Book Description

Speech Disorders Resource Guide for Preschool Children is a clinical resource tool designed for speech language pathologists and students who work with the preschool population. This comprehensive, yet easy-to-use, text provides detailed information about assessment, analysis and intervention methods pertaining to childhood speech disorders. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Reference
This comprehensive books guides parents who are raising vegetarian children. Especially helpful is the advice for vegans who must be especially conscientious in making sure their children can all the necessary nutrients and calories. This was an invaluable source when writing my cookbook, Simply Natural Baby Food, as I wanted to concentrate on vegetarian and vegan recipes.

Great reference, not only for vegetarians
I just finished reading this book, and I wish I had it when my daughter was born!

We becams vegetarian (nearly vegan) over the last year or so, and that's why I decided to read this book: even though my daughter is no longer a baby (she's 2 and half), I wanted to start from scratch with the info on vegetarian nutrition for children.

This book offers a wealth of information on macro- and micro-nutrients and on all staple foods for a vegetarian/vegan baby. There's plenty of info on grains, vegetables, beans and nuts, fruits, and all vitamin and minerals necessary for a baby to thrive. I found the info on grains particularly interesting, as it went into grains I have never heard of or was not very familiar with and showed the ideal sequence to introduce the various grains, from the lightest and gluten free to the more common, glutinous corn and wheat.

Because even in omnivorous families, meat is one of the last items introduced to a baby, I think this is a great resource for any parent, vegetarian or not, as fruits, vegetables and grains are usually introduced first in any case, and this book will explain you how and when it's best to introduce each of those foods, also taking into consideration the prevention or spotting of possible allergies or intolerances.

The book also offers ideas for menus for your baby, and at the end there is a useful FAQ section.

A great book, which I am planning to buy as a gift the next time a friend is pregnant.

Change is a Mixed Blessing
Upon borrowing Sharon Yntema's original book from my local library and finding it very useful, I decided to buy my own copy. That's when I saw that there was a "new and improved" edition, so I bought that. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first.

This book is Yntema's book, rewritten by Beard-- and I like Yntema's narration much more than I do Beard's. While it's very nice to have more recent nutrition facts at my fingertips, I don't enjoy the way they are presented in a staunchly pro-vegan monologue. While I think it's very important for vegan parents to have this support for raising their babies, I find that I miss the support I received reading about Yntema's own journey raising a healthy vegetarian child.

I will keep the copy that I have of this book, to turn to when I have a question about nutrition. But I will be buying a copy of the original version, to turn to when I need reminding that raising a happy and healthy child on a vegetarian diet is easier than all of the RDAs, DRIs, ESADDIs, and EMRs out there make it seem.

A Vegetarian Nutritional Reference Book for Babies
The New Vegetarian Baby is a must have for families raising vegetarian children. It offers detailed information about the nutritional needs and requirments for infants and toddlers. Helpful information regarding nutritional guidlines for preganant and lactating women are also reviewed. This book includes information on other topics, ranging from managing home and work to weaning and development. There are a few recipes with sample feeding menus, but it is more of a reference book than a cookbook. Interesting topics combined with easy reading make this book a recommended choice for vegetarian families. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

A must read!
My husband picked this book up at the speech therapists office shortly after our son was finaly diagnosed with Aspergers. It has lots of helpful answers and resources.
A must-read if you are looking for guidance or answers to questions about ASD. Very hard to find at the library or on the shelf, but really glad we did!

Dr. Ozonofff is one of the Best - A really good book.
I like this book. I am and adult with AS with an adult child on the spectrum. I'm sorry to say that this book is mainly about kids and teens with AS, but it does have some good points that are helpful to adults. If you are interested in parenting, this is a good book. I also highly recommend Karen Zelan's book "Between our world and theirs"

I have met Dr. Ozonoff, she get's big points from me for being a really nice person.

I really appreciate her working to break down the artificial barrier between the AS and HFA labels.

Buy this book.
I have a son with AS in his third year at a major University in the Northeast. If you are reading this....you will love this book. Very informative, helpful, and very reassuring. I wish that I had found it years ago.

