price：$6.00
Penguin (Non-Classics)
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Very few words, not much content, mostly blank.) 『This is really just a waste of money. About 5 pages worth of words in total, I really liked the chapters with no text. If Michael Pollan has a five year old then we may have found the actual author of this book.
For those complaining about the format on the kindle, the book looked that way on paper too.』
(Good Reminders for Healthier Living) 『What Michael Pollan has discovered through research for his previous books he boils down to 64 simple eating rules that will improve your health. If you can trust that he's done his homework and knows what he's talking about and/or you don't want to be bothered with the science behind the healhty living guidelines, then this book is worth the money. Yes, you probably know all 64 rules, but how many of them are following? They are phrased in catchy ways "Eat plants, not food that comes from a plant" and such, making them easy mantras to repeat as you're reaching for a box of donuts in the bakery aisle. It's the type of book you flip through in one or two sittings, then keep on the kitchen counter or nightstand to remind yourself. If you are the type that needs a regimented diet plan to reach your goals this is not the book for you. But if you are serious about improving the quality of your life and health through your dietary intake and have the willpower to make small changes over time that will add up big, this book is for you.』
(Rules to eat by) 『Although nothing in here is particularly novel, the format is very accessible and should be read within an hour....if that. Michael Pollan keeps his thesis simple: eat food, mostly plants, but not too much. The philosophy behind this is simple: 1) being healthly in the absense of artificial food-substances, which can lead to diesease and 2) sustainable food production vs. eating mass processed foods that deplete our energy resources. His thesis is divided into 64 "rules", sometimes as short as a sentence and others as long as a paragraph. What's wonderful about the rules is that they can be understood by anyone with a primary school education, and the explanations allude to studies or stories supporting his ideas. Many seem fairly self explanatory: Rule #18 states that one should eat foods from plants, not food made in plants. The best thing about the book is that this is a way of life and not a temporary quick-fix; applying these rules should leave the reader satisfied, instead of bouncing from diet to diet. Recommended for everyone!』
(This book RULES (haha)) 『...but seriously.
This books is a nice concise version of a much more drawn out book on dietary dealings. More than anything else it's helped me as a food shopper. Just take the rules to heart and they will guide you to MUCH healthier food purchases. This is not really a diet book or a weightloss proposition, it's a plea for healthier eating in general. Much akin to the SlowFood movement, the author is asking eaters to put a higher value on the food they eat in order to enjoy it in moderation. Eating the suggested foods always leaves me feeling better.』
(Easy Read) 『A wonderfully short and concise guide to food and eating for someone like me who has many interests and does not want to get bogged down in some wordy dissatation about nutrition that interferes in my main pursuit of writing run-on sentences.』 『A pocket compendium of food wisdom-from the author ofThe Omnivore's DilemmaandIn Defense of Food
Michael Pollan, our nation's most trusted resource for food-related issues, offers this indispensible guide for anyone concerned about health and food. Simple, sensible, and easy to use,Food Rulesis a set of memorable rules for eating wisely, many drawn from a variety of ethnic or cultural traditions. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat-buffet, this handy, pocket-size resource is the perfect guide for anyone who would like to become more mindful of the food we eat.
price：$8.01
Penguin (Non-Classics)
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Simple, common sense approach to eating) 『Most of what we eat is not food. That's the simple premise in Pollan's follow-up to The Omnivore's Dilemma. Most of what we eat are food-like substances (and that might be generous), packed with preservatives, artificial flavors, fillers and other chemicals that don't exist in nature. Pollan makes the point that if our grandparents walked into the modern supermarket, they wouldn't recognize many of the things on the shelves. This is not good.
It's the Western obsession with nutrients as opposed to food that has led us here. Sometimes flaky dietary science, a culture desperately seeking out the "magic bullet," big-budget marketing campaigns from American food manufacturers and laws and regulation that place the financial health of the agricultural industry above the physical health of the population have all contributed to a situation where people really aren't sure what they should and shouldn't be eating. As Pollan points out, that's a uniquely human dilemma.
Although he give the disclaimer that he's nobody to be telling anybody what to eat, he does give some good, common sense rules of thumb: Eat mostly plants (mostly green plants). Eat less. Think of meat as more of a side dish. Don't eat things with ingredients you can't pronounce. Paradoxically, avoid foods that make health claims on their packaging (which implies, firstly, that they have packaging--something else to probably avoid). Shop around the edges of the grocery store. All of these direct us to eat food, not food-like, processed, manufactured food-like substances. It's a great message, and with all the confusing health claims out there, it's nice to have a call for simple common sense. 』
(Pollan understands what's ailing America) 『Read Omnivore's Dilemma, and with the exception of some issues I have with theoretical framing of part of the book, it was a fantastic read and I definitely recommend it to everyone. In Defense of Food was a gift to my sister. We've both read Dilemma, and we have never eaten the same since--we eat better and we couldn't be happier about it. Buy this book and understand your relationship with yourself.』
(Great) 『A great collection of newer American studies in American nutrition. After watching Food, Inc I decided to spend more time considering where my food comes from. Organic is much more flavorful and nutritional, if you can afford it. Have done quite a bit of research on food. I think its interesting that we really have no idea where our food comes from.』
(WARNING: Kindle edition does not have working index!) 『The purpose of this review is not to talk about the content but to warn you that the index in the Kindle edition does not work -- there are no corresponding links to content. This lack of such an important reference is a real problem for me, especially in a work like this one where you are obviously interested in using it to skip around and read different things on the subject.
