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Jeff Hawkins, the high-tech success story behind PalmPilots and theRedwood Neuroscience Institute, does a lot of thinking about thinking.In On Intelligence Hawkins juxtaposes his two loves--computersand brains--to examine the real future of artificial intelligence. Indoing so, he unites two fields of study that have been moving uneasilytoward one another for at least two decades. Most people think that computers are getting smarter, and that maybesomeday, they'll be as smart as we humans are. But Hawkins explains whythe way we build computers today won't take us down that path. He shows,using nicely accessible examples, that our brains are memory-drivensystems that use our five senses and our perception of time, space, andconsciousness in a way that's totally unlike the relatively simplestructures of even the most complex computer chip. Readers who gobbled up Ray Kurzweil's (The Age of Spiritual Machines and Steven Johnson's Mind Wide Open willfind more intriguing food for thought here. Hawkins does a good job ofoutlining current brain research for a general audience, and hisenthusiasm for brains is surprisingly contagious. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Book Description

A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus. The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the
appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone proves that truth really is scarier than fiction. ... Read more

Reviews (372)

A great account of close calls and tense trials with viruses
I think that Richard Preston deserves all five stars for this thrilling book on real life experiences with deadly Ebola Viruses. He took an accumulation of true stories and turned it into an interesting and spellbinding book that hardly seems true. This book is easy to follow, even though the whole is scientific. Preston balanced the scientific language and factuality with an interesting plot and rounded characters as in a fictional book. Preston went into painstaking details to turn the Reston operation and other experiments into lament terms that all readers might comprehend. His magnificent writing style also came through in his account of nurse Mayinga's journey through the city and how catastrophic the event actually might have been. I really enjoyed the amount of effort Preston put forth in describing what Ebola and Marburg actually do to the body, prior to and during death. Although the book was very good, I do think that Richard Preston might have left out the entire fourth part. It had no real influence on the situation at Kitum Cave or what the reader thought of Africa. With all things considered, I strongly advise this book be read by everyone and I will certainly recommend this book to everybody I know.

Entering the "Hot Zone"
It starts with a simple headache. Then maybe you get a nosebleed. After a few days, you know you are extremely sick. The lining of your stomach and the top layer of your tongue literally fall off. Your organs turn into mush. Excessive bleeding from every natural opening in your body occurs. And since your blood can't clot, the bleeding won't stop. Black vomit mixed with blood gushes from your mouth. Then, you die painfully with a mask-like expression on your face.

This doesn't even sound like it could exist, does it? Well it does. It is death by a virus known as Ebola. It is especially contagious in monkeys and can jump species over to humans.

The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston, describes outbreaks of this and other "hot" viruses in locations around the world, including a city near Washington, D.C. Virus experts in the Army need to unravel the Ebola mystery and try to protect the public from this vicious disease.

Preston has taken a true story and unveiled its horror. I couldn't believe how descriptive his writing is. If you want to read a true modern day thriller, then this is an awesome pick. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to reading more from Richard Preston.

Great Read!
After months of stuffy old British classics we read THE HOT ZONE by Richard Preston in my sophomore English class. What a breath of fresh air! The book reads like a novel, but is full of fascinating information about ebola. Whether you're a biology buff or just want a good beach read, this is a great book. I highly recommend this(...)

Good
This book happened to be my Physics book to read and i thought it would just be some people trying to track down this deadly virus. I thought it would all be fiction and i'd wright a report and get a good grade. Turns out, this book is fiction, one of the scariest books i've read, and one of the few books that at parts i couldn't put down!

Some parts didn't appeal to me as much as others (Thats why i give it a 4). I really liked the book and will encourage people to read it.

Cant put this down; master thriller story
This is one of the most exciting books you will ever read. And the scary thing is that the story is true. This page-turner will grip you from the onset and leave you will a chill down yor spine when you realize the nature of the world of virology.

Preston makes the story flow well from beginning to end. He makes feel like you are right in the middle of the story .. almost like you have a role to play. It wont take you long to read this book, and it is written in a comfortable style.

Anyone with an interest in viruses, microbiology, public health, or who just want a good reality thriller should read this book. You will not be disappointed! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for Beginners and Marketing/Industry People!
Every non-clinician in my medical device company has borrowed my now dog-eared copy of this book! Beginning with a very straightforward discussion of cardiac anatomy and physiology, the editor then takes us through the components of electrocardiograms and how to recognize rhythms both normal and not. I was especially grateful for the thorough treatment of different types and levels of patient ECG monitoring and the sections on ventricular dysrhythmias. Easy to read, good mneumonic devices throughout--and frequent quizzes to self-test your understanding. Found one typo that was distressing, but easy enough to figure out when thought through. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Applied Therapeutics
Not just a drug reference, this is a clinical book.... teaches critical thinking and application of drugs, recommended by many PharmD's. You'll use it for ever.

IF YOU ONLY NEED ONE BOOK IN PHARMACY; THIS IS IT!!!!
Very Nicely Done!!! There are some Typos, but overall it is an awesome book. A must for any pharmacist/pharmacy student!!!

This Is The Gold Standard For Pharmacy
The best book anywhere on the subject of applied therapeutics. The format is easy to follow, a series of logical questions and answer leading to intelligent therapeutic conclusions. Each section is written by a leading expert in their field.

It is like having a pharmacy consult sitting next to you
This book now slightly outdated, has two very valuable features. First it is very thorough. Practically every drug and its therapeutic application is discussed. Second the discussion is not just a factual presentation in the PDR sense but an attempted detailed clinical evaluation. Specific patient scenerio's are portrayed with various choices, considerations and outcomes. The patient Rx question is reviewed as if the particular patient is before you and you are on the phone with the pharmacy consult. I find it very useful to gain a picture of a careful, slow and detailed evaluation of proper patient Rx practices. This is not written as a quick reference guide, it is a course in itself on clinical Rx methods and approaches. It is a wonderful book to add to your library. I have no doubt that it's approach will provide better patient care. What it needs is an on-line update feature.

