Book Description

The Child Psychotherapy Progress Notes Planner, Second Edition contains complete prewritten session and patient presentation descriptions for each behavioral problem in The Child Psychotherapy Treatment Planner, Third Edition. The prewritten progress notes can be easily and quickly adapted to fit a particular client need or treatment situation.

• Saves you hours of time-consuming paperwork, yet offers the freedom to develop customized progress notes
• Organized around 33 main presenting problems that range from blended family problems and children of divorce to ADHD, attachment disorder, academic problems, and speech and language disorders
• Features over 1,000 prewritten progress notes (summarizing patient presentation, themes of session, and treatment delivered)
• Provides an array of treatment approaches that correspond with the behavioral problems and DSM-IV-TR™ diagnostic categories in The Child Psychotherapy Treatment Planner, Third Edition
• Offers sample progress notes that conform to the requirements of most third-party payors and accrediting agencies, including the JCAHO and the NCQA

Reviews (2)

Better suited to the nurses than the doctors
The pedagogy of Pediatric Cardiology is already well covered by two masterfully written texts: Moss and Garson. They are, admittedly, tough acts to follow. A clinically oriented text, directed specifically toward the difficult problems encountered in the intensive care setting, however, would be appreciated. This text attempts to fill that need.

Not surprisingly, pediatric cardiac Intensive care is largely dedicated to perioperative management of congenital heart disease, and this text approaches it in this manner. After the expected chapters in monitoring, pharmacology and so on, large sections are devoted to preoperative care, operative considerations and posoperative care. There is a generic discussion of extracorporeal support and dialysis. The text ends with consideration of social and ethical issues,

I had hoped, when I read this book that it would enhance and expand the information found in general texts. For example, I know the litany of agents used for sedating posoperative patients. What I would like is some discussion of which is useful in a given set of circumstances, and how each might intereact with other aspects of care. Does any provide a specific advantage in a given clinical situation or represent a unique hemodynamic risk? This text generally does not explore cardiac care in this depth.

The text does have its strengths. The descriptions of surgical repair are well done and the illustrations of them are clear. They would be very useful in describing the surgical procedure to parents or staff. The generic approach is most useful to nursing staff and respiratory therapists, especially those just orienting to the PCCU.

Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care is a well organized general text on the subject. Its approach is best suited to the nursing staff. Cardiac fellows, attendings and cardiac intensivists will find little here that expands their knowledge.

Multidisciplinary
What I liked most about this book was it's multidisciplinary aproach and down-to-earth explanations. Wer good dravings of the procedures. It lost one star since it was not easy to find information by surgical procedure. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on the 15-year success of a proven, world-renowned program forpreventing and treating childhood obesity, Trim Kids™ helps children achieve a healthy weight -- and have fun doing it.

Trim Kids™ is a unique 12-week plan that gives parents and children a positive, safe initial approach to lifetime weight management. Each week, parents and kids together practice scientifically proven ways to increase daily activity and set (and celebrate!) achievable eating and exercise goals. Children learn exercises especially designed for their weight levels, and the family will enjoy dozens of menu plans with tasty, nutritious, kid-tested recipes. The program's comprehensive shopping lists and dining-out tips were designed with busy families in mind, and parents learn positive ways to coach children to make healthier lifestyle choices away from home.

Reviews (10)

Highly recommended! Best well- researched book out there!
This book is a must have whether or not you have an overweight child! This book provides so much quality information that can be applicable to the whole family. As a trained exercise physiologist, I come across quite a bit of material that is not researched and has no scientific merit, however, well-respected experts in my field wrote Trim Kids. Dr. Melinda Sothern and her team have been publishing in major scientific journals for over 15 years and actually have the experience and basis for their recommendations. Trim Kids has over 100 pages of tips and ideas to increase physical activity in children. There are also strength, flexibility, and aerobic exercise recommendations for all children based on family medical history and environment, the child's age, weight condition, personal interests, and body type. All recommendations follow the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine and are based on sound scientific principles and research. This book is a must read for all parents even those with normal weight children because the exercise guidelines may help prevent overweight conditions. This book addresses all aspects of weight loss and weight management including nutrition and psychological issues. I have recommended this book to quite a few families and have seen first-hand the positive influence it has made on both the children and parents.