I'll be returning this immediately and buying the paperback version instead.』
(What the so called "diet industry" should be printing...) 『I read Pollan's book "The Omnivores Dilemma" about two years ago, and was anxious to read his new one. While very similar in the theme that our food system is industrialized, politicized, engineered, and awash in pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and drugs, this book looks deeper at how nutrition science has been both misleading and wrong. Pollan ends by giving his rules of thumb for eating in North America today. I've read several books in this genre, this was my favorite. This is the best diet book that will never get sold as a diet book. 』 『The companion volume toThe New York TimesbestsellerThe Omnivore's Dilemma
Michael Pollan's lastbook ,The Omnivore's Dilemma, launched a national conversation about the American way of eating; nowIn Defense of Foodshows us how to change it, one meal at a time. Pollan proposes a new answer to the question of what we should eat that comes down to seven simple but liberating words:Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we can start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives, enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy, and bring pleasure back to eating.』 『Amazon Significant Seven, January 2008: Food is the one thing that Americans hate to love and, as it turns out, love to hate. What we want to eat has been ousted by the notion of what weshouldeat, and it's at this nexus of hunger and hang-up that Michael Pollan poses his most salient question: where is the food in our food? What follows inIn Defense of Foodis a series of wonderfully clear and thoughtful answers that help us omnivores navigate the nutritional minefield that's come to typify our food culture. Many processed foods vie for a spot in our grocery baskets, claiming to lower cholesterol, weight, glucose levels, you name it. Yet Pollan shows that these convenient "healthy" alternatives to whole foods are appallingly inconvenient: our health has a nation has only deteriorated since we started exiling carbs, fats--even fruits--from our daily meals. His razor-sharp analysis of the American diet (as well as its architects and its detractors) offers an inspiring glimpse of what it would be like if we could (a la Humpty Dumpty) put our food back together again and reconsider what it means to eat well. In a season filled with rallying cries to lose weight and be healthy, Pollan's call to action—"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."--is a program I actually want to follow.--Anne Bartholomew
price：$16.24
Little, Brown and Company
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Thought provoking) 『Fascinating! It really puts the spotlight on critical reasons for success, whereby it's not just hard work and skill, but often "right place, right time". Thoroughly recommended.』
(Nothing earthshaking here and some holes.) 『As someone who has been fortunately (more about that in a moment) successful in business I have hired and observed "successful" people. But that begs the question because little is said in this book about how it defines success. It seems to assume that means being at the forefront of your chosen endeavor. That does not translate automatically to success in life. The cases of self-destructive or otherwise unhappy highly "successful" people are too numerous.
In my experience people who possess so-called street smarts are more likely to rise to the top, regardless of background, intelligence or accomplishment. Whether ingrained or taught experimentally people who know how to "play the game" are far more likely to succeed in most endeavors, given even a modicum of expertise in their field. Just look at all the famous CEO's who have bankrupted one company only to be hired to run another. John Thain is the most recent, having presided over the downfall of Merrill Lynch only to be hired to run CIT. I have also seen where pure competence actually has proven detrimental to one's success when it threatens others in the decision chain. It's not good to outshine the wrong people.
A fellow executive once told me that the harder he worked the luckier he got. There is some truth to that but pure luck also plays a hand. The coincidence of skill set and need are the most obvious examples. One has to wonder if Bill Gates came to the marketplace today whether he would be as successful. The creative stagnation of Microsoft suggests not. Steve Jobs is an interesting counterpoint.
So I must join with others in commending Gladwell for his engaging writing but defer as to his insight.』
(Wow! What an amazing book!) 『What an utterly fascinating book. As an educator, I found it promising to read that to learn things it takes time and effort. That kids in China are spending considerably more time on a math problem than they do in the US (and it is because they know how to spend time on something to make it right...like rice farming) is amazing.
No matter who you are though, this book will pertain to you. Great, great book.』
(I respectfully disagree...) 『All right, I realize I am bucking the trend here on this book, but I really didn't care for it. While I thought it was well written, and I found the facts amusing I disagree with the author's conclusions. Perhaps I just have too much of the "hard work equals success" paradigm in me, but I think this guy is wrong.
...Spoiler Alert....
The author makes the point that Bill Gates is who he is because of his unique opportunities, same with certain NY Jewish lawyers, hockey players, and 19th century industrialists. I agree with the role of opportunities (luck), and also with his assertion that it takes 10,000 hours of experience to really become world-class at something.
The point the author overlooks is opportunity cost, that is, what were Bill's other options, his "plan B". What did Bill give up to found Microsoft? So what if Bill was born at just the right time to catch the PC revolution, that doesn't mean that if he were born 5 years later he'd be making fries somewhere! That's like me saying that I define success as being Miss USA (I'm a 300+pound balding American male). Guess what, fate didn't deal me the cards to have a good shot at that crown (I'd loose swimsuit for sure), but that doesn't mean I'm a loser, or that I can't be an outlier and be exceptional at other things. I truly believe that the magic is to discover which opportunities are available, and then be prepared to take advantage of them.
As a counterexample, I'll offer up Arnold Schwarzenegger. Was he born to be a bodybuilder, a top action movie actor, or a politician? Regardless of what you think of his movies or his politics, this guy has reached the top repeatedly. The point is, I believe greatness is available to any of us if we can identify and accept the opportunities we do have, then work to get it. While no amount of work will win me that beauty contest, life does have other opportunities if I'm willing to identify and pursue them. 』
(Praising Mediocrity) 『Outliers, like the rest of Gladwell's books, reels you in with its sensationalist themes, and claims of deep insight into the human or its society. But after lightly reading this large-print, thirty-dollar compilation of "studies", opinions, and idealistic suggestions offered by Gladwell, I felt a sense of emptiness--the same sort of emptiness felt after completing an hour of reality television. This book offers nothing new to the table (except for maybe renewed sense of demotivation). Worst of all, the essence of this book demonizes intellect, upholds mediocrity, and offers the layman an excuse to revert to a bastardized sort of mentality common in pre-Enlightenment Europe, where success was a foreign term and self-improvement was a term used only in the context of muscle-building.』 『In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.
Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.』 『Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he's gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question inOutliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the "self-made man," he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don't arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: "they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot." Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, "some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky."
Outlierscan be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots' culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there's more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples--and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps--Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. --Mari Malcolm
price：$8.00
Penguin
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Do You Eat? Read this Book!) 『I was expecting a diatribe, a full-force blast against agri-business and the factory farm, more along the lines of what we hear from the more strident vegans and animal rights activists. Pollan, however, is much too skilled as a journalist and writer for that. If his journeys lead him to both Food Hell and Food Heaven, they also show him that there is no clear, simple, and easy path to salvation when it comes to eating.
"The Omnivore's Dilemma" is Pollan's attempt to answer some important questions about the food we eat, which I have unfairly boiled down to: Where does our food come from, and how did it get from there to us? His quest takes him through the horrifying house of cards that is industrial farming, ranching, and food processing, a vision that will either open your eyes or make you screw them tightly shut, because most of us don't have a lot of choice when it comes, for example, to eschewing the monoculture corn that finds its way into most of what we eat and much of what we don't. The first of the four meals in the subtitle is of McDonald's fast food, eaten with his family but hardly "shared," as they each consumed a different choice of foods, all the while driving along the highway, as many fast food meals are eaten in America today.
Skipping ahead, the fourth and final meal was as personal and local as Pollan could make it: meat from the wild pig he shot himself, bread made with wild yeasts, produce from his garden, mushrooms gathered by his own hands, and more, all crafted into a gourmet feast that he shared at the table with friends, family, and good conversation. With apparently honest and transparent struggles, he experiences both the attraction of vegetarianism and the joy of the hunt in preparation for what he called his Perfect Meal. Not a meal for everyone, nor for every day, but a meal of grace, embodying the ultimate answer to his questions.
In between is Organic, what Pollan calls pastoral food, in contrast to industrial. This required two meals, because "organic" isn't what it used to be. Big Organic, symbolized by the Whole Foods Market, is the organic movement gone mainstream. It is proof that we do, after all, have some choice about where our food comes from. That we can now buy organic food at Wal-Mart says a lot for the power of the consumer. But this victory came at a price: our 1960's-bred image of the small, family, organic farm remains only on the patently misleading pictures on the food packages. In order to become a mass-market commodity, organic food has taken on many of the harmful practices of the industrial system, from migrant labor to "free range" chickens that never see the outdoors. It's still a good thing -- organic farming is much better for the land and produces food that is at least somewhat more nutritious -- but has it lost its soul?
Joel Salatin would say it has. The section on Salatin's Polyface Farm in Virginia is worth the price of the book all by itself. This is Food Heaven on earth. The Salatin family, beginning with Joel's parents, took an abused and exhausted plot of land and healed it ("we are in the redemption business"), turning it into a showpiece of truly sustainable agriculture, one that produces a great deal of food while enriching, rather than depleting the land, and where the people, the animals, the plants, the smaller creatures, and the soil play out their interdependence to the advantage of all.
Hope for the future of food lies not in one particular system, Pollan says, but in supporting a variety of approaches. "As in the fields, nature provides the best model for the marketplaces, and nature never puts all her eggs in one basket. The great virtue of a diversified food economy, like a diverse pasture or farm, is its ability to withstand any shock. The important thing is that there be multiple food chains, so that when any one of them fails -- when the oil runs out, when mad cow or other food-borne diseases become epidemic, when the pesticides no longer work, when drought strikes and plagues come and soils blow away -- we'll still have a way to feed ourselves."
Far from being the jeremiad I had expected, Pollan's careful investigations and respectful reporting make "The Omnivore's Dilemma" a book that everyone who eats should read. 』
(Excellent survey of the American food industry) 『Michael Pollan entertains while he informs, surprises, and disillusions most hopes you might have had about the American food industry. This book is a must read if you are at all interested in what you eat, and how its production is affecting nature. Pollan follows the life of both a cow and a chicken through their confined lives in high producing typical american farms- which proves to be more revolting and dangerous that one might have thought. He also explains why all those products at the grocery store have some tangent of corn in it: "high fructose corn syrup" etc. He also documents some small organic farmers and the processes they use to create sustainable farming. How the food industry reflects the general American mentality should become increasingly obvious, as you become more aware of what you eat and where it comes from.
This book is an excellent way to make a visit to the grocery store a little less abstract.』
(A provocative and thoughtful examination of food in America) 『Michael Pollan mesmerizes with his exciting examination of the possible sources of our food in America. I love food and for me this book constituted a celebration of it's complexity and possibility. Although Pollan is obviously biased he takes a calculated look at the propositions of both sides, even though through the novel we follow him to his inevitable arrival at his own perceptions. I highly recommend this book to all readers, especially those who are politically conscious or who just get inordinately excited about food the way I do.』
(Great read about agriculture buisness) 『A great book that reads well and talks about how agriculture buisness ultimately affects our health. Recommended.』
(Anyone who eats food should read this!) 『In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan explores the current landscape of procuring food in America by actively tracing four meals, through intermediary energy forms, to the ultimate source of their energy, the sun. He explicates all processes and their consequences with regards to creating meals from McDonald's, Whole Foods (big industrial organic), a self-sustained farm, and one that he obtained every component of himself (hunting and gathering).
His active investigative journalism as well as his open mind and willingness to learn leads him to experience firsthand the food creation process by participating in all methods of creating food (that is, those that he is allowed to participate in) and to read everything on the subject from the biology of corn reproduction to the philosophy of eating animals, allowing him to understand food as well as possible. His travels lead him to farms across the country, where he watches the farm processes and participates in them (including driving a tractor as well as killing and eviscerating chickens), CAFO's, and to learn how to hunt wild pig and develop a sixth sense for seeing and gathering mushrooms. He engages in deep discussions with experts in all aspects of food to understand their perspective and shed a different light on food as we see it - that is, food without the hidden negative consequences. This active participation and discussion straight from the source as well as thorough research leads him to draw well-reasoned conclusions from his experiences. He demystifies the supermarket and articulates the hidden consequences of our food choices.
