This book is a amazing voyage to the most deepest places of the mind. Here you live, and on this book you will really live, the life after the african colonial war of four portuguese veteran. Their most inner desires, feelings and thoughts are exposed in a really vivid picture. You almost see them in a Lisbon City long lost.

I agree with the previous reviewer. Antunes is a marvellous writer. Once you get into his way of writing it is hard to put the book down. His poetic language is so filled with images that you could actually feel the smell of Lisbon. In this story we follow the life stories of a couple of war veterans before, during and after the revolution in 1974. They come from different social backgrounds, so Antunes succeeds in portraying many aspects of his society. But to me is that not the main issue, no it is the moving life-stories of his characters. It is not an easy read but he can also be very amusing in a rather absurd way. Antunes has bee critizised for writing the same book over and over again. This is the second novel I read. His style is very similar but once I get into it I'm moved by the beauty and captivated by the energy of his prose.

Anyone interested in modern fiction must have a go at Antunes.

Secker published a couple of Antunes' books in the UK in the late eighties, but then they dropped him. On a trip to the US I found Fado Alexandrino. I was astonished. It is rare that you come across an experimental novel which is a page turner too. It is the story of a handful of army vets who have a reunion. The narrative weaves from one man's disturbed thoughts to the next man's. This creates a confusion in who is speaking, but - like I say - this is not off putting: it adds to the effect of the novel. The book looks daunting, but I unreservedly recommend it. It is moving. It is well written. It is thought provoking. Antunes is a devastating writer.

There are plenty of books on the market about figure skating. Most of them cover individual skaters or they lightly gloss over the "pretty" aspects of the sport with colorful photographs of skaters posing. You'll find behind-the-scenes books telling you the inside scoop about what happens on tour or the life of a competitive skater. What there aren't many books about are those that cover the actual mechanics of skating past learning how to tie your skates and do a waltz jump.

The late Carlo Fassi was one of the premier skating coaches that the sport has ever known. He worked with top skaters and brought out their best. The author of this book has impeccable credentials.

If you're interested in photographs of skaters performing each move, seek out a copy of John Misha Petkevitch's "Figure Skating." You'll just find hand drawn illustrations here. I find that these drawings capture movement better than photographs and skating is all about movement.

Other reviewers have mentioned the chapters about triple jumps and various spins. What I'm finding very helpful is the chapter about compulsory figures. Just ten years ago, figures were dropped from international competition. Since then, they've been dropped from the U.S. competition structure and it's extremely difficult to find patch time or instruction. The sport is losing part of its heritage and the coaches I've spoken to bemoan the loss of edge quality in up and coming skaters who haven't done figures. I'm finding this one chapter to be most instructive.

This is really the only book I have found to include triple jumps as well as camel and other spins. What a great skaters resource whether you are on singles, doubles or triples. I had the pleasure of meeting and training with Christa and their techniques really work. Carlo Fassi was a great figure skater and a great teacher. This book is his legacy to all of us who are still trying to achieve those jumps.

Fassi applied his considerable coaching experience to the creation of this book. It contains his commentaries on common corrections to frequently made errors. As well as numerous stop action snapshot drawings of complex multiple jump. While there is not the ice tracing treatment provided in Figure Skating : Championship Techniques By: John Misha Petkevich, there is more attention to body position during the entire jump.

Although out of print, copies are still around, & may be avalable from your University Library.

If you're a pilot or have ever dreamed of becoming one, you'll love this book! Greg Brown takes readers into the cockpit of his small plane and shares all the struggles, triumphs and the crazy adventures of a pilot from his novice days through today, with several decades of experience behind him. I found the book immensely readable. The language is simple and straightforward and the stories are broken down into short chapters, each a separate adventure, which is ideal if your reading time is limited. I also liked the variety of stories -- some were harrowing, some were downright hilarious and all of them made me wish I had been along for the ride. Finally, I found this book to be as much about relationships -- father-son, husband-wife, family and friends -- as it is about flying, which really balanced out the book for me. An enormously satisfying read!