Finally, A Much Needed Book!!
I would like to thank the authors of the book Trim Kids. They have produced an easy to follow, fact based book for parents, especially those with overweight or obese children. This is very encouraging as the news today bombards us with statistics about how fat our nation and its children are becoming. I know, as a parent, how much easier it is and how important it is to instill healthy eating, activity and attitudes in our children. And this book addresses all three aspects of weight difficulties; it's not just a diet book like so many others. I hope Americans and their children will take advantage of the lifestyle changes recommended by the book.

wow!
I have an overweight child that wasn't doing too good with her weight and Trim Kids help her lose almost 120 pounds in just 12 weeks! If you don't believe me try it for yourself. I also found out that they have extremly good recipes from their book and I use them al the time now. Thank you so much Dr.Melinda, Mrs.Heidi! I know who you are! Thanks!

Best book for any overweght child.....PERIOD.
The best book I've ever reviewed. Guaranteed to help your overweight child within 12 weeks. Hand's down this is the best bock for your overweight child. So start today and help improve your child's athletic ability.
Best Trimming book I've ever read!

Not the book I will use
My daughter is moderately overweight. We watch what we eat in our family and exercise together already. This book was for people who have habbits that obviously need fixing. This will not really help us. Also, I found the format annoying in that the excercises were spread out over each week, the recipes were spread out over each week, etc. I prefer all of the recipes in one chapter and all the exercises in one chapter, etc. If you really were asleep during health class or you don't know how to exercise and eat, this book has good suggestions. Otherwise, it might not be the book for you. ... Read more

Book Description

In a rapidly changing field, this new text brings to a single comprehensive clinical reference the newest and most up-to-date information and techniques in practice today. With editors and contributors who are at the forefront of their field, this one volume work covers all of pediatric urology from perinatal nephrology and nuclear medicine, to congenital anomalies and genitourinary oncology, and much more. ... Read more

Book Description

The Critical Years

A Volume in the Jossey-Bass Library of Current Clinical Technique

This book focuses on the clinical treatment of children from birth through age five, when the most devastating psychiatric syndromes can make their first appearance.This hands-on resource provides the knowledge and tools necessary to assess and treat serious problems such as autism, mental retardation, abuse, and neglect. In addition, it provides a variety of specific interventions for common behavioral issues, including attachment disorders, sleep problems, toilet training, and gAnder issues.

Written with the same sensitivity and insight as Treating School-Age Children and Treating Adolescents, this is an indispensable guide for meeting the challenges of treating children during these early, critical years.

... Read more

Book Description

This book introduces, explores and clearly explains acupuncture and related techniques used in the treatment of children. The book introduces important concepts of childhood development that integrate conventional theories with the Traditional Chinese Medicine theories presented in the classic texts. It covers a variety of acupuncture techniques, including non-invasive approaches (such as electrical stimulation, laser and magnet therapy) which are particularly helpful with children. Since the modern child may already be taking medications with side effects, the book looks at acupuncture treatment for the side-effects of 20 common pediatric medications. Finally, full treatment protocols are given for 30 common pediatric conditions, with a particular emphasis on treatments which are safe, simple and readily accepted by children. ... Read more

Book Description

This fully updated edition spells out what action school personnel should take when faced with specific physical, emotional and behavioral problems. Covering everything from the common cold to trauma, it helps school personnel make decisions that protect student health -­ and prevent litigation. Plus, this new third edition offers expanded information on mental health, special education, teen pregnancy, STDs, and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Yearning for natural ways to care for their children, many parents seek techniques that do not require the invasive procedures and medications often associated with Western medicine. In NATURALLY HEALTHY BABIES AND CHILDREN, midwife and herbalist Aviva Romm offers an A-to-Z handbook that addresses common health issues of children, from newborns to preadolescents. Aviva’s whole-child approach integrates herbal remedies, nutrition, hygiene, and alternative health techniques with supportive, informed parenting. From anemia to whooping cough, each entry includes herbal, dietary, and general recommendations, including tips on when to pursue professional medical care. Indispensable reading for families seeking safe, effective ways to practice healing techniques at home. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must have!
This book was given to me as a gift and it truly is a gift that keeps on giving. I have referenced this book often and used many of the herbal remedies on myself with much success. This book is easy to read and is packed with information on safe use of healing plants.