***A complete CLINICAL review of medications
This is a very thorough and clinically-based book on pharmacology. The question and answer format goes directly to the heart of medication problems seen in a medical practice. Sections follow disease processes well and are indexed well. I wish this book had been available in medical school. It is very detailed for all levels, yet presents information is a succinct, readable format. This is not a PDR; it is a clinical text with immediate practical advice. If you read the sections on acne and hypertension you will realize this is not your usual general pharmacology text. The fine details of treatment are all there ... Read more

Book Description

No disease the world has ever known even remotely resembles the great influenza epidemic of 1918. Presumed to have begun when sick farm animals infected soldiers in Kansas, spreading and mutating into a lethal strain as troops carried it to Europe, it exploded across the world with unequaled ferocity and speed. It killed more people in twenty weeks than AIDS has killed in twenty years; it killed more people in a year than the plagues of the Middle Ages killed in a century. Victims bled from the ears and nose, turned blue from lack of oxygen, suffered aches that felt like bones being broken, and died. In the United States, where bodies were stacked without coffins on trucks, nearly seven times as many people died of influenza as in the First World War.

In his powerful new book, award-winning historian John M. Barry unfolds a tale that is magisterial in its breadth and in the depth of its research, and spellbinding as he weaves multiple narrative strands together. In this first great collision between science and epidemic disease, even as society approached collapse, a handful of heroic researchers stepped forward, risking their lives to confront this strange disease. Titans like William Welch at the newly formed Johns Hopkins Medical School and colleagues at Rockefeller University and others from around the country revolutionized American science and public health, and their work in this crisis led to crucial discoveries that we are still using and learning from today.

The Washington Post’s Jonathan Yardley said Barry’s last book can "change the way we think." The Great Influenza may also change the way we see the world. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

The Great Influenza: The American Experience
In The Great Influenza, John Barry has produced a massive and exhaustively researched description of one of the greatest disasters of human history. At least, from the American point of view. While there are a few glancing references to what was going on in the rest of the world, there is no serious discussion of any attempts to deal with the pandemic in other countries, even in other industrialized countries. On the other hand, Barry has chosen a very specific point of view: the transition of American medicine and medical training from folk wisdom to science. It's a compelling point on which to balance a long and exhaustive (there's that word again) study of how America and, specifically, American medicine confronted an epidemic in which people were dying faster than the technology of the time could handle, an epidemic in which society itself was nearly overwhelmed by death.

As other reviewers have noted, the book's weakness is a tendency towards melodrama, as in the far-too-often repeated tag line "This was influenza. Only influenza." After a while, you think to yourself, "Yes, we get it. Give it a rest."

On the other hand, the book has one of those quirky displays of real brilliance in the last two chapters in which Barry deals with how science is done well (in the case of Oswald Avery) or done poorly (in the case of Paul A. Lewis). These two chapters are so strong that they could stand on their own, and what they have to say about the process of scientific thought itself is fascinating. Avery's story is that of a man who was just relentessly focused, who kept digging deeper and deeper into a single issue until he discovered the source of heredity itself. Lewis's story, on the other hand, is that of a man who simply lost his way. Distracted by the need to administer an institute, the need constantly to raise money, to deal with the politics of science, the need to socialize and just plain hustle to support the work of others, Lewis lost the focus that Avery had and ending up flailing in a sea of theories and methodologies. In fact, if you don't read any other part of this book, read these two chapters.

There is no question about The Great Influenza being a monumental work. It's so good that you just have to overlook the bits of melodrama that pop up from time to time. The research is, well I obviously can't use "exhaustive" again, so let's say nearly encyclodedic. In fact, there's so much research, and so much documentation that Barry has used an odd method of footnoting. Instead of using footnote numbers that refer to the notes section at the end of the book, you have to turn to the notes section and find the specific page and text being referenced. Unfortunately, as a result you don't know while you're reading which bits have footnotes and which don't. I'd prefer actual footnote numbers. Ah, well. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time.

In any case, Barry has produced a massive and important work of epidemiological history which is, at the same time, as readable as a thriller. In writing this review, I kept wavering between giving it four stars or five stars and finally decided on five based on the scope, the thoroughness, and what Aristotle would call the "point of attack," that is, the point at which the story really begins, which is, in this case, the birth of truly scientific medical education in America. All in all, it's a truly fascinating and immensely readable piece of history.

Sobering look at a deadly pandemic...
A book that recently caught my eye was one by John Barry titled The Great Influenza - The Epic Story Of The Deadliest Plague In History. Now, I generally have a phobia about needles, and have *never* received a flu vaccination, but I think that will change next year. This was scary stuff...

Barry details the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918 in great detail. He starts by setting the stage of how American medicine was practiced at the end of the 19th century, and how there was little control or respect for the profession. And rightly so... Nearly anyone could call themselves a doctor and do nearly anything. But through the efforts of a few key people, John Hopkins university was formed to bring the medical education up to European standards. Most of this transformation was occuring when the flu pandemic started. This is where the book gets interesting... and frightening.

Because of World War 1, recruits were overcrowded into training facilities that were less than sanitary. When the flu first broke out in one of the army camps in the states, it was quickly transferred to other camps when soldiers transferred. From there, it easily jumped into major cities, decimating large numbers of people. And when these soldiers went overseas, the flu went with them. Being especially contagious, it swept the globe in short order and left, by some estimates, over 100 million dead. That is so hard to comprehend.

When you look at the struggle they had to even identify the cause of the illness, you understand how it could so easily run rampant. One would think that it couldn't happen today, but one would be wrong. SARS, AIDS... diseases that defy attempts to quickly identify the virus, and are resistant to attempts and efforts to treat them. It's not hard to imagine how a pandemic could start so much more quickly today due to the ease of worldwide travel.

Well worth reading to understand how precarious the general health of society could be...