A large portion of my life is spent with my nose in a book. I know a good one when I see it, and this is a good one. The moment I opened Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane, I was hooked. Greg Brown's unique talent lies in showing us how airplanes are used in the enterprise of aviation adventure while allowing us to learn some important lessons about flying. As
you read, you¹ll find yourself buckled in with Greg and heading off to the shores of Lake Winnipeg to watch a solar eclipse or wrestling with ice on your wings or trying to outwit troublesome mountain waves. The adventures are plenty and education always present as you explore many wonderful places across the United States. Flying Carpet is a book for everyone. Pilots will be entertained and wiser for having read it. Those who don¹t fly will learn what it¹s like to share the wings of a skilled aviator.
Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane captures the joy, enlightenment and adventure of flying an airplane. Each chapter is a ticket to share some of the extraordinary flying adventures that are the lifeblood of master flight instructor Greg Brown.
Beginning with his early development as a pilot, Greg reveals the important lessons that helped mold his ability to make sound aviation decisions. Sandwiched between these valuable lessons are stories about people. Some are pilots. Others simply enjoy and respect those who operate flying machines. As the novice becomes the journeyman and eventually the master, Greg reveals how relationships with people and airplanes ultimately
lead to greater wisdom.
No book about flying would be complete if it didn¹t reveal how the use of an airplane expands time and shrinks space, making the distant parts of our extraordinary country more accessible. Flying Carpet does this and much more. It¹s also the tale of a man who evolves to think with the mind of a pilot, question with the curiosity of a philosopher, and see with the eyes of a poet.
Buckle in with Greg Brown and head off to chase a solar eclipse or wrestle with ice on your wings or try to outwit troublesome mountain waves. Each chapter of Flying Carpet is a new ticket to extraordinary adventures that transform a pilot from novice to journeyman and eventually, skilled aviator.

As a flight instructor, I know this book will be fun reading for every pilot and for those who dream about being pilots. Brown shares the thrills and chills of flying and, at the same time, makes us feel safe going along for the ride. Each chapter stands on its own: a combination of aerial adventure, self-discovery and pure joy. After you read this book, you'll want to invite Greg Brown over for a cup of coffee so he can regale you, in his easy-going, friendly manner, with more stories about the magic of flight.

If you're looking for a very practical, solidly Catholic , down-to-earth guide to marriage and/or raising children (i.e. Parenting with Grace...), Gregory Popcak's books are for you. He has a solid foundation in Catholic theology and a real talent for writing. His books are easy to understand, highly useful and a delight to read. I especially recommend giving For Better...Forever and Parenting with Grace as a wedding gift to young couples. Such a gift is not only unique, but highly useful and practical. It's a gift that you know will keep on giving in the most important way...bringing Catholic couples and families closer to God's glory.

My wife and I have read many practical marriage books in the past few years, and we agree this is hands-down the best. Popcak presents a solidly Catholic foundation for marriage, and fills it out with down-to-earth and thoughtful practical advice.

While many marriage books today tend to concentrate in one particular area, a strength of this book is that it draws from other books with narrower scope (Gottman's "Seven Principles...", Chapman's "Love Languages", etc.) and works them into a more synthesized whole. The best I can say about Popcak's book in comparison is that while I thought those other books were perfectly fine, this one tends to make them look superficial by comparison.

Popcak has a slightly quirky style of occasional wise cracks, but the underlying message is presented with enough care and thoughtfulness that this doesn't detract.

His chapter on vulnerability is really, really, good, and his chapter on the beauty, and wonder of sex should be required reading for people who mistakenly think that Catholics think sex is sinful or bad. Also, his classification of stages of marriage was something we found very insightful and helpful, if painful to consider at times when seeing how we measured up! But even so, it was tremendously helpful in pointing out areas to work hard on.

His exercises at the ends of chapters are generally good, but couples with trouble communicating might want to defer sharing some of them until things improve (such as the one early on about sharing what is annoying about your spouse -- ouch!).

As a bonus, he also provides practical details for how to get help from good, supportive counselors for couples who need that (including himself, via phone!).

Thanks to to Mr. Popcak for the best book I ever had in my hands to help a troubled marriage. This book has many words of wisdom and practical advice for all marriages. Using the applications he gives you, My husband and I are on our way to an even higher level of intimacy than ever before and we have just started to work at it. This book is funny and serious. I enjoyed every word. Many thanks to Mr. Popcak

This book is my bible and I learn and understand more of the wisdom within everytime I pick it up. I have already given copies to two of my dearest friends. I am now buying a third copy to give to another. I recommend it to everyone who is a practising counsellor or psychotherapist.

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in compassionate, client-centered approaches to psychotherapy, whether as a client or practitioner. A remarkable contribution to the art of psychotherapy as well as a soothing and uplifting read. An interest in eastern spirituality is not necessary to enjoy and appreciate this work.