When my friends ask me what book I recommend for wholistic health, herbalism or naturally healthy children THIS book is at the top of my list. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Yeah, he wets the bed, but so did I. He'll grow out of it." Sure, he probably will. But in the meantime, a child who chronically wets may suffer from low self-esteem or feel restricted in his or her social life. Pediatricians and parents regularly respond to bedwetting by forbidding water after dinner, prescribing drugs or an alarm system, or even resorting to punishment, but attempts are often sporadic and not part of an organized plan. As a result, they're not always successful.

In Getting to Dry, authors Max Maizels (professor of pediatric urology), Diane Rosenbaum (child psychologist), and Barbara Keating (a nurse specializing in bed wetting) describe their system for analyzing your child's wetting problem and fixing it through a combination plan of behavioral therapy (carrying your child to the bathroom when he or she has to go), an alarm system, occasional drug therapy, and/or diet (no milk after lunch time, for example). They claim terrific success rates. Getting to Dry dispels myths and educates about enuresis, and then leads parents and kids step by step through the process of "getting to dry." The book also includes information for kids who wet during the day, as well as a superior troubleshooting guide that will help parents identify their child's specific problem and choose the appropriate steps to take toward a cure. --Ericka Lutz ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An excellent book for the subject
This is the book for anybody having children who wet their beds. It provides a good introduction to the different causes for bed-wetting and guidance on how to address them.
In our family we followed the program with the alarm system, since our boy's bed-wetting was due to deep sleep. Using the positive reinforcement and guidelines outlined in the book, our son was dry in less than 2 months. I just wish I had seen this book sooner.

Comments from TRY for DRY
We are proud to see that "Getting to Dry" has consistantly been the best selling book on the topic of bedwetting here at Amazon.com and after the first year of publication, "Getting to Dry" is now in its second printing.

In response to a previous review that points out a typographical error in the Ditropan graphic, we would like to assure our readers that this has been corrected in the second printing which also includes additional updated material and information.

Excellent resource for frustrated parents
Replaces expensive enuresis resolution programs, best reference available to the layman on the subject. We consulted numerous pediatricians and pediatric urologists who were no help. We found the book after enrolling in an Ann Landers reccomended program- could have saved the money- this book was much more helpful. One note of caution- there is a very bad typo in the paperback edition.DITROPAN SYRUP IS 5mg/5ml NOT 5mg/ml. That could be a dangerous error for those interpolating their dosages for tablets. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book-useless CD
As a 2nd year pediatric resident in a foreign hospital I chose Oski's Pediatrics as my reference textbook based on the clarity of disease presentation, the friendly and consultatory approach to issues as begining your own practice etc. I found extremelly helpfull the sections with brief disease outlines, symptom related differential diagnosis and syndrome presentation. An excellent book (5 star)with the only drawback being the unacceptable CD (no star) which is hard to master and has limited flexibility regarding page layout (could a PDF version help?). ... Read more

Book Description

This extremely practical and supportive guide empowers parents as they struggle with a child who may be bipolar. The authors' own family experiences, stories from hundreds of other parents of bipolar children, and input from a wide range of mental health professionals provide parents with specific information to deal with the everyday but incredibly challenging issues confronting the entire family. Among the helpful topics included are how to explore the possibility that a child's problem behaviors are a sign of mental illness; finding a mental healthcare professional who can make a diagnosis; understanding what a diagnosis is and isn't; learning parenting strategies to control a child's behavior at home, at school, and in social situations; and balancing the needs of a bipolar child with the needs of everyone else in the family. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

recommended to parents of Bipolar kids
This book is a wonderful guide for parents of a Bipolar child. The personal stories show families that they are not alone and give evidence that their child may be struggling with a mental illness. The helpful and realistic suggestions can make life much less stressful for the Bipolar child and everyone else in the family. I highly recommend it to our patients' parents and any parent of a Bipolar child.

Helpful Guide for Parents of Bipolar Children
"According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 3.4 million children and adolescents suffer from depression in the United States, and up to one third of those may actually be experiencing the early onset of Bipolar Disorder...Left untreated, Bipolar Disorder can lead to suicide, and the suicide rate for children age 10-14 has more than doubled over the last 15 years."

"If Your Child Is Bipolar" is a results of the author's own family experiences and the result of hundreds of stories from parents sharing the frustration of raising a child who is Bipolar. There is also information from mental health professionals and empowering information to allow parents to understand a diagnosis.
I have personally come to believe that many people feel suicidal because they do not feel loved or they feel lost in a complex world that does not recognize their many unique gifts. There are also mental disorders which a person can't control and a child who has violent tantrums or severe mood swings can make life rather difficult for any parent. When a child starts to talk about killing themselves at the age of six, there is definitely a problem.