Pollan conveys his findings and opinions fluidly and his experiences candidly. He imparts the reader with a greater wisdom and confidence in making food choices (although it is disenchanting that the system in place does not necessarily even allow you to make the choices you want to...), but he is not preachy. I found Pollan's writing to be clear, interesting, and sincere. I highly recommend this book.』 『A national bestseller that has changed the way readers view the ecology of eating, this revolutionary book by award winner Michael Pollan asks the seemingly simple question: What should we have for dinner? Tracing from source to table each of the food chains that sustain us— whether industrial or organic, alternative or processed—he develops a portrait of the American way of eating. The result is a sweeping, surprising exploration of the hungers that have shaped our evolution, and of the profound implications our food choices have for the health of our species and the future of our planet.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Awesome! Just what I was looking for!) 『Not only does she teach you how to be vegan and give good reasons why (for you and for you to share with family&friends), but she also teaches you how to not eat sugar, and how to eat whole grains, sea vegetables, and avoid things that cause cancer, arthritis, and other such things. Her recipes are the healthiest recipes on the planet, and they look good, too! Check her out on kindlife.org to learn more about this wonderful book.』
(A food program that you can stick with) 『I have researched diet and health for years. I found books that gave the perfect solution for health problems, but the program was difficult to maintain. The Kind Diet is user friendly as there are cookies, cake, etc. so that one would not feel deprived. Sugar is addictive but once away from the sugar, you don't have the same cravings. Consequently sugar recipes aren't necessary, but it is an option. When you are denied any food, that is when you start craving. What Alicia states about eating animals is very credible. Anyone doubting this should see the DVD - Foods, Inc. When going cross country, I've seen the cattle standing in their own sludge and if you would see the way that chickens are processed, you'd never eat another one. The choice is up to the reader. The Point Alicia makes is that the housing and slaughter is not humane. Consequently we do not get a healthy food product. What Alicia states about the spiritual aspect of the diet is very credible. I haven't been on the program that long, but the results are amazing. I'd recommend it for anyone with a health concern or who just wants to be healthier. Kaye Loraine, BSN, RN, LNC』
(it's about a lifestyle, not a diet) 『While a large part of this book is about changing your food choices to vegetable based products, it is also about choosing a more sustainable lifestyle for yourself and the environment. I found the book to be well researched, yet easily digestible, all put together with a great attitude about how to live a life that is not just good for you but for the planet.
』
(Perfect read for the aspiring vegan) 『I've often played with the idea of becoming vegan, and Alicia's approach was totally inspiring without being at all pushy. She really reaches out to just about anybody no matter how serious they are or how much previous knowledge they have of the diet. I really hate to use the cliche term, but I seriously found this book to be "life-changing!"』
(Another great book...) 『
I'm not a vegan. Like many people, I'm simply looking for a better way of eating that will also translate into better health and better "being alive." I applaud Alicia Silverstone for using her name recognition in the service of helping many people achieve a greater level of health and happiness.
There's another equally wonderful book along these lines that will be of interest to the same people reading "The Kind Diet." Run, do not walk, to Jessica Porter's "The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics." Who knew macrobiotic eating could be such fun, and a macrobiotic teacher so wonderfully funny? Jessica Porter is a hoot, and the book is full of good ideas for healthy eating! Reading "The Kind Diet," one would almost think there's been a melding of the minds. Both books should be on the bookshelves of every person who wants to live a full and healthy life!』 『
InThe Kind Diet, actress, activist, and committed conservationist Alicia Silverstone shares the insights that encouraged her to swear off meat and dairy forever, and outlines the spectacular benefits of adopting a plant-based diet, from effortless weight loss to clear skin, off-the-chart energy, and smooth digestion. She explains how meat, fish, milk, and cheese—the very foods we’ve been taught to regard as the cornerstone of good nutrition—are actually the culprits behind escalating rates of diseaseandthe cause of dire, potentially permanent damage to our ecology.Yet going meat- and dairy-free doesn’t mean suffering deprivation; to the contrary,The Kind Dietintroduces irresistibly delicious food that satisfies on every level—it even includes amazing desserts to keep the most stubborn sweet tooth happy. Alicia also addresses the nutritional concerns faced by many who are new to a plant-based diet, and shows how to cover every nutritional base, from protein to calcium and beyond.Alicia knows that changing life-long dietary habits is a process, and that each person progresses at a different pace. For that reason,The Kind Dietencompasses 3 separate levels, from Flirting to Superhero.Flirtslearn to dip a toe into the vegan pool, reducing their meat-eating and swapping out a few key foods for plant-based substitutes to see quickly how even small changes can reap big results.Vegansget to experience the life-altering effects of forgoing animal-products entirely, while still enjoying many convenience foods and meat substitutes in addition to the wonderful grains, vegetables and fruits that form the core of that diet. True enlightenment comes with theSuperheroprogram, based on the principles of macrobiotics and built on a foundation of whole grains, vegetables, and other yummy foods that Alicia describes in detail.
Whether your goal is to drop a few pounds, boost your energy and metabolism, or simply save the world, Alicia provides the encouragement, the information, and the tools you need to make the transition to a plant-based diet deliciously empowering.
price：$11.70
Crown
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Irresponsible, Unethical Framing Mar An Interesting Story) 『At its heart, this is the story of the Lacks family and the cell line that was spawned from one woman, Henrietta Lacks. It is also the story, in a vague sense, of what the research done on those cells meant to her daughter, Deborah Lacks. It purports to be more than this, and many have willingly, indeed gladly, swallowed those claims, but I think that they lack support. For example, it purports to be about the history of medicine, but it is not. Rather, it discusses events that took place at one institution (Johns Hopkins Hospital) in one time frame, and then distorts them and seeks to make the reader form broad generalizations about scientists and doctors, and their actions and morals.