In using this book as an extra reading for a Counseling Strategies class, I found that the authors brought to life client-centered and gestalt philosophy and techniques. In addition, a number of students decided to seek counseling themselves to experience the process of unfolding and self-discovery. The best part of this book is the emphasis on the power and courage of the individual client and on the catalyzing and compassionate role of the therapist who guides the individual toward trusting his or her own process as he or she moves toward greater wholeness and healing.

En "La Casa Verde" Mario Vargas Llosa va dando muestras de su progreso a un estilo totalitario que quedaría demostrado finalmente en "La Guerra del Fin del Mundo". De allí en adelante el totalitarismo aparecería de manera desenfadada en todas las novelas que ha escrito hasta el momento.

Sería fácil pensar que el nombre de la novela debería otorgarle el tema central a un personaje, a un lugar o simplemente a un hecho cualquiera. Sin embargo, "La Casa Verde" es una excepción porque son varias historias contadas al mismo tiempo sin un tema central, excepto que el Perú es el lugar común en donde se desarrollan. Lo maravilloso es que con una habilidad innata, MVLL nos pinta al Perú de una manera integral, recorriendo costa, sierra y selva (las tres regiones naturales que presenta este país) a través de tres historias que se desenvuelven paralelamente y sin una relación aparente al inicio pero cuyo desenlase las unificaría. El totalitarismo de MVLL podría parecernos atrevido pero nos demuestra una vez más que esa palabra no existe para este escritor peruano.

Por un lado Fushia, mientras escapaba por el Río Amazonas, narra a Aquilino los embrollos en los cuales se encuentra involucrado tras haber intentado estafar a otro estafador más poderoso que él. El motivo sería el robo de caucho, cuya explotación se encontraba en boga en el departamento selvático de Iquitos en ese momento.

Por otro lado, Don Anselmo construye La Casa Verde, llamada así por el color del cual fue pintada su fachada, y se convertiría en el primer prostíbulo que rebolotaría la pasiva vida de Piura (una ciudad al norte de Perú). Con el transcurrir del tiempo y a pesar del progreso favorable del negocio, Don Anselmo seguiría sintiéndose solitario. Pero su soledad se vería aplacada al enamorarse; el único inconveniente, para la sociedad, era que Don Anselmo le triplicaba en edad y además ella era invidente. Debido a esto decide ocultar su relación que saldría a la luz de manera trágica cuando los pobladores deciden incendiar aquel antro de perdición sin saber que en ella habitaba la niña amada de Don Anselmo y que además estaba embarazada. El final de la historia es excepcional ya que une, como lo dije anteriormente, las tres historias alrededor de una mesa de un restaurant barato, simbolizando la pobreza humana, la cual suele actuar sin pensar en las consecuencias que podría conllevar sus actitudes cucufatas y salvajes.

Considero a esta novela como una de las mejores de la producción literaria de MVLL y se la recomiendo sólo a los que gustan de la verdadera literatura, los demás desistirán en las primeras páginas.

This complex novel evolves during many years, through the memories and experiences of the characters, within the characteristic arbitrary timing of Vargas Llosa: flashbacks, voices from different ages speaking simultaneously, sudden jumps in time. The action takes place in two basic locations: the high and dry city of Piura, and the Amazonic region of Peru. There are several stories which interact and cross at several points: Fushia, the smuggler who dominates the Indians, whose story is told during his trip with the old Aquilino, down a river; the love story of Lalita and Nieves the soldier; the soldiers of Santa María of Nieva; Sargent Lituma and the Woman from the Jungle; Don Anselmo, the mythical founder of Piura's nightlife, and thereafter a harp-player at brothels; The Unconquerables and the nuns from the convent.

The novel is an epic of life in Peru, a solid and vast book. Characters from the past and the present speak their minds and tell their deeds. The tone is varied, from the sordid to the epic, from city to jungle. A great novel by an accomplished author, in which the different stories slowly converge to paint a broad landscape. In a less dark way, from time to time Faulkner seems to be in the background, Latinamericanized.

este libro es tremendo, puedes sentirte dentro de el con una facilidad increible, puedes sentir la lluvia que no cesa por semanas y la vida en las zonas de la selva. es muy buen libro para comenzar a leer a vargas llosa, aunque tambien se puede comenzar con algo como la ciudad y los perros. magnifica lectura

Would like to express that this book should not only be compulsory reading for every government leader but for every citizen in the developed world, particularly the United States. Excellent book and very well supported by data. A thriller with no foreseeable end!