Through this wonderful book, you can learn about the causes of this disorder and get the support and information you need to make your child's life a more pleasant experience. Not to mention give you some needed peace of mind.

There are six main sections:

Figuring Out What You're Dealing With
Adjusting to the Bipolar Diagnosis
Helping Your Child Get Treatment
Having a Bipolar Child in the Family
Taking Care of Yourself
Helping our Child Live with Bipolar Disorder

This book will be especially helpful for parents who are trying to figure out why their child reacts very negatively to even the best parenting skills. Bipolar children have problems with extreme anger, frustration and seem to be highly intelligent. There are stories of children who cry all day or show extremely inappropriate and sometimes harmful behavior. There are quotes from parents throughout the book to give an idea of the wide variety of symptoms. I had no idea children were going through some of these extreme symptoms and this was highly enlightening.

I was especially interested in the ODD symptoms because I've personally been around a child with ODD and the "actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests" is so true. The authors also discuss Conduct Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Sensory Integration Dysfunction and ADHD. Often a child is misdiagnosed or a child is given the wrong medication because a professional does not realize there are other symptoms involved.

I'm not overly enthusiastic about medicating children, but after you read some of the more extreme symptoms, something has to be done to give these children a chance to attend school. I've seen medications calm a child and I've also seen overdosing. If you need to get more than one doctor's opinion, do it. Schools also play a role in medicating children (in the nurses office), so it is important to stay involved and find out what is going on at school.

A glossary at the end of this book provides terms and definitions to terms used in this book. I found this book to be extremely informative, helpful and written in a down-to-earth manner.

Highly recommended for parents with difficult children, psychologists, counselors and anyone dealing with family psychology. This would make an excellent textbook for psychology classes because it presents so many real-life examples.

Also look for:

The Guilt-free Guide to Your New Life as a Mom
Win the Whining War & Other Skirmishes
Survival Tips for Working Moms

~TheRebeccaReview.com

understanding life with a Bipolar child
Thank you so much for such an interesting book. I was watching late night television and came upon the women who wrote the book IF YOUR CHILD IS BIPOLAR and was fasinated because my daughters best friend had been diagnosed as Bipolar. As someone looking in from the outside, I didn't understand the disorder nor could I ever have imagined what the parents go through everyday.

It was a very honest, personal book with a vast amount of information for not only families of someone with Bipolar disorder but also for the friends of the families, as it allows us to understand and give the support and understanding that the parents and child so deserve.

Much more than your standard, boring medical guide.
Thank you so much for this incredible book!
It is amazing to me that 2 ordinary women gave so much of themselves in writing such an extrodinary book from the perspective of people such as myself, who have lived with this disorder in their lives. They share information and life lessons learned through their own trials and tribulations. Their dedication in getting factual information out there
that people can actually understand, should be commended!

Not only is this book an incredible information resource guide for families of someone with Bipolar disorder, but it is also a necessary book for our society in general. IF YOUR CHILD IS BIPOLAR allows the rest of the world to understand what parents of children with this disorder go through everyday. It gave me the answers to many questions that had gone unanswered...BRAVO.

very disappointed in this one
I'd like to advise anyone checking out this book to save their money. I didn't find anything here I haven't seen in many other general books on discipline. Here's what I learned from this book:
If your child is bipolar, life will be difficult. Resign yourself.This is probably true, but it wasn't worth $20 to me to be told something I already know. ... Read more

Book Description

THE NEW FIRST AID CLINICAL CLERKSHIP SERIES provide unsurpassed student-to-student, step-by-step guidance to success for the clerkships and shelf exams. Each book in the series covers the following and much more...

