Meditation for Optimum Health: How to Use Mindfulness and Breathing to Heal Your Body and Refresh Your Mind

Book Description

An easy-to-learn meditation guide for achieving optimum mind/body health.

The same ability that helps ordinary people achieve extraordinary success is also the secret to optimizing your lifespan, letting go of stress, and even enhancing your body's self-healing powers. In Meditation for Optimum Health, you will join best-selling authors Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn for a practical introduction that makes it simple to enjoy the life-changing benefits of meditation - even if you've never tried it before.

How does meditation work? Can anybody do it? What do I need to get started? Is it religious? Does it have the power to heal? In alternating sessions, Dr. Weil and Dr Kabat-Zinn give you straight answers to the most common questions about meditation, and dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding this time-honored practice. By learning to cultivate the power of your attention through daily practice, you can harness the full potential of your mind, and use it to enrich every dimension of your life. You will learn how meditation can actually unify your mind and body's many related functions - and help you start enjoying the best health of your life. Complete with real-life examples, and a proven program of step-by-step meditations to get you started, here is the perfect introduction to the oldest and most effective system for feeling better, naturally.

Customer Reviews:

helping hand.......2007-06-08

this is a great cd. you just listen to it and follow the instructions and can actually learn to meditate. great

breathless.......2007-04-12

This CD was recommended to me and I have heard good things about Dr. Weil, but I have to say the CD's were a let down. The lecture was too long and i thought it would have been better to simply be text. The actual breathing exercises were not that inspiring and quite short. Although it was instructional to go through the breathing exercises along with the CD it would have been better if that part was expanded.

Enjoyable and highly usable.......2006-02-24

Terrific 2 CD set - enjoyable to listen to, highly informative, short and sweet. You are on your way to using the techniques immediately. Nice addition to my "arsenal" of self-healing techniques.

Great for Beginners.......2005-11-06

I am just a beginner at Meditation, and I am trying to learn this for my health.
I think this is a good CD to listen to if you are just starting out. I got some good ideas from this recording, and I am sure I will be able to use what they taught.

Good introduction to meditation.......2005-03-29

This is a solid introduction to the practice of meditation. The first disc features Weil and Kabat-Zinn giving background information about meditation. The second disc features guided meditations. Like any spiritual practice, the more information an individual gets, the better he or she becomes at that practice. This set of discs is a good starting point that will get a person going into meditation immediately, which might lead the listener to pursue additional materials about spirituality.

A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford

Average customer rating:

A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Geral R. Ford
He Was The Real Deal
Stumbling Through History
How a King became a Ford and a non-elected President
Great Book

A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford
Gerald R. Ford
Manufacturer: Harper & Row / Reader's Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0060112972

Customer Reviews:

A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Geral R. Ford.......2007-06-27

Having lived through the turbolent sixties and the Watergate era, I was able to more fully appreciate what a great leader Gerald Ford was. He was not a flashy person, but he was steady and calm. He restored a sense of calmness and reliability to a hurting nation.

He Was The Real Deal.......2006-12-31

You know you are doing well when the nutty Right and the kookie Left disdain you. President Ford not only chronicles his date with destiny as the 38th President, but gives in depth information about his time as Commander-in-Chief. In my opinion, that time was all too short.

Had he been elected to a second term he could have completed the excellent work he started. I think he knew that the pardon of President Nixon would torpedo his chances at election in 1976, but he did what was best for the nation-placing the good of the country above his own aspirations. How rare!

Now, we mourn the loss of this great man. And I can honestly say that there was never a vote I cast that I felt better about than the vote I cast for President Ford. He had courage, integrity, fortitude, and vision. He knew how to run this country when it was very close to being torn apart. Now we seem to thrive on seeing how divided, partisan, and nasty politics can be.

Men like Gerald Ford are so rare as individuals, and as politicians, almost unheard of. There will never be another like him. Thank you, President Ford for sharing so much of yourself with us. You truly were the "real deal."

Stumbling Through History.......2006-11-08

Perhaps in the first time in the publishing industry, a former president had to refund a portion of the advance for his memoirs due to its falling short of expectations of the publisher. That is all that needs to be said about A Time To Heal.

Gerald R. Ford stumbled into the presidency in the same way comic Chevy Chase panned him in skits on SNL. Embattled Pres. Richard Nixon needed a mark to make sure he could shuffle out of the Oval Office without the threat of being prosecuted for crimes & misdemeanors, and Ford was the man.

The book is short on detailed facts concerning the issue of the pardon and staggers through the key points of the times - the fall of Saigon and the 1976 Republican primary that basically undid his presidency - like a running back on a soggy field and wearing the wrong cleats for proper traction.