An intelligent thorough review of many options
There is a research thrust to this book (unsurprising given Ozonoff's research contributuons) that puts it a few notches above others in the market. Unquestionably this, plus a very fluent writing style, puts the book in a different class.

Unlike specific intervention texts, it does not lay out particular lesson plans but reviews methodological principles and best practices. As one would expect from the authors, the book is superb on descriptions of Autistic Disorders and prognosis. It has less advice on specific intervention strategies than one might like, but it does offer reviews of approaches.

So what does this book offer over the many others on the same bookshelf? Well it's horses for courses. It's avery balanaced book and certainly it doesn't understate the difficulties. I think that professionals and researchers will get a more out of it than others. However, there just isn't a whole pile written on AS and adolescence. Hence parents with a research interest will also gain a lot. Ultimately it is a slightly more 'high brow' book than notional equivalents. I have certainly found myself going back to it rather than the others over the past few months.

a MUST-HAVE for any family with AS!!!
This book sets the stage for years to come by exploring the progress that has recently been made in Asperger's syndrome analysis and understanding. It is a postive analysis of AS from all sides--the professional(cut and dried definations, explained simply and thuroughly), to the positive manner to encourage and work with "aspies" (those with Asperger's Syndrome) of all ages. This book also covers factually and with sympathy and sensitivity topics such as adolescense, adult-hood, and dating, as well as the usual preschool and elementary age recommendations.

The positive suggestions offered in this book will be inspirational and educational for parents, and should be shared with those in the schools, colleges, and even the employment fields--in other words to anyone dealing with an "aspie". The reader will have many positve ideas to try, as well as an increased understanding of AS. Since AS is increasing at alarming rates, it would be an excellent book for anyone in Special Education to read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is the detection and screening of genetic abnormality in gametes prior to fertilisation and embryos fertilised in vitro prior to implantation. This exciting new text provides an introduction and overview of the principles of PGD.
An exciting fusion of prenatal diagnosis (PD) with in vitro fertilisation (IVF), this book is will appeal to both the prenatal diagnosis community, of clinical geneticists and foetal medicine specialists within obstetrics and gynaecology, and the IVF community within reproductive medicine. It is also an essential introduction to PD, clinical genetics and IVF for non-specialists.

• A concise introduction to the field of PGD
• Detailed explanations of the techniques and procedures used
• The law and ethical implications of PGD
• Future uses of PGD

Reviews (2)

Better than a board review course
Thank you for putting together this fabulous resource. This book is a great outline of all the major areas required for the Neonatology boards. I really don't think I could have passed without it. This book really helped me focus on the important aspects of Neonatology required to pass the boards. A great resource for fellows to have before they even begin contemplating the board exam.

Must buy!!!!
This is a great book for all neonatologists esp. if you are reviewing for the Boards which I just took recently. It has all the information that not a single reference book contains all at one time. The book is really centered on the topics that are high yield. The 2 pages of formulas at the back pages are a MUST read! Its easy reading, concise but complete. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Occupational Therapy for Children, Mosby's top selling Occupational Therapy book and a market leader, has been fully updated for the 4th Edition with many new features. It maintains its focus on children at many ages and stages in development, comprehensively addressing both treatment techniques and diagnoses in all settings. The 4th Edition builds on the existing strengths of the text, with improvements in the individual organization of each chapter, a greater overall consistency, updated photos and illustrations, the addition of a second color to clarify and improve the visual interest of the book, more case studies, and expanded and revised information on many topics. Occupational Therapy for Children continues in itsreputation as a dependable and outstanding source for occupational therapy undergraduate students, graduate level students, and practitioners. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The book title says it all: "OT for Children"
This resource provides an overview of many conditions found in pediatric treatment. The reviews of developmental progressions of all ADLs, pre-writing, fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, and other skills are presented both in concise, outline form and in paragraph form for more details. All chapters are well-organized, and focused on OT practice, while the section by Exner on the Development of Hand Skills is exceptional. This is a MUST HAVE resource for OT working in pediatrics.

essential reading
As a Paediatric Occupational Therapist I find this book a valuable resource in my department. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Review
Great for quick reference to evaluation of the pediatric patient. Puts information in table/list format. ... Read more