Provides insider tips onhow to survive the clerkship and do well on the shelf examHigh-Yield Topics cover each core topic that students need to know Overviews of helpful websites, and notes opportunities (such as scholarships) for students interested in pursuing careers in particular areas.Two tear-out pocket cards, which highlight "must-know" concepts in the subject area ... Read more

Book Description

LANGUAGE DISORDERS FROM INFANCY THROUGH ADOLESCENCE, 2nd Edition provides readers with the information they need to properly identify and assess childhood language disorders and to provide appropriate treatment. The book, divided into three sections and a total of fifteen chapters, covers the entire developmental period while also delving into additional concepts that are important to the practice of child language disorders, including prevention, syndromes associated with language disorders, and multicultural practice. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a superb text!
This book is a strong resource for any clinician dealing with language disorders. It clearly outlines intervention, assessment, different disorders etc. It covers a lot of material, but manages not to feel dense. It also provides tons of ideas for therapy... lists of children's books categorized by what therapy goal addresses (e.g. pronouns)... sample activities etc. Paul does a nice job of summarizing the current research and its implications for the clinician. I honestly don't know how I would have survived my first preschool placement without this book. Whenever I was stumped, this is where I turned. This is the type of book that you never get around to putting back on the shelf for you are always using it. Plus, as an added bonus it reads very well, more like a story than a text.

You must read this for clinical practice
This is a must read book, especially for student who have clinical practice. This book covers most of the important aspects in language intervention. Many useful examples are list, so that you can easily apply the knowledge into your real cases!

User-friendly guide for beginning clinicians
After repeatedly checking this book out from the library, I bought my own copy. I found the organization of assessment and treatment by age group to be helpful, and the wealth of non-standardized testing methods both appropriate and easy to implement. As the author says, it is designed for the beginning clinician and provides a worthwhile resource for anyone working with children. Though it does provide theoretical discussion, it is primarily a "hands-on" book. I would recommend this book as a primary text, a supplemental text, or a resource for SLPs who are updating their knowledge and practice in child language. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

excellent reference
Excellent desktop reference for the busy pediatrician. Many tables, graphs and subheadings facilitate rapid scanning of the easily read prose. A welcome addition to any emergency room that treats children. Extensive bibliography with each chapter. ... Read more

Book Description

This book draws together contributions from some of the leading investigators in the field of autism to consider specific problem areas in current research. Each contributor brings expertise from a different field, providing a balanced view of the whole spectrum of study of this disorder. It covers four main areas:

* Twin and family studies indicate that the heritability of the underlying liability to autism exceeds 90% and point to a multifactorial causation, involving a relatively small number of susceptibility genes. The book discusses this issue in detail, along with the problem of why some additional symptoms are associated with autism while others are not.

* New techniques are available for examining the neurobiology of autism. The book contains results from imaging studies showing the contributions of different brain regions to autism.  It includes neuropathological data and examines the neuropharmacology of autism.

* There is considerable discussion concerning the fundamental psychological deficit in children with autism. There is good evidence that "Theory of Mind" deficits are associated with autism and this issue is discussed in the book, as are other competing possibilities.

* The most important practical question facing medical and psychological practitioners is how to help children with autism. The evidence relating to possible psychological or psychiatric interventions for rehabilitation of children with autism is examined in detail. Drug treatments have generally been disappointing in this field and there is one chapter devoted specifically to this problem.

The book focusses ultimately on intervention studies and so is of practical relevance to people interested in helping autistic children. In addition, it provides a very convenient summary of the principal controversies which currently exist in research on autism. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For parents who want to avoid food fights, pediatricianT. Berry Brazelton knows best.From hungry newborns to food-flinging toddlers, Brazelton and co-author Joshua Sparrow focus on how to get your child to eat. They warn: "When parents struggle with a child over food, the child's hunger—-a key to healthy eating--loses its importance."Their approach defines eating as an opportunity for independence and family intimacy. Parents must expect predictable "touchpoints" that signal development. Brazelton and Sparrow urge parents to declare a child's independence at the ripe age of one--when the child takes control over choice and quantity of food. A much-repeated value here is banishing distraction, be it television or nagging, so mealtime becomes time of pleasure and closeness. All of the usual questions (breastfeeding vs. bottle, food allergies, picky eaters) are expertly answered along with the more unusua! l queries (how separation anxiety affects eating, how to tell if a child is hungry). Reassuring and rich with details, Feedingwill increase every parent's confidence in building healthy habits. --Barbara Mackoff ... Read more

Reviews (5)

All You Need to Know
This is the ideal book for every parent who wants to know how to help their child learn healthy eating habits. But according to Brazelton, you'd better start early. I think parents everywhere will find this book contains everything they need to know - yet it is small enough to fit into a pocket: what a relief!

