderful narrative of how to approach cancer treatment written by a man diagnosed MM but who did Gerson Therapy and lives.

Do it, get well, and write your own review ! I'll be checking back from time to time. God Bless.

This book is so valuable!!, December 28, 2005
The Gerson Therapy saved my life.
I was diagnosed with SLE ( Lupus), and there was nothing that the M.D.'s could offer me, except Prednisone...which was urged upon me.
Through the fortunate advice of a friend, I read the Gerson book...and to make a very long story short, I decided to do the program.
Let me just say here, in rebuttal to the first reviewer of this book, that NOWHERE in this book does it suggest that on should JUST do coffe enemas. Quite the contrary. If one is doing coffee enemas, it is essential that one ALSO be drinking the juices.
In fact, if one is serious about getting well, it is absolutely essential that one do the program to the letter- not just some elements.
I stayed on the Gerson program for two and one half years. Hard? Yes.
But I came out of it healed.
I went into the program so very sick, hair falling out, skin sores, terrible joint pain, failing kidneys.
That was more than fifteen years ago , now, with no recurrance. And I neved did take the Prednisone.
I did the Therapy at home, with the Gerson book as my guide. ( The Gerson staff, in terms of support and more information, were my telephone angels.)
So, while my experience was not with cancer, I most certainly will recommend this book to those who suffer from auto-immune disorders, and also to those those who simply are interested in knowing how bertter to preserve and restore health.

The Gerson Therapy... by Charlotte Gerson, March 19, 2006
An indispensable aid for those wishing to use the highest cure rate therapy for cancer yet devised. The incredible cures for many degenerative diseases wrought by slight variations of this program are also described in this book. With the recent opening of a Gerson Therapy center in Hawaii, and with the Baja Nutri Care facility in Las Playas de Tijuana, Mexico, what's not to love about this amazing chance to survive the deadly big "C"? With a cure rate under 10% in America, why not go with the Gerson Therapy, with almost ten times the cure rate? This book is logical, orderly, and well thought out. It is not "easy reading," but it is certainly essential reading for our day. The present rate for cancer is five of every twelve alive today. Doctors are already predicting that the rate will increase yet again. Be prepared. Know how to prevent cancer, not just cure it.

Update 12-15-2006. My wife began the Gerson Therapy for stage 4A Malignant Melanoma in October 2005. She is quite healthy today and her cancer markers are perfectly normal according to her monthly blood work. She has at least 10 months remaining to stay on the full Gerson Therapy. She has already out-survived 7 out of 10 patients with her diagnosis from the same start date who were or are undergoing "conventional" medical treatment. Conventional treatment odds for her five year survival are 1 in 200. Gerson Therapy gives her 80 chances out of the same 200. Yes, there are other therapies out there, but it is a minefield that can kill you if you land on the wrong therapy. The Gerson Therapy has about a 75 year history of great overall success. It is definitely not 100% though. Check the history of whatever others you are looking at. But whatever you do, remember that your health decisions are in your hands alone and that your life is a precious thing. Don't let anyone scare you into wasting it.

Not the only way, March 13, 2006
I found the book to be a litte condradictory. It acknowledges that other alternative therapies have cured terminal cancer via nutrition life style changes. It later leads you to believe if the protocal is not followed to the letter your cancer will return. This is simply not true. Whole foods is the key and detoxification. I know of a man who dissolved over 50 tumors in his body thru eating more fruits and veggies and coffee enemas and suplimentation of vitamins and minerals not mentioned in this book. He also has not juiced one drop of veggies or fruit.

The protocal I believe is way to strict and discouraging to cancer patients. Asking a terminal cancer patients to take in 13 glasses of juice a day is way more than they can take. They likely give up and sucumb to the cancer.

"Beating Cancer with nutrition" is an excellent alternative and can be used in conjuction with some of the treatments in this book without the burden of juicing and living by the kitchen. You dont have to be a slave to your home to heal.

There is great truth to The Gerson Therapy but it is unfortunatly out dated. There are other therapies out there that work just as good if not better and are not nearly as combersome and demanding. Max Gerson was a genious of his TIME.


Update: UPon further research of other existing therapies I came to the conclusion that the Gerson Therapy although very difficlult is the most effective. All the other Cancer therapies have seen good results but nothing like the results of The Gerson Therapy. The hard work is worth it for your life. I know juice 13 times a day and feel better than ever. Dont take a chance use the proven therapy not all the spin offs.

This book should be read by everyone!, July 3, 2006
Fantastic book! If you are at all interested in optimum health and well being or know someone suffering healthwise, this is a must read. It will change your life and the way you look at the food you eat. CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES CAN BE CURED-This book will tell you how. I have recommended it to all my family and friends.

The only answer for cancer, June 26, 2007
Were I so unfortunate as to find myself with a cancer, this is the only program I would follow. Forty years ago my prognosis was a life expectancy of maybe 3 months -- if I was lucky. Arteriosclerosis was then considered by medical doctors as irreversible, yet here I am, 40 years later, because someone pointed me in a different direction, one very similar to Gerson's. I bought several copies since you run into the incurable all the time. We live in a sick society -- in more ways than one.

This info should be common sense, August 12, 2009
If you haven't done your research on Dr. Max Gerson you should. His work is well documented you just have to search. See in America we aren't just told about this stuff. The people that do make a great profit off the sick do a great job of keeping this material hidden. Watch the movie "Dying to have known."
It's sad that the government can tell us how we can get better. Only surgery, chemo and radiation are PERMITTED by our government as health options. Wow.

Gerson - What you still don't understand, May 9, 2009
What's not to understand. Why cure cancer completely?? Or for that matter all ill fated illnesses? Please take a moment and realize the money involved in just so called "managing" illnesses. Companies that make medical equipment, special food products for various illnesses, doctors pressured to meet their patient quota, hospital responsibility to their institutions and their employees. Doctors despensing drugs because that is all they can do to keep their jobs, or seek alternaive medicine practice. Do you really think anyone but your family members really cares whether you live or die because of radiation or chemotherpy? The hard fact is that YOU ARE nothing but a resource for them via your insurance company - The hard fact is that they will never cure cancer completely or any serious illness - They need you to be sick, or else they don't have a industry. Yes some do get results and get better - but they have such a long way to go - and they will take their sweet money making time doing so. Diatebes association is a very lucrative business now - When I called and asked what they are doing in terms of research and curing - she was speechless - yes she did not know how to answer. Same with the MS society, and new societies are cropping up now to take advantage of your donations - DON'T GIVE BECAUSE YOU ARE PAYING THEIR SALARIES- Gerson is a great program. Remeber, garbage in - garbage out.

Proven but controversial natural healing, November 9, 2008
After reading some of the book, I ordered literature from the organization. I do not recommend ordering most articles as they are testimonials and self-promotional literature w/ little substance, unless someone needs inspirational documentation of the natural approach to healing.
Out of the expensive charges for 3 documents, only one was helpful with actual research information. As for the book, I do recommend it as it offers a positive alternative to conventional medicine that does not offer the cure rate that the Gerson Therapy offers. The therapy has a greater success rate and long-term survival rate than conventional medicine.
But if one chooses to go this route to healing and survival, it is expensive; if you determine to use home therapy, realize that the local markets may not offer the recommended organics to support a full regimen the book dictates. The therapy has been labeled quackery by the medical profession. However, after researching the multiple approaches to disease management, control, and eradication,
the author's approach seems to be more legitimate. Should all conventional medicine be shunned? The answer is left up to the individual. A high potasssium diet can lead to other illnesses beside the one illness a person is treating.
But this approach cannot be ignored or called "quackery". It is an alternative that has worked for over 60 years. The TRUTH in natural healing appproaches is in the middle between conventional and natural. Book highly recommended. The therapy takes us away from the modern assumptions that we are NOT what we eat. We are what we eat.. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Written by two expert authors, this trend-setting textbook of medical-surgical nursing offers cutting-edge content that's easy to understand. The sixth edition includes a new emphasis on clinical decision-making for patient-centered collaborative care and more streamlined and balanced coverage of the core body of knowledge needed for safe clinical practice. There is also expanded coverage of emergency and disaster preparedness along with an enhanced "Get Ready for the NCLEX Examination" feature that includes the addition of new NCLEX Challenge questions.

• UNIQUE! A collaborative approach that presents all medical, surgical, nursing, and other interventions through the lens of the nursing process.
• A reader-friendly, direct writing style makes this one of the most readable medical-surgical textbooks on the market.
• Chapter-opening Learning Outcomes are linked to Self-Assessment Questions for the NCLEX Examination on the companion CD and EVOLVE website.
• Unique chapter-ending Get Ready for the NCLEX Examination! sections include Key Points lists organized by NCLEX Client Needs Categories.
• Evidence-Based Practice boxes now include highlighted Levels of Evidence to teach you how to appraise the level of validity of research and provide synopses of recent nursing research articles and other scientific articles applicable to nursing.
• Considerations boxes highlight important nursing considerations to help you better understand how to care for older adults, women, and patients from various cultural and genetic backgrounds.
• Streamlined Concept Maps now emphasize information on what is critical for you to know for patient rescue by providing the links among pathophysiology, assessment, and intervention.

• UNIQUE! New Human Needs focus and features help you learn to think clinically and be prepared to make sound clinical decisions at the bedside.
• UNIQUE! Seven richly illustrated Human Needs Overviews relate concepts learned in Nursing Fundamentals to disorders that you will study in Medical-Surgical Nursing.
• UNIQUE! Chapter-ending Human Needs Assessment Reviews and Human Needs Nursing Care Reviews demonstrate application of these Fundamentals concepts to specific disorders.
• UNIQUE! New Decision-Making Challenges throughout the book teach you to apply concepts to true-to-life clinical situations.
• UNIQUE! NCLEX Examination Challenge questions throughout the chapters are now organized by NCLEX Client Needs Category and apply chapter content to the categories and subcategories of the NCLEX test plan.
• Increased emphasis on prioritization, delegation to equip you with these increasingly important skills, which continue to be a major focus of the NCLEX Examination.
• Expanded coverage of emergency and disaster preparedness prepares you to deal not only with common environmental emergencies but also with the consequences of bioterrorism and mass-casualty events.
• New Patient Safety icons highlight content reflecting The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals initiative and the National Patient Safety Goals.
• Companion CD-ROM features more than 1,000 interactive questions, an audio glossary, 35 animations, more than 40 Health Assessment video clips, 20 audio clips of key heart and lung sounds, and 45 Health Assessment images of key health assessment findings.

Reviews

Good info, but hard to get through, June 18, 2010
For all intents and purposes, this is a great book. When you need information about something specific, you'll get it. The biggest problem comes when you're reading for class - it's very repetitive and wordy. Makes it hard to get through when you have other classes to read for at the same time! I'd recommend it, but keep in mind that it will be harder to get through than some other books would be.

Great book!, July 13, 2009
I love this book! It is full of pertinent information for medsurg course. Light weight and great pics. Only downfall is the pages are really thin, highlighting will run through. Overall great book worth the money!

Iggy is Excellent!, August 30, 2010
Excellent text; extremely well organized and well-written; follows nursing process format. Cannot recommend it highly enough!

A softer, kinder version of Lewis, March 7, 2009
I felt Iggy (6th Ed) was an easy read and much more organized than Brunner, which i felt was all over the place. Im am actually using Lewis as my primary source and neither can touch it in terms of "indepthness." But talk about dry, Lewis is not a "fun" read. Iggy however, is a much more enjoyable read. Im not sure if im sold on all the tables and graphs however. I love tables but some seem unnecessary or distracting. I do think the way it presents Nursing diagnoses is comparable if not superior to Lewis, and definitely better than Brunner. I haven't read the clinical companion guide for Iggy yet. I have the Lewis clinical guide and from what i've seen from Brunner, Lewis has a bit more info. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Completely updated to reflect April 2010 test plan changes

To become a registered nurse (RN) in the United States, nursing school graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million nursing students take this exam.

Kaplan NCLEX-RN is the only book to combine its unique strategy guide with a comprehensive review designed to meet the challenges of this rigorous exam, including:

• Two practice tests (one in the book and one online)
• Detailed answer explanations
• In-depth analysis of NCLEX-RN question types
• Review of alternate question types

Strategies play an important role in passing the NCLEX-RN, which is a critical thinking test requiring students to go beyond simply recognizing facts. In this guide, test-takers will have access to the most effective methods available to guarantee a passing score.

With a bold, fresh user-friendly design and more of the most challenging questions, readers of Kaplan NCLEX-RN will be assured and confident on test day. ... Read more

Reviews

Key to success on the NCLEX, March 12, 2010
Coming from a newly registered nurse, this book was my saving grace on taking and passing the NCLEX on the first try. It helps you dissect the question to find out what it is really asking and offers very practical and useful strategies in how to look at the question. It even comes with a CD w/ many practice questions and rationales and has a paper version of the test in the back. Had I not used this book, I'm pretty sure I would have failed the NCLEX because the test tests more of your critical thinking skills than it does your knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, etc.

There are better NCLEX review books on the market, June 4, 2010

Pretty good, but not complete, September 22, 2010

Excellent test preparation, September 16, 2010

Kaplan NCLEX-RN review book, September 2, 2010
This book is absolutely amazing. If you actually sit down and take the time to read it thoroughly, it is very helpful. It really makes you think about how to critically think, which is exactly what you have to do on the NCLEX. There are very many strategies in the book that help you to narrow down choices on the NCLEX and they really work! It also comes with a CD that has 1 test on it and this test helps you to see where you are and what you need to work on before the real test. This book is very good I would recommend it to anybody who is serious about passing the NCLEX on the first time.

I PASSED!, June 24, 2010
I waited to write my review until I knew that I passed or failed NCLEX. Yes, I passed in 75 questions, even while a fire-drill bell was going off in the building. In part, I credit this book. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, because it isn't a complete study program.

By no stretch of the imagination will this book totally prepare you for NCLEX. The new test is just, well, HARD! The real benefit to this book is the test-taking tips in the first couple of chapters. I wish I had been taught these things before starting nursing school, because those tips alone would have improved my test taking in school, when I needed to narrow down past the last two "good" answers.

The practice questions in this book, are far too easy to help you prepare for NCLEX. The questions in the Saunders book are too easy as well. What do I recommend? I took a computerized prep course with computerized testing that was DIFFICULT. I had the instructor "unlock" the rationales for me, so that I could see where my thinking was leading me astray. And, I used the techniques I learned from this book to hone-in on the correct answers. I also recommend doing as many "alternative format" questions as you can do, especially the "check all that apply." It seemed my test was nearly all of that style.

In the end,on the big day, I didn't get any drugs that I knew, and didn't get any of the diseases I had studied. It was all completely new, but armed with my rigorous OCD preparation, I was able to translate what I DID know, across to something I didn't know, and in part, I credit this book with helping me achieve my goal.

It's counterintuitive but, study hard, and if after the big day, you feel like you failed the hardest test in the world, and you knew nothing, you probably passed.

I wish you the very best of luck!

NCLEX-RN 2010-2011 - Great!, June 16, 2010

A must for student nurses, June 11, 2010
I am a registered nurse and I used the Kaplan NCLEX-RN as part of my study regime for the NCLEX exam. This is the latest edition. Kaplan is a must for nursing students. It not only provides the user with test questions in the book, but it also offers a test very similiar to the actual NCLEX on disk that can be installed on the computer and used over and over again. What makes Kaplan different from other NCLEX study guides? It not only provides hundreds of sample questions but it also gives the rationale for all the answer choices, so not only do you know why the correct answer is correct, you also are told why the other three options are not correct. If you take the time to read all the rationales, even on the questions you answered correctly, you will gain a wealth of information and will hone your NCLEX test-taking skills. Kaplan also offers an indepth tutorial on test taking strategies that will prove invaluable. The NCLEX is not like any other test you have ever taken. All of the answer choices could be correct for the topic the question is testing on, but only one answer will be the best answer. Kaplan will help you learn to look for what the question is really asking and to answer ONLY what the question is asking. I highly recommend getting this book as soon as possible, even if you are only in your first semester of nursing school. It will also help you improve on your grades in nursing school since most of those tests mimic the NCLEX style of question. This is the best use of your money for study guide material and if you can only afford one NCLEX study guide, buy this one. Good luck.

good book, May 27, 2010
I thought this was a good review book for the NCLEX. IT doesnt really focus on content, but it teaches you strategies to break down questions and goes through how the test is divided into different topics.

Looking to prep for the NCLEX-RN? Start here., August 24, 2010

Editorial Review

Eat for better health and weight loss the Paleo way with this revised edition of the bestselling guide-over 100,000 copies sold to date!

Healthy, delicious, and simple, the Paleo Diet is the diet we were designed to eat. If you want to lose weight-up to 75 pounds in six months-or if you want to attain optimal health, The Paleo Diet will work wonders. Dr. Loren Cordain demonstrates how, by eating your fill of satisfying and delicious lean meats and fish, fresh fruits, snacks, and non-starchy vegetables, you can lose weight and prevent and treat heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and many other illnesses.