Book Description

This handbook presents a comprehensive overview of the current array of intervention approaches in the child mental health field. Its coverage reflects current trends of intervention with specific problems and populations, empirical support of the approach, and the integration of treatment approaches, proceeding from global presentations of basic theoretical approaches to applications with specific problems and populations. Unique features are its focus on future directions for research and clinical practice, a structured format across diverse interventions with a focus on empirical validation, and interventions that integrate different theoretical components. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A tad on the expensive side, but well worth the money.
I was able to purchase this book through a professional book club at a substantially lower price, so for me to say that "you must have this book," is easy for me to say. Nevertheless...

I have used this book countless times in my family therapy courses because this handbook presents a comprehensive overview of the current practice with regard to the intervention approaches in the child and family psychotherapy. Specific problems are dealt with in a cogent, yet thorough fashion with a plethora of research to buttress the assertions made.

This book is a compilation of current trends of intervention with specific problems and populations,containing empirical support of each approach, and the integration of treatment approaches.

The book may be a little pricey, but I look at purchases such as these as an investment in my career. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent resource for fellows and technicians
This is an excellent and comprehensive introductory text in pediatric echocardiography.
I missed the following sections:
1) 2D imaging of coronary arteries, in particular with respect to Kawasaki disease.
2) 2D imaging of pulmonary veins. There is, however, a very good section on Doppler examination of the pulmonary veins.
The Snider/Serwer/Ritter remains an good resource. I am looking forward to a (hopefully) new edition.

a comprehensive text on paediatric echo.
the second edition of sniders's text is commendable. the format is simple
and easy to understand. i found two chapters particularly useful.
the chapter on ventricular hypoplasia and diagnostic approach to complex congenital heart disease,especially on dextrocardia.
also useful are the arrangement of diseases as defects of septation, ventriculoarterial connection,inflow, and outflow etc.
an additional boon to the readers is the absence of lenghty discourses on embryology.
an important detailed chapter on fetal echocardiography has been included.
i strongly recommend this text to all those performing paediatric echocardiography.

Excellent quality in teaching and training!
I am a resident of Anesthesiology in Taiwan. Obviously, intraoperative echocaridography appeared to be of a great value for cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists, especialy in pediatric complex heart surgery. We could detect residual defect and inadequate surgical repair in the aid of intraoperative transesophagel echocardiogram. The cardiac surgeons were informed, a quick decision making was made, and the surgical outcome was improved in some patients. This book, not only focusing on the basic technology about performing echocardiogrm, but also emphasizing on possible postoperative problems regarding to inadequate surgical repair and residual defects. It helped me so much in perioperative cardiac mointoring by echocardiogram. I strongly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive reference work on prenatal diagnosis, Genetic Disorders and the Fetus is now available in a completely revised and updated fifth edition reflecting the most current advances in research, technology, and clinical care.

Written by an international team of experts, the volume provides in-depth critical analysis of the latest work in prenatal diagnosis of genetic and other disorders. Topics include: fragile X syndrome, cystic fibrosis, neural tube defects, and hemoglobinopathies; the experience and techniques of amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, ultrasound, fetal blood sampling; abortion and fetal therapy; and medicolegal and ethical issues in prenatal diagnosis. The book describes the use of combined biochemical markers to screen for neural tube and chromosomal defects, presents the latest developments relating to testing fetal cells in the mother's blood, and reviews major advances in molecular genetics that permit prenatal carrier detection and presymptomatic and predictive testing.

Much has changed since the publication of the fourth edition. The new technologies of fetal MRI, 3-D ultrasound, and real time PCR of fetal DNA in maternal circulation yield crucial information. While, integrated screening of data from the first and second trimesters coupled with ultrasound now produces a 94 percent detection rate. ... Read more

Book Description

Craniosynostosis, the early fusion of skull sutures, is a serious abnormality of infancy and childhood. Because there are many forms of the condition, both isolated and syndromatic, proper diagnosis is essential before treatment could be carried out. Not only has surgical treatment advanced in recent years, but basic knowledge of sutural and molecular biology of craniosynostosis syndromes has recently come to light.