Just the flu
Wow. The Great Influenza sort of blew me away. Like most people I've heard of the 1918 influenza, but also like most I've never actually read anything on the epidemic. My first introduction to the topic came as a young nurse working on a neurology ward where Parkinson's Disease was diagnosed and treated. At the time it was believed to have arisen as a late neurological response to that infection. For all I know they may still think so. During the swine flu epidemic and the controversy over whether the vaccine had caused a rise in the incidence of Guillian Barre, the so-called French polio, the 1918 flu was frequently mentioned. After reading Mr. Barry's book I can certainly see why.

What amazes me most about the pandemic of 1918 is not its virulence so much as its repercussions. It definitely occurred during the most inopportune time, almost proving Murphey's law that if anything can go wrong it will and at the worst possible time. Probably one of the most significant outcomes of the flu seems to have been the effect it had on the peace terms. One is left to wonder if Wilson had not been affected by the flu in so damaging a way and at so crucial a time, whether World War II could have been avoided. Moreover much is made of the nihilism of the 1920s, that lost generation between the two world wars. The young of the era seemed to have gone through a loss of innocence that is often attributed to the effects of the WWI experience and the death of the overconfident 19th century way of life. It seems to me that far more damage to the confidence of young adults was due to the effects of the influenza epidemic. Certainly Barry's discussion makes the character of the 1920s and 1930s much clearer to me.

The differential effect of the flu on the various age groups, suggests much about the effect of the virus on the immune system. Having had to manage patients with ARDS in ICU, most of them very young people like those in 1918, I can hardly imagine what it might have been like to be a nurse during a time prior to mechanical ventilation and sophisticated drug therapy. We lose ARDS patients with an unpleasant frequency even now. In 1918 I don't know how one could have helped even a single patient survive it. It had to have been appallingly painful to the staff, overworked as they were, even ill themselves as some were, to watch a patient die that way especially as the author points out again and again because so many of these patients were in the prime of life and had so much to live for yet. I certainly know what its effect has been on me over the years.

Although the author attempts to reassure the reader that although we may have another similar pandemic, the outcome will be less devastating because of our modern medical facilities and experience, I can't help but think of the Titanic! It couldn't sink, you know, because it was the product of the most modern and up to date technology of its time. Maybe MRSA (methacillin resistant staph aureus) and VRE (vanco resistant enterococci) will be our armageddon!

A serious and fascinating book. One every health care worker should read.

Dense with detail, full of melodrama
I read many reviews of this book, and finally had to buy it.
This is a book you can easily put down! Dense with detail and many fascinating characters, but ruined by the melodramatic style. Along the lines of: " Then suddenly, it struck with incredible force!" Not an actual quotation, but you get the idea.

Over and over again he uses this same device. It ultimately becomes tiresome. I'm about halfway through, and I have not picked it up in about 3 weeks.

Hold out for the (used) paperback!

a mesmerizing book
This has just become one of my favorite books. It is a compelling read, like a real-life Stephen King novel. But it's built around a lot more than just plot and character. It also gives you tremendous insight into how the body works, how viruses work, and how diseases interact with the environment--- and it makes clear that one of the most important elements of the environment is the political climate. This book tells you more about Woodrow Wilson than most history books on World War I. Finally, it's extraordinarily well-researched and accurate: a doctor-friend who is actually a pulmonary expert told me it not only gets things right, but taught him something. I think it's obvious by now I love this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the number one best seller in Delmars communication sciences list and is a cornerstone resource for clinicians working with the gamut of communication disorders. This new edition has a completely updated design, with the addition of a second color to highlight key content. The book has been updated to include two new chapters on foundation of assessment and multicultural issues in assessment to make this the most comprehensive resource manual on assessment in speech-language pathology. It continues to offer users a wide range of procedures and materials for obtaining and interpreting assessment data, and reporting assessment findings to clients, caregivers, and other professionalsall of which are directly applicable to clinical work and are useful instructional tools for students.To help the clinician and student access more specific disorder and assessment information, each chapter concludes with a section called Sources of Additional Information containing references and websites. This new edition comes with a free CD-ROM containing additional resources and the forms from the text in several formats for users to download, print and photocopy, and modify for individual clinical use. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The best speech path book
this book is an excellent resource for aspiring speech language pathologists.....it provides great charts in a convenient ring binder.....

Invaluable Resource for Speech-Language Pathologists!
I am an SLP and work in a hospital setting and have found this to be an invaluable resource while working with clients of all ages. It takes what you've learned as a grad student and sums it all up into a useful resource that you'll use over and over again.

Wonderful resource for assessing clients of all ages!
I use this as a text in my Diagnostic Procedures Class which I teach at So. Il. Univ. @ Edwardsville. This book has tables, norms, and forms for diagnostics in a variety of areas. I wish I had this book at my disposable when I was doing work as a staff therapist. It takes the best diagnostic information from a variety of texts and puts it in one book!

Excellent Resource
This is an incredibly useful resource! It contains all of the information and forms you need to informally assess a range of speech and language disorders. ... Read more

Book Description

Unlike many similar books currently on the market, thisreference does not prescribe a single approach to phonetical disorders.Therapists are nowgiven a choice of methods with this eclectic perspective on the nature, assessment, andtreatment of this type of communication impairment.Currentresearch data, coverage of dialect and information on the use of technology in clinicalphonology is included in this updated version of the classic in the field of phonology. Theauthors have eloquently synthesized the literature so that readers can view clinicalphonology from a broad perspective.Designed for speechpathologists. ... Read more

Book Description

Would you like to save yourself the indignity, inconvenience and foul taste of modern diet fads?Are you sick and tired of frittering away your money on heart medications that leave you feeling more wretched than ever?Do you spend frequent, precious hours jogging or pounding away at the gym?And despite all of this effort, are you still fatter and weaker than you want to be?

Then it’s time to abandon the Modern Gospel of low-fat food and long-duration exercise as a path to heart health. We need the very opposite, says Al Sears, M.D. in The Doctor’s Heart Cure.According to Dr. Sears, heart disease continues to be America’s biggest killer – and obesity has reached epidemic proportions – because of the fad for low-fat diets and despite aerobics.