• Breakthrough nutrition program based on eating the foods we were genetically designed to eat-lean meats and fish and other foods that made up the diet of our Paleolithic ancestors
• This revised edition features new weight-loss material and recipes plus the latest information drawn from breaking Paleolithic research
• Six weeks of Paleo meal plans to jumpstart a healthy and enjoyable new way of eating as well as dozens of recipes
• This bestselling guide written by the world's leading expert on Paleolithic eating has been adopted as a bible of the CrossFit movement

The Paleo Diet is the only diet proven by nature to fight disease, provide maximum energy, and keep you naturally thin, strong, and active-while enjoying every satisfying and delicious bite. ... Read more

Reviews

simply THE book to read on proper nutrition, February 17, 2002
I would like to write this review for 2 reasons:

1)I just want to say that I first started to lose weight when I switched to a low-carb diet, but continued to eat lots of dairy and soy, as I was a vegetarian. I have always been a size 12-14, and was quite pleased when I dropped to a size 10 by eliminating bread, pasta and sugar from my diet. I still experienced occasional fatigue and lots of digestive upset, though, and it wasn't until I took an allergy test and found I was allergic to grains and dairy - and subsequently cut both completely out of my diet - that I started to feel the energy and vitality for which I have been searching for years. I'm also allergic to most beans, so my only alternative source of protein was meat. I started to eat lean, unprocessed meats and fresh fruits and veggies, and my energy was not only soaring, but my depression lifted, my skin became smoother and softer, and I dropped down to a size 4 without even trying to lose weight! (I've never been less than a size 10 in my life!) Anyways, I effortlessly maintained that level of vitality and a size 4 until I started to eat rice flour, oats, processed meats and candy. I quickly gained 15lbs and fell into depression once again, leading me to realize that once on a paleo diet, it must become a way of life. The foods that Dr.Cordain describes as detrimental to our health (grains, dairy, legumes) are indeed factors in all sorts of health problems. If you are a possible buyer of this book, please take note of this, you cannot expect to lose weight and then go back to your usual style of eating. Buy this book and undertake Dr.Cordain's suggestions only if you are ready to change your lifestyle - it will be well worth it, I promise! In any case, I have since started back on the paleo-lifestyle route (feeling better already and have lost 5lbs in one week), with the help of Lauren Cordain's book, and it has been an invaluable resource for me. I have beeen waiting for him to write a book for a while now, as I have been reading interviews and papers written by him on www.beyondveg.com since I first started on the paleo nutrition route 2 years ago. This brings me to my second point in writing this review:

2)In response to the reviews that mention disdain at the apparent contradiction with Dr.Cordain discouraging the use of saturated fat while promoting the idea that humans' natural diet contained lots of meat, known to be rich in saturated fats, I have read research that sheds some light on this, at least for me. It seems that the saturated fat found in lean game meat - buffalo or wild boar that has been running around the jungle or the plains all day - has a different composition entirely than the saturated fat found in your average piece of supermarket meat - cows, chickens, even free-range game. There is a more favorable ratio of omega 3:omega 6 fatty acids in the lean game meat, as well as other aspects that I can't remember offhand, but you can read more for yourself on this subject in interviews of Dr.Cordain on beyondveg's website.

One more note for those of you trying to decide between Dr.Atkins or something similar, or a book such as this one or Neanderthin: speaking from the point of view of a person who has developed IBS and multiple food allergies as a result of the Standard American Diet, I wholeheartedly agree with the low-carb way of life, but must offer my 2cents that any diet that fails to caution the consumer on the downfalls of consuming fake foods such as artificial sweetners and salty, processed meats, cannot be healthy for the long-term. I would eat fresh cream or whole milk before I put MSG, nitrates, sulfites or Splenda into my body. I have tried Atkins, and I felt a big difference in my general health from that program to one of eating more natural foods as advocated by Dr.Cordain, Diana Schwarzbein and Ray Audette.

If you are undecided, please take your long-term health as well as your short-trem weight into consideration. Any of the above-mentioned authors can help you lose weight and feel great, but unlike Atkins or Eades, they will help you do it for life. As far as deciding between the above-mentioned authors, "The Paleo Diet" is written by a well-respected professor and expert in the field of paleolithic nutrition, and if you were to go with one book on low-carbing, this would probably the healthiest, most sane and moderate approach I have seen out there.

Not such a great book, but it is worth reading, April 11, 2007
Let me begin by saying that I am a 100% believer in the paleo diet/ caveman diet concept. I am a national-level olympic weightlifter and have tried every combination of high/low carb/fat diet to find something that allowed me to stay in the same weight class as I got older. The only thing that has ever worked is the paleo diet.

For a good, concise description of the paleo diet, search for it on wikipedia.

Having said that, I will now be critical of this book. I found this book to be very verbose and never provided a convincing argument for the paleo diet. Very little evidence was provided that the diet described in this book was what was eaten 20,000 years ago. Most of the argument for this diet was modern research on how ingredient X (e.g. omega-3 fatty acids) is good for you. I have heard excellent evidence supporting the paleo diet during a few lectures by a scientist that studies coprolites (few thousand year old petrified excrement), unfortunately, similar evidence is not in this book.

Furthermore, there are a few technical issues I have with what is presented in this book. I have a PhD in theoretical chemistry. Having gone through graduate school, I know that just about anyone can get a PhD or become faculty if they are patient. Because of this, I'm immune to the Doctor/Professor name dropping used throughout this book.

Repeatedly, the author asserts that chloride from salt causes the body to become more acidic. Offhand, it is not at all clear to me how this could happen. Chloride ions in solution are basically inert. I have to believe that this conjecture is wrong.

The author also makes repeated comments about how bad salt is for you. A few years back, there was an article in the journal Science (one of the two highest tier scientific journals) about the politics of salt. The article describes a political agenda to show that salt caused medical problems. A few hundred million dollars and a half dozen project leaders later, the program was shut down because the researchers could not prove what the politicians wanted. I'm not suggesting that people should eat a lot of salt, since cavemen ate much less sodium and more potassium than we do today, but I am suggesting the health problems blamed on salt have sketchy research backing them up.

In spite of this book's problems, it is worth reading. The description of the paleo diet is good enough to be effective when followed.

This Is How The Cavemen Ate? Uh, I Don't Think So!, September 30, 2002
When I first heard Loren Cordain was finally authoring a book on paleo nutrition I was quite excited, for Cordain has conducted a lot of very insightful research into the eating patterns of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. When I finally got to examine the book though, I was sorely disappointed.

Cordain evidently seems to have ignored much of his own research. The most alarming error is his frequent recommendation to use flax oil when cooking meat dishes. Recipe after recipe calls for marinating cuts of meat in flax oil before cooking - a very bad idea! For those who don't already know, you should NEVER cook with any type of polyunsaturated oil. Their high degree of unsaturation makes them extremely prone to oxidative damage, and this process is greatly multiplied by exposure to high temperatures (e.g cooking temeratures). Omega-3 fats, like those found in flax oil, are the most vulnerable polyunsaturates of all. When eaten, these 'healthy' fats trigger a chain-reaction of nasty free-radical activity in the body, leaving one open to the development of all sorts of degenerative ailments. Cordain should be well aware that liquid vegetable oils simply did not exist back in paleotlithic times.

Cordain also denigrates saturated fat in his book, which once again is rather pitiful considering his background. The anti-saturated fat doctrine is a product of agenda-driven 20th century researchers and beaureaucrats, eagerly supported by commercial interests and their cheerleading squad of ignorant nutritionists, health authorities, and authors. Cordain claims that a single experiment where saturated fat raised cholesterol levels in young men is proof that this fat is bad. Big deal! Such an assertion assumes that the cholesterol theory of heart disease is a valid one. Considering the numerous absurdities inherent in the cholesterol theory, that is a rather risky leap of faith. Hunter-gatherers ate lots of animal fat, which is around 50% saturated. And no, just because an animal is wild does not mean it is low in fat - I had the pleasure of sampling some camel steak last week, and you can be sure I enjoyed every bit of the backstrap fat covering the steak! Even the leanest animals have fatty portions of meat, and if observations of recent hunter-gatherer societies are anything to go by, these would have been the most valued and preferentially eaten cuts.

Cordain also jumps on the anti-low carb bandwagon, even though his own research shows hunter-gatherers were far more likely to consume a low carb diet than a high carb diet. In fact paleo nutrition, with its emphasis on animal foods and starch poor plant foods, and low carb nutrition are a perfect match.

The whole book reeks of an attempt to squeeze paleolithic nutrition into currently fashionable and politically correct guidelines. Only problem is, back in the stone-age there weren't any pompous cholesterol researchers who thought they knew better than mother nature, and there were no advertising campaigns to let people know of the `heinous' health effects of saturated fat - so people ate it, and lots of it!

Paleo eating is still the ultimate nutrition in my opinion. It is the only eating plan that cannot even begin to be accused of being a 'fad'. Subsistence patterns that dominated for over two million years can hardly be considered a fad. Cordain's book does contain some useful info, but Neanderthin by Ray Audette is a far better, and cheaper, book on paleolithic nutrition. Buy that instead.

Valuable information, deserves to be taken seriously, January 12, 2002
This is the best book on paleo nutrition since Ray Audette's Neanderthin. It brings Audette's information up to date with science from this burgeoning area and will serve as an introduction to the only diet that is totally attuned to our physiology. That's what's so neat about it.

But it is also what is so difficult for people to get their minds around. As Robert Ingersoll said: "In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments, merely consequences" and we are inclined to regard our dietary preferences as matters of taste (in all senses), or even of ethics - as do vegetarians and those who point out that grain-based diets are far less demanding on the environment than meat-based diets such as those advocated by Dr Cordain.

But this misses the point. Cordain is telling us what is natural, not what is ethical. If a meat-based diet takes more land for each consumer than a grain-based diet, that is a consequence of human population numbers, it is not a reason for dismissing a paleo diet.

It also misses the point to say that, if we are to adopt a paleo diet, we should return to stone tools and a totally paleo life. Cordain's thinking is clearer than this and the book has many stimulating ideas and insights about our evolutionary inheritance.

Cordain also tells us that the human species has barely altered since grains were first cultivated 10,000 years ago. We are hunter-gatherer bodies in a post-industrial world. Much of the book is devoted to explaining how diabetes, cardiovascular disease, food intolerances, osteoporosis, asthma, heartburn, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and many other modern diseases derive from the extent to which we have departed from the evolutionarily-proven lifestyle. For this reason alone, this book deserves to be taken seriously. As Ingersoll implies, there are natural consequences to our behaviour; our cultural preferences are irrelevant to the truth.

The author also contrasts modern activity levels with paleo activity levels and presents an exercise routine to complement his dietary advice.

Dr Cordain devotes a part of the book to pointing out how meat, fish and fresh vegetables can be contaminated and he gives some guidance in avoiding such contaminated foods and whether the contamination levels are serious.

I'm a paleo eater and exerciser myself and I've been looking for a book like this for ages that I can pass to my friends to explain why I eat and exercise the way I do. I bought two copies. Great stuff!

The Stone Age Diet brought up to date, March 16, 2002
Before I found this book, I'd heard of the Stone Age diet and wished I could adopt it. The restrictions--no grains, legumes, dairy products, or processed foods--sounded formidable, as did the requirements--fresh meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit, the wilder/more organic the better. But my health problems have recently goaded me into adopting a rough form of this diet, and I've needed a diet manual to focus and refine my new food choices. Voila! I found The Paleo Diet just yesterday and am already convinced it's the right diet book for me. I do feel better since I started eating more animal protein and no starch a few weeks ago, but I've been having trouble with fatty meats, and Loren Cordain's book explains why.

The reviewers here who argue that saturated fat has been getting a bum rap, that our Stone Age ancestors undoubtedly ate the whole bird and not just the breast, etc., appear to have read the book cursorily, if at all. Cordain clearly explains that the animal protein prehistoric people thrived on had nowhere near the amount of saturated fat found in today's domestic meats, poultry, and dairy products. Quoting from the book, "Paleolithic people couldn't eat fatty meats if they tried--they had nothing like the tubby grain-fed animals that produce our steaks today." Readers who want more science may consult the 20-page bibliography in the back of the book.

The Paleo Diet is primarily a diet manual, a nutritional primer, and a cookbook, loaded with practical information (e.g. "How to Be a Savvy Shopper for Fish," "Dining Out, Travel, and Peer Pressure," etc.) for readers who want to adapt the Stone Age diet to the 21st century. What's more, the book is engagingly written and extremely readable. Above all, Cordain makes the Stone Age diet seem simple. If I could give his book an extra five stars, I would!

Excellent Book, November 20, 2006
I was recommeded this book by a fitness coach. I was about 50 lbs overweight and suffering health problems. Anyhow, I been following the program for about 2 months now and occasionally work out and have lost 25 lbs. I tried Atkins before and did lose about 40 lbs, but as soon as I went off and added carbs back I gained weight like no tomorow. I wore everything I ate. With this program I eat a lot of fruit and vegtables and the part that is great is it seems to kill your hunger after awhile. I used to think about food most of the time and with this program, I actually sometimes have to remind myself to eat. That is completely un-heard of for me prior. Additionally, I feel much better, my compexion, and skin is much healthier looking. I ve lost about 25 lbs already and I have energy to want to work out. With Atkins I had no energy and no endurance. Occasionaly when I cheat, and eat bread, it actually upsets my stomach now. I used to have indigestion frequently, now that is also gone. I highly recommend this program.

Paleo Diet makes sense..., August 14, 2007
This is one of the few diet books that actually make sense to me--it focuses on how our bodies were meant to eat, and what we're genetically programmed to process. There are no magic tricks, no "fat burning miracles," no tricks, no drugs, no 30-days-to-a-new-you, just solid, and (to me) sensible and easy to follow guidelines.

The book emphasizes fresh foods, rather than processed--that makes sense and avoids who knows what chemical additives. Lean meat, healthful oils, fish or seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits--simple. No need to try to interpret complex labels, count calories, carbs, or whatever. Just lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits.

This is not to say you have to eat all game meats and raw vegetables and fruits to benefit--you can adapt many of your favorite recipes and snacks and even eat out, if you pay attention to what you're ordering.

As the author of The Wild Foods Cookbook for Stephen Greene Press The Wild foods Cookbookin the early 90s, I'm delighted to find how often this book parallels my own research. Again, no need to forage as our ancestors did--with care, we can shop at our local supermarket or farmer's market.

Cordain's not the world's greatest writer, and he tends to repeat his points more than I really enjoy, but the basic tenets are easy to grasp, make sense, and make me, personally, feel very good.

The book has a section of great recipes and appendices, solid research, and personal success stories...this one, at least, doesn't feel like a fad diet.

At least one of the 'editorial' reviewers didn't read it, January 9, 2004
... or maybe s/he simply didn't understand what s/he read. I'm talking about the one that made the stupid statement about the lifespan of paleo humans being only 30 years. Cordain's research shows that if the paleo human was able to avoid childhood mortality and accident, he or she was typically a healthy and productive member of the tribe well into the 60's or 70's, and that the agricultural 'revolution' substantially shortened the human lifespan. Skeletal remains of elderly paleo humans are common -- plus they don't usually show signs of degenerative diseases (or even crooked teeth). Both Cordain and Audette make this observation, so I'm assuming the reviewer simply relied on what somebody else said about the book when writing the 'review'.

Cordain's diet recommendations have two big plusses: 1) they make sense, and 2) they are simple enough for anybody (except maybe the 'reviewer' in question) to understand and implement.

In addition to this book, I recommend Ray Audette's NeanderThin.

Practical and Effective, May 21, 2009
[NOTE: This review relates to the paperback edition.]

At first glance, the Paleo diet seemed extreme to me. Give up grains AND beans AND dairy completely? What's left? Won't I be hungry? Won't I get bored? Won't I die of malnutrition? Obviously the answer is "no." My body adjusted quickly to lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, raw and cooked vegetables, and fruit. I'm eating 10 times more fruits and vegetables than before, snacking more and cooking more. My food cravings are gone, and I feel sated after I eat. Oh yes, and did I mention that I lost 8 pounds over the past 4 months?

I've seen numerous health benefits from lowering my glycemic index and salt intake and eliminating the indigestible proteins found in grains and beans. Acid reflux, gas, joint pain, sinus congestion -- all completely gone! Amazing.

Since nobody's twisting my arm, I've "cheated" a few times and eaten something that used to be part of my diet, like oatmeal or corn chips. Next day the acid reflux, gas and congestion come back. My sense of taste has become more sensitive and I notice a rancid, unpleasant note even in foods like organic oatmeal. So the desire to stray has diminished and staying on the diet is easy. However, there are a couple of things I've chosen not to give up: organic butter as a condiment on vegetables, and organic half-and-half in my coffee. I've noticed no ill effects, and get a lot of taste enjoyment from these items, which is important even when eating healthy!

I've given the book 4 stars rather than 5, because there are a few things here and there that I don't agree with. I don't think one should heat flax seed oil. And the recipes, while passable, don't excite me very much. Also, the book is written in a popular self-help style, focusing on weight loss and bypassing a purely health-conscious viewpoint. One example: although Dr. Cordain says we really shouldn't drink it, he mentions diet soda as a possible beverage. He knows better.

On the other hand, the health benefits for "eating Paleo" are offered in an understandable way, explaining why it's good for high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes and so on. If you read the book, you will know how to "do the diet" and why it's a good idea. The science is well-presented. There's a 20-page index of double-blinded study research results from around the world, to which Dr. Cordain refers throughout the book. This is not some weird dietary notion that somebody invented. It was arrived at by hard research, investigation and study. Whether you accept the theory that we should strive to approximate our caveperson ancestors' diet is beside the point: from my experience, this is a healthy diet that eliminates the pitfalls of eating foods our bodies were not genetically programmed to digest. My results speak for themselves.