Because dramatic changes have occurred in the field, particularly in molecular biology, this new edition has been rewritten and new chapters have been added on the growth of sutures, craniofacial surgery, and epidemiology and clinical correlations. The molecular basis of craniosynostosis, with emphasis on fibroblast growth receptors, and recent research on postnatal growth and the craniofacial complex, will be discussed in detail. Many new syndromes have been delineated the established conditions have been redefined. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent and informative!
I read this edition after reading the 2nd edition, and I couldn't be happier with it. This edition includes information about the diet's use in infants, as well as tube feeding issues. I was very glad to see the added info, as my 4 month old son began the diet recently and we're still fine-tuning it. Thanks to this book, not only do I understand more about the diet's "quirks", I feel I'm more able to assist the dietitians and neurologists in the planning of my son's diet. I highly recommend it to anyone who's considering implementing the diet.

Even Better Than Before!
I just got my copy of the third edition of this wonderfulbook.It's even better than the second edition.

1. The menu plansare better and more complete. 2. They include information on howthey think the diet works. 3. The whole book just flows better thanbefore.

I highly recommend this book (and the diet) to all withepilepsy -- adults too! ... Read more

Book Description

Childhood can be an exciting time, full of joyous exploration, new skills, friends, and imaginative play. It can also be very frightening, especially when children have experiences that threaten their feelings of safety and well-being. Even common traumatic childhood events can deeply affect children's normal healthy development, their self-esteem, and their families. Many behavioral problems stemming from common traumatic events could require years of psychotherapy or medication. That is, they did -- until the advent of EMDR. Developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR had already helped thousands of adult clients when Joan Lovett experienced its healing power firsthand.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a comprehensive therapeutic approach that helps patients release disturbing thoughts and emotions that originate in traumatic experiences. Experiences can be traumatic in the commonly accepted sense -- abuse, disasters, violence -- but children may also perceive and respond to more ordinary events as very threatening. A playground accident, the loss of a loved one, school problems, or choking on a piece of popcorn can be a part of growing up. They can also be critical incidents that cause a child to view him- or herself as helpless or powerless, to become fearful, and to develop debilitating behavioral problems.

In Small Wonders: Healing Childhood Trauma with EMDR, Joan Lovett, M.D., shares engaging clinical stories -- mysteries involving children who present her with puzzling and disturbing behaviors. She imaginatively focuses her knowledge of pediatrics, play therapy, and EMDR to alleviate the real-life ordeals of real-life children.

Featuring a foreword by Francine Shapiro, Small Wonders is the most comprehensive and insightful book to explore the potential of EMDR for child therapy. This enlightening book is intended for parents who are concerned with having their children feel confident, for adults who want insights into the way the events of their childhood shaped their self-image, and for professionals who want to know more about EMDR and how it can be adapted to meet the special needs of traumatized children. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Recommend!
Easy to read and helpful for understanding the process of EMDR. I would have to agree with the previous reviewer Laura M that PEACEFUL HEART : A Woman's Journey to Healing is a must-read. Aimee Jo Martin's story clearly illustrates and details her journey with successful EMDR treatments. Quite powerful if you want to really see how effective EMDR can be.

Wonderful insight
What a wonderfully honest book! It shares the heartbreak of what rape does to the human soul. I also highly recommend reading Peaceful Heart: A Woman's Journey of Healing, by Aimee Jo Martin....a book that is a true testament to the human spirit.

An excellent case history guide to EMDR with children
Dr. Lovett, the clinical detective (behavioral pediatrician) writes poignant analyses of her work with childhood traumas great and small, in which she applies the bilateral stimulation techniques of EMDR. Her writing style is easy to read, and demonstrates the relative rapidity of trauma resolution when EMDR is properly interwoven into more traditional therapy. Her book is a valuable guide for clinicians skilled in the EMDR technique, as well as informative for parents considering such treatment for their child. As an EMDR therapist who teaches workshops on treating children, I highly recommend this engaging volume. Frances Klaff Ph.D.