food fights
This is a fabulous book for any family fighting over food, and for any parent with their own issues about food. All the basic info is here, and it's so easy to find exactly what you need because it is so short and well organized. I highly recommend Feeding Your Child The Brazelton Way - I wish I'd read it when I was pregnant. It sure would have saved me a lot of trouble!
-L.G. Pasadena, CA

Expensive Common Sense Advice
I don't dispute Dr. Brazelton's advice on medical issues. On child care issues he seems like an aristocratic professor who handed off his own kids to wife and nanny and now sits in an ivory tower, smoking a pipe,dispensing common sense advice and collecting royalties. He just doesn't understand why you might not want your child in diapers and breastfeeding at age 3 or why the television might be on - in his world every child is an only child, and mothers don't work or have daycare providers like Mary Poppins. This book is just as arrogant and unrealistic as the other books he's written and the advice on breastfeeding problems could ONLY have been written by a man. The book in a nutshell: Don't sweat the vegetables - if your child gets enough milk and very little junk food, he'll be OK.

Less help than I had hoped for
First of all, let me say that I am a big fan of Dr. Brazelton and appreciate his no nonsense approach. After I saw his week long series on the Today show I decided to purchase this book thinking it would help me with feeding my 15 month old.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed when I received the book. It details feeding your child from birth all the way up through elementary school. Because it's a short book there isn't a whole lot of information for any one age group. I found that Dr. Brazelton was able to cover just about everything written in this book during his five minute segment on the Today show.

If you've seen Dr. Brazelton discuss this topic in an interview then you don't need to buy the book.

Perhaps because Dr. Brazelton does use a common sense approach, there's little to write about? I'm not sure.

It won't turn me off from other Brazelton books though. I fully intend on purchasing his potty training book when the time comes. Since that topic has a more narrow scope, perhaps there will be more information relevant to my son's age.

Exactly what I needed
Feeding the Brazelton Way is exactly what I, and I suspect,many other parents need: a short, concise, easy-to-use, easy-to-understand guide to feeding babies and young children. In addition to answering all my questions and organizing solutions to problems I hope I never need to deal with, the book is full of encouragement, hope, and reassurance. I found it especially reassuring to be affirmed in my belief in the value of family mealtimes, and I promise, Dr. Brazelton, that I will try to stay out of struggles over food. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful book. ... Read more

Book Description

Johnny Gunther was only seventeen years old when he died of a brain tumor. During the months of his illness, everyone near him was unforgettably impressed by his level-headed courage, his wit and quiet friendliness, and, above all, his unfaltering patience through times of despair. This deeply moving book is a father's memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy. ... Read more

Reviews (75)

A Fight for Life
Don't let this title fool you, Death Be Not Proud, a Memoir is not the story of death but the story for a fight for life. This true story is sad but one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is sad in the sense that John Gunther Jr. is diagnosed with a maligant brain tumor at sixteen years old. He has everything to live for. Johnny is a bright high school student, at Deerfield, and plans to attend Harvard University. His father writes a true account of his son's fifthteen month struggle with cancer. He had operations to remove the tumor but they were unsuccessful. His father researched treatments to find a cure. Johnny tries a chemical mustard treatment, X-ray treatment, and a special diet but the cancer is still not cured. Johnny has an inner spirit that can not be crushed by cancer. He is determined to keep studying and remain in contact with his friends. He never complained about his treatments or setbacks when the tumor begin to grow again. He sets an example of courage for his parents and those around him. Johnny's death does end the book but his spirit and fight for life are the real story. The story made me think about the life I have, and how I should appreciate the chance to make the most of it.

Death be not Proud
Hope v.s. Brain Tumor
The book Death be not Proud is a story about a 16 year old that was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The story is written from his father's point of view. Johnny was a high- spirited young man that wanted to live life to the fullest. His mother was always there to help him enjoy he fifth teen months in the hospital. Johnny got out of the hospital and said hello and good- bye all his friends in high school before graduating. He was fine for a couple months taking meds and having help. Things got bad when Johnny couldn't remember how to tie his shoes or button up his shirts. Johnny started to feel a lot of pain in his head so they re-admitted him to the closest hospital and he passed away a few days after. All of his life he dreamed of going to Harvard University and if there was anyone that could have taken this away it would have made a difference in his friends and family's life. If you are looking for a touching story read Death be not Proud.