Some people do have bodies that can handle just about anything they feel like eating. And ethnic, regional and personal variations ensure that the Paleo diet will never take over the world. All I can say is that eating Paleo has improved the quality of my health immeasurably. And as a weight loss diet, it's foolproof. Eliminate junk food and fast food and replace them with high quality animal protein and as much fresh veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds as you can pile in your mouth...and thank Mother Nature (and Dr. Cordain et al) for Her bounty with every bite.

For the concept, not necessarily the execution..., April 15, 2005
As with any "diet" book or advice, I think this one needs to be taken with a grain of salt, so to speak.

Removing grains and legumes, and processed foods from the diet has proven to be highly beneficial to me. Removing dairy is logical, since the human body is not intended to process any milk other than mother's. Since making these adjustments to my diet, I have felt so much better, and when I occassionally have a piece of cheese, my body has difficulty processing it. Sugar had already been removed from my diet years before I found this book.

However, there are a few points I do not follow. I do not calculate the acidity and alkalinity of my diet. That is too much bother. I do not avoid all salt, as avoiding it altogether can cause it's own problems, as sodium is necessary in some amount. I do not restrict myself to lean meats, as a certain amount of dietary fat is necessary for satiety. I do not avoid vinegars or oils.

I use sea salt, rather than iodized salt, as it is less processed. I have changed my oil selections, in part from his recommendations, and in part from others, but I now use olive, grapeseed, coconut, and nut oils (not peanut, which is a legume), rather than soybean or canola. I eat a healthy balance of lean and fattier meats. I use vinegar when I want to.

Overall, this is an interesting concept that is not necessarily well executed. But it is a good springboard to start adjusting your diet to what your body needs. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This popular book is written by the award-winning teacher, Dr. Leon Gordis of the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.He introduces the basic principles and concepts of epidemiology in clear, concise writing and his inimitable style.This book provides an understanding of the key concepts in the following 3 fully updated sections:Section I: The Epidemiologic Approach to Disease and Intervention; Section II: Using Epidemiology to Identify the Causes of Disease; Section III: Applying Epidemiology to Evaluation and Policy.Clear, practical graphs and charts, cartoons, and review questions with answers reinforce the text and aid in comprehension.

• Utilizes new full-color format to enhance readability and clarity.
  
• Provides new and updated figures, references and concept examples to keep you absolutely current -new information has been added on Registration of Clinical Trials, Case-Cohort Design, Case-Crossover Design, and Sources and Impact of Uncertainty ( disease topics include: Obesity, Asthma, Thyroid Cancer, Helicobacter Pylori and gastric/duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer, Mammography for women in their forties) - expanded topics include Person-time.
  
• Includes STUDENT CONSULT access, allowing you to:
  o Access the complete contents of the book online, anywhere you go.perform quick searches.and add your own notes and bookmarks.
  o Test yourself with the additional TEST BANK including 200 MCQs, plus complete rationales for all self-assessment Q&A in the print book. .
  o Reference all other STUDENT CONSULT titles you own online, too-all in one place!

• Introduces both the underlying concepts as well as the practical uses of epidemiology in public health and in clinical practice.
  
• Systemizes learning and review with study questions in each section and an answer key and index.
  
• Illustrates textual information with clear and informative full-color illustrations, many created by the author and tested in the classroom.

Reviews

An unbelievably great textbook!, June 16, 2000
This was a required textbook for a class on epidemiology that I wasn't required to take. I am getting my Ph.D. in Science Education, but because I am Deaf and work with the deaf community on HIV/AIDS awareness...I made myself take this class. Very rarely do I not return books for cash if it isn't in my direct field or interests, but this was one textbook I plan on keeping. Dr. Gordis made a unknown subject for a deaf student not only fascinating but understandable...especially with all the statistics involved! I luckily had great teachers too, but part of their greatness had to do with finding the best textbook to require in their classroom. I refer back to this text constantly when writing about epidemics in the Deaf community. I hope that Dr. Gordis realizes the impact he will have on not just one person, but on a whole community because of his work and his excellent writing. (He also has a sense of humor, which I love...) Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

A good source for medical students and epidemiologists., September 8, 2000
This is a well written book that touches upon all basic areas of Epidemiology. A strong point of the book is its use of illustrations, they help keep the material somewhat interesting rather than bland full of text.

It goes through plenty of examples to help you memorize concepts as well as give you practice of each chapter's readings by having review questions for that chapter.

It is a good aid for medical students, epidemiologists as well as anyone involved in the related health services.

Excellent Introductory Text, October 25, 2003
When it comes to textbooks, the section I usually use most often is the index so I don't have to plod through pages of material to find the information I need. This is one of the few textbooks I've ever read cover to cover and actually enjoyed. The text is very readable with many examples to demonstrate the concepts discussed. There are also plenty of illustrations and charts to reinforce the information. Also, this isn't just one more book taking up space on my bookshelf -- I still use it as a reference to clarify questions that come up. Epidemiology is a clearly written, methodologically presented introduction to the most important concepts in the field.

Save your money - buy the third edition, August 16, 2008
I agree with most of the other reviews here and also think this is a good introductory text. If you can get past the bad jokes and frequent references to Christianity, its clearly written and has good examples. However, this 4th edition is a classic example of an author repackaging an old textbook as a new edition and trying to make money off of it. Gordis claims that the 4th edition has many changes, but in reality the chapters are the same and only a few less significant references have been updated. My advice is to save your money and buy the third edition - just as good and much cheaper.

best epi text for beginners, August 29, 2005
This is the best epi book for beginners that I have come across. It is written by one of the greatest epi-teachers. Leon Gordis has a great teaching style. The book essentially covers the topics we covered in class. I enjoyed reading this book when I was a student and now that I have students myself I recommend this text to them...they all love it. Worth the money.

The best beginning epidemiology text, June 22, 2003
This is the best beginning text on epidemiology available-- no other text comes close. The writing is clear and concise, a rare event in science texts. The style, content and layout are extraordinary. Dr. Gordis creates friendly understandable explanations from potentially confusing topics.

Easy to comprehend, fun to read and definetely a recommendat, May 31, 2002
Epidemiology by Leon Gordis is a great textbook. Having read one or two other books on this topic, I thought I got a great deal of what Epidemiology means and how it's done. Things I thought I fully understood I now do understand. The book has got many illustrations that make the text very easy to comprehend. The text itself is built up in a stepwise manner and the important issues are repeated several times. The examples given are enlightening and, sometimes, funny, too. The book isn't that much concerned with analysis methods in detail (e.g., How do regression methods work?), but it rather deals with the principles, designs and methods of epidemiology. This book definetely earns 5 stars and will remain an epedemiologic classic. Read it!

EPIDEMIOLGY (3RD ED.), March 12, 2007
This textbook is an outstanding textbook for either the graduate student in public health or a medical student.

Dr. Leon Gordis brings clarity to a subject which challenges many students. Particularly, his use of terminology unique to the field of epidemiology is well done. He does not assume the student is born understanding terminology that has varied meanings in different specialties by using the terms with their definition in full sentences. He appears to anticipate the typical student's questions and answers them without appearing to talk down to the reader. Well done!

I would recommend this textbook without any reservations.

Excellent Introductory Book, January 27, 2003
This book was required reading for an introductory course on epidemiology in a Masters of Public Health (MPH) program. It is clearly written, with a minimum of jargon. It includes numerous examples that really help illustrate the material. This is a book that I find myself pulling out again and again, even after the course has ended. Highly recommended.

Great for the basics - but know what you need before buying., November 1, 2006
The Gordis text is excellent if you are a newcomer to clinical research and want to get your feet on the ground in a hurry. Explanations of basic epidemilogic concepts (prevalence, indcidence, odds and hazard ratios, sensitivities and specificities, basic study designs and limitations) are written in an easy-to-grasp manner, and the exercises at the end of each chapter ensure you are really able to put these concepts into practice. It is a quick and easy read, and will really give you a leg-up when you begin formal coursework.

HOWEVER, if you are looking to learn about hypothesis testing, statistical tests, and how data are typically analyzed and presented at the end of clinical trials, this book will not help you. You will need a dedicated statistics book - for beginners like myself, the Douglas Altman text is a wonderful (albeit rigorous) supplement to this one. ... Read more

Editorial Review

So much more than just a dictionary... the completely revised, bestselling, trusted Mosby's Dictionary is the all-in-one reference you need to help you make sense of the complex world of health care. It features superior-quality definitions plus 2,400 full-color illustrations -- nearly three times more than any other dictionary available! But that's only the beginning. Mosby's Dictionary also includes encyclopedic entries to explain more difficult concepts in depth, 12 appendixes with practical quick-reference information, plus the Mosby's Medical Spellchecker CD. It's the ONE reference you'll turn to from beginning to end!

• Over 51,000 comprehensive, authoritative, high-quality definitions -- including definitions for major diseases, disorders, drugs, and procedures -- offer the most accurate, complete information available in all areas of nursing, medicine, and health-related professions.


• Approximately 2,400 color photographs and line drawings -- nearly three times more than any other health care dictionary -- illustrate all subject areas to help you understand concepts.


• The practical, straightforward alphabetical organization with no subentries and easy-to-use features such as thumb tabs, entry words in color, and large, easy-to-read print make it easy to find and understand information.


• Expanded definitions for selected entries, particularly major diseases, disorders, and procedures, offer detailed information in one spot to help you understand more difficult concepts.


• Hundreds of lab test and surgical procedure definitions explain the purpose, procedures, patient care, and expected outcomes.


• Comprehensive definitions for drugs -- with over 200 new to this edition -- include indications, contraindications, and adverse effects for safe medication practice.


• Definitions for more than 50 complementary and alternative medical therapies and over 100 herbs familiarize you with options today's patients may choose.


• Pronunciations and word roots for key entries help you use terminology correctly in everyday practice.


• Includes British spellings for selected entries to help you recognize alternate spellings.


• A Color Atlas of Human Anatomy contains 43 pages of clearly labeled drawings for easy A&P review and reference.


• 12 appendixes offer useful information you'll turn to again and again -- with a quick-reference list of all appendixes in the front of the book.


• A companion EVOLVE website deepens understanding with:




• Over 35,000 audio pronunciations


• A printable version of the Color Atlas of Human Anatomy


• 11 pages discussing complementary and alternative medicine


• A printable English-Spanish phrase book


• 12 pages of herb-drug interactions


• 400 interactive medical terminology review exercises


• An extensive directory of health care organizations and resources


• And much more!

• Approximately 5,000 new definitions, with special emphasis on definitions related to new drugs, anatomy and physiology, surgical procedures, lab tests, and new technological developments, keep you up to date on the latest developments in health care.


• Over 30,000 completely revised definitions and 800 updated illustrations ensure you have the most current information in all areas of nursing, medicine, and the health-related professions.


• UNIQUE! Mosby's Medical Spellchecker CD -- included with each copy of Mosby's Dictionary -- contains over 450,000 medical terms you can use with your word processing software to save time and ensure accuracy.


• A completely revised section on nursing diagnoses with entries for all NANDA-approved nursing diagnoses, Nursing Interventions Classifications, and Nursing Outcomes Classifications helps prepare you for real-world practice.

Reviews

WOW!!!!!!, March 1, 2006
This book contains so much needed information for anyone who wants to know anything about the human body. It has a world of knowledge, starting from the most simple words to the most complexed diseases. I am a nursing student and I found it to be extremely helpful, easy to read and use. Its a wonderful book all around. I love it and you will too.

Very Comprehensive and user friendly, September 1, 2006
I recently started classes to earn a degree in medical transcription. My instructor for Medical Transcription 1 recommended this dictionary and told us it's required for a class I'll be taking next semester. So I figured I would invest the money now. I also had a reference test today and wanted to get my own medical dictionary so I wouldn't have to fight everyone else for the ones in the class room. I also noticed that most of the dictionaries in the class room are out of date. I wanted something that was up to date. I found this dictionary to be incredible helpful and user friendly. There is so much information here. It is easily accessable and well organized. For the test, the instructor read the word or term orally and then we had to look up the real spelling and definition. There were twelve terms on the test and I found 10 very quickly and easily in this dictionary. I am glad I decided to purchase this dictionary. I looked at a couple of other medical dictionaries and I was the most impressed with this one.

If I had one complaint, it would be the incredibly graphic and disgusting pictures of diseases. They are full color pictures and don't leave much to the imagination. But I've also noticed that is pretty typical of a medical dictionary. I didn't realize that before and it caught me a little off guard at first.

I would highly recommend this dictionary to anyone who is going into a field such as nursing or medical transcription. I know that this will prove to be an invaluable resource when I actually begin my work as a medical transcriptionist.

My Favorite Medical Dictonary, March 21, 2007
I love dictionaries and have several. I preferred Mosby's over Lippincott's for the same reason I like most Mosby books, the layout and text is so much easier to read. There are lots of pictures in color and the index tabs are useful in finding your subject quickly. The CD in the back of book has a useful spell checker. I sold my red version of this dictionary so I could have this blue version. When a clinical instructor say's the clasical line "go look it up" I'll find it faster in a clinical setting and when I'm working on a careplan my spell check will speed up the process.

Needed both Mosby's and Dorlands, May 7, 2009
I got Mosby's first as it is larger font and easier reading--it is my first "go to" dictionary as it usually has the words, ESPECIALLY when it's 2 words vs. 1. HOWEVER, it doesn't have everything, then I need to turn to Dorlands (or if I need a more full explanation). What I don't like about Dorlands is you look up a word, and it refers you to another word, and/or it doesn't have 2 word phrases like Mosby's. Between the 2 of them however, I've been able to find everything I need, but don't think there is any one dictionary that would do it. I do like the Tabors, but didn't like the small form factor..too thick and hard to keep pages open. If you travel a lot and need to take something with you that would be great, but for home use, a larger book that stays open is better for me. I like Mosby's the best if/when it has the words but don't think any one dictionary has it all....

An indispensable book for students, professionals and laymen alike, July 30, 2007
This book has everything a person could want and then some. It has conditions, diseases, injuries, tests, health, anatomy, ect. Everything listed in here is described in the simplest detail that any adult can understand.

There are an ample amount of color photographs and drawings throughout. WARNING - A few photographs may be a bit much for some people to handle. Some diseases and conditions can look downright disgusting to more sensitive readers.

It is thumb tabbed for easy navigation throughout the alphabet. That makes for a great time saver and ease of use as well.

This book is a tremendous resource for nursing school. Even if it is not required, I fully recommend it's purchase.

Best support you could ever buy!, June 26, 2008
I bought this Dictionary for my daughter who is studying Nursing and she just told me THANKS MOM because this book will lead me to a better way of understanding terms and subjets that with out it will be impossible.

This dictionary is like the "Mother of books" to everyone who will want to be more prepared for the professional nursing enviroment.

Thanks to Amazon too for having this type of tools available to anyone!

Visual Impair CPC, March 5, 2009
I am visually impaired and a Certified Professional Coder. I am looking for a resource like Mosby but on a CD-ROM to search for medical terminology on my laptop as an alternative to carrying the book. The CD-ROM that Mosby provide is to spell check medical terminology on a word document. I would prefer to have the Mosby in paperback instead of a hardcover book as it is heavy to carry with me.

very reliable, July 17, 2008
I like this mosby book for reference. It's very reliable and informative. Helps me in my hospital job.

I couldn't live without this book, July 3, 2008
I absolutely love this dictionary. It's easy to read the definitions and very well written. I use it constantly while I'm studying to look up certain words or diseases/disorders to help me understand topics better. I recommend this for anyone in a medical career.

A must have,, February 10, 2008
I am a physical therapy graduate student, and I have used this book extensively since I purchased it. It is the best medical dictionary I have ever used, and it is full of great color pictures. Absolutely, this book is a must have if you are in a medical profession. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and propelled American cultural imperialism abroad. That's a lengthy list of charges, but Eric Schlosser makes them stick with an artful mix of first-rate reportage, wry wit, and careful reasoning.

Schlosser's myth-shattering survey stretches from California's subdivisions, where the business was born, to the industrial corridor along the New Jersey Turnpike, where many of fast food's flavors are concocted. Along the way, he unearths a trove of fascinating, unsettling truths -- from the unholy alliance between fast food and Hollywood to the seismic changes the industry has wrought in food production, popular culture, and even real estate.

Reviews

I finally learned what I had been eating (and why), January 3, 2001
I picked up this book the moment I saw it mostly because I've always known that fast food is "bad for you" - but I've been both afraid to know why and curious at the same time. After all, I've been hearing the other side of the argument my whole life. I've been pummeled by fast food ads - and eaten plenty of fast food - for a ridiculously long time. Why do I want to stay ignorant about it?

In his introduction to "Fast Food Nation", Schlosser says that he's interested in fast food "both as commodity and metaphor", and indeed, this well-written tome is as much an examination on the titular product as an able primer on the encroachment of large corporations into the lives of working Americans.

Those of you expecting an update on John Robbins' "Diet For A New America" will be disappointed. Schlosser has not crafted a scientific slam against fast food joints, but rather a thorough examination of their motives and histories, with a strong emphasis on the people - from both sides of the coin. The time he devotes to the personal stories of those whose lives have been forever changed by fast food - from the rags-to-riches tale of Carl Karcher to the tragic story of a big-hearted rancher named Hank - are largely what keeps "Fast Food Nation" both emotionally provoking and tangible throughout.

If this book were merely a saber-toothed diatribe against fast food corporations, it couldn't allow itself such concessions and would probably come across as socialist tubthumping to all but the converted. Instead, lengthy establishing essays on the history, ideologies, and present state of the communities and corporations discussed are a welcome introduction (and counterpoint to) the individual stories of struggle, greed, and survival.