Ford should have had the courage to take a pen in hand and truly write a major piece on the tumolt that defined his brief presidency. The book publisher certainly expected more. But I guess that sketches short on facts are what should have been expected from an individual who truly defined the term, "Beltway Insider."

How a King became a Ford and a non-elected President.......2005-01-28

I have a pet theory that the first vote you cast for the office of President of the United States is key to how you will vote for the rest of your life. In other words, every vote is an extension of or a reaction to that original vote. I case my first vote in 1976 for Gerald R. Ford and the key factor was that here was a man who had not run for president. Selected by Richard Nixon and the Congress of the United States to replaced Spiro Agnew as Vice President, Ford assumed the presidency when Nixon resigned because of the Watergate cover up. Consequently, there has always been part of me that has wanted to disqualify everybody who wants to be president. Granted, it makes it impossible to vote for anybody, but I still think on some level that if you want to be president you should not be allowed to hold the office (However, this is not as far-fetched as it sounds: the current occupant of the White House did not want to be president, but rather Commissioner of Baseball).

Gerald Rudolph Ford, the 38th President of the United States, was actually born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., but his parents separated two weeks after his birth and when his mother married Gerald R. Ford, a paint salesman in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they changed the boy's name and we avoided having a King become President. Ford tells the story of his life in simple and rather unembellished terms. When he was 17 he had a chance meeting with his biological father apparently devoid of sentiment or significance. How he relates the incident is representative of the way that Ford presents his life's story, with restraint and without tooting his own horn. The things for which he has been honored throughout his life, from being an All-American football player at the University of Michigan to being honored by President Jimmy Carter in his inaugural address for all he had done to heal the nation in the wake of Watergate, are taken in stride. Consequently, "A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford" is as much a testament to the man's character as it is a memoir of his life in and out of politics.

Ford covers the major episodes of his life, growing up in Michigan, being an Eagle Scout, playing at Michigan and turning down offers to play professional football to attend Yale Law School instead. During World War II Ford served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Monterey, a light aircraft carrier. After the war he practiced law and then won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948. It was during that campaign that he married Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren. Ford was re-elected to Congress a dozen times, always getting over 60% of the vote. Rejecting opportunities to run for the Senate or the Michigan governorship, Ford's ambition was to become Speaker of the House. He described himself as "a moderate in domestic affairs, an internationalist in foreign affairs, and a conservative in fiscal policy," and was considered a "reform" Republican.

What becomes interesting in looking at Ford's career in Congress is to see the reputation he established with his colleagues as House Minority leader, so that when the scandal plagued Nixon Administration needed someone who was totally clean to become Vice-President, there was no opposition to Ford. I think the biggest mistake in the entire run of "The West Wing" was the notion that the Congress would have not only confirmed but pushed somebody like Bob Russell for Vice President. In selecting Ford to replace Agnew, and then selecting Nelson Rockerfeller to in turn replace Ford, Congress made sure the person a heart beat away from the presidency was qualified, even given the political complications. But even such creative fiction only serves to emphasize the respect his colleagues had for Ford.

In terms of the Ford Presidency this autobiography does focus on the key episodes from the pardon of Nixon (I always thought it was the right thing to do) and the capture of the U.S.S. Mayaguez to the two assassination attempts, his "Whip Inflation Now" policy and the 1976 presidential campaign. After holding off a strong challenge from Ronald Reagan in the Republican primaries, Ford and his running mate Senator Bob Dole succeeded in narrowing the gap on Jimmy Carter, but lost in a close election. One of the key moments in the debates was when Ford was castigated for suggesting that the Poles did not think they were under Soviet domination. Ironically, it was in Poland that the first major cracks in the Communist bloc took place and in retrospect Ford was apparently more right than anybody at the time ever guessed.

Those looking for major revelations and profound insights will not find them here. This is a relatively simple man, laying out the public record more out of a sense of obligation, because history demands such things, than out of a need to justify what he has done (cf. Johnson, Nixon, Clinton). While trying to be open about his personal life, he clearly remains a private man. If you remember how he spoke, both in his speeches and in his conversations, you can "hear" Ford's voice as you read this book. So while this is not the most revealing or insightful of presidential autobiographies, it does provide Ford's side of the story, and you will have the sense that it is one of the most honest. Final Note: Inside the front cover of my first edition copy of "A Time to Heal" I still have the folded up sample ballot for the 1976 general election that I voted on in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Great Book.......2004-04-03

The book is great if you want to know more about Gerald Ford. Ford tells it like it is. He does not let his ego stand in the way of tell his side of the story. It a down to earth, honest book about the same type of man. Too bad that we do not have more people in Congress like Gerald Ford instead of people who are only worried about getting reelected to office.

