News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

This month’s selection of health picks include Maori medicine using native plants; how to boost  immunity using nutrients; gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast and sugar-free”super-charged” food; using detox for ailments; long-term recovery from eating disorders; how children heal; deaf children and Auditory communication; strategies for ending neck and back pain; overcoming sholder pain and personal genomics research.

Framework for the shoulder : a 6-step plan for preventing injury and ending pain / Nicholas A. DiNubile ; with Bruce Scali.“Based on the time-tested FrameWork philosophy that exercising the entire body is key to fortifying and balancing every joint, FrameWork for the Shoulder provides a 6-step plan for understanding your shoulder strengths and weaknesses and creating your own healing fitness and lifestyle program. Dr. DiNubile draws on the latest medical research to outline the basic mechanics of the shoulder and its potential for failure and offers diagnostic tools for assessing and treating pain and injury. After completing a straightforward shoulder health assessment, you will discover simple, innovative exercises you can perform at home or at the gym, as well the most effective nutrition and lifestyle guidelines for extending your frame’s warranty. If you are an athlete, you will learn to improve your sports performance and enhance your recovery. Whether you are ready to conquer the persistent shoulder discomfort that is keeping you from enjoying everyday activities, bounce back from an injury, or simply keep your joints in shape as you age, FrameWork for the Shoulder is your ultimate, customized plan for achieving lasting shoulder and full-body health.” (Book description)

Super cleanse : detox your body for long-lasting health and beauty / Adina Niemerow with Diana Jason Wiggett.Super Cleanse: Detox Your Body for Long-Lasting Health and Beauty
“In this all-new and completely revised edition of the classic Super Cleanse, Niemerow offers 11 comprehensive cleanse experiences that show readers more than just how to lose weight or clear up their skin through detox. Designed as a mini retreat for the body and mind, each cleanse providess a complete program, with specifically tailored recipes and exercise/activity suggestions, for targeting a wide range of ailments. Niemerow’s holistic approach to health is based on 12 years of experience unleashing the transformative power of whole foods. She has worked with a number of doctors and nutritionists (both traditional and alternative) and will discuss how each cleanse works and the numerous benefits each offers. Every cleanse also includes a testimonial from one of Niemerow’s clients about how the experience benefited his or her life. Easy-to-follow and fun, Super Cleanse will appeal to those looking for an enjoyable and effective way to improve their health and re-energize their lives.” (Gloabl Books in Print)

Maintaining recovery from eating disorders : avoiding relapse and recovering life / Naomi Feigenbaum ; foreword by Rebekah Bardwell Doweyko.
“After achieving a level of recovery from an eating disorder, it is vital to ensure the right practical and emotional supports are in place to maintain that recovery indefinitely. In this important book, Naomi Feigenbaum confronts the often neglected subject of how to take the essential steps towards a healthy and happy life after recovering from an eating disorder. This inspirational companion offers a wide range of healthy coping skills that are supported by expert advice from treatment professionals. Issues explored range from the practical aspects of recovery such as how to confront triggers and work with a treatment team, to the emotional hurdles that include accepting one’s body, coping with trauma and sustaining meaningful relationships. A number of real people in recovery are introduced, proving that every experience is unique and the key to maintaining a healthy life is finding a path that works for the individual. This guide will help to signpost that path and inspire those in recovery with the confidence to take responsibility for their choices and ultimately their lives. Written with the aim of helping those in recovery discover their own unique insights and passions and awaken a desire to enjoy life to the fullest, this positive and life-affirming book will be an invaluable aid for anyone in recovery from an eating disorder, their family, friends, and the healthcare professionals who work with them.” (Global Books in Print)

End back and neck pain / Vincent Fortanasce, David Gutkind, Robert G. Watkins, III.
“In End Back and Neck Pain, the leading names in back health join together to provide the latest research, professional insights, and proven programs to prevent and relieve pain and discomfort. Youll get straight answers to questions such as these: Why does my back or neck hurt? What can I do now to alleviate my discomfort? How do I prevent my pain from returning? Could I have a serious or debilitating condition? Is my doctor properly diagnosing my condition? Is surgery really my best option? Through a series of questions, youll identify the source of your discomfort and determine the best plan of action for relief. Youll learn how simple lifestyle changes, postural improvements, and stretching exercises can keep that pain from returning. Most important, End Back and Neck Pain takes the fear and uncertainly out of your discomfort and puts you in control of your recovery. Whether this is your first bout with serious pain or a recurring problem, End Back and Neck Pain has insights, answers, and programs that will put you on the path to a pain-free life.” (Global Books in Print)

How your child heals : an inside look at common childhood ailments / Christopher M. Johnson.
“All children get sick now and then, and most of the time they soon get well. How do they do that? How does it happen? When a mother brings her sick child to the doctor for something trivial, like a runny nose, or for something more serious, like difficulty breathing, she usually hears from the doctor that this or that treatment will make the child better, or that no treatment is needed at all. Some parents are content with little information; others want to know how a child heals and why things work the way they do. Here, Johnson takes readers on a tour of the inner workings of a child’s body as it heals from injury, illness, and common diseases. Readers will be fascinated by just how healing works and what they can do to assist in the process.” (Global Books in Print)

Supercharged food : eat your way to good health / Lee Holmes.
“This book is a simple and inspiring guide to eating for optimum health. It features more than 90 recipes that are gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast and sugar-free, each bursting with nutrient-rich or super foods that will help nourish and heal your body.”