While he makes no secret where his sympathies lie, Schlosser often reminded me more of Wendell Berry than John Robbins, as he bravely attempts to "tell it like it is" from more of a "pro-human" as opposed to an "anti-corporate" perspective. In doing so, the dehumanizing aspects of all global corporations (and the effects of NAFTA and the Telecommunications Act of '96) are supplied a provoking reference point.

By my standards, "Fast Food Nation" is a fine debut accomplishment for the author and a welcome book for our increasingly homogenized (and de-regulated) times. The story of fast food, a quotidian experience for many, has never seemed quite so impressive, scary, and profound. My education began here.

McInteresting Look at Fast Food, May 5, 2002
I read this book knowing I was not going to learn any new and cheery anecdotes about how Ronald McDonald got his start..... instead I read this to solidify the notion that fast food was not a healthy choice. And boy, did this book give you reasons it is not, and I'm not just talking nutritional value here.

I found this book fascinating for the detail was great, well researched, and given to the reader straight. It was an eye opening book. Who knew that due to the meat industry being run just by a few corporations, essentially we are eating the same meat from the same feedlots and slaughter houses whether we buy it at a fast food chain or the local supermarket, and perhaps even the nicer restaurants. I also found some of the content appalling. Cattle are fed cats, dogs, other cows, even old newspaper! If this doesn't outrage you enough, just wait to you get to how these same meat conglomerates treat the low paid, low skilled employees of the slaughterhouses.

This book is insightful and unbelievable, and will make you question how the fast food giants sleep at night.

You can still have it your way, January 3, 2001
A fascinating, important book for everyone. Fast Food Nation doesn't take easy shots at the fast food and beef industry, it shows the whole story, shifting back and forth betweeen intimate details of real people (a meat packing plant worker, a franchise owner, several cattle ranchers), and the larger, global markets created by the fast food restaurants. The book achieves a kind of epic flow to it, full of interesting and infuriating information. Splendid reading.

The Hidden Costs of Mass Consumption of Fast Food, April 10, 2001
If you ever eat in fast food restaurants, you should read this book. It will fill your mind with issues that probably had not occurred to you before.

The fast food industry today is the service equivalent of the harshest environments of industrial America. The industry's size creates behemoths among its suppliers who can be even more aggressive in cost-cutting than are the employers of your neighboring teenagers. This book recounts the many dangers and hidden costs this industry imposes on everyone in our society, and suggests some ways to improve. The best defense, however, is a discerning consumer. Read this book to help become one.

Mr. Schlosser begins with the founding of the modern fast food companies, and traces them all back to Richard and Maurice McDonald's first hamburger parlor on E Street in San Bernardino, California. Carl Karcher (Carl's Jr.), Glenn Bell (Taco Bell), and the founder of Dunkin' Donuts all visited there and designed their stores to take advantage of those ideas about achieving higher throughput and consistency. Naturally, Ray Kroc later came along to refine the practices into the foundations of the modern McDonald's.

With success came market power, and abuses of that power. The book looks at several ills that have resulted. For example, the cost of meat needs to be as low as possible. This has led to dangerous conditions where many people are injured in the slaughter houses. His story of Kenny Dobbins at Montfort will chill you forever. The industry has also succeeded in getting inspection standards reduced so more harmful bacteria are making their way into your meal, and more people are getting sick. The old and the young are most likely to be harmed by the rapid growth of E. coli 0157:H7. This hit home with me, having just suffered a bout of food poisoning after a fast food meal last week. The Federal Government buys meat for school children with lower quality standards for bacterial contamination than even the fast food people apply. Pressure from slaughter houses on ranchers has driven many out of the business. The human price can be high, as one story recounts here.

The food is harmful in other ways. It is full of sugar and fat (that's what makes it taste good). The growth in obesity (what some people call an epidemic in America) closely tracks the expansion of fast food meals (25% of the population will eat at least one weekly). And the trend is getting worse, now that you can have unlimited refills of sugared soft drinks.

Children are especially vulnerable, because advertising is so persuasive to them. As a result, they go to eat the meals in search of toys and games, and other novelties.

Teenagers are often employed in fast food parlors in violation of the child labor laws, costing them sleep, exposing them to late night dangers, and leaving them too tired to focus on school. Those who deliver the food often create accidents and are at risk to be robbed.

The physical appearance and culture of towns is brought to the lowest common denominator by the drive to produce these meals fast and cheaply.

If the local management isn't very good, goofing off employees have been known to put noxious substances into the food. Franchisees often work long hours, costing them a normal life. Carl Karcher reported that he was still heavily in debt after 50 years in the industry. The main sign of progress he told the author was that the road outside used to be dirt, and was now paved.

These ills are being transported around the world now, as fast food is globalized.

Mr. Schlosser has several suggestions for improvement including tougher regulation of food, working conditions, and of advertising to children (he wants it banned). I thought his most realistic suggestion was that the fast food companies themselves lead the way by raising standards. McDonald's has done this in the past (to its credit), and could certainly do so again. After the facts in this book are more widely know, it is highly likely that there will be an interest in eating food from restaurants that provide these meals in more socially productive and humane ways. I know that I would shift my purchasing to reflect such improved standards.

To me, the interesting part of this story is that the problems exposed here are not hidden. This book could have been written at any time in the last 40 years. Why do we turn a blind eye to the problems that fast food creates?

After you finish this interesting and thorough book, I suggest that you consider where else problems exist that we do not pay attention to. For example, where does the sewage from your town go? What are the implications of how it is disposed of? Where does your trash go? What problems does that create? What are the pollution effects of your new SUV? How much more likely is your family to be injured or killed because it could roll over?

Consider all the costs of the products and services you consume, not just the ones you pay for directly to the person who sells to you.

Extremely Important and Powerful Book, April 8, 2001
Fast Food Nation deserves the widest possible audience. It should be assigned reading in every high school in the country. Parents of young children should also be encouraged to read it. Fast food chains, with their bright primary colors and happy faces, need to keep the truth about their products and practices well hidden. Otherwise their customers might think twice about coming back. Schlosser not only tells us what's in the food and how it gets produced, but he examines the depressingly one-sided business arrangements that run the gamut in this industry, from the way the chains control their own low-paid, low-skilled, no-benefit-receiving workers, to the downward pressures they exert on meat, potato and chicken producers, who work in dangerous, low-paid, unpleasant jobs with little control over their lives and livelihoods. This is a great book in the tradition of muckraking journalism. If readers take it seriously, hopefully, like Upton Sinclair's 1905 book "The Jungle," it will lead to major reforms.

The dark side, indeed, March 7, 2002
Muckraker or hero? Schlosser has been called both by reviewers of this book. Personally, I think Schlosser has written a book that long-needed writing and confirms the truths we already knew but didn't want to admit: our comfort is killing us. This book isn't *just* about fast food and the perils of The Golden Starches: it is an indictment of our entire "gimme now, gimme cheap, gimme easy" culture. No one is exculpated: we are all in some fashion part and party of the McDonaldization of America.

Schlosser looks unblinkingly at the meat packing industry; the impact of the fast food industry on our environment, economy and social custom; our gradual and apparently inexorable return to the "Robber Baron" days. Much of what he writes is uncomfortable to read. I know I revisited just about every Big Mac I've ever eaten while reading this book. Having done so, I can tell you that I will never eat another Big Mac, Whopper, Biggie Fry, Chicken Bucket or Taco Grande again. Ever. Neither will my kid, until he can buy his own Super Size Bucket o' Crud with his own money and by his own choice. I hope he makes better choices than that.

As disturbing as the meat packing and food handling details are, the bit that resonates the most with me is the imperialist attitude of these corporate giants towards their workers. I was astonished to learn that these companies get tax breaks in the hundreds of millions of dollars under the aegis of "job training" when their goal is to have full automation in their kitchens. The only "job training" done in most of these places consists of knowing what button to push when a buzzer rings. Even basic literacy isn't a requirement for one of these jobs.

Fabricated food is supplanting whole food in our nation's diet. The values embodied by fabricated food -- easy access, inexpensive, plentiful, homogenized -- are evident in every strip mall on every roadside nationwide. Is this what we really want? Is this what we truly value? What are the long term consequences? In short, what do we trade off in exchange for easier, cheaper, more? If we are more readily identified globally by Ronald McDonald and Mickey Mouse than by our ostensible values of freedom, democracy and individual liberty, what becomes of our credibility?

Hats off to Schlosser for his book. If only it could be required reading for school kids and parents. If only the United States would start treating obesity with the same seriousness it does tobacco addiction, there might be hope for change. Ultimately, though, it comes down to you and me. What are we going to do about it?

Much to ponder here., July 19, 2002
With a fast food restaurant on just about every corner in any town with a population over 5,000 (barely an exaggeration), this is a book that was long overdue. With newspaper articles and television news stories about obesity, child obesity, and hypertension becoming almost a weekly occurrence, some in-depth reporting regarding much of the source of these problems was greatly needed. But who does Schlosser roast and who does he leave alone?

The early chapters are mainly devoted to the history of the fast food restaurant and the men who created and later "perfected" the industry. The "founding fathers" as Schlosser calls them are not looked on with contempt by the author. Rather, I sensed admiration for the McDonald brothers who began using "speedee service" at the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernadino, California in the early 1950's. The same holds true for other early fast food entrepreneurs including Carl Karchner (Carl's Jr. and Hardee's), J.R. Simplot (the Idaho french fry king) and even Ray Kroc who made McDonald's the behemoth that it is today.

One enlightening section focuses on the flavor industry. Didn't know there was one? Neither did I. According to Schlosser, there are a myriad of plants in the New Jersey area who do nothing but concoct flavors for the vast majority of processed foods and drinks that we drop down our throats. Frequently in the past I had wondered what "natural flavor" on the side of food labels meant. Now I know and I feel somewhat cheated.

The fast food industry as a whole does take a hit from the author for low wages, and poor safety training. The point is made that the industry actually wants a revolving door for teens to go continually through. Teens are willing to accept lower wages when living at home because to them, it's pretty much all disposable income. They also don't expect health insurance or other benefits. Schlosser also puts to bed the myth that "worker training" funds are beneficial to the workers themselves. Too often the money allocated for fast food businesses to train employees is money simply pocketed by the franchise or by corporate. The workers aren't employed for very long and a study was undertaken that determined that the vast majority of the workers hired with the funds would have been hired any way.

Most of the author's contempt is reserved for the meat-packing industry and the federal government which, he says, fails to pass laws that would better regulate packing and slaughterhouses. Basically, the industry is fraught with environmental and food safety violations. In addition to that they are constantly on the prowl for illegal aliens who will work dangerous jobs for little money, but is considered a pay raise by the worker (five bucks an hour for cutting meat? great!) Due to a lack of proper regulations, e-coli is a major problem, as the author aptly demonstrates.

I can't say that I agreed with every thing the author has to say about the fast food industry, but I certainly agreed with the bulk of it. For example, he would like a ban on all advertising by fast food establishments during children's televison programming. That may sound admirable, but at the same time seems a slippery slope that I'm not sure we want to undertake. What would be considered children's programming? Would McDonald's be considered unacceptable but Cracker Barrel deemed okay? I do, however, agree with him that the federal government should enact whatever laws necessary to ensure that meat is handled, stored, shipped, prepared, etc. properly. Protecting the public from food-borne illness is not and should not be a political issue. It's just common sense and the right thing to do.

One will definitely learn a lot here. One doesn't have to agree with everything said to appreciate gaining new knowledge on an important topic. Schlosser even admits to eating fast food himself, although he says he now has given up ground beef. Moderation is key here I think. Perhaps this book would serve best those who have a tendency to make fast food their meal at every meal (believe me, there are some doing just that).

Before your next meal, read this book, December 29, 2000
Every American, and increasingly everyone in the world, should have available to them the information presented in this excellent book about the methods of the fast-food industry. This is not a vegan or vegetarian slam against beef and poultry producers. Instead, it is a look at how the large fast-food industry has transformed our nation, and is transforming the world, as we enter a new century. Readers will love Schlosser's easy writing style, even as they grapple with what his information tells us about the food world around us. This is an especially important book for every parent. Even if parents do not take their children to the restaurants mentioned, they will surely find the information about what is happening in schools and on TV important to the life of their family.

THERE'S *WHAT* IN THE MEAT?! TELL ME YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT?, April 5, 2001
Reading this exhaustively-researched book is an experience that is enjoyable, disgusting and infuriating all at once. Some of the stuff described in Schlosser's book seems to be so farfetched (can corporations really be that nasty?) that you'll initially dismiss it as being highly improbable. However, one glance at the unbelievably lengthy reference and note appendix and you realize with great sadness that none of it is fiction. To this extent, Schlosser stuffs an incredible amount of information in this book and, throughout, his writing style is easy and flowing. If only the shocking information he gives us was as smooth and easy to digest.

An earlier reviewer dismissed him as being avidly anti-Republican. All of Schlosser's comments are factual (refer again to the note section in which you will find ample documentation). Though the subject matter would lend itself to such abuse, Schlosser doesn't push his personal opinion on the reader: he's there to give us the facts and allows us to make the decisions.

You've probably read in other reviews some hints of the horrors described in the book: worker abuse, dangerous working conditions, tainted food supply, etc. The chapters on the meatpacking industry and the slaughterhouses are truly frightening. And these corporations' ability to evade the law and to control governmental agencies are even worse! Poop-filled meat and school lunches tainted with e.coli are only the beginning...

This book will make you think twice about what you put into your body. Was it written to scare you off fast food? Not specifically, but its main purpose is to have you THINK. And this it does with excellence. A must-read for everyone.

Excellent Coverage of the Fast Food industry, May 14, 2001
Schlosser writes a gripping account of the societal effects of the plethora of fast food restaurants. While not vegetarian's book, a health book, or even an animals' rights book, it is rather a grim look at the impact on the nation by fast food chains.

The start of the book covers the beginnings of McDonalds, Carl's Jr, Wendy's. and other now-famous chains. Reading the capitalistic accounts of the owners is truly remarkable in understanding how these people got where they are today. However, there is a dark side to their success, one that Schlosser reveals to the reader and reveals the true nature of the business: profits.

Schlosser covers the non-unionized workers that run the stores. They are at risk to robberies and are underpaid and have no real benefits. They are also given no real job skills, yet the restaurants receive tax breaks for the high rate of turnover on their employees. Schlosser then takes the reader through tours of various slaughterhouses. He has personally interviewed workers who are forced to do rush jobs butchering animals and who have high rates of on the job injuries that are quietly swept under the carpet. Most of the workers in charge of the nation's meat supply are uneducated illegal aliens. Most of the food found in fast food restaurants has been overly processed and may contain fecal matter or other contaminants, according to Schlosser. The overworked and understaffed USDA is often at the mercy of the meat plants. Despite repeat violations, even the USDA continues to purchase meat for school lunches from cited meat plants.

There are many throwbacks in this book from Upton Sinclair's, The Jungle (the book is dedicated to "Red"). From reading the book, one would guess we are only a little better than where we were in 1906. The book doesn't advocate vegetarianism, but does equate the working conditions for the delivery of the cheap burger to those of the sweat shop workers. I found the book extremely compelling and factual, one that made huge amounts of sense to me as I see trend of homogenizing America, and the world. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Pocket manual provides key clinical data for students and residents. Includes areas of internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonary, gastroenterology, nephrology, hematology-oncology, infectious diseases, endocrinology, and rheumatology. ... Read more

Reviews

Standard of Care, June 12, 2001
Unfortunately, the previous reviews have failed to adequately address the role and purpose of this publication. Pocket Medicine, at least as I have used it, is the most concise and accurate reference for the practice of Internal Medicine in the United States as conducted at most teaching institutions today. It essentially covers all the major organ systems and disease processes as the most recent literature and textbooks recommend. Possession of this book will allow students, residents and staff to give patients the best care possible from evidence based medicine. You will shine on the wards and at morning report with this material. In fact, you could easily pass the Internal Medicine board certification exam if you knew everything in this book. For those practicing internal medicine from med students on up, it renders Scut Monkey, Ferre, Wash Manual, tarascon ICU books etc, all obsolete. Just look at the section about Swan Ganz monitoring -it's all there. Look at microscopic polyangiitis- it's all there. These are all real patients I've treated and this book works. More than half of the residents, students and staff in my hospital use it. Even surgeons own it. As medicine becomes more complex and scientifically based, publications such as this will be the only way to keep up. In fact, it's very inexpensive for what you get. One caution is that it may be too advanced for 3rd year med students with a poor knowledge base. A wash manual may be a simpler way to start. Unfortunately, those people who gave it a poor review have simply demonstrated their complete ignorance of the modern scientific practice of medicine. I simply hope they never treat any of my relatives!

a "balanced" view from a former MGH housestaff..., January 6, 2003
As a former Mass General resident, I got a kick out of seeing our humble housestaff manual transformed into a glamorous pocket notebook. And apparently a somewhat controversial transformation, given some of the extremely negative reviews that have been posted. Ignoring the commercial aspects of this debate for a moment, I think the manual contains solid and comprehensive information that should serve any housestaff well (it certainly did for me for 3 years!). It probably does not contain enough explanation for most 3rd and 4th year medical students and, as such, should be used to supplement another manual (such as Washington or Ferri).

IM Residency Must Have, January 8, 2006
I've used this book for three years and it is by far the best handbook. It provides a quick prep for attending rounds and morning report. I also have used it in preparation for the in service exam given each year. While obviously not an all encompassing text (and not intended to be) it is surprisingly complete. A good deal of information covered on the ABIM exam is actually in this book. My only gripe is the text - too small. Every IM intern and resident should carry this book and learn it in and out. Worth the 37 bucks.