House Calls: How We Can All Heal the World One Visit at a Time

Average customer rating:

Dr. Adams brings back the personal touch we deserve and need
Holistic Humor for Health and Healing
Changing the World by changing yourself
Dr. Adams is inspiring
Doesn't work well to change my feelings.

House Calls: How We Can All Heal the World One Visit at a Time
Patch Adams
Manufacturer: Robert D. Reed Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1885003188

Customer Reviews:

Dr. Adams brings back the personal touch we deserve and need.......2006-12-17

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (12/06)

Medicine became depersonalized when it became a business that no longer made house calls. The shift from a service oriented, patient first, one on one house call to the patient going to the doctor, took out a precious part of the healing process. In its place is an institutional concept where the patient comes second to business. "I think that the loss of the house call has been the biggest blow to the art of medicine in this century. Not only has the patient lost this precious attention, but the physician has not found a replacement for the lost intimacy."

"Extensive studies have found that, over long periods of time, nourishing elements--such as love, humor, wonder, curiosity, passion, forgiveness, giving, sharing, hope, enthusiasm, and joy--stimulate the immune system. They help our bodies fight infection, stimulate natural killer cells that fight cancer, and affect the general way we care about and for ourselves and others." Anger, resentment, guilt, loneliness, fear and boredom have the opposite affect. It is not the negative emotions that cause the problems. It is when we hold on to those emotions for long periods of time. "We must express each emotion as it comes up, but should not nurture or prolong the emotions that may hurt us."

Dr. Adams describes this book as a "visitor's kit." He's right that's just what this is. He realizes that the "kit" can and should be used for more than hospital visits; he suggests prisons, nursing homes or "any place people may be suffering and wishing they were elsewhere."

Among the things Dr. Adams discusses are faith, love, humor, curiosity and hope. The information presented in this book has meant much to me. I spend much time visiting in nursing homes. When I first began to make these visits I found it very difficult, I didn't know what to say or how to act. Soon I began to see not a patient but a person. I came to realize that they were people that needed a friendly touch, someone to address them by name and someone to smile at them. My visits are no longer something I dread. The residents and I truly enjoy visiting together.

"House Calls" is a wonderful book and Dr. Adams is a talented writer as well as doctor. It is written in an easy to understand manner and does not talk down to laymen, in fact it is pleasant reading. The cartoons by Jerry Van Amerongen left me laughing and add much to the text. The print is a good size and easy to read. It is with great pleasure that I highly recommend this book to everyone, physicians, nurses, and all humans. Dr. Adams' book should be required reading to all those in the health care industry. I'm glad I read this book I will be much more prepared by having my "visitor's kit."

Holistic Humor for Health and Healing .......2006-12-06

In this wacky book, Patch Adams joins forces with Jerry Van Amerongen to give the reader a practical guide in introducing laughter into the healing process. The book is divided into three sections. The first section is filled with thoughts on being well. Dr. Adams provides instruction on being healthy and then provides some action steps to assimilate faith, humor, curiosity, relaxation, passion, exercise, nutrition, friendship, service, and other positive values into your daily life. These guidelines are cleverly illustrated by Jerry Van Amerongen with one panel cartoons that bring home the message of the suggestion and motivate the reader to take action. Amerongen is the creator of the Ballard Street syndicated cartoon strip.
Section two follows the same format but offers suggestions on what the reader can do to make a visit in the hospital, to shut-ins, or someone in the community, beneficial and enjoyable for both parties. These steps are thoughtful, often neglected and easy to carry out. Again the impact of the action steps are enhanced and impacted through the humor of Jerry's cartoon illustrations.
Suggestions are also offered on how to be a good hospital patient, from gaining understanding by asking questions regarding your treatment, careful listening to instructions, and reflection on your life and what you have done and want to accomplish in the future. Van Amerongen's humor helps the readers accept the situation and are then motivated to make the most of their circumstances.
The third section deals with special concerns when visiting, children, teenagers, the elderly, mentally ill, disabled, and dying patients. These helpful suggestions make the impact of your visit pleasurable for the patient, the caregivers, and yourself. The cartoons help the reader visualize the words of the text.
Adams has also provided a very comprehensive bibliography entitled "A Booklover's Search for Understanding and Ideas."
Combining Patch Adams' philosophy of laughter in healing with Jerry Van Amerongen's humor was a stroke of brilliance. The combination has made this book an enjoyable read, and produced in this reader, many smiles, some chuckles, and hearty laughs. It also gave me a new sensitivity to the importance of "healing the world one visit at a time."

Changing the World by changing yourself.......2004-07-23

This book is a practical guide on bringing the Gesundheit! vision into your own community. An easy enjoyable read, it offers suggestions on how to begin a life of joyful service by visiting folks in your own community. It offers an immensely practical love strategy. You can change your world!