Auditory communication for deaf children : a guide for teachers, parents and health professionals / Norman P. Erber.
“Development of listening skills in a hearing-impaired child is the basis for successful spoken language, communication, and conversation. Auditory Communication in Deaf Children presents a rationale and framework for auditory learning in childhood and describes a wide range of practical listening activities that adults can apply during everyday interaction with the child.” (Global Books in Print)

Here is a human being : at the dawn of personal genomics / Misha Angrist.
“Misha Angrist, who has a PhD in genetics and an MFA, brings us the first, inside story of the Personal Genome Project, its larger-than-life research subjects, as well as the political, social, and ethical issues that emerged throughout the study” (Provided by Publisher)

Rongoa Maori : a practical guide to traditional maori medicine / Rob McGowan. “Rongoa is the Maori term for medicines that are produced from native plants in New Zealand. Use of these medicines prevented many sicknesses, and provided remedies for the sick. Robert McGowan has wriiten this to help those interested in the field of traditional Maori medicine.”

Eat to boost your immunity / Kirsten Hartvig.“Never before have we been so aware of the relationship between diet and immunity. Our bodies have a truly remarkable ability to heal themselves and to ward off illness, but it has been undermined by our reliance on processed and nutrient-depleted foods. This book shows you how to redress the balance by eating foods that stimualte the immune system and supply it with the nutrients it needs to promote optimum well-being. By explaining the simple principles of eating for immunity and showing how you can incorporate tasty, immunity-boosting recipes into your diet, this informative and practical book tells you all you need to know to enhance your body’s defence systems and help you look and feel fantastic.” (Inside Cover)

In our latest selection of new health books: discover how you can positively impact the way you age; read about Sir Edmund Hillary’s legacy of hospitals in Nepal; learn how you can overcome shoulder pain with New Zealand’s pioneering Robin McKenzie; and read memoirs on healing from anxiety and panic attacks, a life spent nursing, as well as overcoming breast cancer. Plus, get fit while having fun, develop mindfulness strategies to reduce stress in the workplace, and read an updated history of health reform in New Zealand. Enjoy – and we wish you a healthful New Year!

The aging myth : unlocking the mysteries of looking and feeling young / Joseph Chang.
“Do you wonder why some people look and feel younger than their actual age while others appear older than they really are? Do you believe that the way you age is genetically predetermined? Do you believe your aging destiny is inherited on the day you are conceived? Do you feel helpless about aging, as if there is nothing you can do about it? You do not have to buy into the myths about aging. This book will empower you with good news as Dr. Joseph Chang reveals that the destiny of your genes is not fixed – you can positively impact the way you age from this day forward. ” (Global Books in Print)

Treat your own shoulder / Robin McKenzie with Grant Watson and Robert Lindsay.
“This easy-to-read patient handbook provides the reader with an active self-treatment plan to effectively treat and prevent the return of shoulder pain and other related pain. Wellington-born Robin McKenzie is a world renowned spinal expert and is recognized internationally as an authority on the diagnosis and treatment of lower back pain and neck pain.” (Global Books in Print)

Gentle yoga : osteoporosis / Laurie Sanford ; featuring contributions by Laurie Sanford.
“Although bone density naturally begins to decrease at the age of 35, it is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle – and yoga can become an integral part of improving your overall health and well-being. Gentle Yoga for Osteoporosis shows you how to integrate yoga into your exercise routine to promote bone health. Because yoga is low-impact and is easily modified to your own needs and abilities, you can safely and effectively reap the benefits of exercise by stimulating bone growth and strengthening muscles. Whether you are looking to prevent the onset of osteoporosis or have been diagnosed with the disease and aim to reduce your symptoms, Gentle Yoga for Osteoporosis is your complete guide to relieving pain and stress through yoga.” (Global Books in Print)

Dr. Susan Love’s breast book / Susan M. Love ; with Karen Lindsey.
“The Fifth Edition of Dr. Susan Love’s authoritative guide brings new optimism based on recent insights from basic science. First, not all breast cancers are the same. By determining which subtype a woman has, treatments can be personalized to match. This not only means better results but also ensures that women are able to avoid drugs that won’t benefit them, and may even harm them. A second big shift in understanding breast cancer is that cells do not function in isolation. More than a mutated cell is needed to develop cancer. The local environment, its neighborhood, must nourish it. A bad cell in a good neighborhood will usually stay dormant, but if the neighborhood changes, there is likely to be trouble. This finding has led to a whole new way to think about risk factors, screening, and treatment, resulting in both an improvement in survival and a better quality of life. This fully updated and revised edition has been completely reorganized to reflect these and other promising changes in treating breast cancer.” (Book jacket)

Learning to breathe : my yearlong quest to bring calm to my life / Priscilla Warner.
“Priscilla Warner has had a great life: a supportive husband, a flourishing marriage, two loving sons, and a bestselling book, The Faith Club. Despite all her good fortune and success, she suffers from anxiety and panic attacks so debilitating that they leave her unable to breathe. She tried self-medicating in high school, with a hidden flask of vodka, and later, with prescription medication daily doses of Klonopin with a dark-chocolate chaser. After forty years of hyperventilating, and an overwhelming panic attack thats the ultimate wake-up call, Warners mantra becomes ‘Heal Thyself’. A spirited New Yorker, she sets out to find her inner Tibetan monk by meditating every day, aiming to rewire her brain and her body and mend her frayed nerves. On this winding path from panic to peace, with its hairpin emotional curves and breathtaking drops, she also delves into a wide range of spiritual and alternative health practices, some serious and some.. not so much. [...] Written with lively wit and humor, Learning to Breathe is a serious attempt to heal from a painful condition. It’s also a life raft of compassion and hope for people similarly adrift or secretly fearful, as well as an entertaining and inspiring guidebook for anyone facing daily challenges large and small, anyone who is also longing for a sense of peace, self-acceptance, and understanding.” (Global Books in Print)