Intriguing stories of recovery from trauma!
This is a well-written book about a pediatrician's experience with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming) as a healing tool for people suffering from the results of traumatic incidents. It would appeal to laymen as well as professionals. The intriguing stories are like little mysteries, which unravel in a hopeful way. The author experienced a serious car accident and was finally helped to overcome some puzzling symptoms with EMDR. She got training in the technique and began using it (with great success) in her practice. This book is alive with vignettes of children with problems that no one has been able to fix, but who have responded to EMDR. This compelling book would appeal to anyone interested in a short term method of overcoming limiting behaviors. ... Read more

Book Description

Respiratory students and therapists can learn the latest in respiratory care for newborns and children from this updated book. Readers will study fetal development of the cardiopulmonary system, then learn respiratory care of neonatal and pediatric patients, as well as causes and care of respiratory illnesses. A section devoted to ventilation and oxygenation includes information on both conventional and special techniques. Even topics such as care of parents and home care are discussed in detail. Ten clinical case studies supplement the main text.Key features: ¨ Corresponds with the new NBRC content outline for the perinatal/pediatric specialty exam ¨ New section on specialty medical gases ¨ Practice questions, laboratory exercises, and checklists now located in the book to improve understanding¨ Information on conventional and non-conventional ventilators ¨ Ten clinical case studies support application of content from the main text. (KEYWORDS:respiratory care, respiratory therapy, respiratory therapists, pediatric, perinatal, child respiratory care) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great
This is thruly a great book on neo/ped respiratory care. It includes superb info on most common cardiopulmonary diseases, mechanical ventilation, oxygen and other resp therapies, monitoring, short review of anatomy and physiology of infant, assessment of infant and child etc. It also contains practice neo/ped respiratory board exam at the end of the book. What dissapoints me about this book is its softcover binding. For such a huge book(814 pgs) it is surprising that publishers would opt for softcover, but at the same time charge ($) as if the book was hardbound. (hardcover does not break down if read alot) Very good book anyway. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
After 4 years of reading depressing books about what to expect from my ADHD child, finally I feel like someone has given me the key to unlocking his wonderful potential. As a homeschooling parent this book is a special blessing! The first day I read it I tried writing out the word collaborate and followed the instructions to have him visualize it. (This is a 9 year old child who is a full grade level behind in spelling) He not only spelled it, he immediately spelled it backwards without missing a letter. I cried! This book will be an immense help in choosing curriculum for him, and I would highly recommend it as a must to parents of ADD/ADHD labeled children.

interesting but simplistic
The reviews attached to this book indicate that many people have found it inspiring and helpful. I found some of the suggestions intriguing, but overall the arguments were simplistic and not backed up by scientific evidence. I am a special educator and have worked with many children diagnosed with ADHD that, despite having a "right brained" style, also have nonverbal learning disabilities or simply have difficulty integrating skills into a coherent system. If they cannot focus long enough to process visual information, then providing training in visualization or visual-based techniques is not sufficient -- they need to process the information first! Also, many do respond to phonics based reading approaches, provided that they are taught to use multisensory strategies.

I also feel that the book's description of schools and teachers is out of touch. Perhaps I have been fortunate in my personal experience to work with highly caring people who do not fit the authors' description of nitpicky "left brained" teachers who only care about spelling words and neat handwriting. It seems as though the author is providing suggestions for short term instruction, but does not have a clear idea as to how to build a foundation for advanced skills that require sequential or logical thinking.

I can think of many other books that have addressed this topic more thoroughly and with a better foundation. I recommend Mel Levine's "Educational Care", which is comprehensive and provides more detailed and realistic strategies.

THE "Must-Have" Book on ADD!
My son was recently diagnosed with ADD. As I researched the topic, I found this book to be the most encouraging, informational, helpful, and applicable. Not only is it a great resource for parents, it is also wonderful for teachers or anyone who works with ADD kids. This is the only book you need!

Great practical advice
This book is a great handbook for a parent or educator dealing with children who a visual learners (including dyslexia). Often these children are labeled as ADD/ADHD. It provides handy tips on reading, writing, math, testing and other areas that often trip up these children. It also provide a much needed boost of confidence for both parents, educators, and children themselves when doing some of these exercises.
I highly recommend this book for any teacher who is willing to put in some effort to help their visual learners.