This marvellous book should be compulsory reading for every government leader and every economics student, since we seem to have already exceeded the guidelines established in Kyoto for global warming . The phrase "grow or die" will take some time to fade. Douthwaite's book could help to achieve this paradigm shift.

Richard Douthwaite has written an important book. In this updated version of his 1992 classic of the same name, he brings the evidence he has amassed of growth's downside up to the present. If anyone reading the book does not come to question the unexamined assumption most of us hold that growth is a good thing, then he is indeed delusional. Though other growth heretics, such as Herman Daly, have made many of the same arguments as Douthwaite, I know of no book which covers so many of growth's unfortunate side effects or documents them so well, from the inadequacy of GNP as a measure of well-being through the decline in public health in recent decades to the slap in the face of our growth-oriented society administered by the refugees from Tristan da Cunha. Douthwaite uses the history of Britain over the last 200 years to document growth's ambivalent contribution to human betterment, finding it as instructive a guide as Marx found it to be for analyzing capitalism 150 years earlier. Included in the book are chapters on the consequences of growth in his native Ireland and in contemporary Holland and India, chapters enlivened by his direct personal involvement in these countries. It is regrettable that more of his insights do not come from the American experience, both because of the United States' remarkable history of growth and because of its premiere position in the world today as the foremost proponent and most dogmatic practitioner of the growth doctrine. Apparently, this is not where Douthwaite's life experience led him to direct his attentions. Hopefully, in a future book he will.

Herbs for Pets is a huge, useful, interesting, well-researched book, illustrated with gorgeous full color photos, and printed on high quality, glossy stock. At first glance it seems like a coffee table book, and the quality of the design and photography reinforce that impression. However, the content exceeds even the highest expectations.

Both authors are experienced herbalists, and this book is far more than a list of recipes for dealing with common health problems. It covers the principles and theories of herbal medicine, as well as ethical issues involved with using plants.

There are literally hundreds of plant medicines included in this massive resource. Each entry includes a plant description, information on cultivating and obtaining the plant, a guide to the preparation and administration of the herb, beautiful, large, clear, color photographs of the herbs, and information on contraindications and side effects. There is easy to understand information about what common maladies can be treated by each herb contained with the description of each herb. The herb guide alone is almost 200 pages long, but the book includes more than that. It is followed by an excellent encyclopedia of ailments, with practical care suggestions as well as references to appropriate herbs.

There is even a comprehensive section on nutrition, utilizing the holistic approach that sets the Tilfords apart as herbalists. They cover nutrition and herbal care for many species of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, birds, and reptiles. They describe Western, ayurvedic, and Chinese herbs, and give information on how to grow many useful herbs in your own garden. The Tilfords explain different fields of complementary and alternative medicine, including acupuncture and homeopathy, and indicate which modality is useful for what conditions. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more useful comes the guide to losing animals to death and a listing of holistic veterinarians who work with herbs, as well as holistic veterinary organizations. There is even a short list of recommended commercial foods for those who aren't ready to make their pets' food themselves.

Still, the cornerstone of the book is the detailed, lushly illustrated herb guide, or materia medica. Each entry is at least two pages long, and most are several pages long and include multiple large photographs. The quality of this resource cannot be overstated.

If you have an interest in herbal medicine, for humans or for animals, this book will be a treasured classic and more than earn its shelf space. Its price of around forty dollars might seem steep if you haven't actually seen the book, but I have seen many books of this quality and much less usefulness for twice that amount. The publisher intends a price increase of about ten dollars in June, so it might be wise to get the book sooner rather than later. You won't be sorry!

What a beautiful book. Everyone who comes in the living room sees it on the table and starts to read it. If you are just starting on alternative health for your pet or have been doing it for awhile this book is the greatest. There is so much advertising about herbs that it is hard to know what to do or beleive and now there is a resource for treating your pet the natural way. This is a wonderful reference for the health of our animals. I like the additional infornation on nutrition plus the A to Z on Herbs. You can not help but feel the love of animals the authors share with us and the wonder of their lives growing and learning about herbs. If you love your pets you will love this book.

I have waited impatiently for this book and I have not been disappointed.

"Herbs for Pets" is clearly written, giving common and botanical names, along with which family the plant is from, and comprehensive details on the use of each herb and its parts.

"Herb For Pets" covers a wide range of topics from alternative and complementary medicines to grieving for the loss of a loved companion animal.

The authors have gone to great lengths to give wonderful references and resources. The plates of the plants and the illustrations are excellent.