For example, in the beginning of the book, where Henrietta goes to Johns Hopkins to be diagnosed, Rebbecca Skloot seems to relish mentioning the fact that Henrietta Lacks was in the colored ward. At the very least, she takes every possible opportunity to work it into the story, along with the fact that she was African-American and her doctors were white. These facts are, quite honestly, completely incidental to the story. If you read this book, the people with whom Rebbecca Skloot spoke reliably mentioned that she received the standard of care for her time, regardless of her race. Despite this fact, Ms. Skloot goes out of her way to mention that, quite often, patient care was different for African-Americans than whites. In every way, Rebbecca Skloot seems to have sought out anything that would provoke outrage in readers. In the end, it is not clear, whether this was a result of Rebbecca Skloot framing her book in this fashion to win the approval and trust of the family (which may or may not have been necessary to receive their permission for printing) or whether it was a malicious gambit to improve sales.
By the end, I found the book obnoxious on many levels.
First, the vilification of scientists and doctors who are providing the standard of care, calling into question their intentions and actions without even allowing most of them (or their families) to speak on their behalf, combined with her constant framing of Henrietta's treatment as a race issue, which it clearly wasn't if you are paying attention, seems guaranteed to cast the doctors in the light of the villain, while Henrietta's family, with their self-imposed medical conditions, as victims of the doctors, society, and, well, everyone but themselves.
Second, the repetition of the stories about Johns Hopkins doctors "stealing" patients off of the street (who were inevitably characterized as African-Americans, as opposed to the white doctors), without bothering to look up something as simple as the number of people who were reported missing near Johns Hopkins to similar urban neighborhoods without a major research and medical clinic, shows, clearly, her bias and intent. I guess, though, that would merely give her the opportunity to claim that most people weren't reported missing because they were poor African-Americans, and the white police didn't want to take the missing persons reports.
Third, the vilification of scientists, was annoying beyond measure. Many, many times in the course of the book, Rebbecca Skloot would present ridiculous headlines fron the past, where a member of the press would dramatically misunderstand the findings of a scientist and would make some insane, sordid claim that would instill a greater fear of science into lay people. Admittedly, this is also the fault of the scientists involved, as they really need to do a better job of making sure that the press understands the story. (Which won't stop the press and journalists from misrepresenting it ANYWAY, but may stop some accidents, at least.) And that is really where this book lets us down, as we have to sit through the exaggerated claims that are in this book. But, in the end, I guess that is the difference between journalists and scientists. Scientists PROVE things, journalists SELL things.
Fourth, as a good example of this framing problem, Rebbecca Skloot spends three or so pages talking about the sociopathic behavior that a disgraced scientist exhibited, including a support for eugenics. While it is true that there were some scientists that were in favor of eugenics, there were others, including Thomas Hunt Morgan, who spoke out, vehemently, against the practice. Moreover, it is blatantly misleading to paint eugenics as a solely scientific endeavor. Rather, it included such luminaries as Sir Francis Galton (an anthropologist and statistician), H.G. Wells, Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt, future Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Emile Zola (a novelist), economists John Keynes, Irving Fisher, and Sidney Webb, and, notably, the journalists George Bernard Shaw and Lothrop Stoddard (and probably a lot more, but journalists don't tend to make history like people who DO things). None of this makes the practice, supported by so many scientists, any more excusable. If anything, their participation is what gave it such awful credibility, and they bear more responsbility than anyone. Nevertheless, none of these figures are mentioned, nor is the overwhelming popularity of the movement, worldwide. A little context would have been nice.
As I said at the outset, the irresponsible and inaccurate framing of the cultural surroundings of the book mar the story and make it impossible to really understand what happened and why. In the end, readers are left with an unjustified sense of outrage, and little new learned. At least, little that is accurate. 』
(Best first book since I've read since Seabiscuit) 『I loved this book, I think that it is well worth reading. My Paternal grandmother was a poor white woman who also died of cervical cancer in the early 1950's before I was born. Although she wasn't a good parent, my father grieved for her deeply- only once in my life did he ever tell me about her, and he mentioned how painful and difficult the radiation treatment had been for her, and that he thought that the treatment had killed her, not the cancer. Now I understand better what she, and my father, must have gone through. The story of the HeLa cell line is fascinating. Like the author, I remember hearing about HeLa cells in biology class. I also remember reading an article about the cells that would not die, and how it seemed creepy, like a science fiction movie. The author portrays the human woman behind the HeLa cells in a compassionate way. The portrayal of the Lacks family and their struggles is deeply moving- people struggling in the face of poverty, prejuidice, and family abuse. The book is a compelling, can't put down read.』
(Heartbreaking and beautiful, powerful history and important study in ethics) 『The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a multi-layered work of history, ethics and, to some extent autobiography. The author, Rebecca Skloot not only resurrects Ms. Lacks from a dehumanizing anonymity (being referred merely as "Hela" or worse as "Helen Lane") but she also restores a measure of dignity to the Lacks family who spent decades knowing little of the astonishing contributions made by the cells that were taken, without consent (an important issue in this work for those contemplating buying it), from Mrs. Lacks before her death from cervical cancer in 1951. Although this is Ms Skloot's first book, she does a very fine job of juggling the complex, intertwining stories of Mrs Lacks, her children, science (cell lines, DNA, genetics, matters relating to consent for tissue "donation") and her own efforts to understand a woman she first met vicariously in a college biology class. Not wanting to be a plot spoiler, I end by saying only that I hope Mrs. Lacks family has received a measure of peace, Henrietta will receive her rightful place in history and that the scholarship fund mentioned by Ms. Skloot can indeed be set up for the Lacks family. Of Ms. Skloot, I hope we will be reading more of her works in the future.』
(I would have bought it, if only...) 『The sample was deeply engaging but I don't want to buy a crippled e-book. If text-to-speech hadn't been blocked, I would have bought it.』
(Absolutely compelling story) 『I read a glowing review of this book last week in the NY Times and downloaded it immediately on my Kindle. Once I started, I couldn't stop reading it. It is incredible that this woman's story has gone untold for so many years. Skloot does a skillful job of interweaving Henrietta Lacks story with Skloot's own quest of trying to uncover Lacks life and connect with Lacks surviving family members. This will no doubt end up being one of the best books of 2010...don't miss it!』 『Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions.
Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.
Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the“colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia—a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo—to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.
Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biologicalmaterials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family—past and present—is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we controlthe stuff we are made of.
Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, whodied in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?
Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down,The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lackscaptures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.』 『Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2010: From a single, abbreviated life grew a seemingly immortal line of cells that made some of the most crucial innovations in modern science possible. And from that same life, and those cells, Rebecca Skloot has fashioned inThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacksa fascinating and moving story of medicine and family, of how life is sustained in laboratories and in memory. Henrietta Lacks was a mother of five in Baltimore, a poor African American migrant from the tobacco farms of Virginia, who died from a cruelly aggressive cancer at the age of 30 in 1951. A sample of her cancerous tissue, taken without her knowledge or consent, as was the custom then, turned out to provide one of the holy grails of mid-century biology: human cells that could survive--even thrive--in the lab. Known as HeLa cells, their stunning potency gave scientists a building block for countless breakthroughs, beginning with the cure for polio. Meanwhile, Henrietta's family continued to live in poverty and frequently poor health, and their discovery decades later of her unknowing contribution--and her cells' strange survival--left them full of pride, anger, and suspicion. For a decade, Skloot doggedly but compassionately gathered the threads of these stories, slowly gaining the trust of the family while helping them learn the truth about Henrietta, and with their aid she tells a rich and haunting story that asks the questions, Who owns our bodies? And who carries our memories? --Tom Nissley
Amazon Exclusive: Jad Abumrad ReviewsThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Jad Abumrad is host and creator of the public radio hitRadiolab, now in its seventh season and reaching over a million people monthly.Radiolabcombines cutting-edge production with a philosophical approach to big ideas in science and beyond, and an inventive method of storytelling. Abumrad has won numerous awards, including a National Headliner Award in Radio and an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science Journalism Award. Read his exclusive Amazon guest review ofThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks:
Honestly, I can't imagine a better tale.
A detective story that's at once mythically large and painfully intimate.
Just the simple facts are hard to believe: that in 1951, a poor black woman named Henrietta Lacks dies of cervical cancer, but pieces of the tumor that killed her--taken without her knowledge or consent--live on, first in one lab, then in hundreds, then thousands, then in giant factories churning out polio vaccines, then aboard rocket ships launched into space. The cells from this one tumor would spawn a multi-billion dollar industry and become a foundation of modern science--leading to breakthroughs in gene mapping, cloning and fertility and helping to discover how viruses work and how cancer develops (among a million other things). All of which is to say: the science end of this story is enough to blow one's mind right out of one's face.
But what's truly remarkable about Rebecca Skloot's book is that we also get the rest of the story, the part that could have easily remained hidden had she not spent ten years unearthing it: Who was Henrietta Lacks? How did she live? How she did die? Did her family know that she'd become, in some sense, immortal, and how did that affect them? These are crucial questions, because science should never forget the people who gave it life. And so, what unfolds is not only a reporting tour de force but also a very entertaining account of Henrietta, her ancestors, her cells and the scientists who grew them.
The book ultimately channels its journey of discovery though Henrietta's youngest daughter, Deborah, who never knew her mother, and who dreamt of one day being a scientist.
As Deborah Lacks and Skloot search for answers, we're bounced effortlessly from the tiny tobacco-farming Virginia hamlet of Henrietta's childhood to modern-day Baltimore, where Henrietta's family remains. Along the way, a series of unforgettable juxtapositions: cell culturing bumps into faith healings, cutting edge medicine collides with the dark truth that Henrietta's family can't afford the health insurance to care for diseases their mother's cells have helped to cure.
Rebecca Skloot tells the story with great sensitivity, urgency and, in the end, damn fine writing. I highly recommend this book.--Jad Abumrad
Look InsideThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Click on thumbnails for larger images
Henrietta and David Lacks, circa 1945.
Elsie Lacks, Henrietta’s older daughter, about five years before she was committed to Crownsville State Hospital, with a diagnosis of “idiocy.”
Deborah Lacks at about age four.
The home-house where Henrietta was raised, a four-room log cabin in Clover, Virginia, that once served as slave quarters. (1999)
Main Street in downtown Clover, Virginia, where Henrietta was raised, circa 1930s.
Margaret Gey and Minnie, a lab technician, in the Gey lab at Hopkins, circa 1951.
Deborah with her children, LaTonya and Alfred, and her second husband, James Pullum, in the mid-1980s.
In 2001, Deborah developed a severe case of hives after learning upsetting new information about her mother and sister.
