The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life (3rd Edition)

Book Description

Updated with the newest information on Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, this bestselling book has remained the "bible" for families who are giving care toafflicted loved ones.

Download Description

Updated with the newest information on Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, this bestselling book has remained the "bible" for families who are giving care toafflicted loved ones.

Customer Reviews:

The 36 Hour Day.......2007-10-11

A thorough review of all anyone would need to Know about Altzhiemers, including helpful suggestions on how to deal with this problem and where to get help.

36 Hour Day.......2007-10-10

A must for all caregivers and family with someone who has dementia. In reading the introduction to the book, I cried because it was so real to me.

A MUST read for anyone caring for an Alzheimers patient.......2007-10-02

This is the best book I have read regarding living with and caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease.

So very helpful.

The 36-Hour Day Book.......2007-06-10

I had this book when my mother had Alzheimers. I bought this for a friend whose wife has Alzheimers. It is concise, supportive with lots of information at a reasonable price.

Everything I needed to know.......2007-05-22

A wonderful book that has reinforced my observations and been enlightening about areas that I was struggling with. It is clearly and articulately written, and easy to read as well. I throughly and heartily recommend it.

Learning to Speak Alzheimer's: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease

Average customer rating:

Join the Fight Against Alzheimer's!
Read along w/ Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Book for a well rounded view
Appreciative of all the information for the Care Partner!!
Learning to speak Alzheimer's
High Praise from stress-relief expert/author, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace"

Learning to Speak Alzheimer's: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease
Joanne Koenig Coste
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618485171

Book Description

More than four million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's, and as many as twenty million have close relatives or friends with the disease. Revolutionizing the way we perceive and live with Alzheimer's, Joanne Koenig Coste offers a practical approach to the emotional well-being of both patients and caregivers that emphasizes relating to patients in their own reality. Her accessible and comprehensive method, which she calls habilitation, works to enhance communication between carepartners and patients and has proven successful with thousands of people living with dementia. Learning to Speak Alzheimer's also offers hundreds of practical tips, including how to cope with the diagnosis and adjust to the disease's progression help the patient talk about the illness face the issue of driving make meals and bath times as pleasant as possible adjust room design for the patient's comfort deal with wandering, paranoia, and aggression

Customer Reviews:

Join the Fight Against Alzheimer's!.......2007-09-13

Support World Alzheimer's Day (September 21st) and become a Champion in the fight to end Alzheimer's Disease. Sign up, get involved and HELP the more than 5 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer's. It's your move.

[...]

Help raise awareness of this devastating disease while supporting our goal to reach $[...] million in donations. Whether you host a party using our exclusive tips from David Tutera, host a sporting event, like Round to Remember, or get your co-workers involved in the cause. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by The Harrah's Foundation. Your help is sure to go a long way. Together we can put an end Alzheimer's.

There are more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer's. The seventh leading cause of death in the United States, Alzheimers' is a common, progressive, and deadly disease. You probably know someone who suffers from it. Every 72 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer's. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementia amount to more than $[...] billion annually.

The time to act is NOW. Click the link below to help make a double difference in the fight against Alzheimer's.
[...]

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

[...]

Read along w/ Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Book for a well rounded view.......2007-08-13

This is a very readable book written by the wife of a man who developed Alzheimer's disease at a young age, when their children ranged from infancy to age 12. She taught herself to cope with his condition, and now lectures and advocates for the patients, the caretakers of the patients, and their families. The book is strong on the day to day care of the demented patients, how to help them stay engaged with the world, how to help them retain speech and their remaining abilities as long as possible. She sees them as people for as long as they live, and wants their families, caretakers and society to see them that way too. It is very strong in its compassion and loving good heartedness, and in seeing these demented, often paranoid, confused, sometimes combative persons as the person he or she once was, not as they seem to be now.
She brings up excellent points: that no longer do experts try to bring the disoriented or confused person "back to reality", for example, if a patient thinks her father who died in 1950 visited her don't argue or try to "re-orient" her on this subject. It is not worth upsetting the person, has no long term value, and needlessly confuses and worries the person. The same with combative behavior, in most cases a change in subject, or distraction, rather than physical over powering or medical sedation is better,more kind and gentle, and keeping a log of what triggers such behavior can defuse it in the future.
This book does have some problems for me, as a caretaker for a parent with early dementia. The author seems to assume the caretaker has no other job, or life for that matter, and that there are others to pitch in and help with the caretaking chores, and funds to hire helpers. Some of her suggestions, the long leisurely breakfasts, rides in the country, reviewing old scrapbooks, or retraining the person with little games she provides (which sound excellent by the way) are frustrating for the caregiver whose time is limited by constraints of work or another family's needs as well. There is enough guilt in this caretaking situation without having to deal with chapters headed: "Enrich the Patient's Life".
Nevertheless, it is a very good book and its consistant re-focus on the humanity of the patient makes it stand out among books of its kind.
I'd pair it with the book "Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer Disease" which goes much more thoroughly into the aspect of dementia as an illness, what goes wrong in the brain and body, current medications, testing, and so on---this book does not cover those areas. I do recommend it, but not as my first recommendation among these books but paired with the Mayo Clinic book I think you'd have a good set for knowledge of and caretaking skills of the dementing illnesses.

Appreciative of all the information for the Care Partner!!.......2007-06-27

This is a wonderful book for our entire family ~ especially me, the spouse, as the Care Partner. It's just what I needed and will continue to mark pages and refer back to this terrific guide ~ I want to be all I can be to give my husband dignity and quality of life. This tool will help tremendously.

Learning to speak Alzheimer's.......2007-06-08

This is an excellent reference book for nonprofessionals working with Alzheimer patients. Professionals can learn from it too.