Dr. Adams is inspiring.......2004-02-13

People perceive barriers of all types. It is not uncommon to hear, "I don't have the time", "I don't have the money", and "I don't know how". Take the most basic context of Dr. Adams which is to help another person. Help can be listening, holding a hand, or laughing with someone. It doesn't mean one has to spend a great deal of time or money. Turn off the television and help your neighbor weed her flower bed. Take an hour away from having your artificial nails manicured and volunteer somewhere. I enjoy reading his inspired words and can only hope his visions become reality during my lifetime.

Doesn't work well to change my feelings........2000-03-19

From my experience, these kind of healing books don't work well to change my feelings and attitudes. They do have temporary effects, but do not last long. This book also was not the execption. There are many "Things To Do" which I should do right now to change my life. But I don't and can't do these "Things". Always when I read such kind of books, I am firm about trying to do these "Things". But I don't take a whim for reading these kind of books again and thus lose an opportunity to do good "Things" entirely. I think volunteering for building GESUNDHEIT INSTITUTE in WEST VIRGINIA and meeting PATCH ADAMS is much more effective than reading this book.

A Time to Heal (Star Trek, the Next Generation)

Average customer rating:

David Mack ST books are a must read.
Book Two of David Mack's triumpant dulogy
star trek-gate
The Good, the Bad and the Very Ugly
One of the most violent books is Trek history

A Time to Heal (Star Trek, the Next Generation)
David Mack
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743491785

Book Description

On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise ^™ has never been told.

UNTIL NOW.

A cataclysmic war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has been miraculously averted, and a new government is finally in place on the planet Tezwa. But deadly secrets still threaten the fragile peace accord.

Rebels still loyal to the old Tezwa regime have captured Commander Riker and are willing to kill to achieve their goals...the Orion Syndicate is interfering in the rebuilding -- and may also be involved in much more than that. But the most devastating revelation of all threatens the very foundations of the Federation itself -- leaving Captain Picard to possibly face the very conflict that he labored so hard to prevent....

Customer Reviews:

David Mack ST books are a must read........2007-09-01

This book is terrific, and somewhat unlike most ST books. I think David Mack really does justice to the Star Trek thought process, and he spins another great tale here.

If you haven't read the entire series in 2007, I would suggest ordering the entire series, or at least the next three books at a time if you like this series. It seems the books are getting somewhat rare, and it takes a month to get the middle of this series. If you want to read one after the other, I would suggest biting the bullet here and ordering at least the first seven (Be Born, Die, Sew, Harvest, Love, Hate, Kill)books so that you can read right into this one. I had to wait for the middle books, that I could only find on Amazon, for about a month, and I was really watching my mailbox after reading the first three. Great series of books for the ST TNG fan.

Book Two of David Mack's triumpant dulogy.......2006-08-04

Last month, in my review of the seventh book of this mini-series, I noted that "A Time to Kill" was my favorite read this year. While "A Time to Kill" was a slightly stronger book in some ways than "A Time to Heal", I must recant my previous statement. "A Time to Heal" now stands out as my favorite Star Trek novel of the year.

The story picks up on the planet Tezwa where Starfleet has taken on the role of peacekeeper and rebuilder, akin to America's role in Afghanistan after the first wave of the 'War on Terror' and equally similar to the current occupation of Iraq.

Thousands of Starfleet security, engineering, and medical officers have converged upon Tezwa to render aid to the struggling government, led by Prime Minister Bilok, who has succeeded the fleeing ex-prime minister, Kinchawn - now an underground warlord with desires of returning to his former glory.

The Federation is caught up in the middle of the mess, however, far beyond aid and assistance, and to detail what I mean would result in a spoil of both "Kill" and "Heal" as well as the forthcoming conclusion to the series.

Intrigue, plotting, murder, sex, the Orion Syndicate - all these make effective contributions to the storyline and make the read a very enjoyable, if not downright frightening, journey to the center of the Federation.

The book scores only marginally lower on a 'technical' standpoint than it's predecessor because it took several chapters to get into the slightly varied storytelling style that David Mack adopted for this book. Once one gets involved, it's as gripping as "Kill" and the ending will blow your socks off!

One recommendation, when you get to the beginning of Chapter 28, stop, get a cold drink (or warm one if you are reading from the Southern Hemisphere) and then get cozy, and do NOT stop reading. The final chapters of this novel are best experienced as one complete unit, as if they were a single chapter. The discoveries you will find in these chapters are chilling, and I think that they loose some of their effect if not read quickly and in immediate succession.