Your heart’s salvation lies in reengineering the diet and exercise habits of our hunter-gatherer ancestors to fit our modern culture. What does this entail?To build a strong and resilient heart, says Dr. Sears, engage in brief, explosive bouts of intense exercise. Consume a diet rich in high quality fat, pasture-fed meat, free-range dairy, wild-caught fish and liberal helpings of low-glycemic fruits and vegetables. Avoid grain-based starches as best you can. And take appropriate supplements to counteract the nutritional deficiencies of modern produce.

As Director of The Center for Health and Wellness, an integrative medicine and anti-aging clinic in south Florida, Dr. Sears has used this plan to help more than 15,000 patients successfully reverse heart disease, build stronger hearts, manage their weight and abandon their heart medications. In The Doctor’s Heart Cure, for the first time, Dr. Sears reveals his entire, proven program, so you too can safely build an impregnable heart.

Discover:
Why starches - not fat - are the villains behind heart disease
Why traditional "cardio" may be harmful to your heart
Why cholesterol does not cause heart disease
The real reasons obesity has been skyrocketing in America
How the PACE exercise program puts you on the fast track to heart health — in less than 20 minutes a day
How to enjoy a diet rich in fat and animal protein — while strengthening your heart
How The Doctor's Heart Cure makes it easier-than-ever to reach and maintain your ideal bodyweight
Why heart disease continues to be America’s biggest killer
Why the conventional approach to heart disease fails
The three key principles for building heart health
The new paradigm for healing heart disease and achieving heart health
How to rediscover your natural diet
What our ancestors really ate
The link between heart attacks and other health problem
How AGEs accelerate the aging of the heart — and how to control them
Why long-duration exercise is a waste of your time, and can actually cause other health problems
Why "downsizing" you heart could you be setting you up for premature death
How to increase your heart’s horsepower
How to improve your cholesterol ratios
How maintain healthy testosterone levels
The heart attack risks from long-distance running
How to shed more fat with interval exercise
Why endurance exercise encourages fat production.
Why PACEtm may help you live longer
The most important predictor for chronic heart failure
How to build muscle mass with effective interval workouts
The tragic consequences of the cholesterol drug campaign
The health benefits of higher cholesterol for the elderly
How to remove plaque from your arteries
The truth about cholesterol drug research and the incidence of heart disease
The many health dangers of statins – and the healthier, cheaper alternatives
Why heart medications can make your symptoms worse — and the safer alternatives
Why you should say "no" to nitrate-based cardiac drugs, if you can — and the safe, natural alternatives
Why you need to beware of beta blockers
How to assess your heart health
How to protect yourself from the "sinister killer" homocysteine
The link between hi ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Don't Miss A Heart Beat
I'm 54 years old and recently had a complete examination with a cardologist. After I was done I could have opened a phamarcy with the number of prescription drugs my doctor gave me. Boy, was I scared! Then a friend suggested I read a new book called, The Heart Cure by Dr.Sears. Wow! Was I surprised to learn there are many other alternatives besides drugs. After just two months of following Dr. Sears suggestions my cholesterol has dropped, my blood pressure is better and I'm feeling like a million bucks. Great Book...You've got to read it!

Save a Life... Read this Book
I bought this book for my father who was suffering from the side effects of statin drugs. Until he read this book, we didn't even realize that the debilitating muscle pain and overall weakness were being caused by these so-called "wonder drugs."

Six months later, my father is back to his old self and has the energy to travel and play with his grand kids.

As for myself, I feel more confident following a lifestyle that is heart healthy. And much to my surprise, it does not involve bland diets or long-winded exercise routines.

I feel very fortunate to have discovered Dr. Sears and his book. His website is also very informative: www.alsearsmd.com

J. Livingston

Attention all cardiologists!
Finally!A scientific, fact-based, easy-to-understand guide to preserving and even restoring the heart of our youth, with an incredibly simple approach.Dr. Sears has crafted a research-backed plan to heart health that details how the proper diet, natural supplementation, and simple exercises can do more to improve your heart's endurance and capacity than any manner of pharmaceutical regimen.And the ease with which this can be done is amazing, and expertly outlined.The chapters explaining the chronic obesity problem in this country, and the tragic contributory effects of modern agriculture to this health crisis, are particularly fascinating and enlightening.
This book should find its way onto the shelf of any self-respecting cardiologist, preferably dislodging the seriously over-used prescription pad from its prominent position front and center in the battle against heart disease.Highly recommended to one and all! ... Read more

Book Description

* Comprehensive:acclaimed in a prior edition as “the best pharmacotherapy textbook available,”* it offers you the most detailed pathophysiologic approach to selecting and using pharmaceutical agents in disease management and pharmaceutical care
* Current:the 5th Edition presents the latest information on new drugs and new approaches to treatment and disease management in all therapy sections
* New Chapters:now covers evidence-based medicine, pharmacogenetics, benign prostatic hyperplasia, endometriosis, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and much more
* Disease Management Focus:meets the needs of pharmacy curriculum and establishes a strong pathophysiologic basis for treatment
* Student-Friendly:provides clear explanations on how a particular organ system and related drug therapy is evaluated; includes dozens of treatment algorithms, figures and tables for quick readability; also offers the necessary background to understand topics including pharmacoeconomics and the used of evidence-based decision-making in practice
*Annals of Pharmacotherapy on the 4th Edition ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Pharmacotherapy is a must buy book for every pharmacist
Pharmacotherapy: a pathophysiological approach is a book designed specifically for pharmacists. It covers a wide range of diseases and includes introductory chapters covering different subjects in the pharmacy practice from clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, pharmacoeconomics, evidence-based medicine and much more. Every chapter introduce the pathophysiology of the disease relevant to drug therapy, then the full management plan is evoqued with the clinical use of the different drugs. I recommend to read in parallel `Applied Therapeutics: the clinical use of drug `to see how the management is applied in clinical settings. In second term, one can practice with the cases of the Pharmacotherapy: a patient focused approach before applying to real life cases.
I know i will continue to use these books as long as i still phamacist.