High Praise from stress-relief expert/author, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace".......2007-05-26

I seldom recommend a book this highly, but if you care for someone with dementia or other loss-of-independence disorders get, read, and keep, "Learning to Speak Alzheimers" as a well-indexed resource. A remarkably practical, insightful guide, I've used it personally and found it an invaluable companion, especially at the beginning of our journey, as this heartbreaking disease began erasing parts of our loved one from the inside-out. I share it whenever my own clients are finding their ways through the extraordinary stress and fatigue of caring for someone with dementia, and have given it as gifts to nursing home professionals. A fabulous book of techniques and strategies for compassionate, realistic, caregiving. [Stress-relief expert Susie Mantell is the bestselling author of the award-winning relaxation audiobook on CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace."Your Present: A Half Hour of Peace

The 36-Hour Day, Large Print Edition: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life (Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

Average customer rating:

Everyone Should Read
An absolute must for caregivers
The 36 Hour Day
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life
A MUST read for anyone that has an alzheimer family member, or anyone involved in the care of an alzheimer patient!!!!!!

The 36-Hour Day, Large Print Edition: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life (Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
Nancy L. Mace
Manufacturer: Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801885108

Book Description

Revised in 2006 for its twenty-fifth anniversary, this best-selling book is the "bible" for families caring for people with Alzheimer disease, offering comfort and support to millions worldwide. In addition to the practical and compassionate guidance that have made The 36-Hour Day invaluable to caregivers, the fourth edition is the only edition currently available that includes new information on medical research and the delivery of care.

The new edition includes:

-new information on diagnostic evaluation-resources for families and adult children who care for people with dementia-updated legal and financial information-the latest information on nursing homes and other communal living arrangements-new information on research, medications, and the biological causes and effects of dementia

Also available in a large print edition

Praise for The 36-Hour Day:

Customer Reviews:

Everyone Should Read.......2007-10-04

I am so sorry that I did not read this book 5 years ago. It explained why my mom behaves the way that she does. I think that everyone needs to read this because there is not a person alive that does not or will not love someone who has dementia or Alzheimers. It gives medical information that is easy to understand as well as ways to best deal with their loved one. It reassures the caregiver that they need to take care of themselves and it helps them to realize that thier loved one still loves them but is sometimes unable to show it in acceptable ways.

An absolute must for caregivers.......2007-07-27

For those of us who are caregivers, this book is a lifesaver. Before reading this book I was certain that many of the behaviors that my family member exhibits were unique to her. While I often read about Alzheimer's, I never read anything that made me stop and realize that, first, I am not alone, and second, that there are ways that I can handle situations better. This book is full of great suggestions on how to deal with the many behavioral issues that are exhibited by those with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Whenever I have an especially difficult day, I go online to the Alzheimer's page and remind myself how difficult it is for my family member. This book drove home that message, yet more importantly provided me with some tools on how to deal with these issues. I cannot stress enough how much I thought our situation and the behaviors were unique; it is liberating to realize that they are not. As well, understanding why the person exhibits such behaviors makes it much easier to respond correctly.

I wish I could thank the authors personally for this book. I hope they both know that their wisdom, concern and awareness of the Alzheimer patient has made a difference for me, and I am certain has made a difference for many others.

Caregivers -- buy this book, you will find some stress greatly diminished.

The 36 Hour Day.......2007-07-16

The 36-Hour Day is an excellent book for anyone dealing with Alzheimer's patients. It is hard for me to imagine anyone with the disease reading the book, but family members will benefit tremendously.

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life.......2007-07-01

Well-written, easy to read, and comprehansive..excellent resource! I have already recommended it to others facing a future as a caregiver.

A MUST read for anyone that has an alzheimer family member, or anyone involved in the care of an alzheimer patient!!!!!!.......2007-06-11

I can not stress enough just how helpful and informative this book is. My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease 6 years ago. In those 6 years we have seen numerous doctors, taken numerous tests, spoke to many Social Workers, Home Health Aides, etc. NO ONE gave me the advice, information, suggestions, help, etc., anywhere near as well and thorough as "The 36 Hour Day".
I think so highly of this book and recommend it so much; that just last week, I had a meeting with the Director of Nursing, Head Nurse, and Social Worker at the nursing home where my Dad resides. I highly recommended this book and told the Dir. Of Nursing, it should be mandatory reading for anyone working in the facility.
If you have a loved one or are a care taker of someone with Alzheimer Disease---RUN do not walk, to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of this book.

Average customer rating:

...and the Other on a Banana Peel
Unlikeable
Not Free SF Reader
Interesting Concepts, but....
vinge never disappoints

Rainbows End
Vernor Vinge
Manufacturer: Tor Science Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0812536363

Book Description

Four time Hugo Award winner Vernor Vinge has taken readers to the depths of space and into the far future in his bestselling novels A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky. Now, he has written a science-fiction thriller set in a place and time as exciting and strange as any far-future world: San Diego, California, 2025.

Robert Gu is a recovering Alzheimer's patient. The world that he remembers was much as we know it today. Now, as he regains his faculties through a cure developed during the years of his near-fatal decline, he discovers that the world has changed and so has his place in it. He was a world-renowned poet. Now he is seventy-five years old, though by a medical miracle he looks much younger, and he’s starting over, for the first time unsure of his poetic gifts. Living with his son’s family, he has no choice but to learn how to cope with a new information age in which the virtual and the real are a seamless continuum, layers of reality built on digital views seen by a single person or millions, depending on your choice. But the consensus reality of the digital world is available only if, like his thirteen-year-old granddaughter Miri, you know how to wear your wireless access—through nodes designed into smart clothes—and to see the digital context—through smart contact lenses.

With knowledge comes risk. When Robert begins to re-train at Fairmont High, learning with other older people what is second nature to Miri and other teens at school, he unwittingly becomes part of a wide-ranging conspiracy to use technology as a tool for world domination.