The ONLY Book you need on the wards, August 11, 2003
I agree w/ many of the other reviews. This is a fantastic book for RESIDENTS, not medical students. It tends to gloss over basic information that any resident should already know. For that reason , the book is concise and has all the relevant info in order to manage patients. I also like the small notebook format, so I can add additional pages of info. I agree that this book does need a neuro/psych section to cover CVA/Seizures, delirium/dementia and ETOH withdrawal management. I've already worn my book out in the past two years and look forward to future editions. I have recommended this book to every intern I have supervised on the Wards...It is the only reference book I carry.

Pocket Medicine Review, January 31, 2002
This small ring bound book is an excellent
resource for the most current diagnostic,prognostic,
and therapeutic information when evaluating many patients
during a limited time frame.Typically, the authors provide references after each subject, to which you can "quote"
to your senior resident or attending or make a dash to
the library, only to return with copies of an up to date journal
article to distribute on rounds while discussing your patient.
One suggestion I offer for improvement would be to include
a brief review of the basic neurological events that we are often
faced with on the wards, such as: CVA (ischemic/thrombotic), seizure,etiologies of dementia/delirium.

Great for review, but you will need to go deeper, May 7, 2006
Although I consider this to be one of the best handbooks for a quick superficial review, there are several other books which allow for more in depth learning while on the wards... such as The Consult Manual of Internal Medicine & of course... The Washington Manual. I would definitely carry around, or at least have handy, one of these while on the wards. If you get Pocket Med, make sure you get the new edition (2nd) as there is a new neurology section which is very nice.

Study results!, July 23, 2003
I see a lot of both good and poor reviews for this book. Personally, I like the book a lot. What it has that Ferri's doesn't is evidence-based medicine. Several major studies (PIOPED, and the like) are summarized. Yes, it is someone's notebook in fancy form. But it's cheap, it's small, and it's good. I found that it was too light on details when I was starting out, but once I felt a little more comfortable with my ability to come up with a basic differential, this was the book for me. It was great help for those long medicine write-ups, providing clinical research correlations. Now it is the only book that I carry in my pocket, full of micrographic notes that I have made from lectures, other books, etc. Ferri's isn't exactly pocket-friendly.

A MUST-HAVE pocket reference for residents, January 16, 2006
Read an UpToDate article and then read about that topic in Pocket Medicine and you will see 99% of the information from Uptodate but in concise format, including references to key articles. This book is packed with information. However, it's more in bullet and table format than in paragraph form, so not easy to read from if you're learning about a topic for the first time. More of a reference to the key points in each disease process assuming that you know a little about it beforehand. For that, you need 5 minute clinical consults or something similar. Also, the index could use some more cross-indexing, it can be tough to find subjects sometimes if you are in a hurry. It's available for handhelds too...haven't tried it yet though.

disappointing..., August 26, 2009
I agree with the last reviewer on all points. This book is quite disappointing. The content is superb but the presentation is horrendous. The publisher did a very poor job. Ringbinder is bulky, impossible to open quickly and flip through pages, pages are too thin, and font is ridiculously small. There are large portions of the pages left blank for "note taking" but ink bleeds through the "tissue paper" pages (You're lucky if you don't poke a hole through it first with the tip of the pen). The favorable reviews sound like suck ups. I give it 5 stars for excellent content, but subtract 3 stars for lack of usability in the real world

Replaces all my other pocket guides!, January 22, 2008
Pocket Medicine is an outstanding quick reference, covering an astonishing amount of information in a small notebook.

During spare moments, I can review the well-designed chapters. When I need a reference, the facts are laid out in a clear and logical format, and referenced to journals and studies where appropriate.

A more complete index is the one thing I would add to this book, but that's a small quibble. It's easy enough to add notations to the back of the book, or add a few extra pages (the binder takes standard six-ring refills, such as FiloFax Personal pages).

My pockets are lighter since I found Pocket Medicine. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Rec'd. both volumes exactly as described!, January 7, 2010
After reading some negative reviews, I was afraid I would only receive one volume. Both volumes arrived at my door SUPER fast. I was under the impression that two cd's came with this order, but it looks like only one cd is included with one of the volumes. I'm not going to worry about it as the ISBN # matches the one on my college bookstore list. The books came shrinkwrapped and in fabulous condition.

Thought I would add to the good reviews here in case anyone else was in my former position and hesitant to order.

Thanks, Amazon!

Very Pleased with order, January 5, 2010
I could not ask for better service!! My order was here in 3 days in perfect condition and in volume I and II...

Don't order this., December 29, 2009
IF you need Volume one and Volume two, don't order this. Only volume two is shipped. Then, when you call to say "hey where is volume one?" they don't know, can't figure it out and state that this order is only for volume 2. that makes so much sense!

DO NOT PURCHASE! DO NOT HAVE VOL 2, December 29, 2009
So I ended up getting just the Volume 1. I called up customer service and Aaron, one of the rep, was very helpful and nice. And ordered the right one with 2 textbooks (vol 1 and vol 2) and upgraded the shipping to one day at no extra charge. Here's hoping I receive 2 textbooks this time around. Nonetheless, excellent customer service. I will keep you guys posted.

Update: The second time around trying to get this order right. I still ended up getting the Volume 1 only. I called customer service and she stated that they no longer carry the 2nd volume. I had to return this book even though it is available on the amazon.com as 2 volumes. DO NOT PURCHASE! It' false advertisement.

Great to be studying with the right book at a lower price, October 24, 2010
I have tried using comparable books to gather the information I needed for my tests. Buying this book allows me to follow the material and get better grades faster. At a much lower price than the school bookstores too.

The best Nursing Med/Surg book ever!, May 30, 2010
Being in nursing school, your instructors are always giving you a list of books that may make the class easier, and none of them ever help; that is not the case with this book at all! This book is by far the best and easiest book I have ever used to study with, it puts things in the simplest terms and doesn't beat around the bush to give you the information. It is very well organized, and uses the nursing mindset to explain why things are important. I will be using this book long after I get out of school!

Med-Surg Book (Shamu) Review, February 12, 2010
Easy read: info flows well, easy to understand. I call this book 'Shamu' because of the size - an absolute behemoth! Vendors need to advertise the weight of some books to help clarify whether to buy the 2-volume alternative. Otherwise, an actual nursing book that's well-written and a 'joy' to read! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This best-selling introductory nutrition text is praised for its approachable narrative, careful explanations, and engaging presentation.The new Twelfth Edition of Whitney and Rolfes? UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION takes the study of nutrition to a new level with an emphasis on active learning, assignable content, and integrated resources.From its beautiful and carefully developed art program to its strong science base, contemporary coverage, and market-leading supplements, the Twelfth Edition of UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION connects with its readers and continues to set the standard for texts in this market. This text includes 20 chapters beginning with core nutrition topics; such as, diet planning, macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, and following with chapters on diet and health, fitness, life span nutrition, food safety, and world hunger.UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION connects with students--engaging them as it teaches the basic concepts and applications of nutrition. Take a fresh look at UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION. ... Read more

Reviews

It's, well, easy to digest., January 8, 2008
All jokes aside, while students may gripe about having to shell out the bucks for this textbook, it is well worth the money. I've got an earlier edition and have used it a lot in the past. I found the later editions to be very up to date and quite useful as a reference for some of the clinical questions I encounter while working with patient education issues. In the days of picky insurance reimbursement, it's vital that all the stuff we do be based on sound clinical information showing that what we do is indeed effective.

Easy to understand, and a well laid-out text with many good illustrations, there's a good reason why it's a standard in the field. Can also recommend The Sixty-Second Motivator for people who have trouble sticking to a healthy diet. After all, what good is nutritional advice if no one is motivated enough to follow it?

fairly comprehensive, but very basic, April 13, 2006
My comments are applicable to the instructor's edition of this book, 10th edition.

I have been studying nutrition and health on my own for years. I picked up this book so that I could have one comprehensive resource. Apparently I would have been better to find a book written for a higher-level course or for graduate school.

This book contained no new information from my perspective. For example, I was disappointed that the book only devoted 4 pages to vegetarian diets. Obviously, it is impossible to cover all aspects of the various types of vegetarian diets in 4 pages.

If you are looking for a book that covers the basics of nutrition this is a decent resource. If you have a resonable understanding of nutrition I would recommend passing on this book. When I locate a more comprehensive and detailed nutrition reference guide I will post an update to this review.

Required for a semester, but keeps for a lifetime, June 29, 2004
Overall, I found this text to be chocked full of helpful knowledge. I was required to purchase this book for a course I took in beginning nutrition, but I will keep it forever because of the wealth of knowledge. The concepts are suburbly explained and illustrations make understanding the information easier. Even though most people buy this for a class, I believe it is easy to read and assimilate the information. The Appendices are chocked full of useful facts about the current diet and exchange lists, including food pyramids and such.

The only information I disagree with is the section on vegetarianism. Surely they could have done a better job and included more than four pages! However, there are plenty of books dedicated solely to vegetarians/vegans that would be more important and informative.

It would also have been nice to see more updated information on fad diets such as Atkins or South Beach with respect to health issues. Or even more recent scientific studies throughout the book would contribute significantly to the reading.

Since the 2004 edition is just coming out, if you can pick up a cheap copy of this edition it is well worth the investment.

Easily digestible, March 30, 2002
I loved reading this book as the language used is very attractive.Information introduced in a very reader friendly way and different colours are used to stop you falling asleep.This book explains even tiny things and avoids complicated pionts by referring the in depth reader to Appendices at the back of the book.I recommend this book for any body intrested to get significant information in a short time.This book is very useful and easily digestible specially if English is not your first language.

NO CD ROM IN 9TH EDITION, January 3, 2005
I just received this book today. I got the ninth edition which is what I ordered. Unfortunately, Amazon has a review for the 10th edition on the 9th edition page. I didn't read carefully enough and therefore received no CD ROM. The book seems to be very nice, but I do feel ripped off because I expected the CD ROM. Just wanted to warn others!

Great reference book for those seeking general information..., April 28, 2007
This textbook is a comprehensive resource that will give both students and average consumers insight into how the human body processes and uses food. If you are looking for in-depth information on one particular type of dietary plan or lifestyle choice (for example, vegetarianism), this is probably not the book for you -- after all, this is an introductory textbook, and thus provides a more general overview of the subject. However, the text does provide a lot of valuable information about human nutrition and also offers a thorough discussion of current diet controversies, as well as information that will aid those seeking to create a practical exercise/training plan.

The textbook is a bit crowded with colorful charts and graphs; I personally was not annoyed by them, but if you are easily distracted by visual clutter, be forewarned. Some of the chapters focused on the biological processes are rather technical (not something that bothers me), while others are more accessible to readers; however, the text as a whole is a valuable resource and one that I will keep and continue to reference well into the future.

So much Info, November 10, 2006
I would reccomend this book for anyone interested in making healthier food choices. The ones who have the wish to improve their eating habits, but are not sure what those habits should be, will find here an amazing amount of helpful information in form of text, charts and even extensive calorie content tables.
I use this book as a textbook for the course, but it could be read by anyone.

Superficial, and full of misinformation, November 17, 2008
I'm wondering who funded the creation of this ridiculous book ... I stopped wasting my time reading it after it informed me that pesticides have not been *proven* to be bad for you, nitrates don't actually cause cancer (don't worry about it...just keep buying!), artificial flavor chemicals and dyes are actually better for you than the compounds that flavor natural foods ... oh and it's fine to eat antiobiotics and growth hormones all the time (as long as people are *responsible* about how they apply them) ... Toxic sludge is good for you -- Don't waste your money -- complete garbage1

Misunderstanding Nutrition, April 11, 2009
My comments are on the 10th ed., 2005. With over a million sold this book is a major influence on diet, dieticians and nutritionists. The authors assure that it is based on the best science available, and that only a Registered Dietician (RD) can be relied on for accurate information. An RD can be obtained by achieving a 4-year degree in a related subject, then passing an examination given by the American Dietetic Association. Coverage is intended to be comprehensive, and it could have been on 990 big pages. The writing is very clear, but contains internal inconsistencies. Many citations appear to support the authors' (and ADA's) positions. Kilocalories (kcal) are correctly used instead of calories. Advice is given for the "average" American for whom the authors made tiny changes in intakes of many nutrients based on age, sex, and pregnancy, but none for metabolic types, such as low-carbohydrate diets for people prone to diabetes, or most types of food allergies.
But there is a serious omission of celiac and Crohn's diseases and their causes, which are grain, gluten, and gliadin allergies which also lead to several types of cancers. This must be related to the authors' incessant promotion of whole grain foods and carbohydrates in general despite 10-50% of Americans suffering from grain allergies. Irritable bowel syndrome is mentioned with high-fat intake as the supposed cause, when grains, intestinal flora and stress are more likely.
While "balanced diets" are lauded, the actual diets recommended are high carbohydrate (300 g/day, 60% of energy intake), tempered only to 50% for diabetics despite extensive un-cited findings that serum glucose control, hyper- and hypoglycemia are uncontrollable with such diets. Type-2 diabetes is preventable and treatable with low-carb, high-fat diets, which are anathema to these authors.
One reason is fear of fat, especially animal fat, as supposedly atherogenic, one of the most pervasive messages in this book, ignoring observations in groups such as the Inuit, Masai, and long-term (up to 50 years) use of high-animal fat diets by physicians. The Spanish Paradox (among others) was the result of observations that between 1964 and 1991, per capita bread consumption fell by 55%, rice by 35%, and potato by 53%. During this period beef and full-cream milk consumption doubled, poultry tripled and pork intake quadrupled. During this period heart disease deaths fell by 25% in men and 34% in women; blood pressures and stroke deaths dropped. Spanish now live 2 years longer than Americans. Between 1959 and 2004, there were at least 50 articles by researchers seeking to prove a connection between fat intake or cholesterol levels and "heart disease" (CVD) where none found a positive correlation.
Among chemistry errors was the claim that loss of an electron by a stable molecule gave a free radical, implicated in atherogenicity and carcinogenicity (p389). Such a loss of a negative charge would lead to formation of a positive and negative ion pair, not a free radical, which is commonly formed when a hydrogen atom with its electron is removed. This is exactly the reason that polyunsaturated fats are more likely to form free radicals (and go rancid) than saturated or monounsaturated fats, making them less desirable. Ignored was a well-done study that pitted animal fat against olive and corn oils. After two years there were the following percentages of subjects free from major cardiac events: animal fat 75%, olive oil 57% and corn oil 52%.
Cholesterol was such a bugaboo to Whitney and Rolfes that they admitted not a single direct function of it in the body! Cell and organelle membranes were drawn with no cholesterol present, where in fact, it is essential as it also is in nerve synapses and other brain function. Low cholesterol levels' association with cancer, depression, violence, and all-cause mortality were missing. A search of citations such as these authors used was made by Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, to find the original studies or trials supporting a deadly role for dietary saturated fat or cholesterol without success. The earlier sources had no or opposite evidence to support their claims. Whitney and Rolfes even touted the Seven Countries Study of Ancel Keys, M.D. (p174), long exposed as a fraud utilizing data suppression. In addition, they quoted an NCEP/NHLBI/AHA publication that claimed a 1% reduction of serum cholesterol level gave a 2% reduction in CVD (p176); but a concurrent publication and many other studies showed the opposite. In the elderly, those with the higher cholesterol levels live the longest, as do those whose cholesterol levels do not drop on their own.
Dietary fiber was strongly recommended to prevent both CVD and colon cancer, despite an admission that the research was contradictory (p124). A 16-year study on 89,000 women and a meta-analysis of 17 studies showed no effect on CVD and 35-50% increases in colon cancer.
Whitney and Rolfes even touted choosing wild fish over farmed fish, writing that the wild fish contained more omega-3 fats, exactly opposite of a recent study's findings.
Salt limitation to 6 g/day "to lower blood pressure" was presented despite the very persuasive evidence showing that BP will go down in only 1/5 of people, that it will go up in 1/5, and that 3/5 will be almost unaffected by changing salt intake. Overall, in the gigantic Intersalt trial, there was little effect of salt on BP, while greater potassium intake was hypotensive. In 2003, the Cochrane Collaboration agreed.
Best single volume nutrition book I know of: Groves B. Trick and Treat: How "Healthy Eating" is Making Us Ill. London, England: Hammersmith Press, 2008. Not a textbook. See my Amazon review.
Physicians who ignore recommendations of dietitians may be justified. Calls for courses in nutrition for physicians and other health providers, if based on books such as this, might not be worthwhile.
Over 130 questionable statements other than those above were found. Therefore, this book is not recommended. For a list of over 100, with references to back up my positions, e-mail me at kauffman37@yahoo.com after 25 Apr 09.

Quality Intro to Nutrition Textbook, December 13, 2009
I am using this book for an online class. It is easy to read. The material is explained clearly. It is worth the money! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Calculate with Confidence provides a clear consistent format with a step-by-step approach to the calculation and administration of drug dosages. It covers the ratio and proportion, formula, and dimensional analysis methods. This popular text focuses on enhancing the learning experience of students at all curricular levels by making content clinically applicable. Concepts relating to critical thinking, logical thinking, and nursing process are presented throughout. New practice problems have been added throughout this edition and rationales for the answers continue to be provided giving the students a better understanding of principles related to drug dosages. This fifth edition addresses the increasing responsibility of nurses in medication and administration; emphasizes the priority for client care, and presents material that reflects the current scope of the nursing practice.