One of the difficult things about reviewing this novel is the level of intricate detail that David Mack put into this novel. It is almost impossible to properly review the book without spoiling half of the content, but please believe me, it's not for a lack of effort on the part of the author. The story is tight. VERY tight. There are very few 'trivial' details that don't directly impact the storyline. These books ("Kill" and "Heal") are intense. "A Time to Heal" has really set off a lot of alarms in my mind. Having lived through September 11th and the aftermath (Afghanistan, Iraq, ongoing threat of terrorisim) I have to admit that this book is troubling and challenging. The Federation we know... well, the Feds don't fare so well. After facing the Dominion, the Klingons, and so many other enemies that have sought to do harm to the Federation, suddenly we find that it is not the well organized, imposing, external threat that will take you down. It's the small, unassuming, at times overlooked or underestimated threat that will knock one down all the time.

While I don't attribute any political motivation to Mr. Mack, there were moments in reading this novel when I thought that someone in the White House should have been reading the book... and learning from it.

Do you suppose that 'Dubyah' is a Star Trek fan?

As noted earlier, "A Time to Heal" sets things up perfectly for Keith R.A. DeCandido's final volume "A Time for War, A Time for Peace" due next month.

star trek-gate.......2005-11-13

Ive read a lot of the star trek books and have enjoyed the series
very much.i did not enjoy this book at all.it was everything i could do to get through it.it just drudged along.im not even sure if im even going to read the last book in the series.i know the series used storylines dealing with current events a lot,but i thought this was a bit much.when the series or even books did it,for the most part,it was entertaining.this wasnt at all.star trek was never in my opinion political.i enjoyed the first 6 books in this series.i wouldnt recommend this one to anyone.

The Good, the Bad and the Very Ugly.......2005-08-18

A Time to Heal is probably one of the darkest Trek novels I've ever read. The book is a decent read with a labyrinth political maze of shifting alliances. However at times, the twisting tale of murder and conspiracy can frankly overwhelm at times and can become flat-out depressing with its bleak look at politics.

Going purely on entertainment level (which is a big chunk of how I rate anything), A Time to Heal doesn't match its predecessor A Time to Kill in terms of suspense generated by the Clancy-esque tactics and political maneuvering. The book is an even more somber tome than the previous novel. David Mack does a pretty good job of keeping track of all the different threads and helps bring clarity to the different parties all looking after their best interests. As mentioned before, goals shift around, so one minute the new Tezwan government is helping Picard and company and the next working to subvert them, even though what they're doing is for the greater good.

Character development that's been evolving since A Time to be Born continues to good effect in the book as well. Most notable actually is Geordi LaForge, whose shaken faith in Starfleet and the Federation way back in the first book helps give rise to his suspicions about what's going on with the orders from Starfleet Operations. The great thing is that it feels completely natural within this mini-series. I was trying to think about the main characters, but there really isn't any one character that stands out. Even Picard is mostly in the background. If anything, I'd say that the characters that get the most attention are Kell Perim and Jim Peart. Perim's arch in these two books seems to be the first casualty of Nemesis as since she didn't appear in the film, a reason had to be found for her not being there. Given the body count in this book, I guess I'm glad she didn't end up another corpse, but I also felt like I as a reader had missed something in the development of their relationship where she'd be suddenly willing to just walk away from Starfleet. The character of Doctor Hughes felt like too much of a plot device in that he seems to show up at just the right time during Dr. Crusher's indecisiveness about leaving to finally get her heading in one direction.

With the situation raveling so completely out of control in the final pages of the book, I started to wonder how exactly it was going to be wrapped up convincingly. It mostly succeeds, but also felt a bit over the top. It felt like suddenly everyone was gunning for our heroes and at the same time. As dour as it might have been, perhaps seeing more civilians caught in the crossfire might have helped make it more believable.

There's been a lot of talk about what happens in the final pages of this novel regarding people in high places. Suffice it to say, it strains credibility beyond the breaking point and makes absolutely no sense in the long run. All it really does is lower elements of the Federation to that of the mafia and it's sickening that this would even be considered. I've stewed on what happened for awhile now and I just can't see any upside to doing it. In the way it's done, it felt like it was going for shock value (because it's the Federation doing it) and thus felt shallow and cheap. I often felt the book was trying to rub the reader's face in a thinly veiled take on current events, but I get enough of that garbage where I work. I really don't want that in my recreational reading. Modern cynicism seems to have infected Trek and say that since we live in such a jaded time, then the Trek universe should be just as bereft of hope. It's damn unimaginative.

It also creates a contradiction in how Section 31 operates. If they're willing to do something this stupid and out in the open, then why didn't they just destroy Tezwa? The level of how vile Section 31 works changes from scene to scene and book to book. That there's a group out there willing to do whatever it takes, it robs the main characters of ever really having to make those hard choices. I thought the idea used to be that the Federation was such a great organization that there was no need for this sort of thing. This attempt to really subvert the idea of the Federation being a utopia is going over the top. I suppose no one in the book line opposes this happening, but while some will cry "it's fiction!" when doing what they please, I can't help but feel a lot has been snubbed because they just can't come up with anything better. Take it or leave it for what it's worth.