This book is not only a must for your library, it is very nicely written and with obvious empathy and compassion for guardian and companion animal.

You will find "Herbs for Pets" a valuable resource that you will refer to often.

In letters to his brother and aunt, Francis Adams Donaldson chronicled his daily experiences during three years in the infantry of the Army of the Potomac. Not intending that his words would find their way into publication, he used his letters home to express his hopes, ventilate his frustrations, and convey to his family some sense of the tedium, grandeur and horror he was experiencing. Presented almost as written, this collection of correspondence brings an honesty and immediacy not found in the often sanitized volumes of other Civil War memoirs. Donaldson was a very young man when he began his service as a volunteer in a Pennsylvania regiment. Enduring the intensity of combat, called upon to lead but not trained as a professional soldier, craving recognition and promotion, his often bitter criticisms of the abilities and personal qualities of his peers and superiors reflect his own inevitable stress and insecurity. There are other collections of such letters from Civil War combatants. What sets this book apart is J. Gregory Acken's remarkable editing and research. Almost every individual and place name mentioned by Donaldson, even if only in passing, is referenced by a footnote. Where available, photographs of the soldiers are provided. You won't be left wondering what happened to these men, whether they survived the wounds which result in their passing from the pages of the memoir, or the course of their careers as they leave the unit; their fate is there in the footnotes. Each chapter is headed by a brief section placing the subsequent letters in historical context. My only criticism of the book comes in these sections, which introduce some jarring redundancies by quoting passages later contained within the letters, themselves. The book comes most alive in the letters describing the battles of Gettysburg and Mills Run. Though it can be a long read at times, you will finish it with the feeling of having shared, in the words of the subtitle, the Civil War experience of Captain Francis Adams Donaldson.

After E.P.Alexander's Fighting for the Confederacy (edited by Gary Gallagher) this is the best Civil War officer's narrative in existence. Want a real treat? Read it. You Confederates will love it too.

This is an outstanding set of letters by a perceptive officer in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry. It certainly ranks in the top five of Army of the Potomac letter collections published in the last decade. Donaldson was opinionated, but also intent on description, not chat. He provides excellent narratives of most of the major campaigns, but more importantly he offers insights into ordeals and events often overlooked--everyday struggles lost to history. Gregory Acken has done an outstanding job of introducing, annotating, and editing the missives, offering the reader cues to the important themes that course through the correspondence. For the serious researcher of the Army of the Potomac, this book will become an oft-cited source. For the more casual student, these letters are a vivid, first-rate look at the experience of America's Civil War.

Overweight and obesity are very difficult conditions to battle and too many "diet experts" offer easy fixes that just make it harder to deal with and overcome. This book certainly differs from the majority of books on the subject that actually contribute to our growing American waistline. This book approaches the problem with honesty and realistic solutions.

I commend anyone just for trying to lose weight in our society. In many ways, the deck is stacked against the overweight and obese. I'll never understand a society that discriminates against the overweight when they are now the majority. Compassion and respect should be given to anyone who suffers with a weight problem. Most of us have battled this problem or will as we age.

It's understandable that overweight people would feel validated by the existence of obesity genes to explain their condition. I do believe these genes plague my family and many people, as many of us gain weight so easily. But genes alone do not explain the recent obesity epidemic. Studies confirm the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically since 1980. Before that, the increases in overweight and obesity were much slower. Biology and genes can not be solely responsible. The gene pool did not radically change in the last twenty-two years. Evolution takes millions of years.

The real problem might be that Americans are constantly bombarded by a toxic food environment. Our average diet is poor quality and loaded with low cost, high-calorie foods ( some even non-fat or low-fat, but packed with hidden calories). Constantly hawked on tv, radio and print ads yummy foods from Snackwells to Big Macs seem so acceptable. But most of this stuff is lethal to our waistlines and for some, our health and lives. Yes, personal responsibility and lifestyle choices, even for those of us who have one or more obesity gene(s), will always be the main factor in whether we will be average weight, overweight or obese. But the food industry shares some of the blame. The industry says it's just responding to consumer demand, but they are also guilty of shaping our food preferences. It's growing exceedingly harder every year to eat right and exercise correctly, partly due to the confusing messages the food, diet and fitness industries deluge the American public with. We're encouraged to "Super Size" our meals but NOT our bodies. That's schizophrenic, not to mention nearly impossible. And worst of all, this affects our children.