Himalayan hospitals : Sir Edmund Hillary’s Everest legacy / Michael Gill with Lynley Cook.
“Himalayan Hospitals: Sir Edmund Hillary’s Everest Legacy tells the remarkable story of the two hospitals he built; Khunde Hospital in 1966 in the Khumbu region at the foot of Mt Everest, and Phaplu Hospital in 1975 in the Solu Valley. These hospitals were staffed by volunteer Doctors and their partners from New Zealand and Canada until they were eventually handed over to Sherpa Doctors. Using letters written by these volunteers, and many subsequent interviews, Michael Gill – a Doctor himself who worked with Sir Edmund from the beginning on these projects – has pieced together this fascinating history of a unique aid project. It has many threads: an honest and fresh insight into the life of Sir Edmund Hillary, a rich and real picture of Sherpa culture, and the transformative experiences of the volunteers, whose lives where often completely changed by their time working in the Sherpa communities.” (Global Books in Print)

 Beautiful unbroken : one nurse’s life / Mary Jane Nealon.
“As a child, Mary Jane Nealon dreams of growing up to become a saint or, failing that, a nurse. She idolizes Clara Barton, Kateri Tekakwitha, and Molly Pitcher, whose biographies she reads and rereads. By the time she follows her calling to nursing school, her beloved younger brother is diagnosed with cancer, which challenges her to bring hope and healing closer to home. His death leaves her shattered, and she flees into her work, and into poetry. ‘Beautiful Unbroken’ details Nealon’s life of caregiving, from her years as a flying nurse, untethered and free to follow friends and jobs from the Southwest to Savannah, to more somber years in New York City, treating men in a homeless shelter on the Bowery and working in the city’s first AIDS wards. In this compelling and revealing memoir, Nealon brings a poet’s sensitivity to bear on the hard truths of disease and recovery, life and death.” (Book jacket) (Syndetics summary)

How I said bah! to cancer : a guide to thinking, laughing, living and dancing your way through / Stephanie Butland ; foreword by Edward de Bono.
“‘I was never going to die from cancer. That hard lump peeping out of the top of my bra was aggressive but it was small enough to be contained, and I was young and strong and otherwise well. All the signs were good. Words like “lucky” and “caught in time” were thrown around like rice at a wedding. No, I was never going to die from cancer. But from the beginning, I never planned simply to survive it. Oh no. I was going to say a great big Bah! to it. Please, join in. Cancer? Bah!’ This book tells how one woman said Bah! to cancer through thinking strategies, a proactive approach to treatment, and a determination to keep the rest of her life going and retain a sense of humour (most of the time!). It shares everything she learnt along the way, from the nature of cancer cells and chemotherapy drugs, to how she was able to help her friends and family to help her.” (Book Jacket)

Revolving doors : New Zealand’s health reforms, the continuing saga / Robin Gauld.
“Since the late-1980s, a series of significant reforms has been thrust upon New Zealand’s health sector. The nature of these reforms, together with their rationale, implementation and impacts, were examined in the 2001 predecessor to this book. ‘Revolving Doors: New Zealand’s Health Reforms – The Continuing Saga’ updates the 2001 book with a new chapter on subsequent developments, including the performance of district health boards, and the primary care reforms. The second edition also outlines issues crucial to a high performing health system that have taken second place to health system restructuring: quality, information technology, and workforce management. Finally, the book considers the key challenges facing the government and health care system over the coming years.” (Gloabl Books in Print)

No-fuss fitness / Lee-Anne Wann.
“This book is for real people who simply want the opportunity to be healthy, have fun and live life the way they choose to live it. In No-Fuss Fitness, TV fitness guru Lee-Anne Wann shows you how easy it can be to include fitness in everyday activities so you see results. With a realistic, achievable approach, Lee-Anne offers solutions for sustainable health benefits. And for those who have tried and failed in the past to achieve health and weight-loss goals, Lee-Anne also demonstrates how important it is to understand your own body before you can reach your goals. Also included are quick tips to see instant changes that will help you stay on track for life – how to make yourself taller in just 2 minutes, hit stubborn belly fat, curb hunger and get great looking arms. Whether you find yourself at a park or on a beach, or even at your desk or in a car, No-Fuss Fitness includes just the workout for you without interrupting your daily life.” (Global Books in Print)

The mindful workplace : developing resilient individuals and resonant organizations with MBSR / Michael Chaskalson. “Mindfulness – a way of paying attention to whatever arises from moment to moment, in yourself, others and the world around you – enhances resilience by enabling people to more quickly renew themselves, offsetting stress and reducing the risk of burnout. Fusing the ancient art of meditative practice with scientific research, this approach develops self-awareness and an empathic understanding of others, raises emotional intelligence, and enables employees to build more resonant relationships both inside and outside the workplace. In addition to describing the latest neuroscience research into the effects of mindfulness training, the book lays out a detailed eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training course that has been specifically customized for the workplace.” (Global Books in Print)

In our picks of the new health books this month: an empowering resource endorsed by Parkinson’s New Zealand and the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, plus titles that deal with life after cancer, recovery from an eating disorder, and hysteria as a disease in nineteenth century Paris. Have a browse!