• A clear and consistent, step-by-step approach to calculations and administration makes it easy to understand.


• Ratio and Proportion, Formula, and Dimensional Analysis content provides you with well-rounded coverage.


• Pretest and post-test help identify strengths and weaknesses in competency of basic math before and assess your comprehension after Unit One: Math Review.


• Points to Remember boxes highlighted in each chapter help you remember important concepts.


• Critical thinking information that should be applied in the clinical setting to help avoid drug calculation and administration errors is boxed throughout the text.


• Full-color illustrations, photographs, and drug labels familiarize you with what you'll encounter in the clinical setting.


• Current recommendations from The Joint Commission and Institute for Safe Medication Practices are followed throughout.

• Caution boxes identify issues that may lead to medication errors and strengthen actions that must be taken to avoid calculation errors.


• Tips for Clinical Practice calls attention to information critical to math�calculation and patient safety as well as issues related to practice.


• Rule boxes familiarize students with information needed to accurately solve drug calculation problems.

Reviews

The Best, May 29, 2004
I used this book to CLEP out of a Med Dosing class, and I missed 6 out of 115 questions!! This book is the best and one to add to any Nursing major's collections of books to keep on hand.

Excellent math review for nursing practice, December 8, 2002
This was a nice review of math skills needed in the nursing field. There were good visual aids in the book and steps were very systematic.

Great Math Review for Nurses, April 1, 2006
We had to complete this entire book before beginning our LPN nursing coursework. It is a great book!

It explains concepts thoroughly and gives plenty of examples so you can go step-by-step to calculate new problems. The answers are in the back so you can check your work before you move on to a new concept.

I've used is several times as a resource throughout my LPN year. Highly recommended.

Calculate w/ Confidence is Right!, September 29, 2005
I am using this book for my current Nursing program, and thus far has been very helpful. It breaks everything down, and gives several examples and opportunities for practice. It also builds on everything you've already learned so that you can see how to apply it. I found the pre-test and post-test to be great so that you can gain an understanding of what your math level is before and after reviewing the 1st 8 chapters. If you are already good at basic math, you can skip the first 8 chapters because they are just a review. Overall, a great book, and not hard to understand.

Great Nursing Math Book, March 2, 2008
This book is a required text in my nursing program and it has been wonderful. I really needed practice brushing up on math and this book leads you from math basics all the way through to various methods of medication and IV calculation. One unique feature of this text: 3 different methods for calculating medications are introduced (ratio & proportion, formula, and dimensional analysis.) You determine which method you prefer for completing medication problems. The medication examples in the book are then worked through step-by-step based on all 3 methods. I simply study my preferred method of solving problems (ratio & proportion) and disregard the other 2 methods. Each chapter includes pre and post tests and there is a CD-ROM that contains over 500 practice problems. I find the book easy to understand, even if you are self-teaching. There are lots of practice problems and answers. This book is well worth the money!

A must have for every student nurse, nurse and nurse practitioner, July 7, 2006
When lives are in your hands, you want to be sure that your calculations are perfect everytime. This is the book that will give you the confidence to know that you are calculating all medications accurately everytime. A must have for all those in the medical field.

Calculate with Confidence, June 24, 2008
This book is really great. I got accepted in the nursing program but I always had a fear of math I didn't think I could do it. But this book carrys you step by step even the math dummy can understand dosage calculation. Believe me you won't be disappointed.

Calculate with confidence is a "must have" book!, October 2, 2010
This is a great math book for anyone in Nursing! I recently got a new job which required a review and this book made all the difference. It has everything you need in detail, including pictures! Great teaching book!

Great for Rusty Math Skills, October 12, 2008
I was required to do remedial math for my nursing program. I have never been great with numbers and all of the skills I was taught in 7th grade were pretty weak. This book was a great learning tool, there are pre tests and post tests before each unit, every chapter has about 45 practice problems in the review section and another 45 for the skills challenge. There are step by step examples with alternate ways to do each calculation. A CD also comes with this book that has a multitude of practice problems as well. I would reccomend this book for other nursing students and nurses alike.

Future Nurse, October 4, 2007
This text takes you from basics to excellent in calculations, which was exactly what i needed. The CD was very helpfull and it gives you great tips! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The most trusted and up-to-date pharmacology text in medicine -- completely redesigned to make the learning process even more interesting and efficient

5 Star Doody's Review!
"This is the most widely used textbook for teaching pharmacology to health professionals. This 11th edition is far superior to any previous editions....The authors' goals are to provide a complete, authoritative, current, and readable textbook of pharmacology for students in health sciences. Testimony to their success is the widespread use of this work as required textbook for pharmacology courses around the world. This book is used extensively by thousands of medical, pharmacy, podiatry, nursing, and other health professions students to study pharmacology. Likewise, it remains a valuable resource for residents and practicing physicians....I continue to use this book as a required resource for all courses that I teach to medical, nursing, and allied health students. It is authoritative, readable, and supported by numerous learning tools."--Doody's Review Service

Organized to reflect the syllabi in Pharmacology courses, Basic & Clinical Pharmacology covers all the important concepts students need to know about the science of pharmacology and its application to clinical practice. It is acknowledged worldwide as the field’s most current, authoritative, and comprehensive textbook. To be as clinically relevant as possible, the book features a strong focus on the choice and use of drugs in patients and the monitoring of their effects.

Coverage that spans every important aspect of medical pharmacology:

• Basic Principles
• Autonomic Drugs
• Cardiovascular-Renal Drugs
• Drugs with Important Actions on Smooth Muscle
• Drugs that Act in the Central Nervous System
• Drugs Used to Treat Diseases of the Blood, Inflammation, and Gout
• Endocrine Drugs
• Chemotherapeutic Drugs
• Toxicology

NEW to this edition:

• Full-color presentation, including 300+ illustrations
• Case studies introduce clinical problems in many chapters
• Drug summary tables for key information in comparative context
• Descriptions of important newly released drugs, including new immunopharmacologic agents
• Expanded coverage of general concepts relating to newly discovered receptors, receptor mechanisms, and drug transporters

Reviews

Bread & Butter of any Medical Practice, August 5, 2009
Having been in primary care medicine for nearly 20 years, I have found Katzung's "Pharmacology" books to be enormously informative and practical at the same time. There always are initial chapters that enable one to review one's biochemistry and physiology of drugs, followed by a balanced and pragmatic summary of all relevant groups of drugs, including their drawbacks and drug interactions. I have bought every edition of this book during and since medical school, and it has been invaluable - especially in regards to when new drugs are introduced into the market. One only needs to look up similar drugs or its "predecessors" to forewarn the clinician of the safety of prescribing the new drug in question. (For example, from my background in biochemistry and constantly reading up of pharmacology in these books, I predicted that Vioxx would cause problems in both diabetic patients and heart patients, and refused to prescribe it. Look what happened!!!)

Linda E. Dewey, M.D.

Good Intro Book, December 15, 2009
I am a graduate student in Chemistry and used this book to learn the basics of Pharmacology. There was enough background for me to learn even though I do not have a Biology/Physiology background at all.

Med school, January 30, 2010
Great complement to med school pharm. The book introduces a class of medicines with diagrams and mechanisms of action. For me it definitely clarified ideas presented in pharm lectures that I didn't quite get.

Great resource, but other references are more high yield, October 15, 2010
I bought this for M2 year of med school. The information in the book is fairly complete, but I will still need to go to Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics to really put burning questions to rest. Also note, hopefully your school has a subscription to Access Medicine for both of these resources.

My favorite book for pharm so far is Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology, 4th Edition (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Series). It has 90 percent of the information I need, including new drug classes. It is a little lean on the structures, which Lange covers pretty well. However, I used Illustrated Pharm for all of my antimicrobial information, and hope to use it the rest of M2 year.

Also, don't be scared of Goodman, it's a beast of a tomb but that is because it would be like having you own personal professor describe in detail the mechanism of every drug used for treatment. I cant tell you how many times I thought it was leaving me hanging on an explanation, only to find my questions addressed 3-4 sentences later. Well written and complete, but there is just a lot of stuff to learn about every drug!

Good pictures and detail but no review questions, August 31, 2010
I have read the first several chapters of this book and I have to say the pictures are very nice, colorful and easy to understand. My complaint about this book is that there are no review questions either before or after each chapter. I like testing myself to see if I captured the take home message of each chapter and sadly this book does not have review questions before/after the chapters. There are a few case studies however; they do add to the content of the select chapters that there are case studies. Overall, the book is fine, if you like review questions like me, then choose another book.

Good text, February 7, 2010
Had to purchase this book for pharmacy school. This seems to be a pretty nice book. Lots of good pictures and diagrams and fairly thorough explanations. It was a required text but I am not disappointed as I have referred to it numerous times.

Not worth buying compared to previous editions, November 29, 2010
I am a physician looking for a book that helps me clinically. The 9th edition was great. This one is like getting a Goodman and Gillman. Example, 9th edition for antidepressants tells me which cause sedation, well written and easy to follow, this does not even have the same table. Its very complicated and I would not recommend it. Much worse than the 9th edition.

It's Ok...So Far, October 24, 2010
To be fair, I've only read some random chapter assigned in the middle of the book and the first chapter, but so far I think Lippincott's book is better. I've also only read a couple of chapter from Lippincott's.

great shape, speedy delivery, October 2, 2009
I saved over $30 on this book by buying it from Amazon rather than the school bookstore. The book arrived within days of ordering it and was in excellent condition.

Textbook, January 30, 2010
Item was received quickly and in exact condition described. Would buy from again. Thank you! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Good text and reference, September 16, 2005
The book begins at a very elementary level and progresses systematically through topics that are more complex, providing the reader with a good understanding of the principles and practices of research and with tools for analyzing the quality of research. I'm sure I'll be referring to this well-written book for many years to come.

Valuable Research Tool!, November 10, 2006
This is an excellent book. It makes studying research very easy to follow and understand. Great resource book! A must-have for any research course on any level (graduate or undergraduate).

Good Basic Reference, November 16, 2006
This text is a good basic reference for the beginning nurse researcher. It has very clear explanations of the research process and applies them nicely to the clinical setting.

Denise, RN, September 11, 2007
Required text for master science in nursing, professor states will use as "reference." Lots of info packed in, lots of current websites/info listed. Fairly easy to follow format.

Great book!, February 18, 2009
I got this book for a graduate research class and it's great! It has an easy to understand language and the summary of important terms at the end of each chapter makes it easy to review. It is also a not-so-big book.

Excellent, September 10, 2008
Just what I needed for my master's course, and it was less expensive than the university bookstore!

Informative and simple to understand., January 7, 2010
Very informative book-great for research basic course; excellent condition, I recommend it for anyone taking a research course.

Great resource!, September 15, 2009
This book was required for a graduate-level statistics course. It is readable and helpful. I highly recommend it.

Like pulling teeth, July 3, 2009
This textbook provides everything an aspiring nurse researcher could want to know. But I find the writing style very academic, wordy, and hard to get through. I'm a straight-A BSN student, and I have to read most sentences more than once to understand what they're saying. Research is not my style, but this book is probably helpful if you enjoy it. A statistics background would be very helpful. Most students will be required to get this book for a class, so this review is moot, but not probably a great pick for pleasure reading.

Nursing Research, June 5, 2008
Excellent advanced book on professional nursing research theory and methodology. Excellent graphics and charts integrated into the body of the text. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Over 1 million copies sold! With new exercises, additional stretches, and more of Frédéric Delavier’s signature illustrations, you’ll gain a whole new understanding of how muscles perform during strength exercises. This one-of-a-kind best-seller combines the visual detail of top anatomy texts with the best of strength training advice.

Many books explain what muscles are used during exercise, but no other resource brings the anatomy to life like Strength Training Anatomy. Over 600 full-color illustrations reveal the primary muscles worked along with all the relevant surrounding structures, including bones, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue.

Like having an X-ray for each exercise, the anatomical depictions show both superficial and deep layers and detail how various setup positions affect muscle recruitment and emphasize underlying structures. New pages show common strength training injuries in a fascinating light and offer precautions to help you exercise safely.

Author and illustrator Frédéric Delavier is the former editor in chief of the French publication PowerMag. He is a journalist for Le Monde du Muscle and a contributor to Men’s Health Germany and several other strength training publications.

Reviews

==Lots of Strengths==, January 8, 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.

Execllent Anatomical Reference for Weight Training, July 18, 2002
This book is an excellent weight training reference for insight into the anatomy of the major muscle groups, and the exercises best suited to train specific muscles.

The book is broken down into seven major muscle groups: arms, shoulders, chest, back, legs, buttocks, and abdomen. Within each muscle group are multiple exercises, each comprised of detailed anotomical illustrations, instructions on performing the exercises, and key information such as variations (for specific focus on particular muscles) and warnings (to aviod injury).

Using this book, one could easily select a variety of exercises to build a total body workout program. The selection of exercises also allows for some routine variation to keep one's workout from getting stale.

The illustrations are of an exellent quality, as are the materials. The pages are of heavyweight paper, with a semi-glossy finish.

Although I rated this title highly, I did so with the understanding that it suits a very specific purpose, and is not a general purpose introduction or guide to weight training. This is an ANATOMY REFERENCE, specific to selected weight training exercises. It does not contain any other information concerning weight training, diet, exercise, etc. In fact, there is not even a brief introduction by the author, simply the reference material itself. But, in terms of its intended purpose, it is an excellent reference. If you already have some sort of "Bodybuilding Encyclopedia", you probably already posess much of the information contained in this title. Having no interest in the history, self-promotion, and general testosterone driven attitudes of many of those types of titles (as well as the phonebook sized package), I much prefer this concise book as an exercise reference.

very useful !!! excellent, February 5, 2004
Lots of good info. However, it is an anatomy book so the information is limited to anatomy. This book shows you what the involved muscle does during a specific exercise. This book will not teach you how to work out, and has no info on diet or nutrition. If you are a beginner you may want to start with a different exercise book. If you already work out and you need to know which exercise hits which muscle and how, this is the book to get.

New 3rd edition - with red cover - is even bigger and better!, March 26, 2010
Frederic Delavier's stunning Strength Training Anatomy (Sports Anatomy Series) is an essential resource for any strength training enthusiast. While others have tried to mimic Delavier's incredible illustrations of muscle performance during strength training, no one comes close to capturing Delavier's level of detail and style. The pretenders either deliver sterile computer models or come off as second rate approximations of Delavier's unparalleled artwork.

One look and you'll be sold. The cover touts selling over a million copies of Strength Training Anatomy and its been the best selling strength training title at Amazon year-in and year-out.

This newly released 3rd Edition packs even more information on strength training, sport injury and prevention, and now adds material on stretching/flexibility for the first time. At 192 pages, this edition is 50% longer than the original 2001 publication. It now contains over 600 full-color illustrations.

Believe the hype - this is a FANTASTIC resource! Highly recommended!

Excellent strength training resource from a company with top-notch customer service, March 24, 2010
I bought the 2nd edition of this book well over a year ago when I was on a working out kick. Unfortunately life got in the way and I stopped going to the gym for several months, and even when I started back I only dabbled with cardio workouts. About 4 months ago I started back on weights and dug out this book. Prior to that I hadn't opened it. The book as it turns out had serious printing issues, making much of it unusable. It was long past the time frame in which I could have returned it to Amazon so I contacted the publisher, Human Kinetics, instead. Their customer service was excellent! They were aware of a small number of mis-prints that fit my description and were more than happy to replace it. The CS person asked if it would be ok if the replacement was delayed a few weeks until the 3rd edition was available which greatly pleased me. I received the new book about a week ago and it was in perfect condition. Many thanks to the HK folks for their fine customer service!

For those that don't already know what's in this book let me explain in detail. Everyone has seen the anatomy posters on the gym walls. The individual caricatures on the posters display a cut-away model of the human body sans skin. It highlights a muscle or group of muscles and then shows you an exercise that you can use to work that specific muscle. There usually isn't much more detail than that. Text is minimal. This book is at it basics a book version of those posters. However this book goes much, much further. The caricatures for individual muscles and muscle groups in this book usually have multiple exercise options. Text in this book explains in detail how to properly perform the exercise. It also provides useful tips on how to slightly alter the exercise to accommodate common injuries (ie, turn your wrists this way to not engage a torn wrist flexor). There are several pages of guides and background information on how to avoid certain injuries such as not fully extending your arms when doing curls to avoid tendinitis down the road. As another example the book goes into detail on how and why crunches should ALWAYS be performed with an inward curving spine (ie, fetal curve). This is to minimize the usage of the Psoas Major & Minor hip flexors and avoid the back injury they can cause. There are several excellent section of pure information in this book. The caricatures in this book are truly excellent. The artist did a fantastic job positioning and drawing the body to emphasize exactly what the reader needs to see and understand. The 3rd Edition also adds text on proper stretching among other things.

I highly recommend this book to every single person lifting weights at all levels. I've shown the book to friends, coworkers and people at the gym. I've even sung its praises to complete strangers in checkout lines and restaurants. I can't say enough good things about it. The only negative thing I can think of (more of a wishful thinking thing) is that it's only available in paperback. I wish it was also available as a hardback. Taking this to the gym with you will wear it out eventually. Of course for its low price replacing it is inexpensive. It's an excellent resource.

A Must-Read if You Lift Weights, July 30, 2006
I'm very impressed with this useful book. I've lifted weights for a long time and I appreciate knowing how best to work certain muscles. I also like to do lifts that are easy on former injuries but still work the muscles. This is a perfect book for that.