Pharmacotherapy not pharmacology
Addressing the negative comments given to this book by a Dr. Doctor who's going to become yet another doctor, if you truly have your PhD and PharmD (from a halfway decent school), you would recognize the difference between pharmacology and pharmacotherapy. It's awfully troubling if you don't. In agreement with the "triDoc", Goodman and Gillman's is the superior of the 2... in terms of PHARMACOLOGY. However, if you want a very good reference for a practical approach in the treatment options of certain disease states (i.e. PHARMACOTHERAPY), this book should be your choice. It's a wonderful and much used reference. I will agree with another reviewer in that it may be worthwhile to check into buying the hand book addition first (due to its more compact size and less cost). Pharmacotherapy versus pharmacology...Hmmmmmm.

Probably the Worst Pharmacy Text I've Ever Seen
Being a Ph.D.,Pharm.D., and now in medical school, I have seen a lot of texts in the realm of pharmacology and pharmacy practice. This book is really bad. The pathophysiology is weak at best and the authors apparently felt that the pharmacology (MOA's, etc.)where not worth elaborating on. They seem to have skimmed on the "pharm" part. Unfortunately this book is the primary textbook used at a lot of pharmacy schools... if you are a pharm student, you are much better off buying Goodman and Gillman's! It will be much more useful resource throughout your career. It will also be a better study resource for exams and seminars. If you're a med student, run for your life! This book will do nothing for you. I regret buying this book and feel it is not worth the price.

In Addendum: I concur with my fellow OH reader but, as any book with the prefix, "pharm" should have been addressed. When all is said and done, as pharmacists, that is the root of our practice and knowledge. G & G does a better job at therapeutics anyway. Save your money.

Great Reference
As a pharmacy student, I found this to be an excellent reference - it covers an incredibly wide variety of topics in fantastic detail. However, the book is a little too wordy and detailed to get the overall grasp of a subject if you are covering it for the first time. But if you just need to look up that certain drug, side effect, condition or other similar information this is the book for you! There are great summary and comparison charts, easy to follow headings and a great index.

skip this and get the HANDbook instead
This is probably a good book, but you will never really know because you won't read it. Too verbose, hard to cross-reference when studying for exams and boards. Skip this book and get the Handbook by the same people and save some money and a backache to boot. My textbook is gathering dust on my bookshelf in my mother's house while my handbook has been a great reference. ... Read more

Book Description

*This concise review of pathophysiology presents each disease as disordered physiology
*Organized by organ system, each chapter discusses normal structure and function, pathology, and disordered physiology, common clinical presentations and mechanisms underlying symptoms and signs ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Graduate Nursing Student
I found the book vague and unclear. It was recommended as a "reference" book for a graduate level pathophysiology course and it was the first book I returned. There are several other books on pathophysiology that are on the market for about the same price or a bit more that are MUCH more thorough and useful for undergraduate, graduate or medical student reference. I would NOT recommend this book for anyone looking at any type of indepth medical information.

Very confusing book for USMLE prep
Hi there first of all I would like to say that I am from Brazil, Recife, Pernambuco. I went to a university called UPE, FESP which is in the north east part of Brazil. I bought this book because I thought that it would complement BRS pathology'
But it really didn't so as I thought that it would;
I mean it does but its like discussing too much one some points so its just not really a good book for the USMLE step1 prep; I was actually led to think that because of something I had read on the first aid book that said that '
Really did not like the book at all for the usmle prep. Although you can see that it's a very well made book and they put their hearts into making it but it's just not good enough for the boards.
It's not serving me any good I barely opened it since I bought it and I got their latest edition it was sort of a waste of money for me' I think that this book might be of value for the students at UCSF that are taking classes on introduction to medicine or something like that'
But for the usmle? Forget it'!!!
It's really confusing, and there are no simple index for a particular disease, meaning If you look for something in specific it will be related with some many things that you wont see it right there; there won't be simple diseases listed there for you to look at like that'
Every time I go look for something its not there or it's in contest with something else makes you loose so much time looking at it to find it' It's a very good book but not to be used as a complement to BRS pathology unless you're taking the class.
Hope that this was of help to some of you'
Dr.Claudio A.G.Monteiro Filho.

Pathophysiology at its BEST
This incredible blend of Physiological and Pathological concepts beautifully integrates the two subjects. This book highlights the important concepts in various student friendly ways, utilising tables and diagrams that corresponds with the essential information given in the text. It is excellent for review and preparing for exams. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is a much-needed professional book that will instruct readers in the many newmethodologies now at their disposal to make the best use of longitudinal data. This book explains how to select an appropriate method given a research question, including how to use both individual growth modeling and survival analysis. Throughout the chapters, the authors employ many cases and examples from a variety of disciplines, covering multilevel models, curvilinear and discontinuous change, in addition to discrete-time hazard models, continuous-time event occurrence, and Cox regression models. Using Longitudinal Data is a unique contribution to the literature on research methods and will be useful to a wide range of behavioral and social science researchers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great if you really want to do longitudinal data analysis
One of the great features of this book is that it is addressed to the empirical researcher and it really tells you how to conduct good data-analysis with longitudinal data. It doesn't push one particular piece of software, either, but uses a variety of different software packages. The book is really easy to read, and clearly explained -- and, there's so much in it!

