Reference books are easy to review. They are either good and useful or worthless. We are in the first category here. The authors chose a by author system to review the main operas, for each of which a good synopsis is given. One could rise an eyebrow at some inclusions or gasp at some omissions. But Opera has its fads and fashions and the choices of the authors reflect certainly the ideas of opera in 1964 when the first edition came out. One would have liked a little bit more of musical notes but that would have perhaps scared away the neophyte. As it is, the book is an excellent introductory book, and always a convenient reference for the more knowledgeable opera fanatic. A must have book, even if you already own other opera books.

My wife has recently been diagnosed with Lupus with chronic ankle and foot pain and swelling. A friend suggested this book since it had allowed him to continue life without pain from arthritis. This MSM book stated it's case concisely and really motivated my wife to take msm...and there lies the hitch. This natural substance gives her severe stomach pains and diarrhea and the book does not address just how certain sensitive people might vary or otherwise adjust their intake of msm. We know it works for most people...we would just like the Dr. to suggest solutions for people who are more sensitive to msm.

This title by Drs. Jacob and Lawrence is by far the best word on MSM (along with product manufacturers dmso2.com etc).

I, also, prefer the hardback version of this book. It is out of print but I found that it is still available at the distributor (msmsupplement.com as mentioned by someone in another review).

I hope that there is a new, updated version of this book on the horizon, because I know that MSM is helping so many people with a variety of problems (e.g. Arthritis, Allergies, Energy, Joint and Muscle & Nerve Pain, Skin Conditions ...). I even give it to my dogs and cats now!

By the way, Dr. Lawrence (on of the authors) is the doctor of the famous actor James Coburn. Mr. Coburn now attributes his recovery from crippling arthritis pain to benefits derived from MSM.

I read Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Lawrence's book when it first came out and continue to reread it periodically and learn something useful each time. I have been taking msm since 1998 for severe back pain and in just 3 days the pain was gone. For the person who said it upset her stomach try taking it with food or maybe you are taking the wrong brand if you want to learn more you can e-mail me at msm4all@aol.com.

Although I liked this book, I hope that this definitely isn't the definitive guide on MSM because the science of MSM is still really flimsy. This book doesn't change that at all, there's no research mentioned here that has been replicated several times (based on serious scientific double-blind studies with a significantly-sized test group) and has consistently shown MSM to be effective against any particular ailment.
I don't want to discount people's personal experiences but at this point their success using MSM is based on luck, not wisdom. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. But until there are a lot more double-blind scientific studies of the effectiveness of MSM for the wide range of ailments for which it is claimed to work, users of MSM simply don't know if they're throwing away their money or not. I am especially interested in MSM's effectiveness against allergies and asthma because I have a hunch (I use it myself) that it is effective against these ailments. Buy this book if you're interested but consider it another book on MSM. Also, this book makes the connection between sulfur -and the supposed sulfur deficiency we are supposed to suffer from- and the effectiveness of MSM. That is a testament to just how flimsy the science of MSM is because in the western world it is quite the opposite. Americans are eating way too much and consuming so much protein, the body's most important source of sulfur, that suggesting MSM combats a sulfur deficiency is ridiculous. Even for people who hardly consume any protein it is unlikely MSM will provide their bodies with the extra sulfur needed, several studies indicate only very little sulfur from MSM is actually absorbed. If MSM works it is extremely unlikely it works the way this book and other books suggest it works. The books would have received three stars if it didn't carry the superlative 'definitive' which is misleading.

I wrote this book. It is awkward to submit a review, but I think it is important that I respond to the previous reviewer and this is the only forum in which I can do so. The submission form required me to rate the book, which I obviously cannot do objectively. I gave it 5 stars, because... what am I going to do? Give my own book a negative review? It is far from perfect, but I remain confident that it is the "best" book on the topic.

The state of the science and the paucity of controlled clinical trials are openly discussed by the authors. We made an honest attempt to present the known information on MSM, and carefully avoided any misleading language. The book offers-in the absence of results from controlled clinical trials-a balanced look at the clinical evidence for MSM in the treatment of many health conditions. We included many case studies, which are a legitimate (if preliminary) form of scientific evidence. To say that the evidence for MSM is "flimsy" or that people's successes with it are based on "luck" is simply incorrect and not consistent with what evidence does exist.

Just because large double-blind trials have not been performed does not mean something doesn't work. (That is what the pharmaceutical companies would like you to believe.) The lack of double-blind trials only means that one type of objective evidence is lacking (one such trial is forthcoming, BTW). These studies take time and cost a lot of money. In the meantime, Dr. Jacob's experience treating more than 18,000 patients with MSM could hardly be considered "flimsy" nor should it be dismissed lightly in considering the efficacy of MSM. It is strong empirical evidence gathered over an entire career, and it deserves to be preserved for posterity, which was the purpose of this book.

I would also like to correct the previous reviewer on his point about sulfur: we never suggest that Americans are sulfur-deficient. This is an unfortunate marketing myth about MSM, which we answer with a sound theoretical consideration of the role of sulfur in the body. Were we supposed to ignore the sulfur in MSM? That would be like ignoring the oxygen in water or the iron in hemoglobin. MSM is 34% sulfur. It is undoubtedly important, we just don't know exactly why. Nutrients and drugs can have "physiological" effects and they can have "pharmacological" effects. Although I do not think one can reasonably argue that "physiological" amounts of sulfur from MSM are therapeutic, it is evident that giving sulfur in the form of MSM, above and beyond the amount needed to prevent or correct a deficiency (i.e., a "pharmacologic" dose), does have therapeutic effects.

The reviewer says that "several studies indicate only very little sulfur from MSM is actually absorbed." That is incorrect. Only one published study suggests that (Richmond, 1986.) He also states, "If MSM works it is extremely unlikely it works the way this book and other books suggest it works." We do not claim to know how MSM works. We present some theories, based on the known effects of DMSO. We would welcome any alternative theories as well as studies to demonstrate mechanisms of action. The fact remains that no one knows how MSM works. We know THAT it works, but science has yet to discover how. We agree with the reviewer that MSM probably also exerts effects via other mechanisms.

Finally, this is not just another MSM book. It is a completely unique guide that presents a vast amount of never-before published information on MSM:
--It was originally written for doctors, and it provides many protocols for using MSM (including IV, oral, topical, subcutaneous, intravesicular) that appear nowhere else in the medical literature:
--It contains an unprecedented chapter on quality issues in the MSM manufacturing industry, which alerts consumers to vital elements of the manufacturing process that can affect supplement quality;
--It contains heretofore-unpublished information on MSM toxicity;
--It contains dozens of medical case histories (not testimonials) that had not been published to date;
--It includes an unprecedented chapter on the veterinary applications of MSM, with much previously unavailable information from a private collection of letters and articles donated by the estate of the eminent veterinarian, the late John W. Metcalf, DVM;
--It concludes with a critical examination of MSM myths, many of which are still circulating on the Internet and in various publications.

Our book is the most comprehensive collection of data on MSM yet made available, and it was purposely written without the hyperbole that discredits other discussions of MSM. Perhaps someone will write a better book on MSM some day. I hope they do. But until that happens, this is the definitive guide.
Dr. Jacob and I are proud of this book, and we are available to discuss it with interested readers.