One of the most violent books is Trek history.......2005-03-13

One of the common things about the books in Star Trek's A Time to... series is that the two books by the same author are just one continuing story. There's a cliffhanger at the end of the first book and then the second one goes on from there. While David Mack's A Time to Heal is the same in this respect, it is much different in tone and substance from it's predecessor, A Time to Kill. The first book had very short chapters and moved at a frenetic pace. The political intrigue was there, but it was mixed in with six separate special operations missions that filled the book with the tension of one thing going wrong making the whole thing fall to pieces. A Time to Heal, instead, is much more introspective. There is still a lot of violence (and the infamous David Mack body count), but the passages are much longer, the violence much more personal, and the deaths a lot more meaningful. This is another outstanding book.

The planet Tezwa is under Federation occupation, as it was the only way to keep the secret that the Federation government had given advanced weapons to its despotic leader, Kinchawn, hidden. Kinchawn and his government escaped, however, and captured Commander Riker in the process. They head an insurgency of terror that kills many Starfleet officers as well as natives of the planet in bombings and other terror attacks. Captain Picard and the Enterprise head a fleet of Starfleet vessels to help the new Tezwan government maintain control, as well as to hunt Kinchawn down. Unbeknownst to them, many of their clean-up orders are designed to remove all evidence of the government's secrets. As things begin to spiral out of control on Tezwa, more and more Starfleet officers are killed, but Picard's crew also begin uncovering what really happened. If they are allowed to continue, a government could fall. Or is that exactly what Section 31, the infamous secret intelligence organization, wants?

I'll get the obvious out of the way first. Yes, this book reads like a novel about the war in Iraq, and if you want to see it as a political novel, you're more than welcome to. Personally, I think there's enough ambiguity in the book that it's not clear that Mack is using it to make a political statement. Personally, I choose to read it as a novel set in a situation similar, but not exactly the same. Mack has obviously used current events as a springboard to an interesting story, and that's all I'm interested in.

And the story *is* interesting. In many of my reviews of this series, I have stated how wonderful it is that we are getting to know various other crewmembers of the Enterprise in some detail. This comes to a head in A Time to Heal, as many of these people we have come to know die pretty tragically in this book. Some do survive, so you are still able to be surprised when a death finally happens. Mack's ability to make each death felt by the reader is unmatched. These are not just faceless characters, given a character trait or two for identification, ready to be bumped off at a moment's notice. The carnage really does begin to affect you. While the book is extremely interesting, this causes it to be a little depressing and hard to get through as well.

In fact, that's probably the major strike against the book. It gets very oppressive very quickly and then stays that way for long passages. The death and destruction is vividly told, but it's also constant. Thus, it may not fit what you expect a Star Trek novel to be and you may not enjoy it. If you skip it, however, you will be missing one of the pivotal books in the whole Star Trek series, as events in this novel lead into both the next book (A Time for War, A Time for Peace) and the continuation of both Riker's story as captain of the Titan (Taking Wing) and the Enterprise's story (A Death in Winter). Just be ready for a little grimness before all of this.

The characterization in A Time to Heal is much the same as in the previous book. Beverly Crusher gets a lot more characterization as she not only starts leaning toward accepting the position at Starfleet Medical, but finds a love interest that may spur Picard into finally making a move on her after all these years of guilt-ridden friendship. The scene where Picard comes to her quarters for breakfast and discovers crumpled sheets is wonderful. Riker gets to act all stoic as he's held prisoner for most of the book, and Troi gets some counseling of her own, which isn't quite as interesting. LaForge and Data are mostly characterized through their attempts to track down what's really happening, though Data gets a lot of development as the acting first officer in Riker's absence. In fact, that may be the best part of the book, as we get to see him in action, running constant battle drills because of the situation that they're in. It's a vivid contrast to Riker's command style, and it's a major impetus for Riker when he finally returns.

The only character who suffered much was actually Picard, as he's not really prominent in the book. He seems to be very "hands-off" during the occupation and he doesn't seem very effective. Most of the concentration in the book is on everybody else, so that's not necessarily a bad thing. He just doesn't seem to be as "in charge" as he usually does, which doesn't seem like him. He really comes into his own during the conversation with the admirals, near the end of the book. He steers them around to his way of thinking very nicely.

All in all, A Time to Heal is a wonderful book that's just hard to get through at times. The continuing violence gets a bit monotonous after a while, but the attempts by the government to cover up what's really going on do help to break that up a little. What we're left with is a great book that leads into the final book in the series. If you're thinking of continuing the Next Generation saga, then this book is definitely important. Feel free to read whatever politics you want into it as well.