Best thing since sliced bread!
This is a great book, it tells you in a straightforward way how to analyze your longitudinal data to answer questions of critical importance in the social sciences. It's not wedded to one particular piece of software, as many books on statistical topics are, but uses examples of real data and different software (HLM, MLwiN, SAS, Stata) to conduct the analyses. An absolute must for the researcher who collects longitudinal data. ... Read more

Book Description

Since its first publication in 1997, DR. BERNSTEIN'S DIABETES SOLUTION has become the treatment of choice in the medical field. His groundbreaking approach to diabetes care enables patients to take control of their disease and to live long and healthy lives by normalizing their blood sugar without the usual swings. Dr. Bernstein himself is living proof of the success of this method. In this revised and updated edition of his work, he provides an accessible, detailed guide to his revolutionary approach to regulating blood sugars and outlines his plan for preventing or reversing long-term complications of diabetes. He offers the most up-to-date information on new products, medications, and supplements, and explains the connection between obesity and adult-onset diabetes. Dr. Bernstein discusses breakthrough science and potential cures, and has added new methods for treating the disease, including new uses of medication and exercise approaches, as well as 40 new gourmet, low carbohydrate recipes in addition to the original 50. The only book to detail step-by-step methods for normalizing blood sugars in both Type I and Type II diabetes, DR. BERNSTEIN'S DIABETES SOLUTION will enable patients to take charge of their health and live longer, healthier lives. ... Read more

Reviews (96)

This book can save your life
I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes last month. My family physician gave me a prescription for oral medication and referred me to a diabetes counselor, who recommended the standard ADA diet. I didn't question this, but went to the grocery store and bought a bulging cartload of low-fat food. However, I was also given a glucometer and began testing my blood 6-8 times a day -- not because I was told to do so, but mostly out of curiosity. I immediately noticed that if I ate bread, cereal, fruit, etc., my blood sugar would rise substantially. It seemed abundantly clear, then, that it was best for me NOT to eat those foods. I modified my diet according to the changes I could plainly see in my own blood sugar, keeping my carb intake under 10 or so grams per meal. As an experiment, I also stopped taking my glucophage, just because it seemed that I was getting better results from dietary changes and exercise than I was from the medication. My average blood sugars continued to decline even without the drugs.

Soon after I started this self-made diet plan, a friend recommended Dr. Bernstein's book. I was amazed to see that his suggestions almost perfectly reflected what I had discovered on my own. The more I read the book, the more convinced I became that his system is the only thing that will work for me. There's also no doubt in my mind that it's the only way to try to undo existing damage and reverse the progressive nature of my disease.

The book is clear, detailed, and well-written. The chapters that describe the physiology of diabetes are especially thorough and well done. It's obvious Dr. Bernstein has a personal, intense interest in both the subject and in his patients. He's not just in it for a buck. I recommend this book to everyone with diabetes as well as to the friends and relatives who love them. It will definitely change your life.

This book saved my husband's life!!!
My husband was a somewhat overweight insulin-dependent diabetic for many, many years. Even with twice-daily insulin shots, he often had blood sugar numbers over 200. Then, by pure good fortune, he happened to meet the ghost writer of this book and discussed the biology of diabetes with him in great detail. Since beginning this very rigorous plan almost two years ago, he has completely stopped taking insulin! Recent blood and urine work-ups for a physical exam showed no signs of diabetes at all! His diabetes had gotten so bad that his feet still give him a lot of trouble, but, given time, even that is expected to improve. Bruce hates this diet--but, because he believes he'd be a blind amputee without it--or even a dead man by now--he loves it and follows it to the letter. His doctors are now also converts and have purchased their own copies of this book. Don't listen to the ADA; they say diabetics can eat moderate amounts of carbohydrates, but that is just plain wrong. Dr. Bernstein makes his logic crystal clear, and my husband is proof that he's right!

Good information from a dedicated individual
I'm a 41 year old male and have recently been diagnosed with pre-diabetes (whatever it is called), with diabetes running in the family, so to get up to speed on the subject I ordered a pile of books (12 of them) off Amazon including this one. I've been through them all and this one I found the best in its explanations of the various aspects of the condition, the various treatments, and many other relevant details.

Dr Bernstein was an engineer with type 1 diabetes and became a doctor to be able to help others with his experiences and findings; he conveys intimate and detailed knowledge about the condition and all its aspects, and generally impresses with the information he provides.

The diet is not exactly appetising plus its very time consuming to have to calculate food details all the time I guess (not having tried it and not hoping to have to try it for awhile), however I will always keep this book in my bookcase "just in case" - if I do get diabetes and complications occur, I will grab this book and give it a shot. Because it is more believable than most of the other stuff out there, for the reason that it comes from someone who found out all of this himself, then became living proof of his own theory.

I would buy this book initially for the descriptions of how diabetes works, how the treatments work and what the various dangers are, exercises provided, etc. - it is well worth its cost for this information alone. Secondly, the diet may come in handy in case of complications etc. and if other treatments don't work.

And Dr Bernstein does indeed answer the phone himself as another writer also mentioned - I called just before opening hours and sure enough got to talk to the man himself.

Great book
This is a common sense book. I am a type 1 diabetic and I highly recommend this book. I have read many other books on diabetes and keep up with the research that is done. Dr Bernstein is a also a diabetic, the book is about his quest to live a life without complications. Great low carb diet book.

Practical & effective
I saw Dr. Bernstein speak in 1998 and it completely changed the way I treat people with diabetes. Since that time, I have seen phenomenally better results. Though it is true the book is highly anecdotal, it is always right on in my experience. Dr. Bernstein is an incredibly humble and honorable person as well, a true critical thinker, who questions without belligerence for the truth about diabetes.

This book is a must for everyone who treats people with diabetes, and for everyone with diabetes. ... Read more

Book Description

this follow-up book to the best-selling classic codependent no more shows how recovery continues by developing positive ways of relating to others.personal stories and suggested activities provide a framework for growth and change. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very interesting insights!
This book explains to us that, unfortunately we are not in our relationships just for the sake of "love". There is a lot more that explains why we are together with the people we are together with. It tells us about he "Hows" and "Whys" of ourselves and our relationships. It is painful to learn these things, but learning these things is the only way we can shed our next layer of skin and more on with our personal development. If you are in tune with your real self, many of these things the authors says in this book will click inside. If you'd like another great book on this topic, I suggest you read "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. It is even better in the way it explains the patterns we develop both in our minds and in our relationships. I'm sure you will love it if you like to really learn about relationships.

Good, but lacks the "punch" of CODEPENDENT NO MORE
This is Melody Beattie's second book and is the sequel to the hugely successful CODEPENDENT NO MORE. If it was the job of the first book to introduce that word - "codependent" - then it is the job of this book to elaborate on the condition and what we are supposed to do with our lives once we are no longer afflicted by it. The result, of course, is that this book does not have quite the "sway" that the first book does. But it is still worth reading if you are a fan of Beattie or are interested in this topic.