Knowing what muscles your exercises use is critical to someone serious about gaining strength and building muscle. This book has those answers and is very easy to read and understand.

The book is the best one for both men and women. The author's book for women only deals with the lower part of a woman. News flash . . . we have an upper part too. And furthermore, we care about it just as much as our butts and thighs.

This books covers it all and also has drawings of women as well as men. It's really a great book and if you lift weights (and you should) this book is something you really should have.

It gives you instructions for all of the exercises you'll need and it shows exactly what muscle groups or muscle it works. It helps you avoid injury as well.

A great book. I highly recommend it to both men and women.

Great learning tool, July 6, 2002
I bought this book because it's hard to find a strength training book that isn't full of oversized bodybuilders talking strictly about building HUGE muscles. This book is perfect for the average person who just wants a scientific explanation of which muscles do what and the proper strength training technique to use for each. I found almost all common exercises included, and they are easily organized by body part.

Not very useful, January 28, 2003
Propably the first thing you notice when you open the book is quality. The paper is thick and glossy and the quality of printing is good. The pictures are beautiful, and it's easy to find exercises for a certain muscle group.

Then the bad news: While the pictures look great, on many occasions they are too detailed, to the point of being unclear. Every exercise is given a full page (two pages on some occasions). But the majority of a page is filled with large drawing of the exercise, with the stressed muscle groups shown. The performance of a given exercise is given far less detail, on some occasions only a few lines of text. I think it would be far more benefical to give more detailed explanation of correct performance and/or common mistakes, and print the picture a bit smaller.

The exercises in the book are divided on seven sections, based on which muscle group they mainly stress. This is OK, but the division of muscle groups is a bit odd. There is a separate section covering exercises for buttocs, but at the same time all other muscle groups in the leg are combined as "legs". It would be more reasonable to combine buttocs with quads, or thights, and give calves a separate section.

There are about 110 different exercises, and variations on some exercises. The selection of exercises is a bit odd in my opinion. For example, there is a page on seated calf raise (on a machine), and the author advises that as a variation you can do the exercise without a machine, using a barbell across your legs. Then, on the next page that very same exercise is presented as a separate exercise! And there are some basic exercises missing, like toe presses on leg press machine, for example.

Perhaps the main problem of the book is that it doesn't expalain the muslce mechanics at all. It would be great if the kinesiology of given muscle group would be explained at the beginning of each chapter, but there is no explanations at all about what a given muscle does, and how it affects the whole body. For example, the book says that seated calf raise targets the soleus, but there is no explanation what this means in practice. And there is no explanation which exercise I sould use if I wanted to emphasize the outer calf, for example.

As a conclusion, I would say that in certain circumstances this book can be a valuable asset, but you can't use it by itself. You need to have some books on kinesiology, and some books which describe the correct performance of each exercise in detail.

Indispensable!, December 12, 2002
I buy lots of fitness and strength training books, and this one is by far the best I've purchased. The book may look small, but it provides an extensive listing of exercises and includes tips about variations that will change how you work each muscle. This is important for a couple of reasons.

To maximize your gains in the gym, you have to constantly change your program so that your body doesn't hit a plateau. Regularly incorporating new exercises will also keep you from becoming bored with your workout. This book will show you how using a rope attachment with the pulley works a different part of the triceps as opposed to doing bench dips or doing a kickback. Also, the illustrations show you the auxiliary muscles that are recruited during compound movements like presses and deadlifts.

At first I was worried that the book might be too much for me to absorb, but it's not because the author does not get overly-technical with the explanations. The text is concise, yet thorough, and the pictures are highly detailed.

This is a wonderful reference book, and I highly recommend it.

Visually engaging and concise, February 19, 2005
This book has been very helpful to me in free weight training to validate if I am concentrating on the correct muscles in an exercise. The presentation is colorful, rich and engaging. This is the only exercise book I have seen that approaches the weightlifting body from the inside-out. In addition to the terrific musculature and skeletal diagrams on each page, the exercises are explained briefly but in sufficient detail with pointers for what to do and not do. The most popular exercises are presented here, organized by major and minor muscle groups.

This is not another encyclopedia full of exercises (though I find those helpful too). This book helps make you more aware of your muscles so you have another way of visualizing correct form in an exercise. The diagrams depict both men and women in a realistic way so both genders can benefit from the book. However, Delavier has another edition of this book showing other exercises popular with women.

I work out at home so without the benefit of trainers or other experienced lifters around me, I have found this kind of info invaluable. Make yourself a smarter lifter and get this book for education and reference into the future. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you are ready to make a life change for the sake of better health, look no further than this simple, no-frills guide to healthy eating. In the pages of "Get Real & Stop Dieting!," fitness instructor and wellness expert Brett Blumenthal cuts through the chaos of fad diets and scientific mumbo jumbo to demystify healthy eating once and for all. After decades of experience in the health and wellness industries, Blumenthal has zeroed in on five simple “Get Real” principles, nutritional tools founded in cold, hard facts. The principles are accompanied by the “Get Real” toolkit to make implementing them easy and effective. Plus, Blumenthal provides forty pages of healthy, satisfying recipes—from whole-grain pancakes to rich chocolate clusters—to help readers launch their nutritional makeover. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. Now, thanks to this easy-to-implement diet and nutrition program, you too can be inspired, empowered, and motivated to live a healthier, happier life. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With a concise, straightforward approach, this trusted text puts difficult concepts and essential drug calculation skills into a practical nursing context and prepares you for real-world responsibilities. Completely revised and updated with the most current information in nursing practice, a variety of strong learning tools, and new NCLEX"¥ examination study questions, this latest edition makes pharmacology more accessible than ever.

• UNIQUE! Prototype Drug Charts provide you with quick reference to key drug information, including dosages, contraindications, drug-lab-food interactions, pharmacokinetics, and more.
• UNIQUE! An extensive Dosage Calculations unit strengthens your mathematical skills and eliminates the need for a separate calculations book.
• Nursing Process summaries guide you through client care and drug therapy within the step-by-step framework of the nursing process.
• Critical Thinking Case Studies challenge you to apply your knowledge and analytical skills to realistic patient scenarios.
• A Principles of Drug Administration chapter guides you through drug administration procedures, addressing all routes of administration and various settings.
• Client Teaching sections prepare you for client interaction, with teaching tips for general drug administration, self-administration, diet, side effects, and cultural considerations.
• A companion CD reinforces your knowledge and enhances your review with approximately 450 NCLEX examination-style review questions, including alternate-item format questions; 30 pharmacology animations; IV therapy and medication error checklists; drug calculation problems; and electronic dosage calculators.
• UNIQUE! Illustrated overviews of normal anatomy and physiology in all drug therapy chapters help you understand how drugs work in various body systems.
• An appendix on bioterrorism agents helps you recognize the clinical manifestations of bioterrorism weapons and respond with appropriate drug treatments.
• UNIQUE! Herbal Alerts provide quick reference to side effects, drug interactions, and additional information for popular herbs you may encounter in practice.

• NCLEX Examination-style Study Questions prepare you for the growing pharmacology coverage on the NCLEX-RN exam.
• Updated and expanded Preventing Medication Errors boxes help you ensure safe drug administration.
• Targeted Therapies to Treat Cancer chapter familiarizes you with cutting-edge cancer treatments such as multikinase inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies.
• A new unit helps you easily locate appropriate drug therapy for managing pain and inflammation.
• Additional photos and illustrations visually reinforce your understanding of drug actions and relevant anatomy and physiology.
• Separate units on antibacterial and antiinfective agents clearly differentiate these commonly used agents.
• Page numbers accompany key terms for easier reference.

Reviews

Avoid this text if you can, June 2, 2009
We were required to have this text for our pharmacology course (part of the RN program). The text has so many errors and typos that the whole volume becomes questionable. My personal favorite: broad spectrum antibiotics are thusly labeled, according to the book, because of the pills large size...Other chapters refer to appendices allegedly in the back of the book...that don't exist. I spent much of the course using my Davis Drug Guide to sort out the fact from the fiction in this pharmacology text.

One big mess of a book, July 5, 2009
Words can not describe the amount distaste I have for this text. The amount of errors I've encountered most likely dwarf the errors that I failed to catch. This makes one wonder if this text is even worth publishing. The NCLEX study questions at the end of each chapter appear straight forward but lo and behold, the answer key says that E is the correct answer for an A-D multiple choice question. The study guide itself makes me question the validity of the text. With the text stating one fact, and the study guide stating another, one of them is bound to be right! As the previous commenter stated, AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

What a joke!, September 17, 2009
Lots of errors and typos! NCLEX questions have the wrong answers! It was so frustrating that after our class was done with Pharmacology, our nursing program changed the textbook for the next class! Please don't waste your money!

Book falling apart, August 2, 2010
The book was labeled as Used-Acceptable. Well, I received it with the book and the binding in two seperate parts. Not to mention that the book itself was coming apart into 3 different sections. If I didn't need it so badly, and had the extra time, I would have returned this book to sender!!!

Rarely used this book, July 11, 2010
I purchased this book for my first nursing semester pharmacology course. The book is great it has plenty of drug information, tables, and a calculations section, but I did not need it. My instructor's notes were so good that I rarely had to open this book. I ended up selling the book back to Chimes. It was okay for me because it put me to sleep, but I don't want to discourage anyway from getting it.

Problems with Binding, January 23, 2010
I bought the book at the beginning of my first year of nursing school. However, we did not begin using it until 2nd semester, so I put it up on the bookshelf the way it came. When time came around to using the book, I broke the plastic seal around the book and opened it... to find that the binding in the center of the book was coming apart. If your a person that likes to keep things neat and organized (me), this will definitely peeve you off! I am so put off abt it... I still get angry everytime I need to use the book (often). Since I bought the book months ago, I cant do anything about it.

Pharm, September 25, 2009
This book is ok. I wasn't looking forward to this class as it is but the book seems to keep me interested.

Fast as a bullet, August 2, 2010
I was so pleased to have received my order so fast, especially because it was a Holiday weekend. It took off some of my stress away cause I had my test that same week. Thank you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

A Drug Book That's Easy To Digest, October 8, 2010
As a healthcare worker who works in a hospital, I see this book (and its various editions) on just about every floor- whether it be the cardiac floor, neurology floor, or the orthopedic floor. The point is that the scope of this book is so large and complete, that it will be a handy reference to everybody who treats patients, no matter what the diagnosis. So if you're looking for a small, complete drug reference- this is your book. Also recommend "The Sixty-Second Motivator" for tips on how to increase patient compliancy with taking meds.

Excellent Nursing Drug Resource, September 12, 2010
Superb nursing drug resource and reference; it always has been. The 2011 volume does not disappoint.

poorly organized, unfriendly index, October 27, 2010
This book is a poor excuse for a reference book!
It is poorly organized and the index is by generic name only, so if you only
know the brand name of the drug you can not look it up.
Once you find the drug, the brand names are not listed in the information.
There are many drugs just not listed at all. Nurses deserve better.
Shame on you Lippencott! I expected better of you.

EXCELLANT BUY, September 13, 2010
AS A NURSE THIS IS A MUST HAVE ITEM....I CONSIDER IT ONE OF THE BEST.......HAVE FOR YEARS.....AND THE $$$
IS A "WHOLE LOT CHEAPER" THAN BOOK STORE, OR ORDERING DIRECT FROM NURSING PUBLISHER......BEST DEAL I HAVE EVER FOUND......AND YOU CAN GET IT MUCH SOONER!

drug handbook, July 26, 2010
I have used this drug handbook for over 20 years both while working in the hospital and now in an out-patient clinic and it keeps getting better. Much simpler/quicker to use than others recommended by nursing schools/instructors. Even the doctors use it. The chief physician of the division specifically requested this book for use in our clinic, so much that he even paid for them! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Good Summary of Health Care Insurance Issues, November 16, 2010
Wendell Potter was formerly in charge of public relations for Humana and then Cigna. Potter's intent in "Deadly Spin" is to expose the deceptive techniques of public relations in the insurance segment of health care. He does this quite well, and also provides readers with insight into the two events (the large turnout, including many with illusionary health insurance, for a free Pennsylvania dental and medical clinic; the death of a young girl after his employer dithered and delayed approving a necessary transplant) that turned him against continuing to defend the industry he had been part of for some 25 years. Potter begins by introducing readers to a sampling of tested phrases that have served the industry quite well, such as 'socialized medicine,' 'government-run' medicine, and 'government takeover' of medicine. Readers also gain exposure to other P.R. favorites, such as identifying with patriotism and the American way of life, testimonials, name-calling, smearing opponents (eg. Michael Moore and his "Sicko"), identification with plain folks, fake grassroot campaigns, junk science and statistical analyses, and euphemisms. A brief tour of the darker side of health insurance practice likewise is given - rescissions (retroactively canceling policies of those with large medical bills, using whatever pretext possible), and purging less than profitable accounts via large rate increases. Missing, however, is any comment on the fact that if the uninsured paid the same rates as insurance companies, much of the need for health insurance would go away, and a large proportion of medical bankruptcies avoided.

Universal health coverage began under Germany's Otto Von Bismarck in 1883, with Social Security following in 1889. The motivation was neither altruism or socialism, but to provide leverage against the labor and socialist movements of the day. Health insurance quickly spread - Austria (1888), Hungary (1891), Norway (1909), England (1911), Russia (1912), and the Netherlands (1913). Unfortunately, the momentum took almost 100 years to get to the U.S.

Some of the most disturbing revelations in "Deadly Spin" are that 'ObamaCare' is not a 'cure-all.' For example, it will not stop employers from only offering high-deductible plans such as the $30,000 for some families in Maine. Nor does it remove the ERISA liability protection for employer-sponsored plans. However, it will sharply reduce medical bankruptcies, the key reason for 62% of personal bankruptcies in 2007. Hopefully, it will also reduce the amounts paid for executive salaries and retreats - WellPoint spent over $27 million on staff retreats in 2007-08, while William McGuire, United Health CEO for 12 years, was paid almost $2 billion for his leadership ($620 million was 'clawed-back' because of fraudulent option back-dating). (Comparison: Dr. Donald Berwick, an extremely well-regarded expert in charge of care for the 103 million receiving Medicare or Medicaid, receives only $176,000/year.) Hopefully, the $52.4 billion spent on stock buybacks instead of medical care by the 7 largest insurers from 2003-08 will also either cease or be drastically diminished.

An important side effect of our market-based health-care system is the very high administrative overhead - about 31%, per some estimates, compared to 3% for Medicare. Duplicity and high lobbying costs are two more - America's health insurance plans donated $86.2 million to the U.S. Chamber's lobbying against 'ObamaCare' in 2009, while promising President Obama on tape that they were in support.

Mr. Potter is unquestionably qualified and sincere in his effort. Unfortunately, limiting the scope to his personal expertise both enormously understates the size of America's health care problem, and unfairly skews the focus towards insurance firms. The U.S. spends 17.3%+ of GDP on health care, despite not covering some 40-50 million. Compare that to competitors Japan (about 7.2%), Taiwan (about 6%), and China (4%). Reducing our expenditures to Taiwan's level would save about $1.7 trillion/year, and also reduce unfunded Medicare and other health care liabilities for retirees by close to $30 trillion. Most of the problem is due to excessive service charges (about 2X those of other nations), and excessive utilization by profit-maximizing physicians. Solutions require not just Potter's recommendations for limiting monopolistic practices by health care insurers (providers are also guilty) and mandating higher MLRs, but also restructuring health care to combine insurance and care provision in the manner of Kaiser Permanente (California), the V.A., the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Bassett Health Care, and Geisinger Health System. Physicians must be predominantly paid by salary, to discourage excess care. It will also require that the U.S. emulate every other developed nation that I'm aware of by mandating strict price-controls for medical services, and limiting the ability of drug makers to mislead patients and providers with overly expensive 'new' products that are no better than existing ones.

Fascinating glimpse at the "men" behind the curtain, November 19, 2010
Health care continues to limp on in the United States. We are ranked 46th out of all the Top 50 nations for health care in the world. Part of the issue is that health care is run like any other business and yet it isn't truly a business--profiting on someone's else's health or denying coverage for a pre-existing condition (or stating that a technique is experimental when, in fact, it isn't so as to deny coverage and keep the patient alive)is a form of gambling but it gambles with people's lives which makes it Wendell Potter worked for what he would probably characterize as the "enemy" now for over twenty years. As a PR executive he would weave lies into a positive "truth" for the company he worked for (Cigna) making it appear that they were always doing the right thing for their patients. Using statistics to lie is one thing (for example dropping people off the unemployment rolls that are reported to make it appear that the nation is covering when it isn't)but Potter would often twist the truth or help craft messages to appeal to middle America to scare the public from reform in health care.

One day Potter had an awakening and realized what he was doing was wrong leaving the industry that had nurtured him and becoming an advocate for proper health care and a government based system to force corporations to play fair. He just couldn't stomach hiding greed behind the veneer of double speak falling into a rabbit hole with language that only George Orwell would recognize. He chronicles his rise in the industry and his disillusionment and how the media is manipulated, patients, government to make decisions that are profiting major corporations at the cost of our health and lives. This is as much the story of his awakening as it is about the PR manipulation of the public around health care issues and trying to demonize the discussion of universal healthcare as part of the debate.

Potter's exceptional book "Deadly Spin" takes us behind-the-scenes into the wheeling and dealing that goes on with multiple PR flacks that try and spin doctor any change that threatens their profit as bad for the average consumer. Potter gives us a history of the PR game to help us understand WHY and HOW this is unethical (especially by the ethics guidelines dicated by the PR association).