Deborah and her cousin Gary Lacks standing in front of drying tobacco, 2001.
price：$14.45
American Psychological Association (APA)
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (did NOT receive the "first" edition...problem is corrected) 『I received mine and immediately looked to see which printing it was. It was NOT the first edition/printing. So it would seem the problem has been corrected. (This would not be Amazon's fault if something was wrong in the book though, it would be the publisher of the book!)』
(Great service!) 『Product was delivered as specified and in the condition specified. Product is useful for schoolwork and is worth the buy.』
(Not worth the worry) 『As you've probably already read, there are lots of errors in this edition of the book. I would encourage you to wait until further printings are done to ensure you get a corrected version, or just use the web-site for clarification. If you've a paper riding on your correct use of APA, then seriously reconsider this choice, and if you do purchase it, make sure you get the pages of corrections that have been issued for reference.』
(Third Printing: December 2009) 『I've been meaning to purchase this book since its release in July 2009 but was very hesitant, fearing that I might receive the infamous "first printing laden with errors". However, I need this for school and placed my order on Jan 31, 2010. My copy arrived today and instead of "Second printing: August 2009", mine states:
"Second printing: October 2009 Third printing: December 2009"
on the copyright page. I called the APA Service Center and their representative said that all copies except for the first printing should be free of errors. He also said that they are probably on their 7th printing now (not sure how true this is). Nonetheless, I am glad that Amazon finally seems to be selling the corrected version.』
(APA Manual-6th Edition) 『This edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) Manual is much smaller (in volume) than previous versions. It is written in a style that should be easily learned by new students, even though the basic principles remain challenging until well practiced. The 6th edition lacks a single page (which was found in previous editions) for "common forms" of reference listings, thus the omission forces the student to "dig" much deeper into the text to find the common forms for periodicals and non-periodicals. Also, the publisher has remained very vague in this edition (as in past editions) relative to the rules of abbreviation use for references and in-text citation. I wish that the American Psychological Association would strictly state that abbreviations are absolutely forbidden within reference listings and within in-text citations (with the only exceptions being for the allowable APA abbreviations list). Regardless, the 6th edition comes with ample guidance for its use from the APA website, thereby minimizing the learning curve for new students. Experienced APA users with find the manual an easier reference, in my opinion.』 『The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association" is the style manual of choice for writers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences. It provides invaluable guidance on all aspects of the writing process, from the ethics of authorship to the word choice that best reduces bias in language. Well-known for its authoritative and easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, and tone that will result in strong, simple, and elegant scientific communication. The sixth edition offers new and expanded instruction on publication ethics, statistics, journal article reporting standards, electronic reference formats, and the construction of tables and figures. The sixth edition has been revised and updated to include: new ethics guidance on such topics as determining authorship and terms of collaboration, duplicate publication, plagiarism and self-plagiarism, disguising of participants, validity of instrumentation, and making data available to others for verification; new journal article reporting standards to help readers report empirical research with clarity and precision; simplified APA heading style to make it more conducive to electronic publication; updated guidelines for reducing bias in language to reflect current practices and preferences, including a new section on presenting historical language that is inappropriate by present standards; new guidelines for reporting inferential statistics and a significantly revised table of statistical abbreviations; and, new instruction on using supplemental files containing lengthy data sets and other media. This book includes significantly expanded content on the electronic presentation of data to help readers understand the purpose of each kind of display and choose the best match for communicating the results of the investigation, with new examples for a variety of data displays, including electro physiological and biological data. It offers consolidated information on all aspects of reference citations, with an expanded discussion of electronic sources emphasizing the role of the digital object identifier (DOI) as a reliable way to locate information. It features expanded discussion of the publication process, including the function and process of peer review. It contains a discussion of ethical, legal, and policy requirements in publication; and guidelines on working with the publisher while the article is in press. Key to this edition of the Publication Manual is an updated and expanded Web presence. Look up additional supplemental material keyed to this book. This book lets you test your knowledge of APA Style with a free tutorial on style basics. It lets you learn about the changes in the sixth edition with a free tutorial reviewing key revisions. Sign up for an on-line course to enrich and enhance your understanding of APA Style. Read the APA Style blog and share your comments on writing and referencing. Consult frequently asked questions to sharpen your understanding of APA Style. This title lets you examine additional resources on such topics as ethics, statistics, and writing. It lets you familiarize yourself with submission standards for APA books and journals.』
price：$14.95
Viking Adult
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great selection) 『I would recommend this selection to anyone also who read Eat, Pray, Love. I read it over my 25th wedding anniversary and decided 25 more years would be great!!!!』
(a good editor needed) 『I finished this book in pretty much one go. The subject is interesting and the material well composed. She's witty as before and kept a keen eye on her surroundings, both physical and emotional. And I share many of the same thoughts as the author on the theme of marriage, love and being-a-woman-in-this-day-and-age. Glad to see I'm not alone and certainly there are people (smart ones too!) share these views.
Having said that, I must admit I could not get over the fact that she used the term 'moreover' 5 times a page. There are also passages that are repetitive and scattered. Where is the good editor when you need one? Hope it's not because she had to rush the book out so that nobody else read it before the final print!