In the end, losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy weight in our high tech, convenient and affluent society is a major effort even for the mildly overweight. I commend anyone just for trying!
But the truth is eating a balanced low calorie/moderate fat/adequate protein and carbohydrate diet and regular exercise that includes aerobics and strength training is the ONLY way to lose weight and maintain. Any book, program, doctor or expert who tells you different, is trying to sell you something, uneducated in basic physiology and/or doesn't care about you or your health.

At 5 feet tall, I've weighed 164 lbs and 117 lbs with many yo-yo's in between. I've suffered a few of the health effects of overweight including arthritis, painful feet and getting winded easily. I've tried the gimmicks and easy fixes like high protein, low carb. (Yes, you'll lose weight if you can give up bread, potatoes, rice, wheat etc. These diets work because they drastically reduce your calorie intact even if you eat meat and butter. And these are dangerous diets. Any time you omit an entire food group, your body will eventually revolt and when you go off, you'll gain the weight back.)

Everyone is different and unique, but lasting weight management success came to me after I came to terms with the fact that I had to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle. I'm 42 and look and feel better than I did at 20. I maintain my weight with moderate aerobic exercise 4 days a week, strength training 2 days a week and eating low calorie, fresh foods 6 days a week. (Saturday is cheat day.) A big part of my success is making every bite of food taste wonderful and satisfying. If I eat crappy food, I just eat more because it never satisfies. Yes, this can be done on a low calorie diet. I cook with lots of fresh herbs, spices, small amounts of olive oil and high flavor cheeses, fresh ingredients and never eat what I do not like. I was a pizza hound, (and still indulge once a week) but I'm just as satisfied with two slices of crusty Italian bread dipped in a little marinara sauce with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and finely shredded Romano cheese. I've now stayed under 120 pounds for the last 5 years except for a pregnancy weight gain of 24 pounds. My son is two years old now and I'm back down to 120 pounds. I want to set an example for him and keep him healthy. Here's a few sensible books/videos I've found very helpful to weight loss/maintainence and delicious low fat cooking:
Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss,
Strong Women Stay Slim by Miriam E. Nelson,
The Fat of The Land by Michael Fumento,
Prevention's The Healthy Cook,
Healthy 1-2-3 : The Ultimate 3 Ingredient Cookbook
by Rozanne Gold,
Cooking Light Five Star Recipes : The Best of 10 Years,
Leslie Sansone: Walk & Firm Fat Burner - 2 Mile In-Home Walking,
Pilates Beginning Mat Workout,

One of the most confusing subjects in Medicine today is what is the best way to lose weight. Should one reduce fat in the diet? Should one reduce carbohydrates in the diet? Should one eliminate simple sugars? Should proteins be increased or reduced? Does exercise matter? How much? What kinds? How important is genetics? Should drugs be taken to lose weight? What is the role of stress in obesity? Can stress management help? Is there an ideal weight? Controlling weight for good health is obviously a complicated puzzle. Books that give simplified solutions certainly aren't the answer. All too often people buy such books, try the simple approach, and a few months later are back at square one. Of all the books that I have read on the enigma of obesity and its control, It Can Break Your Heart, stands out heads and shoulders above all the rest. It is comprehensive yet easy to follow and implement. No one who has been overweight or is under a constant battle to maintain normal weight should be without this book. I recommend it without reservation.

I have lost over 150 pounds myself and kept it off for over 25 years now. I have read every major best selling book (and many not best selling) out over that time. I have read every magazine/newspaper article in that time on weight loss. None have compared with this book. This book gives you things it took me decades to learn by the "school of hard knocks" while it taught me a couple of new things as well. This book gives you the current research findings like a scientist would, however, it gives it to you in language you can understand (with references) and use. The confusion people have as a result of the major names in the "diet world" (Atkins, McDougall, Ornish, Pritikin, Sears, D'Adamo, etc.) and their systems (zone, low carb-high protein/fat, low fat, calories don't count, 40-30-30 etc.) which seems like a "Tower of Babel" is made understandable. The various medications and what they do for you including benifits and risks are made understandable. They give you information on the various weight loss programs and support groups available with their strengths and weaknesses. They give you a clear understanding of what works and what does not work and why(including Websites you can go to currently). It gets better - you really do not have to read the whole book! They give you chapter summaries at the start of each chapter. If you want to lose weight or have a serious obesity problem this book is for you. If you are a professional who thinks you know about weight loss this book is for you. If you are a student or teacher this book is for you. If you read this far I am sure you can see I am thrilled with this book. These authors have done us a service. Money well spent - buy this book.