In a world where every computer chip has Homeland Security built-in, this conspiracy is something that baffles even the most sophisticated security analysts, including Robert’s son and daughter-in law, two top people in the U.S. military. And even Miri, in her attempts to protect her grandfather, may be entangled in the plot.

As Robert becomes more deeply involved in conspiracy, he is shocked to learn of a radical change planned for the UCSD Geisel Library; all the books there, and worldwide, would cease to physically exist. He and his fellow re-trainees feel compelled to join protests against the change. With forces around the world converging on San Diego, both the conspiracy and the protest climax in a spectacular moment as unique and satisfying as it is unexpected. This is science fiction at its very best, by a master storyteller at his peak.

Customer Reviews:

...and the Other on a Banana Peel.......2007-10-01

"Rainbow's End" is the story of a reawakening curmudgeon, a madman's plan for world domination, and a not-to-distant future where the equivalent of mental telepathy exists thanks to computing advancements and where books are destroyed to preserve them.

Vinge writes clearly and simply so that the book is almost an easy read. I use almost because there are a few set pieces that the author must have clearly developed in his mind and then not noticed that there were lacuna when he transferred the ideas to paper. The result is that occasionally I understood what was going on, but never quite figured out why it took the form it did.

In this book Vinge often tries to be slyly humorous, and often succeeds, whether it is in the subtitle ("a novel with one foot in the future" which must surely be meant to be followed by "and the other on a banana peel") to a character taking the form of a rabbit who, like the Energizer Bunny, just keeps "coming and coming and coming".

Although I gladly devoured the book, I must confess that I really dislike one of Vinge's recurring plot devices, which is the use of adolescents as major characters. With the possible exception of Cleopatra, I've seldom found such an important role for teenagers in history. It's almost as if Vinge was trying to lure teenagers into an interest in his books by giving them such an important role.

It's obvious from the beginning that the main character will be transformed by his experience in the book, but I never quite understood the reason for his transformation. I also found the ending an attempt to wrap up things too nicely, while at the same time leaving a few strings untied, perhaps in anticipation of a sequel.

"Rainbow's End" won the 2007 Hugo Award, although two other nominees "Blindsight" and "Glasshouse" seemed more interesting to me. On the other hand, despite my criticism, the book was am enjoyable read.

Unlikeable.......2007-09-08

I am normally a great fan of Vernor Vinge. This story, however, did not do much for me. It is well written enough that, despite my dislike, I continued and finished it but I cannot really say I enjoyed it.

The story takes place in the not too distant future. Terrorism is a fact of life as is the availability of weapons of mass destruction. The goal of governmental agencies is to be on the lookout for the "next bad thing" and hope that it does not become the "final bad thing". When some non-US intelligence services get a whiff of a project that has the potential to be "very bad indeed", they find reason to believe it is being developed near San Diego in a biolab. What most of them do not know is that the project itself is being mounted by one of their own. They conceive a plan to investigate, not knowing whether this is an independent effort or one of the US government.

Technology has, of course, progressed a great deal. Much of this progress has been in the area of information technology. People can "wear" their computers and have access to information almost anywhere. Another area of advance in is medicine. Many things are curable now and that bring in the protagonist.

He was been withering away from Alzheimer's disease. Now, a cure has been found tailored to his own genetic code. Along with it, his body has been rejuvenated. His first problem is that he is now woefully unprepared to live in the modern world and must go back to remedial training in a local high school. The second is that he is not a very nice person.

What he does have going for him is an extremely intelligent granddaughter who loves him despite his character failings, a son who is a high military official tasked with responding to terror threats and a daughter in law who is also military and who has access to the biolabs. This makes him the chosen agent for the foreign agents.

As I said, the story was well written, it just did not capture my interest very well.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-07

The Fast Times are at UCSD, not Fairmont High.

This book starts well, with some seriously technlogical espionage and security problems beeing looked at. You could call it an 'S' start, Strossian, or Stephensonian perhaps.

Unfortunately, after that, when the major part of view character, the recovered Alzheimer's patient is introduced, things slow down. He basically has to go back to school after years of being no compos mentis. His son and wife are involved in the security industry mentioned previously.

In the middle of this, a conspiracy about lowish level mind control lurks.

In earlier life he was a spiteful acclaimed poet, and now has to learn basic stuff like new computer operating systems. This part drags on a bit too, or more than a bit too long.

There are some entertaining references to be fond - a homage to Border Guards with kids playing 'Egan soccer', and major Pratchett gameworlds, etc., including a failed game 'Zones of Thought', so happy to poke fun at himself, too.

The part of the book that has the most important consequences doesn't generally get enough time, so that prevents this rising above the level of average to be good.

Interesting Concepts, but...........2007-08-11

A 4 rating for the ideas behind the novel, especially how our networked society will continue to (d)evolve ... unfortunately it is written like a teen novel and I gave up on it half way through ...

vinge never disappoints.......2007-08-07

While this book didn't blow me over in the way that A Deepness in the Sky or A Fire Upon the Deep did, and seems perhaps a bit lighter than either of those two books, it nevertheless engaged me greatly-- both on the plot-action-page-turning level and on the intriguing-ideas-about-the-future level.

Alzheimer's Activities: Hundreds of Activities for Men and Women with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders

Average customer rating:

Alzheimer's Actiities
Good Work
Helped
Excellent resource for care givers!
I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT THIS BOOK.

Alzheimer's Activities: Hundreds of Activities for Men and Women with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
B. J. FitzRay
Manufacturer: RAYVE PRODUCTIONS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1877810800

Book Description

ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVERS GET HELP . . . WITH A NEW BOOK FROM RAYVE

Hundreds of Activities for Men and Women with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders

Contains an incredible compilation of creative activities and fascinating information that will benefit both Alzheimer's caregivers and patients. The 288-page, idea-packed book has suggestions for everyday and special-occasion activities, and facilitates communication between caregiver and AD patient with helpful details about social eras the patient may have experienced during his or her lifetime, U.S. holidays, religious holy days, and modern invention timelines. In addition, there are topic-appropriate questions to ask the patient, tips for successful activities, caregivers' anecdotes, resource lists, encouraging words, and much more. (See Contents below).