It changed our world
I read this book a couple of years ago and it changed the way I looked at my son. More importantly, however, it changed how my son looked at himself. After sharing some of the book with him, he began to call himself, with much pride, right brained instead of ADHD. I would encourage everyone to read this book and send it to family, friends, counselors and teachers to read as well. You won't look at life the same way again. For our family, it was life changing. My son loves to say now, "There's nothing wrong with me, I just see things differently from the rest of the world!" ... Read more

Book Description

Arthritis is usually considered a disease of older adults, but nearly 300,000 children in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease, such as juvenile arthritis (JRA), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or Kawasaki disease. Yet until now very little information has been available to guide parents and doctors in properly diagnosing such children.Here is a readable, reliable guide to the common causes of bone, joint, muscle, and arthritis pain in children, designed to help parents and physicians understand these disorders, arrive at the proper diagnosis, and choose the most effective treatment. In this comprehensive resource, Dr. Thomas Lehman--the head of one of the most prestigious pediatric rheumatology programs in the world--offers easy-to-understand information on the causes, symptoms, tests, and treatments for a wide variety of rheumatic diseases and childhood pain. Dr. Lehman writes with great clarity, providing numerous case examples that illustrate the topic at hand and offering practical, down-to-earth advice. Equally important, he answers the questions that parents are most likely to ask: What should they observe in their children? What questions should they ask their doctor? Which tests are necessary? What risk factors should they be aware of? And how can they help their children cope with the social and psychological aspects of their illness. The book summarizes diagnostic tests, discusses the most effective medications, and discusses physical therapy, alternative therapy, and surgical options that are available. Clearly written, thorough, authoritative, and up-to-date, It's Not Just Growing Pains is the definitive resource available on the subject for parents and health care professionals, helping them to understand the children's pain and find the best available care. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A MUST HAVE FOR ALL PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN PLAY SPORTS
I highly recommend this book for all parents. It provides
amazing up to date information regarding different types of sports injuries and how a parent may be pushing their child
into hurting themselves and not realize this fact. And, more importantly it allows a parent to distinguish between what he/she may think is a sports injury, but may actually be a chronic degenerative condition such as juvenile arthritis. Autoimmune conditions run in my family and my 7 year old neice has recently beed diagnosed with polyarticular arthritis.
This book has become a bible for our family. Dr. Lehman's approach not only covers medical issues but social issues as well. Thank you to him for providing such valuable information
and answers to all of us parents who always have so many questions.

Best I've ever read
This was a really great book. Very clearly written with good explanations and analogies to explain some stuff that other doctors I have talked to have made needlessly complicated. It really helped me understand why kids get joint pain and about my younger brothers arthritis.

This really helped me to understand
Wow!! This book is full of common sense practical advice that I never found anywhere else. A big help to me in understanding my child's problems and how to make sure she's getting good care. I strongly recommend this book to any parent of a child with arthritis or a related condition. It will help you figure out what's wrong and how to get the best results. ... Read more

Book Description

Michael Ruhlman is fascinated by people at work-especially those in pursuit of perfection. The Soul of a Chef and Wooden Boats have established him as a deft chronicler of unique cultural microcosms. Now, in Walk on Water, he documents life in the most intense environment yet-a pediatric heart center specializing in neonatal open-heart surgery. The precision needed for such delicate surgery puts "soul-crushing, diamond-making stress" on physicians and nurses every time they operate.

The colorful focus of Ruhlman's narrative is the Cleveland Clinic's world-renowned, idiosyncratic Dr. Roger Mee-a virtuoso within a very select surgical specialty and a mine of information on statistics, ethics, and medical politics. A riveting glimpse into the heart and mind of a man in whose hands literally rests a young baby's life on a daily basis, Walk on Water explores controversial topics-from questionable referral patterns by cardiologists to physicians who are punished for doing what's best for their patients to physicians who don't do what's best for their patients-and breaks the taboo on subjects not often written about.