Positively Parkinson’s : symptoms & diagnosis, research & treatment, advice & support / Ann Andrews
“More than 10,000 New Zealanders have Parkinson’s disease, but many thousands more are dealing with it every day – relatives and friends, carers and health professionals. Informative, practical and uplifting, this is a book for anyone with Parkinson’s and for those who support them. It contains answers to the questions you might ask about Parkinson’s, from symptoms and diagnosis to the latest treatments and therapies, as well as the most recent medical research into stem cells and gene therapy. Drawing on her own experience as well as that of others, Ann Andrews offers clear advice on how to cope with the impact of Parkinson’s on everything from employment, finance and relationships, to exercise, diet and self-care. The combination of the practical and the personal sets this book apart from others on the same topic. Thoroughly researched and perceptively written, this is an empowering resource for anyone who needs to adjust their life to Parkinson’s. This book is endorsed by Parkinson’s New Zealand and the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand.” (Back cover)

Surviving after cancer : living the new normal / Anne Katz.
“There are an estimated 10 million cancer survivors in America, and this number continues to grow every day as more effective treatments become available. Survivors and their families often call this phase of living after cancer the new normal. This phase, however, is fraught with emotion, anxiety, fear, and joy, and many survivors and their families are not equipped to deal with these challenges. This book addresses in lively detail these issues, illustrating each with stories of survivors and current studies about survivorship.” (Syndetics summary)

Distorted : how a mother and daughter unraveled the truth, the lies, and the realities of an eating disorder / Lorri Antosz Benson, Taryn Leigh Benson
“Mom saw a popular, happy teen, poised to revel in her high school years; her daughter saw a fat, ugly loser, and vowed to take action. One researched finding the best care; the other researched new and clever ways to hide her compulsion. Such is the distorted reality in this raw, riveting true account of a teen caught in the grips of an eating disorder and the mother who struggled to help her break free.Through a compelling, dual narrative, Lorri and Taryn Benson take turns chronicling their perceptions of events once Taryn was caught in the middle of a purge. With unflinching frankness, they reveal the deceit, the guilt, the manipulation, and the shame that are inherent in this disease, unveiling the true picture of what happens to the family dynamic once an eating disorder takes hold. Much more than a cautionary tale, Distorted illustrates the psychological factors that underlied the beginning and spread of the disease, the successful and unsuccessful therapies, and the consequences the disease had on their family. Triumphantly, the two women share what was ultimately needed to bring the truth to light, providing guidance for anyone struggling with or affected by an eating disorder. Their stories-woven together as one powerful beacon of hope-will offer insight and comfort to families, spouses, and loved ones who feel helpless and alone. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Medical muses : hysteria in nineteenth-century Paris / Asti Hustvedt.
“Hysteria as a disease no longer exists, but in the nineteenth century hysteria was thought to affect half of all women in one of its myriad forms. In 1862 the famous and infamous Salpetriere Hospital in Paris, under the reign of renowned neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, became the focal point for study of the mysterious illness. Physicians could find no cause, which meant a cure was not possible, but Charcot concentrated on treating the symptoms; with hypnosis, gongs, tuning forks, piercing and the evocation of demons and saints. Charcot’s studies at the hospital were controversial, and brought him into conflict with the church as well as his colleagues. But despite this, Charcot was known as hysteria’s ultimate authority and his experiments became both a fascinating and a fashionable spectacle. The women were photographed, sculpted, painted and sketched, and demonstrations attracted eager crowds of medical students, physicians, writers, artists and socialites. Medical Muses tells the stories of Blanche, Augustine and Genevieve, young women who found themselves in Charcot’s ward as medical celebrities. But who were they? What were they suffering from? And what role did they play in their own curious celebrity? The stories of these women, and in fact, of all of the women institutionalised for hysteria in the Salpetriere, have never been fully told. Theirs is a strange tale of science and ideology, medicine and the occult, of hypnotism, sadism, love and theatre. Combing hospital records, municipal archives, memoirs and letters, Asti Hustvedt uncovers fascinating new material and sheds new light on a crucial moment in psychiatric history.” (Amazon.co.uk)

In our health recent picks for October: eating disorders (a guide for parents), a personal journey with diabetes, and disease maps and how they can help us to understand epidemics. Have a browse!

Laugh with health / Manfred Urs Koch.
“Laugh with health is the complete body system guide to health and healing. Now completely revised and updated, this practical, easy-to-use book includes unique food charts and vital health hints for everyday use, a detailed explanation of 36 essential vitamins and minerals, food combination charts for improved digestion and health, simple recipe ideas based on a full range of natural foods and specific natural food diets for various common health conditions. Recommended by medical doctors and naturopaths, laugh with health is everyone’s essential reference for living a life of health and wellbeing.” (Global Books in Print)

Sugar nation : the hidden truth behind America’s deadliest habit and the simple way to beat it / Jeff O’Connell.
“Journalist, editor in chief of Bodybuilding.com, and fitness buff O’Connell was shocked to learn of his prediabetes diagnosis in 2006. Knowing that his father had lost a leg to diabetes, O’Connell set out to learn what research has shown as medical best practices and why diabetes is at epidemic proportions in the United States. He warns that doctors do not do enough to prepare and support patients for necessary lifestyle changes and are too quick to simply prescribe drugs. Nutrition, and especially the sugar that permeates the American diet, is targeted as the primary culprit in chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart and kidney disease, and stroke. O’Connell weaves information from medical experts and clinical research studies into his story of personal challenges and his journey to better health. VERDICT An engrossing, well-written narrative that has major relevance to all consumers. O’Connell questions many established guidelines and bases his own logical assertions on research. A thought-provoking title; highly recommended for all consumer-health collections.” (Library Journal)