A lot of insults have been hurled at the concept of "codependent" over the last several years, and I suspect that most of it has to do with the fuzzy definition of the word itself, and the somewhat "vague" nature of recovery from this condition. In other words, you know an alcoholic has "recovered" when they stop drinking, a drug addict has recovered when they stop taking drugs, a kleptomaniac has recovered when they stop stealing, and so on. . . . But what exactly is a codependent and how do you know when you have recovered from it? What *observable affects* can be measured? Basically, a "codependent" is a person who believes their happiness lies in another person and then becomes obsessed with controlling that other person. That is the definition Beattie provides in her first book, and if you weren't satisfied with that definition or explanation, then you won't be satisfied with this book either. BEYOND CODEPENDENCY is geared toward people who have accepted the author's premise, and who are ready to follow her toward her description of what recovery means. The author indicates that one knows they have recovered from codependency when they stop seeking for approval in others and are content with their own appraisals of their self-worth.

Suffice it to say that this is not exactly "scientific" in that it cannot be observed and replicated in a lab, and even I, a lover of Beattie's work for years, still find the whole category a little fuzzy and am not sure if it is the main problem to be focused on (I believe "codependency" is only one aspect of other more vital issues, and is not the main issue itself). But this book is uplifting and I find Melody Beattie inspiring. If you enjoyed her first book, and you enjoy books that feel supportive in a rhetorical sense, then you will probably enjoy this book.

The narrator absolutely ruins this book
The woman who narrates this book is terrible. The author's actual writing is good, poignant, therapeutic, and comforting, but I had to constantly try to tune out the narrator's obnoxious and melodramatic rendition of the text. Her voice changes from a condescending, cloying and excessively pitying tone during most of the text to an inappropriate and downright nasty one for most quotes the author has included from "real stories" she has encountered. I started dreading the real-life quotes because I knew the narrator would switch to the rude, mocking voice she used for the quotes. It's really a shame, because much of what is written in this book is valuable information, even if it probably should be common sense (common sense, after all, isn't so common). I recommend the BOOK, but avoid the audio version if you possibly can - or spare yourself and get the abridged one because hearing this woman's melodrama is truly a trial all by itself.

rule your own life
"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."
"Ooops, better take an inventory..."
"Ooops, better own my worth..."
"Ooops, I made a mistake, but that's...okay."

This book will succeed only in attaching a myriad of labels to your persona which will only further one's irrational beliefs that something is "wrong" with them.
Personal strength is only found within your self, not any book, not this one.
The only question I would ever ask Ms. Beatty is if she's actually CONTROLLING people by making suggestions and giving unsolicited advice in her books. Of course, if she didn't have a ton of labels to slap on you, she'd sell no more books.

Caring is not a disease. Find other who care also, and avoid this codependency noise.
- Stuart

This saved my sanity...
Wonderful book. It pointed out so many things that I wasn't aware were co-dependant issues that I have. Helped put the answers of why I do the things I do that for so long I lacked. She helps you no longer feel alone. Good book for anyone who is ready to face this and stop it. ... Read more

Book Description

Now with more than double the number of references than the previous edition, this landmark volume has been updated to address current assessment techniques and procedures. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

New edition out soon
This is a fantastic reference book. I can't count how many times I have opened it. HOWEVER, there is a new edition coming out in June 2004, so the interested yet frugal buyer might want to hold off for a few months

This is an invaluable resource for assessment.
Neuropsychological assessment provides an invaluable resource for anyone interested in assessment. Lezak has provided innumerable references as well as current information about instruments and their neuropsychological applications. As a graduate student and in everyday practice, I have found this book to be constantly on my desk. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the field of assessment. ... Read more

Book Description

The 2nd Edition of this respected reference continues to provide state-of-the-art, practical guidance on the evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with orthopaedic problems. Organized by anatomic region, this resource covers everything from initial examination and differential diagnosis...through treatment and postoperative rehabilitation. Its user-friendly organization offers fast access to protocols developed by internationally recognized othopaedists as well as physical and occupational therapists. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Congratulations Brent & Kevin!!! A really excellent work!
The new edition 2003 of this book compared with the old one of 1996, has a lot of new chapters in rehabilitation with a lot of photos of rehabilitation exercises and methods writting by an excellent, well - known physical therapist Kevin Wilk. It covers a lot of topics in modern Orthopaedic rehabilitation. With personal experiences of 25 years treating patients, I recomend this book to all Physical Therapists in Greece!!!

Awesome orthopedic reference
This book is an awesome reference for outpatient rehab progression. Provides conservative through aggresive rehab protocols. Allows for comparison of various protocols

This is an outstanding reference of rehabilitation protocols
Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation offers numerous protocols for specific injuries and surgical techniques. It is an excellent supplement to basic rehabilitation books. Information on the basic principles of rehabilitation is limited but it a great tool for an experienced certified athletic trainer or physical therapist to use in developing and implementing protocols. It is also written and referenced by leaders in the field of orthopedics, offering a few different protocols for each injury/surgical technique discussed. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume in the popular Requisites in Radiology series concisely presents all of today's need-to-know information in neuroradiology. Completely revised and updated, it progresses from the basics of imaging techniques and anatomy to brain diseases and neurodegenerative and congenital abnormalities. It then discusses the subsites of neuroradiology, the head and neck, and degenerative and non-degenerative diseases of the spine. This compact, clinically oriented, easy-to-read format makes it exceptionally useful as a study tool for boards and the CAQ exam for the subspecialty. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Best!
Where can you find a comprehensive book covering the brain, spine, and head and neck that is funny, clever, authoritative, well-illustrated AND costs less than $100? It's unheard of!

I laughed myself silly during some of the chapters.

I happen to know one of the authors, and he's brilliant. The other guy ain't half bad either.

