After wading through many articles and books dealing with osteoarthritis I was pleased to find a book that I felt comfortable reading. The author takes the reader on a virtual tour of this disease.Starting out with the progressive symptoms the reader is given information to gather before making that first visit to the doctor. This includes what questions to ask as well as being prepared for the questions the doctors will ask. The book is written in terms an average individual can understand. What a relief! This is a book that is practical and gives the reader a feeling of belonging. No longer that lost feeling as well as the panic that can accompany an illness. The author believes that a well informed patient is the best asset in managing an illness. The author doesn't offer a miracle cure. But rather he has included solid steps to deal with arthritis. This includes steps for those just noticing symptoms as well as for those facing total joint replacements. The author takes the reader through the entire process of joint replacement, including the decision to have surgery right through the rehab after. The author takes the fear of the unknown away from the patient and gives control and understanding. The reader no longer feels alone against the disease, but rather part of a team that cares. No matter what stage of osteoarthritis you may be at this is a helpful encouraging guidebook.

I was diagnosed with RA recently after suffering with its symptoms for probably 8 years. I knew nothing about Rheumatoid Arthritis before this and never even considered it a cause of my pains. I am currently under the care of a Rheumatologist at the Hosiptal for Special Surgery. This book has been a tremdous help in conjunction with my doctor in understanding the problem.

The book takes a very thorough look at the Rheumatoid Arthritis - diagnosing it, what kind of questions to ask, causes, treatments, therapy, useful outside resources, and examples of others with RA.

A very helpful book.

I really liked this book. I'm a teacher in adult education and I found this to be a very accessible, personal account of Ms. Loebl's experiences as a teenager hiding from the Nazis in Belgium during World War II. In telling her story she manages to bring in a lot of background information for people who don't know much about the war. The students liked it a lot.

This autobiography is moving, beautifully written, and hugely important to Holocaust Studies, Jewish Studies, and contemporary European History.

As a memoir, _At the Mercy of Strangers_ alternates between two voices: that of the young German Jewish adolescent hiding from Nazi persecution (the book includes Loebl's actual diary that she kept while moving from place to place in Brussels) and the retrospective voice of Suzanne Loebl, accomplished art critic, children's book author, and science writer, who survived the war and moved to the U.S. in 1946. These two voices are so beautifully counterposed it is easy to see the resonances of each in the other.

Her hiding places risky, the identity papers her family purchased for her detectably false, often hungry, always always alone, Loebl's diary recounts her daily struggle to find employment as a maid or governess (her cover from Nazi detection) and the daily reality of working for employers who, realizing she was Jewish, often took advantage of her, sometimes fired her at whim, and excluded her from even the most basic human kindnesses. Buffeted about in war-torn Brussels, Loebl's interrupted education, the disappearance of Jewish family, friends, teachers, resistance fighters, her constant hunger (physical, emotional, and intellectual) do not fundamentally dampen her spirit, which is so large it spills beyond the margins of every page.

This book is so accomplished it is difficult to categorize; it includes so much World War II history woven in and out of both narrative voices it should be required reading for college students studying this historical period. As a piece of Holocaust literature, this book illustrates the complicated ways that the story of one highly intelligent, articulate German Jewish adolescent is, itself, a political one. (In the tradition of New German Cinema, I can see this book rewritten as a screenplay depicting the impact of World War II on the personal life of one individual.) Without a doubt, _At the Mercy of Strangers_ is also the finest autobiography this reviewer has ever read.

As a child in grade school, I heard and read more than my share about the Holocaust, as I was very interested. But never has a book struck me in this way--pulled me in. It suddenly made me look at World War II in a different way. It gave the war a personal aspect for me...put a name and a face on it. This book has allowed me to look at the Holocaust in the different way.

This book which features a German folktale and brightly colored illustrations tells the story of a peasant couple who find a magic ring that will grant them just one wish. They are frugal and choose to get ahead in their lives through their own hard work, always saving the ring for that one special occasion. There is some magic in this tale, loving cooperation, a bit of treachery...all things that could make an interesting story, but this one doesn't have any magic in the words, no wonder, no sparkle. The illustrations are very nice and really carry the book. I like this book but there are lots better ones out there.

This is a captivating, beautifully written, and lushly illustrated children's book! I highly recommend this book for children of all ages.