The parent’s guide to eating disorders : what parents need to know / Jane Smith.
“The first book on eating disorders written for parents by parents. Eating disorders are increasingly common, especially among young people. For parents this can lead to enormous worry and distress, and it can also provoke feelings of guilt and helplessness. This book provides the answers you need to questions such as: How do I know for sure whether my child has an eating disorder? How should I approach my child? What help and treatment is available to us? What can I do to help my child recover? How have other parents coped? Full of the real-life experiences of other parents who have been there, this is a practical book that will both inform and equip you to help your child and yourself through this difficult time.” (Amazon)

Disease maps : epidemics on the ground / Tom Koch.
“In the seventeenth century, a map of the plague suggested a radical idea that the disease was carried and spread by humans. In the nineteenth century, maps of cholera cases were used to prove its waterborne nature. More recently, maps charting the swine flu pandemic caused worldwide panic and sent shockwaves through the medical community. In Disease Maps, Tom Koch contends that to understand epidemics and their history we need to think about maps of varying scale, from the individual body to shared symptoms evidenced across cities, nations, and the world. “  (Global Books in Print)

Pregnancy and childbirth / Sheila Kitzinger ; photography by Camilla Jessel and Nancy Durrell McKenna.
“Revised and expanded edition of a comprehensive guide for parents-to-be to pregancy and childbirth, extensively illustrated with diagrams and photographs. Includes references, a guide to further reading, useful addresses in Australia and New Zealand, a glossary, and an index. The author is an internationally bestselling authority in the field.” (Syndetics summary)

Shake off the winter blues and embrace the spring with fresh ideas about cooking, gardening and craft projects for your home and garden by browsing through our latest selection of library books. Get inspired by the clever design ideas shown in our picture gallery below.

“Wellington on the Plate” display at the Wellington Central Library

Library News

• Great new graphic novels

Here are some of the latest health books that have been added to our library collection:

The core balance diet : 4 weeks to boost your metabolism and lose weight for good / Marcelle Pick ; with Genevieve Morgan.
“At its most basic level, the Core Balance Diet shows you how to self-diagnose one of six major biochemical imbalances that may be preventing you from losing weight. These include digestive, hormonal, adrenal, neurotransmitter, inflammatory, and detoxification imbalances. From there, Pick guides you through easy lifestyle and diet changes customized to heal your specific imbalance. Throughout, you will learn how to begin living in a manner that encourages optimal health -without a lot of deprivation and stringent dieting rules – by achieving core balance from the inside out, and, of course, weight loss for life.” (Global Books in Print)

Vegan for life : everything you need to know to be healthy and fit on a plant-based diet / Jack Norris, Virginia Messina.
“…Registered dietitians and long-time vegans Jack Norris and Virginia Messina debunk some of the most persistent myths about vegan nutrition and provide essential information about getting enough calcium and protein, finding the best supplements, and understanding the “real deal” about soy. Covering everything from a six-step transition plan to meeting calorie and nutrient needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding, Vegan for Life is the guide for aspiring and veteran vegans alike, complete with an easy-to-use food chart, tasty substitutions, sample menus, and expansive resources.” (Global Books in Print)

Between a rock and a hot place : why fifty is not the new thirty / Tracey Jackson.
“…With a comedy writer’s training and a screenwriter’s eye for detail, Jackson skewers the myth in a hilarious, bare-knuckled, and ultimately practical appraisal of what middle age “really” means today. Turning fifty is a wake-up call – but one that can be greeted with a plan. “Between a Rock and a Hot Place” navigates, with unsparing honesty and unerring wit, the confusion and uncertainty of the most significant uncharted transition in our lives.” (Global Books in Print)

Why we get fat and what to do about it / Gary Taubes.
“Award-winning science journalist Taubes, author of the best-selling Good Calories, Bad Calories, once again challenges the conventional belief that weight gain is caused by overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. To disprove the idea that taking in more calories than one expends leads to weight gain, he scrupulously evaluates human metabolism and analyzes nutrition research dating back to the 19th century. Taubes is especially interested in separating the “ethical, moral, and sociological considerations” of why we get fat from the science of it. He shows how false conclusions have been drawn about the causes of obesity and related maladies as a result of poor science and biased research, and he carefully details why increased consumption of refined carbohydrates, not fats, is to blame…” (Library Journal)

Brave girl eating : a family’s struggle with anorexia / Harriet Brown.
” In BRAVE GIRL EATING Harriet Brown describes how her family, with the support of an open-minded paediatrician and a therapist, helped her daughter recover from anorexia using a family-based treatment developed at the Maudsley Hospital in London. Chronicling her daughter Kitty’s illness from the earliest warning signs, through its terrifying progression, and on toward recovery, Brown takes us on one family’s journey into the world of anorexia nervosa, where starvation threatened her daughter’s body and mind. BRAVE GIRL EATING is essential reading for families and professionals alike, a guiding light for anyone who’s coping with this devastating disease.” (Global Books in Print)