Customer Reviews:

Alzheimer's Actiities.......2007-06-08

An excellent resource for caregivers of Alzheimer patients.Not quite as good for workers in the field.

Good Work.......2007-02-21

Hi, I am very please with this book. I had to wait about 2 weeks but it was worth the wait. Thanks!

Helped.......2007-01-05

Book was a help. Many of the suggested activities I was already aware of but it did add to the choices.

Excellent resource for care givers!.......2006-07-17

In reviewing this book, I discovered it is an excellent resource not only for professional care providers, but for family members as well. There are very detailed examples of specific activities to do on a daily basis, and could be easily adapted for varying levels of dementia.

I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT THIS BOOK........2002-09-25

This book is brilliant......I am a RAO, and I use this book daily when I am doing documentation.....The appropiate words are jumping out for you to use and why you are doing the various activities to stimulate the elderly....as I have said it is just brilliant and a must to have....

Average customer rating:

Kudos To One Brave Man
Alzheimer's from the Inside Out
A must for anyone facing the challenge of Alzheimer's
awakens the heart and mind
Stunning...

Alzheimer's from the Inside Out
Richard Taylor
Manufacturer: Health Professions Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1932529233

Book Description

Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease profoundly alters lives and creates endless uncertainty about the future. How does a person cope with such a life-changing discovery? What are the hopes and fears of someone living with this disease? How does he want to be treated? How does he feel as the disease alters his brain, his relationships, and ultimately himself?

Richard Taylor provides illuminating responses to these and many other questions in this collection of provocative essays. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 61, the former psychologist courageously shares an account of his slow transformation and deterioration and the growing division between his world and the world of others.

With poignant clarity, candor, and even occasional humor, more than 80 brief essays address difficult issues faced by those with Alzheimer's disease, including
• the loss of independence and personhood
• unwanted personality shifts
• communication difficulties
• changes in relationships with loved ones and friends
• the declining ability to perform familiar tasks

This rare, insightful exploration into the world of individuals with Alzheimer's disease is a captivating read for anyone affected personally or professionally by the devastating disease. Individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease will take comfort in the voice of a fellow traveler experiencing similar challenges, frustrations, and triumphs. Family and professional caregivers will be enlightened by Taylor's revealing words, gaining a better understanding of an unfathomable world and how best to care for someone living in it.

Customer Reviews:

Kudos To One Brave Man.......2007-09-28

What a great book! Alzheimer's, one of the cruelest of afflictions, touches so many families. This book is a must read for all to understand what it means to live through the progress of Alzheimer's. Mr. Taylor takes a positive attitude towards this problem, and shares with all of us on the progress of Alzheimer's. I'm sure most people would just give up and get depressed - but, not Mr. Taylor. He continues to live life to the fullest, and, shares his experiences in a most professional way. My admiration for him has no bounds. My best wishes go to this brave man.

Alzheimer's from the Inside Out.......2007-08-31

This book gives a unique perspective on the feelings of the person with Alzheimer's disease. Examining how it feels to be ignored by family and doctor's as if they are not in the room as they are discussed. It is a good book for families and other caregivers to read as it can help them understand some of the behaviors that the person with Alzheimer's disease exhibit, especially fear, anger, outrage, embarrassment, etc., often they cannot explain these reactions in words and thus act out their feelings. This book helps the caregiver understand this better and helps them to see that a change in their behavior might improve their loved one's behavior.

A must for anyone facing the challenge of Alzheimer's .......2007-05-27

Whether you are a care giver or have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's this book will enrich your knowledge. Richard Taylor has the insight of personal experienc. He also has the gift of being able to convey that experience with passion, honesty and grit.

awakens the heart and mind.......2007-05-15

This book is a wonderful insight to the affects of Alzheimer's from a patient's perspective. It is a reminder of why we must continue to be patient, loving and understanding when dealing with anyone with the disease.
This is a book I will share and recommend to others.

Stunning..........2007-03-13

Alzheimer's from the Inside Out is a stunning achievement. In this collection of essays, Richard Taylor gets at the essence of dementia, and how it has redefined his relationships with family, friends and even with himself.

There are no answers when it comes to Alzheimer's, but Richard asks all the right questions. Alzheimer's from the Inside Out is much more than a resource for anyone dealing with the disease. Although the book includes plenty of practical information, Richard goes beyond test scores, standard medications and neuroimaging to the more important philosophical and psychological aspects of life after diagnosis. He takes the focus off the disease, and puts it back on the person.

I wish I'd read this book when my father were alive. I would have worried less about what was wrong with him and worried more about just being with him.

The Oxygen Revolution: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: The Groundbreaking New Treatment for Stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Arthritis, Autism, Learning Disabilities and More

Average customer rating:

Oxygen Revolution
Great book - must read!!
A Book Lacking in Practical Information
Everything you need to know in a clear and understandable book!!
nearly impossible to overstate the value of either this book or properly dosed HBOT

The Oxygen Revolution: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: The Groundbreaking New Treatment for Stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Arthritis, Autism, Learning Disabilities and More
Paul G. Harch , and Virginia Mccullough
Manufacturer: Hatherleigh Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1578262372
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Book Description

HOPE FOR MANY "HOPELESS" DISEASES, FROM ONE OF THE FOREMOST RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD

When Randy McCloy, Jr., the sole survivor of the Sago Mine disaster, finally walked out of the hospital to rejoin his family, it was in part due to the miracle of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is based on an almost laughably simple idea: Oxygen can be used therapeutically for a wide range of conditions where tissues have been damaged by oxygen deprivation. Restore that oxygen, goes the logical thinking, and you can restore much of the lost function. It seems too good to be true, but Dr. Paul G. Harch’s research and clinical practice has shown that this noninvasive and painless treatment can help the tens of millions of Americans who suffer from a brain injury or disease, such as:

• Stroke
• Autism and other learning disabilities
• Cerebral palsy and other birth injuries
• Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and other degenerative neurological diseases
• Emergency situations requiring resuscitation, such as cardiac arrest, carbon monoxide poisoning, or near drowning

It can also improve conditions in which inflammation is the culprit, such as arthritis and asthma; promote healing in infections, burns, and skin grafts, such as diabetic foot wounds; and slow the aging process.