Walk on Water is a must for all readers of serious nonfiction that will also have health professionals and the media paying rapt attention. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

An amazing glimpse into the world of Peds Heart Surgery!
As a pre-med student, I was immediately taken in by the vast use of medical terminology throughout this book. Yes, in some instances it did get repetitive from multiple explanations of the same heart defect, but in no way did that detract from the overall enjoyment and educational factors of this book. I was very pleased with the author for giving such an in-depth and gritty depiction of a great deal of issues I will be forced to face while pursuing a career in medicine.

What really impressed me with this read was the way the author got into the mind of each specialist whether it was the jumpy/inexperienced senior resident, the calm and calculating cardiac nurse, or the highly stressed anesthesiologist; all of which comprised the ultimate team to support the lead surgeon to a successful operation. Even now (after finishing the book awhile ago) I find myself looking up the current exploits of Dr. Mee and more information on the specialty of cardiology itself.

Though mundane at times with overemphasis on mortality figures (which as the author even mentions himself are easily manipulated), I still found this book a thoroughly entertaining read. And to parents out there with children plagued by congenital heart disease, this book is a MUST READ. Even as a future doctor, there are some things all the medical training in the world will not prepare you for and by reading this book, I believe I am much better equipped to handle such dilemmas.

Incredible book but repetitive
Medically focused books have always been a draw for me. When I saw this book in an Oberlin bookstore it was an instant impulse purchase for me. Ruhlman delves into the minds of the team at the Clinic and you really feel like a fly on the wall of the Clinic OR when reading about the complex heart surgeries. The book is repetitive in some chapters and I would've liked to read more about Dr. Mee's failures and how they were addressed not only by the Doctor but also the entire surgical team. There were a lot of 'close calls' described in the book but most of them had happy or semi-happy endings. I definitely would've liked to see a healthy heart diagram in the book as it would have helped tremendously to visualize and better understand the numerous lesions encountered. A glossary of terms to refer to would be beneficial as well. And finally - pictures, pictures, pictures! I found myself Googling Dr. Mee and Johnathan Drummond-Webb just to somehow get a better sense of who they are by looking at their pictures.

INTRUING AND EDUCATIONAL BOOK
As one who is very interested in physiology, I think this book was a godsend. Mr Ruhlman managed to inject life into a serious subject like the heart and I felt the best part from him was describing the patients, followed by the illness.

It is a highly recommended read for all who want to gain erudition for a layman in congential heart diseases.

Interesting, but could be much better
While there is no doubt that Ruhlman's Walk on Water is exhaustively researched, it would have been a much better book had it been aggressively edited.

The first thing that turned me off was the author's repetitiveness. Many concepts are explained, then reexplained a chapter or 2 later. One example is the pronunciation of the word "peds." Really, Mr. Ruhlman, I'm an intelligent reader and can remember from one chapter to the next what you have written. I don't need to have the concepts repeatedly pounded into my head.

I found the chapter on the history of heart surgery to be about as entertaining as a college freshman's term paper.

However, the main thing that bugged me was the number of misspellings of medical terms. For example, ascites (a collection of fluid in the abdomen) is spelled acites, and patent ductus arteriosus, a condition which is repeatedly described, has the last word misspelled as arteriosis. I felt this lack of attention to detail severely compromises the integrity of an otherwise factual book. Should I really trust that Mr. Ruhlman knows that he's talking about when he can't spell the terms correctly?

Don't get put off by the few reviewers here who have mentioned profanity. It is used but sparingly and in situations which seem quite true to life. If it bothers you, simply take a pen and mark out the offending words.

heart stopping
This book not only gave information that was very important to know about making decisions on the care of my OWN child, but hope. It also gave me a better understanding of the heart & how it function with or without the proper set up. I was so very glad I read this book.

I was a little shocked at the profanity, but other than that the book was great. I truly felt like I was re-living a year ago. They hit the nail on the head, so to speak. If you want a better understanding of the heart in a newborn, this is the book for you. It will make you cry, but also give hope. Millions of us parents have gone down this road & had to fight for our children. What a great book....thanks ... Read more