Stretching / Bob Anderson ; illustrated by Jean Anderson.
“This is the book that people tell their friends about, that trainers suggest for virtually every sport and activity, and that medical professionals recommend to people just starting to get back in shape… It features stretching routines specific to a variety of people, including sports enthusiasts, travellers, children, gardeners, and people in wheelchairs. There is also an abbreviated version of each routine for people in a hurry, new information on the stretching vs. warming up debate, and new and improved drawings. This 30th anniversary edition features two-colour inks to better define the muscle groups helped by each stretching exercise. A new section focuses on office fitness exercises, helpful for both home and office computer users.” (Global Books in Print)

Here are some of the latest health books added to our library collection:

Barefoot running : how to run light and free by getting in touch with the Earth / Michael Sandler, with Jessica Lee.
“How could something we have for free- our bare feet – be better for running than $150 shoes? Running in shoes is high impact, heel-centric, promotes bad form, is relatively unstable and inflexible, tends to weaken rather than strengthen your feet, knees, and hips, which leads to injury while dampening your connection to the world around you. In contrast, barefoot running is low-impact, toe-centric, promotes good form, enhances stability and adaptability, strengthens your feet in miraculous ways, and provides delightful sensory and spiritual connections to the earth. In this comprehensive guide two of its pioneers, teach the RunBare technique: getting grounded, starting out slowly; navigating through rough weather and rugged terrain, coping with injuries, building your feet into living shoes, and understanding minimalist shoes. Once you learn to dance with nature, you’ll tread lightly into the silence, hearing nature’s secret symphony, and the dirt beneath your feet.” (Publisher Description)

My child has autism, now what? : 10 steps to get you started / Susan Larson Kidd.
“”Your child has autism” – four small words with the power to leave parents feeling helpless, overwhelmed, and confused. This concise, no-nonsense book will enable parents to regain control of the situation and take the first practical steps towards a calm and happy life with their newly-diagnosed child. Dr. Larson Kidd’s approach draws from the vast amount of information available on parenting a child with autism and distils it into ten manageable steps. It covers the key aspects of life with a child on the autism spectrum, including the basics such as sleeping, eating, and toileting, through adapting the home, creating routines, and exploring therapy. Ready-to-implement strategies are outlined simply and clearly, and are firmly grounded in the author’s extensive experience of supporting children with autism. This practical book will be essential and empowering reading for every parent whose child has recently been diagnosed with autism or for parents still struggling with where to begin to help their child.” (Book jacket)

Essential psychotherapies : theory and practice / edited by Stanley B. Messer, Alan S. Gurman.
“The leading survey text for basic psychotherapy courses, this book offers authoritative, engaging presentations of the 12 most important forms of psychotherapy practiced today. Prominent experts cover traditional treatments as well as influential models that have been developed relatively recently, giving students and practitioners a solid grasp of foundational theories, techniques, and research. Each chapter follows a common set of organizational guidelines; features illustrative vignettes and a full case example; and concludes with readings and resources to guide further study…” (Syndetics summary)

Asleep : the forgotten epidemic that remains one of medicine’s greatest mysteries / Molly Caldwell Crosby.
“This is a revolutionary approach to feeling better, rooted in the science of positive psychology and resilience theory, and would help anyone get a dose of soul food into their emotional diet; but these techniques are specially tailored to those trying to overcome traumas big and small-from Big-T Traumas, such as combat, abuse, and bereavement, to challenges one might think of as little-t traumas, like breakups, betrayals, job loss, health problems, and financial hardships… Back to Life is a creative and empowering way to learn the habits of resilient survivors while getting to know what you stand for, what makes you happy, and what emotions you need in your diet in order to thrive. In this book you will create a “holistic pillbox” of ten stones -each symbolizing a healthy new way of coping – that you can utilize when your past rears its head.” (Syndetics summary)

Keeping mum : caring for someone with dementia / Marianne Talbot.“At 3am I was startled awake by the opening of the stairgate. Leaping out of bed I found Mum, clothes on over her pyjamas, grumbling she was fed up of being moved from pillar to post and was going home. When her mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease, Marianne Talbot decided she couldn’t put her into a care home. Instead, for five years, she looked after her mum in her own home. For nearly three of those years she chronicled for the readers of Saga Magazine Online the fears and frustrations, the love and the laughter, and the tears and the traumas of caring. Now, in this heart warming book, you too can meet Marianne, Mum, and the appalling Fatcat. You will also find plenty of practical tips for caring for someone with dementia and on staying sane whilst doing so, a resources and useful contacts section and Marianne s reflections on caring from a distance, and on when caring comes to an end. Written for anyone, anywhere, who has anything to do with dementia or with cÅ in reading it you will know you are not alone.” (Global Books in Print)

Tucked in / Meredith Gaston.“Whether you are in bed on doctor’s orders or tucked in on your very own whim, whether you are young or old, nimble or wobbly, bed needn’t be a place just for sleeping. Meredith Gaston, artist and passionate lover of all things bed, encourages us to discover that our tucked-in time can be as creative as it is restorative, enriching our days and bringing joy to our lives. We learn how to analyse our dreams and find out what our sleeping positions reveal about our personalities, as well as creating our own tucked-in haiku poetry, comfort foods and dream catchers; Simply snuggle back, relax, and be guided through a world of tea cup cosies, shadow puppets, favourite bed socks and eclectic sleepy facts. The perfect gift for the bedbound or balm for the world-weary, Tucked In is sure to uplift, soothe and inspire.” (Gloabl Book in Print)

Psychology moment by moment : a guide to enhancing your clinical practice with mindfulness and meditation / Elise E. Labbé.“Psychology Moment by Moment translates mindfulness research into practice by providing clinicians with an evidence-based framework for developing and implementing mindfulness-based interventions with their clients. Readers learn which mindfulness techniques work, the latest research in mindfulness, how to choose mindfulness techniques for particular clients, and how to assess client progress.” (Global Books in Print)

