good hospital information
use it as a reference for what you can ask for and not be afraid to ask for

I'm preparing to have surgery in a month or so and have read MANY books on being the hospital, what to expect, etc. This book manages to combine all the "patient's rights/protect yourself" information with some very concrete questions to ask of the hospital administration when evaluating a facility. The appendix also has wonderful forms you can use for keeping track of who gives you what when, since after reading this book, you will inevitably be checking your bill with a magnifying glass (and finding numerous mistakes, as 98.5% of all hospital bills contain them, according to the author). Since this book is endorsed by the People's Medical Society, a non-profit consumer organization that I think has ties to the Rodale Foundation, it's nice to know that the revisions of this volume have input from previous readers sharing their experiences (and how the book helped them in their own hospital experience). I feel that I will be a better patient and advocate for myself as a result of reading it - and I definitely plan to bring it to the hospital!

This book makes all the difference. Hospital staff don't tell you anything about the system. They don't have the time and they don't want you to know, anyway. The information in here made sure my father had the best care possible. Like the first reviewer said, having it in your hand and on the table in the patient's room changes the care for the better. This book is invaluable. I wore mine out while in the hospital and could quote from it.

Re-read this book for an online English class. I had forgotten how well London was able to convey the message of how you should listen to those who are only trying to look out for your best interests. I even went so far as to turn up the heat in my house after reading this book!

Although at times this book becomes slightly boring, the overall effect makes it well worth reading. A multitude of stories are told throughout time, yet few truly well-told tales exist among them. These well-told tales are not only memorable, they also exhibit exceptional grammatical ingenuity. The extreme setting and vivid, descriptive adjectives, by a notable author, make this a remarkable piece of literature. A lone, rather unlikable man and his dog are portrayed throughout the story. This inhumane man, in ingnoring his elders, does himself great damage. As the temperature in the story lowers, the suspense rises considerably. The reader may find themself at the edge of their seat while reading, as the man, oblivious to the cold, continues to trudge on. This book ought to be read by everyone, for the theme of the story appears to be that oftentimes an animal's instincts prove to be far better than one human's supposed intellegence

I remember reading this in grammar school over and over, and recently reread it. I usually find this author boring but this one's a classic!

More platitudes. Needs more time in Comp. 101.

This is a good book with the basics of how to deal with psychiatric emergencies. It is great for the psych intern just starting out, and for non-psychiatric professionals. However, at times it is a little simplistic and does not offer enough options in terms of treatments.

It's 3:00 A.M.and you are called into the E.R. to see a patient with a psychiatric problem. What do you do? This book provides a quick but thorough step by step guide for dealing with psychiatric emergencies. It broken down into all the steps anyone working on a P.E.T. (Psychiatric Emergency Team) or provides basic emergency care needs to know. Smaller than the pocket DSM-IV. It is portable and usable.

A good book of letters should bring its subject to life for the reader. This book is dry to the point of being brittle. At no time time during the reading of this book did I get any sense of what Oppenheimer was feeling or experiencing. Oppenheimer was involved with one of the pivotal events of this century and the whole experience comes off like a trip to a neighborhood store. The recollections mentioned in the title are not those of Oppenheimer but of friends and family. Like the rest of the book their thoughts and memories add little to the understanding of Oppenheimer's life and work.

J. Robert Oppenheimer was better at keeping himself hidden than most people, and you won't learn a lot about him from these letters, but it does a give a rare, patial glimpse of a very mysterious person.

This book is not meant as general reading. For more colorful writing, see Smith's _A Peril and a Hope_. Letters and Recollections is, however, an incredibly valuable resource for those of us researching the time period and Oppenheimer. There were letters, interviews, and insights that I simply could not have obtained anywhere else. Smith has a personal connection with Los Alamos, and that shows in her writing and sources. She gives an side to Oppenheimer like no other book I've read (and trust me, I've read a lot of them). Thank you, A.K.S.!