For the millions of Americans suffering from these seemingly “hopeless” diseases, here finally is the handbook of hope. Inspiring and informative,
The Oxygen Revolution is the definitive guide to the miracle of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, from a pioneer in the field.

Customer Reviews:

Oxygen Revolution.......2007-09-29

This book is a must read for everyone. Many people could improve their quality of life with a few treatments of oxygen.

Dr. Harch is truly the strongest advocate for people to recieve help who have had brain injury. Including individuals who have had brain injury in Iraq.

A must, must , must ready. For EVERYONE.

I have personal knowledge of individuals who have been treated and have had great sucess. I whole heartedly support everything Dr. Harch has written about.

Great book - must read!!.......2007-08-03

Finally a book on hyperbaric oxygen therapy that is written in terms that are understandable for someone without advanced medical training! Really explains how oxygen helps heal, very informative and truly well written! Thanks to the authors!

A Book Lacking in Practical Information.......2007-07-14

My reason for becoming interested in HBOT? A child with severe cystic acne. After trying many treatments, there was little improvement. I thought, "If HBOT can heal wounds, why not the ones on this child's face?"

I pre-ordered this book on Amazon. The book jacket draws you in. It says, "HPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY: The Groundbreaking New Treatment for..." Well, then there is a long list. The problem? The book only very briefly touches on the majority of those conditions. A lot of pages are spent covering brain injuries, either by accident, illness or birth. A good amount of pages talk about cardiac issues and diabetes.

When my child started HBOT, I wanted to be sure the staff knew what they were doing. I was hoping that the book would give me detailed, technical info. It was light on that. The doctor spent a good amount of time trying to prove the the science behind HBOT, almost desperate to prove that it is not kooky. He also devoted many pages to the political aspects of HBOT. Very boring and not helpful to one currently doing HBOT. I read the book (twice) and still had many unanswered questions.

The book is worth reading if interested in HBOT, but won't give you many specifics about the nuts and bolts of administering HBOT.

p.s. After 40 hours of HBOT, my daughter's cystic acne is completely gone.

Everything you need to know in a clear and understandable book!! .......2007-07-10

The Oxygen Revolution ---- what a wonderful book! This is what has been needed for the general public for so long! There are many books on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the medical profession but this is the first one I know of that speaks to the layperson.

I've seen what hyperbaric oxygen therapy can do for people who felt hopeless before giving hyperbaric therapy a try. The results have ranged from subtle to dramatic - what some call miracles and, having seen the changes, I can understand why.

The Oxygen Revolution is set up in a way that you can choose what you want to learn about. You may want to read it all or you may only be interested (at this time) in certain conditions. Dr. Harch makes it easy to do just that by the way he has set it up. Part III of The Oxygen Revolution is of extreme value to all of us. Once you've familiarized yourself with the conditions that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help, Part III tells us what we REALLY need to know: how to get HBOT when we need it, what obstacles to expect, and how to get involved to change healthcare policy. For me, this was of incredible value! I don't need to understand how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works but I do need to know how to get it when I need it.

It amazes me that so many know so little about this treatment when it has been around for quite some time. But then again, when the medical community itself has not taken the time to educate itself fully regarding hyperbaric therapy, how can we expect to know about it? Most of the time, it is through our doctors that we become familiar with therapies, treatments, procedures, etc.

I urge everyone to read the book; educate YOURSELF. If you wait until you or someone you love has an actual need for hyperbaric therapy, you will be fighting the clock to become informed. Even worse, you may never know it is an option to help with or achieve recovery.

Dr. Harch is truly an expert and leader in this field of medicine. If you ever had the pleasure of meeting him or hearing him speak, you know he is passionate about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in particular, for neurological conditions and has spent his career fighting to make it available for everyone, everywhere.

nearly impossible to overstate the value of either this book or properly dosed HBOT.......2007-06-27

Dr. Harch has presented us with such a wealth of information about the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and its importance in reclaiming good neurological and physical health after illness or injury that it's nearly impossible to overstate the value of either this book or properly dosed HBOT. I found the book to be so valuable, in fact, that I purchased a dozen copies to give to family and friends because I want them to be armed with the FACTS about HBOT as presented by a true expert and leader in this field of medicine before they or someone they care about needs it. Do yourself and your family a favor and educate yourself with the facts about HBOT; don't cheat yourself by letting someone who knows little to nothing about this very important therapy (even your own doctor) dissuade you from learning the truth about this legitimate medical treatment; read the book and then give the naysayer a copy or loan them yours. Yes, it's that important.

Average customer rating:

Beyond the front cover...
A good addition to a collection of Alzheimer's books
Good information
Don't judge a book by its cover...
Title of this book

Alzheimer's for Dummies
Patricia B. Smith
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764538993

Book Description

An estimated 4 million people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in America today, with approximately 370,000 new cases diagnosed every year. AD patients live anywhere from 5 to 20 years after their diagnosis; and their inability to care for themselves grows more dramatic as the disease progresses, creating profound implications for their families and healthcare providers. Its impact on families during the caregiving years is overwhelming.