Vaccines and your child : separating fact from fiction / Paul A. Offit and Charlotte A. Moser.
“Paul A. Offit, M.D., and Charlotte A. Moser, leading advocates for modern vaccines, answer parents’ numerous questions about the underlying science of modern vaccines and the value of childhood immunization, while forthrightly addressing parents’ concerns about vaccine safety. In straightforward prose, the authors explain how vaccines work, how they are made, what goes into their making, as well as vaccines’ real risks, balanced against the danger of childhood infectious diseases and the threat of diseases that have reemerged due to declining childhood vaccination rates.Offit and Moser address parental fears that children may receive too many vaccines too early. They consider the evidence that the HPV vaccine may cause chronic fatigue or other dangerous side effects, and they lay to rest any worries that additives and preservatives in vaccines cause autism. The authors warn against complacency and a false sense of security or the notion that a disease is too remote to do a child serious harm. There couldn’t be a better moment;or a more pressing need;for a book that offers honesty, not hype, about protecting children’s health.” (Global Books in Print)

This month our Health Recent Picks compile stories of families dealing with illnesses and sharing their experiences of good and bad times.

Flourish : a visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being / Martin E.P. Seligman.
“The creator of one of the most influential theories of the 20th century presents for the first time a complete, new theory of the best way to live.” (Syndetics summary)

Henry’s demons : living with schizophrenia, a father and son’s story / Patrick Cockburn and Henry Cockburn.“On a cold February day two months after his 20th birthday, Henry Cockburn waded into the Newhaven estuary outside Brighton and tried to swim across, almost drowning in the process. The trees, he said, had told him to do it. Nearly halfway around the world, in Kabul, Afghanistan, journalist Patrick Cockburn learned that Henry, his son, had been admitted to a hospital mental ward and appeared to be suffering a mental breakdown. Ten days later, Henry was officially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.” (amazon.co.uk)

When horse became saw / Anthony Macris.
” Anthony Macris and his wife were late starters as parents, but when their son Alex was born they were, for an all too brief period, the happiest of families. Until autism descended, in a swift and brutal wave, sweeping away the child they knew and leaving them to watch helplessly as his mind disintegrated. Their vibrant, healthy boy, who up to the age of eighteen months had appeared perfectly normal, was struck mute and barely recognised his own mother and father.” (Syndetics summary)

Blood work : a tale of medicine and murder in the scientific revolution / Holly Tucker.
“Tucker delivers a sharp-eyed expos of the deadly politics, murderous plots, and cutthroat rivalries behind the first blood transfusions in 17th-century Europe.” (Syndetics summary)

Vaccines & your child : separating fact from fiction / Paul A. Offit and Charlotte A. Moser.
“Two leading advocates for modern vaccines answer parents’ numerous questions about the underlying science of modern vaccines and the value of childhood immunization, while addressing parents’ concerns about vaccine safety.” (Syndetics summary)

Keeping mum : caring for someone with dementia / Marianne Talbot.“When her mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Marianne Talbot decided she couldn’t put her into a care home. Instead, for five years, she looked after her mum in her own home. For nearly three of those years she chronicled for the readers of Saga Magazine Online the fears and frustrations, the love and the laughter, and the tears and the traumas of caring. Now, in this heart warming book, you too can meet Marianne, Mum, and the appalling Fatcat.” (amazon.co.uk)

Gasland [videorecording] / an International Wow Company production.
“One of the most controversial documentaries in recent years, Gasland is a compelling and emotional first-person story of discovery and, ultimately, empowerment. In 2008, theatre director Josh Fox received a letter from a natural gas company, offering him one hundred thousand dollars for permission to explore his upstate New York property. Josh’s curiosity led him to ask questions and he discovered that the method for extracting this valuable resource from the ‘Saudi Arabia’ of reserves – hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ is exempt from several important federal protections, including the clean water act.” — Back cover. (Syndetics summary)

The healing code : 6 minutes to heal the source of your health, success, or relationship issue / Alex Loyd with Ben Johnson.
” Discover the revolutionary formula that heals the source of illness and disease, even success and relationship issues. Dr. Alex Loyd discovered how to activate a physical function built into the body that consistently and predictably removes this source so that the neuro-immune system takes over its job of healing whatever is wrong in the body. His findings were validated scientifically and by the thousands of people from all over the world who have used The Healing Codes. In this book you will get that Universal Healing Code, which takes only 6 minutes to do.”

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee has done just that with his The emperor of all maladies : a biography of cancer, just one of the new additions to our collection of health-related books that we’re highlighting this month. Also included this month: a memoir co-written by an award-winning British war correspondent and his son Henry who suffers from schizophrenia (Henry’s demons : living with schizophrenia, a father and son’s story), as well as a book of advice on options, treatments and aftereffects from prostate cancer survivors. Have a browse.