David Roy

Cystitis: A Time to Heal with Yoga & Accupressure, An Eight Week Exercise Program with Special Information on Interstitial Cystitis & Urethral Syndrome

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Pelvic floor
AIA:IC Highly recommends
This is a great alternative book for someone with IC!

Cystitis: A Time to Heal with Yoga & Accupressure, An Eight Week Exercise Program with Special Information on Interstitial Cystitis & Urethral Syndrome
Emmey A. Ripoll , and Dawn R. Mahowald
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Yoga | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1403388709

Customer Reviews:

Pelvic floor.......2006-04-06

I recommend seeing a physical therapist about your pelvic floor, if it is already damaged (you have IC, pelvic floor pain, pudendal neuralgia..) then you will need physical therapy treatments and doing these poses alone won't heal you. Make sure not to sit without one of those donut seats. This book can be a good start.
Do yourself a favor and google Rhonda Kotarinos.

AIA:IC Highly recommends.......2005-06-20

Cystitis: A Time to Heal With Yoga and Acupressure

By Dawn R Mahowald and Dr. Emmey A Ripoll
AuthorHouse, Inc ©1999,2002 ISBN 1-4033-8870-9

This book explains the different types of cystitis and the difference between yoga, acupressure, and acupuncture. Written in everyday speech, it is simple enough for the layperson yet thorough enough for practitioners. It gives eight weeks of exercises and poses, with tips for those with IC. Also listed are certain poses to avoid, "Yoga for a bad day", and tips on the IC diet and ideas to keep patient's flares to a minimum.

I tried some of these poses and felt more relaxed and calm throughout the day. There are simple illustrations to show you how to do the poses and where to press for the acupressure. At 165 pages it gives you plenty of options and tons of guides to help you on what path you should take to decrease your chronic pain. The author reports that 90% of their students have a decrease in their symptoms following the program. That is fabulous for us IC patients!

There is the tip to do the lessons right before bed as the yoga tends to decrease your night urinary frequency. What great news that is for us as well!. You don't need alot of space, a maximum of 3 feet by 6 feet is recommended.

There is also no equipment to buy.

The All Info About Interstitial Cystitis website (http://cystitis.allinfoabout.com) Highly recommends this book for anyone with Interstitial Cystitis as a way to manage their symptoms and chronic pain.

This is a great alternative book for someone with IC!.......2003-03-08

I have Interstitial Cystitis and I think this is a great alternative book for people with IC. Dr. Ripoll and Ms. Mahowald have a very practical, no nonsense, but kind and sensitive approach to the subject of IC and helpful exercise. At first, I was a little intimidated by the thought of doing yoga (I also have no burning desire to stand on my head or anything like that), but the yoga in this book is easy, uncomplicated, and very well laid out for someone who has been in pain for a long time with IC (14 years in my case). There are a lot of hand drawn illustrations (as opposed to some of the more colorful yoga books with photos I've seen, but never bought) which get theidea of each exercise across very well.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book for parents.......2006-03-01

Unfortunately in my profession, as a prenatal genetic counselor, we occasionally providing bad news to expecting parents. Many of those parents have express great appreciate for this book as being extremely comforting during their time of need.

beautiful book.......2003-09-14

I found this book to be an expression of love and support by parents who have had to make the hardest decision. It is filled with wonderful thoughts and memories of those who have loved and lost a child. It was a help for my husband and I who had to make the heartwrenching decision of terminating our pregnancy.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has loved and lost a child.

A must-read for all forced to make a difficult choice..............2003-06-04

I wish our geneticist would have had copies of this book ready to hand out (along with the medical information about our baby's chromosomal abnormality). It would have been a HUGE help to have read this BEFORE interrupting our pregnancy (We learned of this book the week after losing our baby). This reaffirms our choice...we (as THOUSANDS of other parents) chose the route we did out of the utmost love for our unborn son.

The book has stories shared by others who have 'walked a mile in my shoes'; however, most of them went through the L&D process (the main method at the time this book was written). It doesn't mention much about D&E (except for a short section).

If you find yourselves or someone that you love in this heart-wrenching situation, by all means read this book!!!

A wonderful, non-judgemental book.......2002-12-05

I bought this book after my husband and I lost our first and only child to anencephaly. I looked for ages to find a book which specifically addressed the emotional pain that parents who chose to terminate a fatally ill child have, and had no luck. Then I came across this book and it was a godsend. The book takes into account the very personal and gut wrenching decisions that parents must make, and talks about them in compassionate and empathetic ways. I would HIGHLY reccomend this book to any parent facing the loss of a much loved and wanted, yet fatally ill child.

A necessary book for anyone in this situation.......2000-01-09

I got this book after we made our decision, but I would recommend it to anyone who is making a prenatal decision or who is dealing with their decision. Well written, empathetic, a book any parent in this situation can relate to.