If you have a family member or close friend who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and you’re looking for current, useful information, then Alzheimer’s For Dummies is for you. This reference guide also is helpful if you

Need to know more about its diagnosis and treatment
Want to take care of yourself while taking care of your loved one
Are not the primary caregiver but want to know how to help
Want to know how Alzheimer’s Disease is going to affect you and your loved one

Alzheimer’s For Dummies takes a realistic look at Alzheimer’s Disease, what it is and what it isn’t. It offers pertinent, easy-to-understand advice for dealing with the myriad concerns and responsibilities that a primary caregiver must assume when managing an Alzheimer’s patient. Here’s a sampling of the information you’ll find in this valuable guide:

Maneuvering through medical, legal, and financial tangles
Distinguishing AD from other brain diseases and medical conditions
Handling the fears that may accompany the diagnosis
Evaluating current drug therapies; watching out for scams and quack treatments
Finding the best doctors; dealing with attorneys and CPAs
Looking at Medicare regulations
Evaluating the cost of care
The current state of research, diagnosis, and treatment

Television personality Leeza Gibbons, whose mother was stricken with AD, writes in the foreword of this book, “There is no upside to keeping your head in the sand. This book is a crucial step in your new fight. Arm yourself with the knowledge waiting for you in these pages. It will help you find answers and resources as you adjust to your new reality.”

Customer Reviews:

Beyond the front cover..........2004-06-29

...lies a pleathora of easily accessible and directly useful information for the AD caregiver. What is not contained on the pages is supplied by weblinks and addresses for helpful groups and associations. The best advice often comes from those who have walked the walk and the author here is no exception. Kudos to the author for her bravery and much gratefulness for the gift to us all from the author and her mother.

A good addition to a collection of Alzheimer's books.......2003-12-18

Alzheimer's for Dummies does a good job in presenting the information relating to care giving and decision making for families of Alzheimer's patients.

During my mother's bout with Alzheimer's, I looked for resources that would give me clear understanding and answers of what was happening now and what was going to happen down the road. This book is one of several that I have on the subject. It does not make light of the disease or the issues being faced, but does present good information in a way that is understandable and clear.

Good information.......2003-12-18

As an adult child of an Alzheimer's patient searching for as much information as I can about Alzheimer's disease, I find most books to have very little of the humor I desperately need to find to help me cope as the disease progresses. As a person who is living through the progressive loss of a loved one to this disease, I don't find this book to be insensitive or belittling, but refreshing and honest. I have shared this book with other family members and we have all found it helpful.

Don't judge a book by its cover..........2003-12-15

I am the author of this book. I lost my beloved mother and my aunt and another relative to Alzheimer's, so in addition to being an experienced medical writer, I have had heart-wrenching personal experience with this devastating disease.

I argued about the title when I was asked to write this book, but eventually the folks at Wiley convinced me that since the Dummies brand is so ubiquitous that people would understand and not take offense. And yet you have taken offense without reading a single word of the book, or knowing anything about the year of research and interviewing I put in to make the book the very best it could be and the easiest to understand.

During the writing of this book, I also had to confront all my own buried sorrows and heartbreak about my mother's illness and death, so the entire process was fairly torturous. Yet, I persevered because I believed in the book and hoped it could serve to spread the message about the importance of early intervention and appropriate use of medication for people with AD.

The Alzheimer's Association is absolutely wonderful and they do an incredible job; we are blessed with a terrific branch staffed with warm and caring people here in Houston. But not every city or town in America is fortunate enough to have a branch nearby; I wrote this book to help people who don't have ready access to support services and who are struggling with medical, legal and finacial issues as well as the emotional problems and family strain that caring for an Alzheimer's patient can bring.

If you had read the book and then said you didn't like it would be one thing. But to judge a book by its cover not only brings the old cliche roaring to vibrant new life but also denigrates the love, care, research and hard work that all three authors put into this book.

Patricia B. Smith

Title of this book.......2003-12-09

This book may have excellent and easy-to-understand contents about Alzheimer's. However, the title is somewhat belittling and insensitive to the patient and to the family. Yes, having worked with Alzheimer patients and families, I would say so. I would NOT recommend this book to them. Perhaps to the general public is okay......but then, should they not also go to Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) and their local chapters throughout the country for general information and resources??

What If It's Not Alzheimer's: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia

Average customer rating:

Great resource
Dementia other than Alzheimer's
One of my "Must" readings for caregivers
Great Resource
An updated handbook packed from cover to cover with tips

What If It's Not Alzheimer's: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia

Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591020875

Book Description

Not all that long ago, dementia, or a deterioration of mental ability, was considered a natural part of aging, but with increased knowledge of Alzheimer's disease and improved diagnostic capabilities, any time an older individual misplaces car keys or forgets an appointment, family members are quick to conclude that their loved one is in the throes of Alzheimer's. Although today the public all too often associates dementia symptoms with Alzheimer's disease, the medical profession can now distinguish various types of "other" dementias that also undermine cognitive abilities, often with onset at a younger age. WHAT IF IT'S NOT ALZHEIMER'S is the first comprehensive guide dealing with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), one of the largest groups of non-Alzheimer's dementias. The contributors to this book are either specialists in their fields or have exceptional hands-on experience with FTD sufferers.

Editors Lisa and Gary Radin divide their highly accessible reference work into four parts. Beginning with a discussion of the medical facts, part one defines and explores FTD as an illness distinct from Alzheimer's disease. Also considered are clinical and medical care issues and practices, as well as such topics as finding a medical team and rehabilitation interventions. The essays in part two focus on managing care and examine daily routines, including nutrition, exercise, socialization, adapting the home environment, and behavioral issues. Part three centers on caregiver resources, and the contributors identify professional and government assistance programs along with private resources and legal options. Finally, the chapters in part four stress the need for caregivers to take care of themselves as well as their loved ones with FTD.

This much-needed resource work, the first of its kind, provides a wealth of real and practical information to both healthcare professionals and caregivers of someone suffering from frontotemporal dementia.

