I listened to a podcast where the author, Andrea was being interviewed. I found her knowledge about anxiety interesting. I started this book at least I listened to a podcast where the author, Andrea was being interviewed. I found her knowledge about anxiety interesting. I started this book at least a year ago, but I got bogged down in the section where she details the different types of medications that have been developed for anxiety starting with the 1950's. I decided to power through and finished it today. The end of the book is much more practical and based on her own life experience.
Awareness about mental illness has come a long way but it's still a very complex problem and carries a lot of stigma. And...the resources to pour into a healthy lifestyle while grappling with mental illness. Petersen admits that she has a doctor who is very accessible to her...since the doctor doesn't take insurance plans. With that said, with or without resources, the plan that is developed to manage your anxiety is unique to each individual...and I appreciate Petersen's honesty about her struggles. ...more
My 2016 reading resolution is to read more non-fiction. My friend recommended this book to me in December. I was "forced" to finish it by Tuesday sincMy 2016 reading resolution is to read more non-fiction. My friend recommended this book to me in December. I was "forced" to finish it by Tuesday since it's due back at the library. A short and small book but powerful. It feels like everyone should read this because it has to do with one doctor's findings and research about end of life. Gawande mixed research and personal vignettes which helped the book to keep my interest. Although at times, the book could be intense and disheartening, however, Gawande is able to describe some of the hard choices that people have with terminal illness and just the fact that they are again. He offered a framework how people can make choices at their end of life and also provided many personal examples: most significantly, his own father. The book is written as historical reference and stories. The writing is clear but the subject made me squeamish at times. Towards the end, Gawande writes about the ways in which most doctors share the "bad news" with some patients: informative, paternalistic and interpretative (also called shared decision making). It was fascinating to view the type of information we receive from doctors through this lens. It was also very interesting to find out that health insurance companies that offered both hospice and regular care were able to reduce emergency hospital visits because patients had support to help them to manage their home care. Again a very well written book by a compassionate surgeon. Highly recommended....more
I am not sure how you rate a food/health/cook book. I have come full circle with Bittman. He was one of the first cookbook authors I became familiar wI am not sure how you rate a food/health/cook book. I have come full circle with Bittman. He was one of the first cookbook authors I became familiar with around 20 years ago. About 5 years ago, I became more interested in local food because of reading Kingsolver's book, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle." Then, of course, Pollan. Need I say more? I think that Bittman's book fits nicely into the food movement and it helps that he is a skeptic. He describes his "sane way of eating" which is vegan until 6 pm. After 6 pm, anything goes. He spends time detailing the food industry with the usual disdain, and his own journey with changing his eating habits. To sum it up, he writes a health book that says, "eat more plant-based foods" for your health. He also points out that as consumers, we can affect the food industry by opting out of eating an excessive amount of meat. I am trying out Bittman's diet this month, and I am surprised how easy it is to eat vegetables (once you put your mind to it). I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to eat healthier. I did wish as Bittman does that there was a better word than "foodie" out there to describe the pursuit of eating locally and avoiding processed foods. Let me know if know of one. ...more
When I finished the book, I thought of Gone with the Wind. It has about 5 main characters whose actions and relationships define the entire book. ThesWhen I finished the book, I thought of Gone with the Wind. It has about 5 main characters whose actions and relationships define the entire book. These characters are taken through 30 years in Ethopia, India and New York within the context of the medical field and profession. The brushstrokes were big and even though there was an attempted coup in Ethopia, this was a mere backdrop to the stories of the characters in the book. It reminded me of Scarlett O'Hara with backdrop of the Civil War. Since I love historical fiction, I wished that the history was integrated more in the text rather than a convenient backdrop. With that said, I enjoyed the book and the characters. I think Verghese was able to portray the complicated familial relationships that arouse from the workers at Missing Hospital in Ethopia. Specifically, the author was able to describe personality types that are similar to people who have Asperger's very well. ...more
This was a short and good book that I didn't quite finish because I got it from the library and the CD wasn't with the book. The end of the book was bThis was a short and good book that I didn't quite finish because I got it from the library and the CD wasn't with the book. The end of the book was basically how to use the enclosed CD. Sarma makes a good point that most people need to "turn off" their brains in order for their brains and souls to recharge. It motivated me to check out some guided meditations for my MP3 player. Of course, now to actually do it more than 2 times!...more
My husband read this book about 3 years ago about the same time that I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. We have been slowly changMy husband read this book about 3 years ago about the same time that I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. We have been slowly changing the way we eat based on reading these books. I haven't made cheese yet, but we do belong to a meat CSA where we buy meat raised on local farms who aren't fed corn. I felt that I wanted to read this book because I knew it detailed the industrial food chain. Pollan is an excellent writer, and he has a great way to tie in humor in his writing in an understated way. I wasn't laughing outloud, but I was giggling inside.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who eats in America today. Pollan definitely highlights how distant we are from the food manufacturing process. He visits Polyface farms and describes how they are able to maintain a small farm and have a strong ecosystem because of how they cycle animals through the land by using portable, solar electric fencing. Reading about Polyface was my favorite part. Hunting for mushrooms slowed down my reading speed to a trickle! And finally, "more isn't better."...more
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