The emperor of all maladies : a biography of cancer / Siddhartha Mukherjee.
“Apparently researching, treating, and teaching about cancer isn’t enough of a challenge for Columbia University cancer specialist Mukherjee. He was also moved to write a biography of a disease whose name, for millennia, could not be uttered. The eminently readable result is a weighty tale of an enigma that has remained outside the grasp of both the people who endeavored to know it and those who would prefer never to have become acquainted with it. An unauthorized biography told through the voices of people who have lived, toiled, and, yes, died under cancer’s inexorable watch.” (Booklist)

Good girls don’t get fat : how weight obsession is screwing up our girls and what we can do to help them thrive despite it / Robyn J.A. Silverman with Dina Santorelli.
“Dr. Silverman delivers a thoughtful and empowering book on helping young girls overcome society’s pervasive negative messages about weight obsession and body image to become healthy, well-adjusted young women.” (Syndetics summary)

The tennis partner / Abraham Verghese.
“When Abraham Verghese, a physician whose marriage is unraveling, relocates to El Paso, Texas, he hopes to make a fresh start as a staff member at the county hospital. There he meets David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addiction, and the two men begin a tennis ritual that allows them to shed their inhibitions and find security in the sport they love and with each other. This friendship between doctor and intern grows increasingly rich and complex, more intimate than two men usually allow. And just when it seems nothing more can go wrong, the dark beast from David’s past emerges once again. As David spirals out of control, almost everything Verghese has come to trust and believe in is threatened. Compassionate and moving, this is an illuminating story of how men live, and how they survive.” (Drawn from Publisher’s description)

Wide awake : what I learned about sleep from doctors, drug companies, dream experts, and a reindeer herder in the Arctic circle / Patricia Morrisroe.
“Journalist and biographer Morrissoe has suffered from insomnia all her life. Here, she takes us on her odyssey in search of sleep, trying everything from drugs to hypnosis to meditation. Like Elizabeth Gilbert’s recent Committed, this book manages the rare feat in an “issue” memoir of successfully integrating the history of a topic with the author’s personal story. Informative, accomplished, and occasionally hilarious. Readalikes: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Committed and Kay Redfield Jamison’s An Unquiet Mind.-Lauren Gilbert (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC” (Library Journal)

Your voice in my head / Emma Forrest.
“Emma Forrest, a British journalist, was just twenty-two and living the fast life in New York City when she realized that her quirks had gone beyond eccentricity. In a cycle of loneliness, damaging relationships, and destructive behavior, she found herself in the chair of a slim, balding, and effortlessly optimistic psychiatrist — a man whose wisdom and humanity would wrench her from the dangerous tide after she tried to end her life. She was on the brink of drowning, but she was still working, still exploring, still writing, and she had also fallen deeply in love. One day, when Emma called to make an appointment with her psychiatrist, she found no one there. He had died, shockingly, at the age of fifty-three, leaving behind a young family. Reeling from the premature death of a man who had become her anchor after she turned up on his doorstep, she was adrift. And when her all-consuming romantic relationship also fell apart, Emma was forced to cling to the page for survival and regain her footing on her own terms. A modern-day fairy tale, Your Voice in My Head is a stunning memoir, clear-eyed and shot through with wit. In her unique voice, Emma Forrest explores the highs and lows of love and the heartbreak of loss.” (Amazon)

Henry’s demons : living with schizophrenia, a father and son’s story / Patrick Cockburn and Henry Cockburn.
“An award-winning British war correspondent and his artist son, Henry – diagnosed with schizophrenia at 20 – have composed a gripping drama of family life in a maelstrom. They bring home the rigors of major mental illness; the strangeness and suffering; the absurd thinking, feeling, and acting so close to the edge of normal; a magnification of our own wayward, crazy thoughts. Patrick shares what he learned as a caring, smart, articulate layperson doing what he could for his son. This is a kind of war-and-peace story, with internal and external turmoil, hope, sabotage, and surprise. Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC” (Library Journal)

Prostate cancer survivors speak their minds : advice on options, treatments, and aftereffects / Arthur L. Burnett II, and Norman S. Morris.
“If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you need to know the medical facts about treatment options, side effects, and outcomes. You also need practical advice and moral support from those who have been there. Prostate Cancer Survivors Speak Their Minds combines expert medical guidance from one of the world’s leading authorities on prostate cancer with personal stories of men who have battled and defeated prostate cancer. Survivors tell you what you need to know about:Coming to terms with your diagnosis and preparing to fight the diseaseThe special risks prostate cancer poses to African American menRenewing your sex life as you recover from the diseaseDr. Arthur L. Burnett’s open and honest comments put each survivor’s story in a meaningful medical context and give you the knowledge, as well as the courage, you’ll need to make the right decisions and win your battle against prostate cancer.” (Global Books in Print)

Living with Parkinson’s / Gabriella Rogers.
Journalist Gabriella Rogers presents readers with an insightful guide into Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative brain disorder affecting approximately 6.3 million people world-wide. Living with Parkinson’s is an excellent guide for those suffering from the disease and those caring for people afflicted with it.

At this time of the year overeating is almost compulsory but for some it becomes a major health issue. Have a look at these books to get help and advice.
According to author Linda Bacon dieting is the worse way to lose weight. Her book Health at every size: the surprising truth about your weight is not a diet book but encourages people to tune into the body’s needs and find food as a pleasure and not an enemy. Her programme has been published in scientific journals and discusses why thin is seen as healthy where the reality can be the complete opposite. 

 Binge eating affects 3.5 % of women and 2 % of men in the United States. Considered a psychological disorder Cynthia Bulik’s book Crave: why you binge eat and how to stop describes the psychology of this disorder. Learning good habits along with physical activity is part of the overall success.

On a more energetic note Zumba: ditch the work-out: join the party: the Zumba weight loss programme combines exercise with Latin beats and is great fun. The book and DVD features a complete workout to tone up and lose weight. Start shaking those hips!!

Enjoy other Christmas reading including the original human diet, yoga, vegetarianism and improving brain performance in this month’s Health Recent Picks.