Customer Reviews:

Great resource.......2007-05-13

I have found this book to be very helpful with alot of information regarding FTD.... It has been a great help

Dementia other than Alzheimer's.......2007-03-25

I wish I had found this book over a year ago. Statistically the largest portion of people diagnosed with dementia are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. The sad truth is that many people diagnosed as having Alzheimer's are mis-diagnosed and don't have Alzheimer's but some other form of dementia. Dementia is not a disease itself but a symptom of something else going on. Just like pain is not a disease but caused by other things. Many things can and do cause dementia: brain tumors, metabolic conditons, trauma, fluid on the brain, nutritional issues, alzheimer's, frontotemporal lobe, lewy bodies and on.

This book talks about other causes of dementia besides Alzheimer's. It focuses more heavily on Frontotemporal Dementia or FTD. There is growing evidence that a large percentage of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's actually have had or do have FTD. This was the case with my mother. So what's the big deal? Both kinds of dementia are debilitating and have no cure right? Well the big deal is when someone has Alzheimer's they can give them medicine that helps maintain memory for about 12-18 longer than without the meds. With FTD if you give that person the Alzheimer's meds because of a mis-diagonosis it can cause severe behavior problems. There is nothing you can give for FTD. I personally witnessed this problem with my mother after being put on an anti-Alzheimer's med. She had to be taken off of it since it caused some severe psychotic behavior. Had I or the doctor at the time know more about FTD there would not have been a false diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Why? It really is not that hard to make a proper diagnosis of FTD if you know and the doctor know what to look for. FTD begins with behavior issues and then comes memory impairment where Alheimer's begins with memory impairment. Plus Alzheimer's tend to affect the Parietal and Temporal lobes of the brain first and FTD starts with the frontal and temporal lobes first. Over time however it is not easy to tell the difference. The best thing when in doubt is knowing the patients background and detailed history, neuropsych testing and a CT or MRI scan to look for where the shrinkage is taking place in the brain first.

Again this book is a great resource and help to anyone wanting more info on dementia and specifically if you wonder is it really Alzheimer's. It is the only book like it out there and it is not just fluff. It is also highly recommended by the Association of Frontotemporal Dementia out of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. All thumbs up on this one.

One of my "Must" readings for caregivers.......2006-04-16

"What If It's Not Alzheimer's" will help all caregivers to cope with the loss of their loved ones as cognitively sound individuals. Whether Alzheimer's, multi-infarct, Parkinson's, FTD, or any of the dozens of other dementias, the perpetual grief and mourning felt by the caregivers will be the same. Dementia is a disease that knows no boundaries. It is blind to the categories in which we usually place our fellow human beings. It can occur at the age of 55 or 85. It can happen to Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, Jews, Christians, Muslims, males and females, rich and poor. It has not spared ex-presidents. Tears are shed by husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters-in fact anyone responsible for the care of a loved one with dementia. I speak from personal experience. Dementia did not spare my mother whose 15 year journey into the opaque fog of multi-infarct dementia is told in my own recently published memoir. I recommend "What If It's Not Alzheimer's" to anyone whose loved one is experiencing this terrible disease.

Robert Tell, Author of "DEMENTIA DIARY, A Care Giver's Journal"

Great Resource.......2006-02-23

Knowing nothing about frontal lobe dementia, I found this a great resource in finding out what I can do to make my family member more comfortable, as well as exploring the resources available to me. Occasionally I got bogged down with the scientific reports, but overall it is a very accessible book.

An updated handbook packed from cover to cover with tips.......2004-03-05

While general public knows Alzheimer's best among the many dementias in existence, but Playing The Numbers is the first to address FTD, a specific group of dementias and one of the largest non-Alzheimer's groups. The resources and reference material comprising hat If It's Not Alzheimer's? provides the non-specialist general reader with an updated handbook packed with from cover to cover with tips and information for caregivers and sufferers alike.

Average customer rating:

Interesting characters and good story
A side splitter for those with strong stomachs.
SO Overrated
What would Jesus NOT do?
Not For Everyone

Choke
Chuck Palahniuk
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0385501560
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Victor Mancini is a ruthless con artist. Victor Mancini is a med-school dropout who's taken a job playing an Irish indentured servant in a colonial-era theme park in order to help care for his Alzheimer's-afflicted mother. Victor Mancini is a sex addict. Victor Mancini is a direct descendant of Jesus Christ. All of these statements about the protagonist of Choke are more or less true. Welcome, once again, to the world of Chuck Palahniuk.

"Art never comes from happiness." So says Mancini's mother only a few pages into the novel. Given her own dicey and melodramatic style of parenting, you would think that her son's life would be chock-full of nothing but art. Alas, that's not the case. In the fine tradition of Oedipus, Stephen Dedalus, and Anthony Soprano, Victor hasn't quite reconciled his issues with his mother. Instead, he's trawling sexual-addiction recovery meetings for dates and purposely choking in restaurants for a few moments of attention. Longing for a hug, in other words, he's settling for the Heimlich.

Thematically, this is pretty familiar Palahniuk territory. It would be a pity to disclose the surprises of the plot, but suffice it to say that what we have here is a little bit of Tom Robbins's Another Roadside Attraction, a little bit of Don DeLillo's The Day Room, and, well, a little bit of Fight Club. Just as with Fight Club and the other two novels under Palahniuk's belt, we get a smattering of gloriously unflinching sound bites, including this skeptical bit on prayer chains: "A spiritual pyramid scheme. As if you can gang up on God. Bully him around."