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The Reflections of an Underrated President
Fast Read
Ford offers intriguing personal insight behind politics

A Time to Heal
Gerald R. Ford
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford

ASIN: 0425046931

Customer Reviews:

The Reflections of an Underrated President.......2005-08-31

I think that this book was sorely needed to clear up a ridiculous misconception that Gerald Ford was an incompetent who was not up to being President. Instead (and I think this book resolves this nicely), Ford worked very hard to steer the nation through very turbulent waters, and I think that he did a decent job, all things considered. The man never received a national mandate. Also, he had to deal with a heavily Democratic Congress (especially after the 1974 elections) that was approaching him with the sharpest of daggers drawn. Finally, he had to make a politically difficult decision in pardoning Richard Nixon (necessary, in my view, to move the nation away from the divisive maelstrom that was Watergate).

Fast Read.......1999-07-20

This is a book you could finish in 2 or so days. It wasnt as filling as I wanted it to be, but if you're interested in The Ford presidentcy this is the place to start.

Ford offers intriguing personal insight behind politics.......1998-06-22

Gerald Ford's, A Time to Heal is an intriguing look at the man who served as Congressman, Vice President, and then President. The book allows readers th e opportunity to learn about the final days of Watergate from the man who would inherit the toughest job in the world, at that time. What makes this story so special is Ford's ability to be able to criticize not only the mistakes of those around him (Richard Nixon) but also the mistakes constituted by himself. The story is a must for those who want an in-depth background behind President Ford, the Watergate ordeal, or politics in general. In addition to learning about the history that happens during Ford's administration the reader also learns about Ford's Presidential style. That's something that no other biography or encyclope dia entry can offer. What better way to learn what Ford was like as a person than to read it in his own words? A Time to Heal is the best way for America's reading public to meet Ford and develop a keen sense about who and what it takes to be President of the United States.

Time to Heal: American Medical Education from the Turn of the Century to the Era of Managed Care

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A superb history of 20th Century American medical practice.

Time to Heal: American Medical Education from the Turn of the Century to the Era of Managed Care
Kenneth M. Ludmerer
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education & Training | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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History | Special Topics | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0195181360

Book Description

The recipient of extraordinary critical acclaim, this magisterial book provides a landmark account of American medical education in the twentieth century, concluding with a call for the reformation of a system currently handicapped by managed care and by narrow, self-centered professional interests. Kenneth M. Ludmerer describes the evolution of American medical education from 1910, when a muck-raking report on medical diploma mills spurred the reform and expansion of medical schools, to the current era of managed care, when commercial interests once more have come to the fore, compromising the training of the nation's future doctors. Ludmerer portrays the experience of learning medicine from the perspective of students, house officers, faculty, administrators, and patients, and he traces the immense impact on academic medical centers of outside factors such as World War II, the National Institutes of Health, private medical insurance, and Medicare and Medicaid. Most notably, the book explores the very real threats to medical education in the current environment of managed care, viewing these developments not as a catastrophe but as a challenge to make many long overdue changes in medical education and medical practice. Panoramic in scope, meticulously researched, brilliantly argued, and engagingly written, Time to Heal is both a stunning work of scholarship and a courageous critique of modern medical education. The definitive book on the subject, it provides an indispensable framework for making informed choices about the future of medical education and health care in America.

Customer Reviews:

A superb history of 20th Century American medical practice........2000-02-04

Time to Heal surveys the state of American medical education from the turn of the century to modern HMO times, providing a sweeping survey of American medical education in modern times and examining how American medical education evolved. From the transformation of medical schools and student learning processes to social programs which affected research, this provides an important history for any aspiring medical student.

WHEN TIME DOESN'T HEAL: HOW TO OVERCOME LOSS, GRIEF, TRAUMA AND PTSD IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS

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Everyone Should Have This Resource Available!

WHEN TIME DOESN'T HEAL: HOW TO OVERCOME LOSS, GRIEF, TRAUMA AND PTSD IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS
Dr M. L. Nichols
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1414015771

Customer Reviews:

Everyone Should Have This Resource Available!.......2005-05-05

Dr. Nichol's book is a practical guide to help you and me overcome loss, grief trauma and stress. If you know someone who is experiencing this kind of pain in his or her life, "When Time Doesn't Heal" is the answer. Dr. Nichol's shares his personal story how he overcame grief in a great time of loss in his personal life. More importantly he conveys how you too may bring fullness to your life by letting go of the grief, loss and pressures of life now. If you are Christian, this is a biblical approach to living in the fullness of your life. Don't wait have this resource available. This book is great gift for pastor's, friends and family, especially at an overwhelming time like these in our lives.

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