Death Be Not Proud
John Gunther's only son, Johnny Gunther, died in 1947. Death Be Not Proud is the remarkable and compelling memoir of the death of his son, Johnny Gunther, who suddenly developed a brain tumor at the young age of seventeen. The tumor emerged, seemed to be almost gone, and then suddenly came back and killed him fifteen months later. By the book's title and the first few pages, the reader knows that Johnny will not survive. This makes the story even more tragic as the reader turns every page knowing that even if things are getting better, they are about to go wrong again.
Johnny's brain was possibly the most important thing in his body, as he was a very intelligent person. The subject Johnny loved the most was science; if he had survived he probably would have been able to develop a cure for his very own tumor. He was deciding between two occupations at the time of his sickness: a physicist or a chemist. During the fifteen months of Johnny's illness, he was optimistic about living - the disease hurt his brain, but never his spirit. He went through much pain, but he never complained and kept up with his schoolwork while he was in the hospital or, sometimes, at home. Although he missed his entire senior year at Deerfield because of the tumor, he was allowed to graduate with the rest of his class. As his father wrote, "He died absolutely without fear, and without pain, and without knowing that he was going to die." Unlike most people with a deadly disease, Johnny lived his short life victoriously. Johnny "...did not die like a vegetable. He died like a man, with perfect dignity."
John Gunther writes about his son's struggle with death in a vivid and intriguing way. As the book was written in the late 1940's, the writing is also a little stilted - although it is still very interesting. Part of Gunther's writing style is to use exclamation points at the end of many sentences for emphasis. For example, when he wrote about the early days of Johnny's illness, he used many exclamation points: "That first spinal tap!-the first of many, and spinal taps can be frightening as well as painful. All the other tests!...And the doctors! So many doctors!"
I admire John Gunther for writing this book about his son's death, probably with tears in his eyes during the entire process of writing it. Johnny's parents divorced when he was young, but Gunther still talks about his ex-wife fondly throughout the book. There is also a section written by Johnny's mother at the end of the memoir allowing the reader to view Johnny's struggle against death from both his father and mother's perspective. John Gunther concludes the story by writing in his vivid, lucid style: "I felt his arms, cupping my hands around them, and warmth gradually left them, receding very slowly upward from his hands. For a long time some warmth remained. Then little by little the life-color left his face, his lips became blue, and his hands were cold. What is life? It departs covertly. Like a thief Death took him." The memory of Johnny remains with the reader past the moment of his death. I would recommend this book to all parents who have seen their children suffer, or those who simply enjoy a well-written (although heartbreaking) book.

Every teen wishes to have the strength that Johnny does
I also attended a private school near deerfield (the school Johnny went to). John Sr. tells an amazing story of his son's strength through a terrible brain tumor during the 1940's. John explains the positive attitute that young Johnny poses even after he finds out he is sick. Johnny keeps up his spirits and instead of worrying about dying, his main concern is getting back to deerfield academy as soon as possible so he can see his friends and graduate. Its always great to read about the Gunthers ride up through western massachusetts and to talk about the famous Mr. Boyden- who was the beloved head master of the school at that time and a legend to the old deerfield community.
This book makes any teenager want to cherish life to the fullest as Johnny did and also makes adults who read this show much sympathy to the parents because losing an amazing son like John is devistating.
This book is easy to read and definitely makes you want you thankful for the small things in life- as Johnny did!

A bit tedious
Death Be Not Proud is a memoir written by John Gunther about the death of his seventeen-year old son. Johnny Gunther was a bright and spirited boy interested in everything from chemistry to religion. It was a shock when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor at sixteen, but Johnny dealt with it with grace and hope. He continued to take a lively interest in science and the arts, even keeping up with his schoolwork. After more than a year of harrowing treatments, Johnny died on June 30, 1947, shortly after graduating with his class.

Throughout this book, the author continuously explores the themes of hope and death. Unfortunately, these insights are clogged by many needless details, ranging from Johnny¡¯s dinner that day to his latest scientific experiment. These seem to imply that the author did not really know his son very well. The book reads rather slowly and tediously. In addition, the journal entries and letters at the back seemed to serve no purpose besides filling up space.

However, Death Be Not Proud would be an excellent book for someone suffering the death of a beloved one. The author, instead of focusing on his own grief, wrote fondly on his many memories. Instead of dwelling on the unpleasant aspects of Johnny¡¯s illness, John Gunther spoke poignantly on the almost normal times in-between. Death Be Not Proud would help many channel their grief into remembrance of the richness of life. ... Read more