Whether this is the novel that will break Palahniuk into the mainstream is hard to say. For a fourth book, in fact, the ratio of iffy, "dude"-intensive dialogue to interesting and insightful passages is a little higher than we might wish. In the end, though, the author's nerve and daring pull the whole thing off--just barely. And what's next for Victor Mancini's creator? Leave the last word to him, declaring as he does in the final pages: "Maybe it's our job to invent something better.... What it's going to be, I don't know." --Bob Michaels

Book Description

From the author of the international sensation Fight Club, a powerful (and hilarious) novel about love and strife between mothers and sons, the addictive power of sex, the terrors of aging, the ugly truth about historical theme parks, and much else...

Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk's controversial and blazingly original debut novel, introduced a fresh and even renegade talent to American fiction, one who has retooled the classic black humor of Terry Southern and Kurt Vonnegut for the lunacy of the millennial age. In his new novel, Choke, he gives readers a vision of life and love and sex and mortality that is both chillingly brilliant and teeth-rattlingly funny.

Victor Mancini, a dropout from medical school, has devised a complicated scam to pay for his mother's elder care: Pretend to be choking on a piece of food in a restaurant and the person who "saves you" will feel responsible for the rest of his life. Multiply that a couple of hundred times and you generate a healthy flow of checks, week in, week out. Between fake choking gigs, Victor works at Colonial Dunsboro with a motley group of losers and stoners trapped in 1734, cruises sex addiction groups for action ("You put twenty sexaholics around a table night after night and don't be surprised."), and visits his mother, whose anarchic streak made his childhood a mad whirl and whose Alzheimer's disease now hides what may be the startling truth about his (possibly divine?) parentage. An antihero for our deranging times, Victor's whole existence is a struggle to wrest an identity from overwhelming forces. His creator, Chuck Palahniuk, is the visionary we need and the satirist we deserve.

Download Description

From the author of the international sensation Fight Club, here is a powerful (and hilarious) novel about love and strife between mothers and sons, the addictive power of sex, the terrors of aging, the ugly truth about historical theme parks, and much else.

Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk's controversial and blazingly original debut novel, introduced a fresh and even renegade talent to American fiction, one who has retooled the classic black humor of Terry Southern and Kurt Vonnegut for the lunacy of the millennial age. In his new novel, Choke, he gives readers a vision of life and love and sex and mortality that is both chillingly brilliant and teeth-rattlingly funny.

Victor Mancini, a dropout from medical school, has devised a complicated scam to pay for his mother's elder care: Pretend to be choking on a piece of food in a restaurant and the person who "saves you" will feel responsible for the rest of his life. Multiply that a couple of hundred times and you generate a healthy flow of checks, week in, week out.

Between fake choking gigs, Victor works at Colonial Dunsboro with a motley group of losers and stoners trapped in 1734, cruises sex addiction groups for action ("You put twenty sexaholics around a table night after night and don't be surprised."), and visits his mother, whose anarchic streak made his childhood a mad whirl and whose Alzheimer's disease now hides what may be the startling truth about his (possibly divine?) parentage. An antihero for our deranging times, Victor's whole existence is a struggle to wrest an identity from overwhelming forces. His creator, Chuck Palahniuk, is the visionary we need and the satirist we deserve.

"Palahniuk is one of the freshest, most intriguing voices to appear in a long time. He rearranges Vonnegut's sly humor, DeLillo's mordant social analysis, and Pynchon's antic surrealism (or is it R. Crumb's?) into a gleaming puzzle palace all his own."
    NEWSDAY

"Palahniuk displays a Swiftian gift for satire, as well as a knack for crafting mesmerizing sentences that loom with stark, prickly prose and repetitive rhythms."
    SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER

"Even I can't write this well."
    THOM JONES

"Palahniuk's language is urgent and tense, touched with psychopathic brilliance, his images dead-on accurate....[He] is an author who makes full use of the alchemical powers of fiction to synthesize a universe that mirrors our own fiction as a way of illuminating the world without obliterating its complexity."
    L.A. WEEKLY

"Maybe our generation has found its Don DeLillo."
    BRET EASTON ELLIS

Customer Reviews:

Interesting characters and good story.......2007-10-09

This story is entertaining and fun to read. I enjoy the writer's style a lot and think that for the most part it is pretty clever. I really love when I read a story that makes me sympathize with an ordinarily unsympathetic character and this book does that very effectively. I would recommend this to fans of Palahniuk and anyone who is looking for something a little different.

A side splitter for those with strong stomachs........2007-10-04

This is perhaps Palahniuk's funniest book. It may read like porn but is in fact a pitch perfect tour de force that only Palahniuk could write.

SO Overrated.......2007-09-19

I heard so many good things about this book, so many people raved about it, how it "changed their outlook on life", I felt compelled to read it. I want my time back. This book is garbage. I'm not saying this because it offended me, because it did not in the least (one of my favorite books is "Filth" by Irvine Welsh for comparison). What did offend me was that this book was utter nonsense. If reading about the exploits of a sex-addict makes you want to change the world, go read Gene Simmons biography for christ sake.

The message of this book (which I will not give away here even though I should to save you the time and effort) has been done so many times before, it seems as though Palahniuk just used it as a means to convey his idea of obscenity on the reader. Glorified depravity is fine if it has a legitimate point. Here it does not. It's obscene for the sake of being obscene. It has nothing to do with the story, other than to make the main character seem worse than he is...can he be redeemed in the end???

Don't bother finding out.

What would Jesus NOT do?.......2007-09-14

This novel was nothing short of amazing. For serious, it was a delicious and witty meal that satisfies your intellectual appetite and makes you want to gag at the same time. Loved every bite of it.
See also: Fight Club
See also: Survivor

Not For Everyone.......2007-09-12

I picked this up for amusing reading during my vacation this summer and I tore through it in only a couple of days. It's easy reading, funny, but also deeply satirical.

However, if you don't like modernist literature, and you didn't enjoy Palahniuk's other books, you might get turned off by the style.

I personally felt the ending was a bit weak, but the overall story was so strong it makes up for it. The scenarios are so unique and the relationships he creates are at once so real and so superficial, I just like this kind of writing.

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