The health care industry from health plans to pharmaceuticals have for too long had access to lawmakers (using the money that we pay them) to push forward their own agenda and "buy" politicians in Washington; that's nothing new it just just become more blatant than before. Using misinformation, front groups to suggest that any sort of reform is bad, these organizations have been directing America down a path with overgrown foilage and rough terrain where the patient must always suffer. Potter's book takes the curtain that these companies hide behind and let's us see the thought process, innner workings and how misinformation manipulates the public to make the wrong choices while allowing politicians to make those choices knowing they are wrong without ramifications.

Is "Universal Healthcare" the way to go? I don't know but I do know that the insurance industry is scared of it. Potter points out how people like him would manipulate the media and politicians to paint Universal Healthcare as "communist" or "socialist" in nature to taint any and all intelligent discussion about the positives and negatives scaring people away before dialog had even begun.

Potter suggests that having some sort of system like this in place would be helpful in redefining the way we take care of our health. The recent changes with Obama Care he points out aren't perfect but is a step in the right direction (--his complaint was that corporate America shaped it (this is Potter's opinion mind you I don't know that I agree with him on this point but it is food for thought).

I don't know that I agree with all of Potter's suggestions (for example I think that given our economy Obama Care should have been a lower priority--right in the middle of the worst economic downturn in ages-- and when it did become a priority it was so badly compromised that the changes--small as they were and some positive--are meaningless in the over all big picture)but I have to admire him for waking up from the money inspired opiate-like dream that has entranced everyone else in his former industry. I also feel that Potter would have done better to give us more in depth examples of why the system breaks down consistently but what we do get is pretty embarrassing.

Regardless of where you stand on healthcare-- if you believe or don't believe in universal healthcare--Potter's book is essential reading for understanding the flaws in our system and how corporate profit continues to dictate who gets coverage, who doesn't and why we are ranked so poorly compared to other nations when it comes to health care.

Recommended.

Fascinating, yet lacking look at Health Care PR..., November 11, 2010
I'll keep this short because, well, I can be lazy sometimes...
This book kept me engaged thoroughly enough that I finished it in two readings. It has interesting, relevant information on the history of heath care PR that does give a glimpse into what motivates these companies.
The problem is, most people already know or believe that money, profits and (sometimes) greed, is a detrimental factor behind the (sometimes) crappy service and treatment Americans can potentially receive.
While this book did keep me engaged, it did feel a little thin. Maybe it's more of the cynic in me but I really wanted something more damning of the current system and didn't feel it.
I personally did not like the reform enacted in this nation in the last year because of something the author touches on, the fact it won't do too much to control cost. I sort of wish this book did a better job of what could be possible remedies to that issue.

A quick point also; the author does not in any way shy away from showing his progressive nature, however, this book seems to be written well and in an even fashion, mainly sticking to policy and behind-the-scenes information over partisan bickering...

Anyways...I did rate it a 4, as it does have it's interesting moments and I do believe would be an interesting book for anyone not actually immersed and working in the health care or insurance process.

A gift to America from a very brave man, November 20, 2010
Thank you, Mr. Potter, for your bravery in speaking out against a very evil and powerful industry. Regardless of the outcome for the millions of uninsured and underinsured in America, I will always be grateful to you for fighting for what is right. Giving your book to my doctors for Christmas.

Great insights into an industry, November 27, 2010
As Wendell Potter writes, this is "like watching sausage being made". If you think we live in a democracy where all subjects are openly discussed, this gives you some additional information. There is indeed open discussion, but some voices are much louder than others and some are distorted.

What struck me most was Potter's description of how the health industry tried to neutralize Michael Moore's film "Sicko" and, in their words, "make him radioactive", i.e. inacceptable for journalists and politicians. BTW, Michael Moore currently has this book chapter as a sample read on his web site.

If you are interested in public relation and how public opinion is shaped, this is a book from a real expert writing openly about his experience. I bought the Kindle version because the paper version would have taken too long to deliver. Thank you to Amazon for the excellent Kindle App.

Should be required reading for every member of Congress, December 2, 2010
The title of this book, "Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans" is a bit off-putting. Reading it, I mentally prepared myself for a diatribe written by a disgruntled low-level employee out to get his pound of flesh. We all know that health insurance companies are in the habit of denying coverage and raising premiums, occasionally exorbitantly, but they aren't all that bad, right? Surely not as bad as the Wall Street firms that first took away our retirement savings and then our jobs.

I worked in the financial industry for 25 years. Nothing I saw there was as heinous as what is revealed in this book. Put simply, Wall Street may take away people's money, but health insurance companies take away people's lives.

Author Wendell Potter was an insurance company executive, heading up a PR department. For years, he participated in the shameless pursuit of profits over lives until he finally came face to face with the effects on real people of what he was doing. Visiting a clinic set up on a fair ground offering free health care to those who had no insurance and no means to pay for health care, he saw ordinary hardworking people reduced to being treated in animal stalls.

He has written about his experience in the health insurance industry, as well as his epiphany, in a straightforward manner, making it more powerful than if he had penned an hysterical screed. He takes us, step by step through the changes in the health insurance industry from a privately held companies offering true health insurance to the modern publicly owned companies whose focus is on profits rather than health.

The lengths to which health insurers go and the collusions in which they participate are extraordinary. They routinely deny coverage to people who need it and drop coverage of people who become ill. They hire outside PR firms who form bogus grassroots groups who lobby in favor of health insurers. They provide statistics to back up all of their false claims that any kind of healthcare reform is bad.

Potter devotes an entire chapter to revealing how health insurers torpedoed Healthcare Reform using all of the dirty tricks he had discussed in previous chapters. The reason we have no public option is because it would put the health insurance industry out of business prompting them to wage all-out war against it.

It took the death of a child who was denied a liver transplant to convince Potter to leave his job with CIGNA. He devotes his time now to healthcare reform advocacy and as a health insurance critic. He testified during the healthcare reform debates, but obviously not enough people listened to him.

In my opinion, this book should be required reading for every member of Congress. They need to know how they have been bribed and manipulated by the health insurers to do what's best for the health insurance industry instead of what is best for the people who elected them to office.

Must Be Good...Borders Didn't have it....., November 25, 2010
I tried to buy this at Borders at National Airport in D.C. this week, and it was "unavailable." The clerk could not say if that was because it had never been carried, or was sold out.

If it was not carried, perhaps like the movie, _Sicko_, it is too dangerous to have a wide distribution...makes me want to buy it all the more.

This book itself apparently provides evidence from Potter that censorship occurs in the U.S, but it is not lead by the government...Censorship is led by corporate insiders who prefer to make people hate the government so that people do not form unions to collectively bargain for better conditions from corporations.....all the corporations are in collusion, and they are far more powerful than any government....in fact, governments are just puppets of corporations, and do everything the corporations tell them to....

Need more evidence? Look no further than the U.S. Supreme Court _Citizen's United_ decision...

Eye Opening !!, December 15, 2010
I just finished Wendell Potter's book and, to be perfectly honest, am somewhat depressed about the state of politics and public decision making in our country.
As a former healthcare executive in a for-profit company, I do understand the pressures and ofttimes conflict between the best possible care and the most profitable course. "Deadly Spin" portrays this accurately but goes much farther to show exactly how public opinion is molded and how decision makers at all levels are motivated to do the companies bidding. This book shows how out of whack our whole manged care and health insurance industry is where a few companies control prices and costs on both sides of the supply and demand equation. I have purchased a quantity of this title and will send it out to friends with the caveat that they too pass it on. This book is a must read for Americans looking to understand what is really happening in Washington regarding current and future health care. Thanks Mr. Potter.

Best book I have read this year, December 3, 2010
If you care about health care, your kids health care, or hope to HAVE health care in the future, then read this book. We are being screwed in the name of profits

If the health care industry continues in it's current direction, the only people with health care with be healthy people. The rest with be governments problem

READ THIS BOOK, GIVE TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS, READ THIS BOOOOOOOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is nice to see acknowledgment of what has always been apparent to me..., December 2, 2010
This is not a great book, and like so many "issues" books, it tiptoes along, holding off on this or that great revelation. It's message can be easily summarised as - "The healthcare insurance industry is indeed just as greedy, self-serving, and unprincipled as most big businesses across the globe, and is apparently making its lies and misrepresentations work successfully." In other words, just because their business involves healthcare, it does not mean that they are concerned about people's welfare, or even their health. They are, like all insurance companies, primarily concerned with making the biggest profits they can. (Think of Bob's boss in The Incredibles...) They do NOT want the pressure of a cheap public health insurance option to keep them honest.

I did not find this surprising. Nor did I find the stories of the publicity management and news suppression surprising. Though it IS nice to have my suspicions validated!

However, the scariest part of this book is at its very end. Wendell Potter has put together the buying-up of the newspaper industry with the new age of spin-dominated politics, and warned us of a future with less and less honest information available to the masses. This is a threat in all areas of life, not just healthcare. If ranting politicos can convince the very people that need it most that public healthcare is bad, what CAN'T they convince them of?? It bodes very ill indeed.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment: Practice Exercises for the NCLEX� Examination is the only review book on the market with a focus on prioritization and management of care-just like the current NCLEX Examination itself! The workbook's unique approach establishes your foundational knowledge and then provides exercises of increasing difficulty to help you build confidence in your prioritization, delegation, and patient assignment skills. It offers unique preparation for the NCLEX Examination and effectively equips you to practice in today's fast-paced healthcare environment.

• The only workbook available that provides in-depth practice with prioritization, delegation, and assignment questions similar to those you'll see on the NCLEX Examination, including questions in alternate item formats
• Unique three-part organization that (1) equips you with foundational skills to make sound decisions, then helps you apply those skills (2) in straightforward scenarios and (3) then in complex health scenarios
• In-depth Answer Key at the back of the book that provides not only the correct answer but also a detailed rationale and an indication of the focus of the question, whether prioritization, delegation, supervision, or patient assignment.

• Expanded content focus to include psychiatric/mental health, OB/maternity, and pediatrics along with med-surg areas
• New chapters on infection control and obstetrics and maternity
• Greater emphasis on questions involving core body systems and related health problems, such as diabetes and cancer, to best prepare you for the conditions you are most likely to encounter on the NCLEX Examination and in clinical practice
• Four new unfolding cases addressing long-term care, pediatrics, psychiatric/mental health nursing, and OB/maternity
• Additional emphasis on medication safety equips you to take appropriate actions to prevent or remediate medication errors
• Multiple-select questions revised to include at least 5 response choices each, keeping you up to date with the full range of NCLEX Examination item formats

Reviews

You MUST do this book before you take the NCLEX!, July 9, 2010
If you don't go through this book before taking the NCLEX, you are doing yourself a great disservice. I just took (and passed) the NCLEX, and there were many questions of the type in this book. I found the case study chapters to be a little less beneficial than the chapters in the front of the book, so if you are pressed for time, you can probably skip the case studies. And some of the questions in this book are harder than anything I saw on the NCLEX, but it is worth the mental pain to go through them. You will feel so much more comfortable when answering questions on the NCLEX that have to do with prioritizing which patient you assess first, which patient you should visit first, etc. Get this book. You will not regret it!

Great Book!, April 16, 2010
This book is a must for any nursing student. I have noticed some of my nursing exam questions have came straight from this book. I love that the questions are organized by content area. It has really helped me with delegation questions, and understanding the role of the LPN as well. It's also nice because it's small, if you don't feel like lugging around a 10lb. review book.

Great study tool, July 24, 2010
Someone who had taken and passed NCLEX the first time she took it highly recommended this book to me, and I am so glad she did. I too passed on my first try, and this book was a great study tool. Prioritizing patient care and delegating tasks to LPNs and CNAs were NCLEX questions that I was not very good at, so this book was very helpful. It's all Q & A, and I felt like doing NCLEX questions was the best way to study for the test.

Great buy!

Pleased, March 29, 2010
This book is great to assist nursing students with these difficult topics. Lots of application. Was delivered very quickly.

A DEFINITE MUST-HAVE FOR NCLEX!, September 12, 2010
This book is essential for NCLEX preparation. It was highly recommended to me by several students one cohort ahead of me who already passed the exam, and I am so-o-o-o glad they told me about it. They informed me I would be surprised to learn what an LPN could and could not do, regardless of what I was taught. They were absolutely correct - there are many technicalities about delegation I have not found anywhere else yet. Prioritization is an especially tough topic for many, and this book does an outstanding job of helping you learn this skill. I can almost guarantee you will feel much better about it upon completion of this book. I think it is a must-have to increase your level of knowledge and build confidence to walk through the door of the exam testing center.

I really appreciate the way this book is organized, and think you will do best if you do the book in the order of which its chapters are written. There are 18 chapters by subject, and then 21 case studies. All answers are categorized as having a focus of either delegation, assignment, or prioritization. So, you can keep track of which areas you are doing better in, and you will know which area is your weakest. Of course, within the questions there is excellent review of all your basics such as ABGs, physical assessments, pathophysiology, etc. Hope this helps you in your book selections, and GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

the best!, July 1, 2010
Hard book but it was one of the best ones wich helped me to pass. Saunders was also very good.

Tough but thorough, May 8, 2010
This book is great. The questions are tough and make you think. Great rationales. The book contains questions on specific systems as well as case scenarios. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you are going to buy one drug handbook�-- this should be the one. No other drug handbook enables you to access reliable drug information quicker. With an A-Z organization, each drug is easy to find. But what's even better is the fact that Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference gives you the most complete drug information for each drug, including uses, side effects, and interactions. Key nursing considerations are identified to help you assess, administer, evaluate, and teach your patients. Instructions for giving drugs by various routes (e.g., PO, IM, IV) are also included. You will ALWAYS find the latest and most trustworthy drug information in Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference by Linda Skidmore-Roth, a well-known expert in nursing pharmacology. There is a difference in drug handbooks�-- put your trust in Mosby, the leading name in nursing publishing.

• Presents comprehensive coverage of more than 1,300 generic and 4,500 trade-name drugs.
• Organizes monographs alphabetically by generic drug name to allow for fast retrieval of needed information.
• Includes comprehensive drug monographs containing generic names, Rx or OTC designations, pronunciation, U.S. and Canadian trade names, functional and chemical classification, controlled-substance schedule, do-not-confuse drugs, action, uses, unlabeled uses, dosages and routes, available forms, side effects, contraindications, precautions, pharmacokinetics, interactions (including drug/herb, drug/food and drug lab test), nursing considerations, and treatment of overdose.
• Provides concise, practice-oriented nursing considerations: assess, administer, perform/provide, evaluate, and teach patient/family.
• Highlights IV drug information in one easy-to-find place, under the�Administer heading, including special considerations and Y-site, syringe, and additive compatibilities.
• Identifies high alert drugs that pose the greatest risk for patient harm if administered incorrectly.
• Features a nursing alert icon identifying considerations that require special attention.
• Highlights common and life-threatening side effects for easy identification.
• Features over 400 potential interactions between drugs and herbal products.
• Includes lifespan and disorder-related dosages for newborns, children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric, hepatic, and renal patients.
• Provides special Do Not Confuse headings so you can avoid administering the wrong drug.
• Includes Tall Man lettering as recommended by the FDA to distinguish easily confused drug names.
• Features 16 full-color illustrations that show mechanisms or sites of action for select drug classes such as antidepressants, antiinfectives and antiretroviral agents.
• Features boldface route subheadings�-- such as PO, IV, and IM�-- under the Dosage and Routes and�Administer headings to help in finding information quickly.
• Includes several detailed multi-product monographs that group all chemically similar forms of insulins, cephalosporins (1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-generation), contraceptives, and penicillins together into single monographs, with cross-references to the individual forms of these drugs.
• Includes a Drug Categories section with nursing considerations and a list of common generic drugs for each category.
• Offers a Combination Products appendix covering the forms and uses of more than 500 products.
• Designates Canadian brand names with a maple leaf.
• Offers a flexible, water-resistant cover for durability in the clinical setting.
• Includes a free mini CD with complete, printable information on the 100 most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, hundreds of normal laboratory values, patient teaching guides in English and Spanish, English-to-Spanish translations for common drug phrases and terms, Canadian drug content including a listing of high alert Canadian medications, a Canadian controlled substance chart, an immunization schedule, and 30 clinical calculators.
• Includes free online updates with the latest FDA drug alerts, new drug monographs, tables of recently released drugs in the U.S., a listing of high-alert Canadian medications and controlled substances, links to useful drug-related websites, information on selected prescription drugs with potential for abuse, an extensive table of orphan drugs, a detailed table of AHA drug dosing guidelines, names and uses of commonly used herbal products, medications that may be inappropriate for geriatric patients, drugs metabolized by known P450s, a comprehensive Drug Name Safety reference, and patient teaching guidelines.

• Includes monographs of 25 new drugs recently approved by the FDA.
• Provides Black Box Warnings with alerts to dangerous and/or life-threatening adverse effects.
• Presents thousands of new and updated drug facts, including doses, side effects, pharmacokinetics, interactions, and nursing considerations.

Reviews

my prescribers keep borrowing my book, August 13, 2010
This is the third edition of this book I have purchased. The prescribers at the clinic where I work, keep borrowing it because it gives so much practical information about the drugs and is much quicker to use than the PDR. I couldn't work without one. I even pass on my previous editions to the prescribers.

Each drug discription provides usual doses, how it is supplied (ie. mg/pill etc.), possible interactions, usual side effects. But my favorite part as an RN and a patient educator is the section on what to share with patients.

Every practicing nurse should have one and judging by my prescribers so should they. ... Read more