Excellent Book
I have the second edition of this book. Very well written in a fun and sarcastic way making it pleasant to read. Clear pictures with clinical background. I have reviewed many books on neuroradiology, by far, this is the best. The "Cranial Anatomy" chapter alone is an excellent review on normal anatomy. A clinician does not need more than the chapter on "Techniques on Neuroimaging" to learn about the physics of imaging.

Authors, thank you
The authors want to transmit their knowledge to the reader. They are real teachers, as all textbook authors should be. Their aim is to help us learn neuroradiology and not just enrich their CV like many others do. Congratulations and thank you!

Don't Leave Home Without It
As Director of Neuroradiology at a Harvard teaching hospital for many years, I have been responsible for recommending texts for residents to begin their study of my subspecialty. When this book was first published, it happened to be the year in which our subspecialty offered its own examination for certification. Because I was interested in finding a text to provide a current survey of the field, I bought this book. Little did I know how comprehensive this text was- a true "bang for the buck". The coverage of the field, including neck imaging, is remarkably thorough and up-to-date, considering the current edition is 6 years old.

The only minor deficiency is a paucity of illustrations, but I believe a pictorial work book keyed and correlated to this text has now been published.

What makes this text unique is the authors' wry sense of humor, with "zingers" appearing unexpectedly- they literally wake you up and provide encouragement to finish even the most challenging chapters. The final sections, which include a unique chapter on how to interpret MR and CT images, as well as lists of differential diagnoses, are real gems.

In summary- as Karl Malden said- "Don't Leave Home Without It". The book is small enough to carry, and a valuable resource from which to learn while one works in the radiology reading room.

Good effort
This is a very, very good book. The text is clear and uncluttered. The tone is light - the authors have tried to write a book that is enjoyable to read, not just informative. Good pictures, though some of them can be improved by enlargement.

Two negatives:
1. The price is steep. I agree with the reviewer below - most users will be residents and med students, who can ill afford paying so much for an "essentials" text.

2. A new edition is desperately due - it is more than 7 years since the first was published. The new edition was supposed to be out in 2000. When it couldn't be brought out, Mosby promised that it'd be out in December 2001. Now even that deadline has been passed, and Mosby 'promises', yet again, that it will be out May 2002. I hope it is. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Molecules of ego
Now don't get me wrong, this is a good book. Pert provides a (Western) scientific perspective on the mind/body question, and provides a lot of food for thought. The idea that our bodies and minds are bound together as one, through a process of transmission and reception of molecules throughout the body (not just in the brain), opens up endless possibilities for keeping ourselves well and healing when that is required. You should read it just to get the layperson's understanding of how this is so. On the other hand, be prepared for another story, the intellectual/emotional biography of Pert. While it makes sense (in keeping with the holistic perspective) to meld the personal and the professional, I'd estimate the ratio as 3 personal to 1 professional, where I would have preferred the opposite. Whether she is displaying hard work, intelligence, naivete or her appreciation of her co-workers' physical attributes, the book seems to be very much about her. If you want the ideas without the ego, read something else on this topic.

Thought provoking, but only up to a point
"Molecules of Emotion" was certainly not what I expected from the jacket blurbs. Yes, there is some discussion of the scientific discoveries regarding emotion, but only in the first half of the book, and even there, it's a small minority of the content, couched in a personal narrative more centered on Candace Pert's viewpoint of her own career.

Yes, the saddening politics of paper publication, awards selection and grant approval in the world of government- and industry-funded biological research is quite an interesting read for an outsider. It even got my blood boiling to think of the promising therapies that are possibly being ignored due to their lack of profit potential (though this wasn't a new idea to me). It's too bad this ends up being the high point of the book.

From the very beginning, Pert's own ego comes to the fore in places in a way that detracts from the information that I (and presumably some others) bought the book for in the first place. There is something about the way she describes her personal experiences (more extensively and less modestly than might have seemed appropriate for a presentation of important scientific information) that made me wonder how much differently other people must perceive her than she perceives herself (even before she admits as much later on).

Unfortunately, this is not the worst of it. The early content is clearly scientifically validated, and describes in some detail (just enough for plausibility) the experiments that were conducted and the meaning of the results. But by the second half of the book, she seems to have thrown scientific inquiry to the wind in favor of unfounded speculation, including extensive quotations of flighty lunchtime conversations she's had with psychics and others, with no foundation or evidence to back up any of the wild ideas that spring forth. It degenerates into such drivel that I stopped reading entirely 50 pages from the end (and I rarely fail to slog through the last pages of even the dreariest tome).

Not that it isn't a bit fascinating what this woman believes (some of which is entirely plausible, insightful, and well founded, while some is just the opposite, with seemingly little discrimination between the two extremes), but I didn't have much interest in paying money and spending time on someone's not-very-interesting life story or wild speculations.

In sum, the first half of the book is reasonably interesting, both in terms of the science and the politics of science. The second half is only interesting as a personality study of a scientest appearantly so frustrated with the politics of science that she to a large extent rejected science itself, no longer discriminating between theories backed by experiment or other evidence and those that are not.

Fans of alternative healing, particularly those just savvy enough to be impressed by passing references to terms like "quantum mechanics" and "information theory" (in close association with "chakra" and "subtle energy", a supposed force beyond those of electicity, gravity, etc. invented to explain the power of love) but not sophisticated enough to actually understand what they really mean, will eat up the second half of this book, as will insecure psychologists threatened by successful drug treatmenets for depression.

Don't get me wrong: I have nothing against self-help books, spiritual healing or holistic approaches to a healthy body and mind. (And some of Pert's later musings are perfectly valid wise words for how to live a good and happy life.) But this book ends up in a VERY different place from where the jacket summary and testimonials would suggest.

Autobiography of a Scientist
After reading about Candace Pert's discoveries in numerous magazine articles, I decided to read her book to learn more. What I learned about was Candace Pert. The book contains information about the biology of emotions, but it is embedded in a narrative of Dr. Pert's life as a scientist. Though the story is an interesting one, it was a disappointment for someone looking for a layperson's introduction to the molecules of emo