』
(Where did you go Ms. Gilbert?) 『I love Elizabeth Gilbert! I loved Eat, Pray, Love. I have no problem reading it over and over again. I was anticipating having the same love for Committed. I bought it in the Seattle airport on my way back to Alaska. I read it while I was waiting for my flight. I hated it! As a self ascribed lover of all books dating and marriage related, I hated this book. The descriptions of Ms. Gilbert and Felipe's love affair was so much more detailed and vivid in Eat, Pray, Love. All of the descriptions in this book were terrible. How dare she criticize the immigration agent, when he was being kind and sympathetic. In case Ms. Gilbert did not realize(oh that's right because she was spending so much time jaunting around Asia), flying and immigration have changed throughout the world post 9-11. She had to have an inkling of an idea considering that her intended was not a US citizen. Rules are rules and they did not seem to be too terrible. She has got to be the only woman I know who would not want to marry someone they loved. I hated all of the historical tidbits about marriage. She should have just kept it a memoir. It would have been more enjoyable. 』
(Well, it wasn't horrible........) 『Reading this book was kind of like falling in love with a beautiful woman and then as you get to know her better, realizing sh's not a very nice person. I enjoyed Eat Pray Love. I think Elizabeth Gilbert is a good writer. But in Committed she comes across as just a very selfish, self involved narcissist and I got tired of her very quickly. This is a woman who apparently was unable to fathom why her grandmother valued her children over her expensive red coat and doesn't think it's a priority for her fiance's children (from a previous marriage) to attend their father's wedding. If those kinds of values appeal to you, maybe you will like the book. I didn't.』
(Interesting and an eye opener for the fantasy-land wanna-be brides.) 『Yes, it is not Eat, Pray, Love the sequel and she expresses that more than enough in the book. I personally, as a 33 year old single woman found it incredibly interesting. She did a lot of research on marriage, how it came about, the changes it went through over millennia... It was thought provoking, and it really helped me with questions I've had about love, and why do people get together if they don't want kids, or to keep up with the Jones', etc. I think she comes across as authentic, and I really appreciated her honesty, and her sharing of intimate moments, as well as the sharing of her very own private fears. I want to thank her for this book. She made many valid and interesting points. I think young women who are considering marriage should read this, not to talk themselves out of it, but to make sure they've really thought it through. It's not a fairy tale after all; it's your life.』 『At the end of her bestselling memoirEat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who’d been living in Indonesia when they met. Resettling in America, the couple swore eternal fidelity to each other, but also swore to never, ever, under any circumstances get legally married. (Both were survivors of previous bad divorces. Enough said.) But providence intervened one day in the formof the United States government, which—after unexpectedly detaining Felipe at an American border crossing—gave the couple a choice: they could either get married, or Felipe would never be allowed to enter the country again. Having been effectively sentenced to wed, Gilbert tackled her fears of marriage by delving into this topic completely, trying with all her might to discover through historical research, interviews, and much personal reflection what this stubbornly enduring old institution actually is. Told with Gilbert’s trademark wit, intelligence and compassion,Committedattempts to“turn on all the lights” when it comes to matrimony, frankly examining questions of compatibility, infatuation, fidelity, family tradition, social expectations, divorce risks and humbling responsibilities. Gilbert’s memoir is ultimately a clear-eyed celebration of love with all the complexityand consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails.』
price：$6.88
Back Bay Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Not just for anyone) 『It was a little confusing. I was asked to listen to it for work; I didn't really enjoy it. But someone who likes learning about marketing strategies would probably enjoy it.』
(Put down) 『When is the last time you felt withdrawal when you put your book down. Malcolm Gladwell is a genius somewhere between science, psychology, literature and common sense. A wonderful book!』
(I never received this book!) 『I would have liked to read The Tipping Point but the book never arrived in the mail. I am not ordering from Amazon in the future.』
(Not worth it) 『This book runs all over the place. It seems like Mr. Gladwell did not have enough info to make a full-length book so he just kept going over the same suff. Thoughts come and go without warning. The book rambles and was overall boring. Read Freakonomics by Levitt instead of Tipping Point.』
(What's the big deal?) 『In my opinion, this book suffers from the same "illness" as so many books that may have something useful and valid to say. Once a new point is made the supporting evidence/explanation goes on far too many pages to the point of distraction. I found myself constantly scanning forward to see when the next new point was going to made. If you read some of the intelligent, well-written reviews for this book on the 'net you actually will have the summation of the book and won't need to spend your money.』 『This celebrated New York Times bestsellernow poised to reach an even wider audience in paperbackis a book that is changing the way North Americans think about selling products and disseminating ideas. Gladwells new afterword to this edition describes how readers can constructively apply the tipping point principle in their own lives and work. Widely hailed as an important work that offers not only a road map to business success but also a profoundly encouraging approach to solving social problems.』 『"The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do." Although anyone familiar with the theory of memetics will recognize this concept, Gladwell'sThe Tipping Pointhas quite a few interesting twists on the subject.
For example, Paul Revere was able to galvanize the forces of resistance so effectively in part because he was what Gladwell calls a "Connector": he knew just about everybody, particularly the revolutionary leaders in each of the towns that he rode through. But Revere "wasn't just the man with the biggest Rolodex in colonial Boston," he was also a "Maven" who gathered extensive information about the British. He knew what was going on and he knew exactly whom to tell. The phenomenon continues to this day--think of how often you've received information in an e-mail message that had been forwarded at least half a dozen times before reaching you.
Gladwell develops these and other concepts (such as the "stickiness" of ideas or the effect of population size on information dispersal) through simple, clear explanations and entertainingly illustrative anecdotes, such as comparing the pedagogical methods ofSesame StreetandBlue's Clues, or explaining why it would be even easier to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with the actor Rod Steiger. Although some readers may find the transitional passages between chapters hold their hands a little too tightly, and Gladwell's closing invocation of the possibilities of social engineering sketchy, even chilling,The Tipping Pointis one of the most effective books on science for a general audience in ages. It seems inevitable that "tipping point," like "future shock" or "chaos theory," will soon become one of those ideas that everybody knows--or at least knows by name.--Ron Hogan』
price：$13.99
Harper
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (This book should be titled, "Happiness Project is....ME!!!") 『I was looking forward to this book but was greatly disappointed. This is the most self-centered book I have read in a long time. The author seemed to want credit for everything she was doing, especially in her marriage. I really feel sorry for her husband. I bet she wrote this book so she could get a pat on the back. I found myself skimming the book but finally put it down with annoyance. She had way too many quotes about happiness. The only redeeming parts of the book were the paragraphs from readers of her blog. What a waste of time!』
(AN EPIPHANY THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE!) 『What would happen if one day you had an epiphany in the unlikeliest of places--a city bus? "The days are long, but the years are short."
Thus begins Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun, in which, for one full year, she dedicates herself to making herself happier without significantly changing anything about her circumstances. Her changes came in the form of resolutions that would help her change her life, one step at a time. The first of her twelve commandments was "Be Gretchen," an important lesson for all of us. If we know what we like and what makes us feel good, we should only pursue resolutions that are based on our own needs.
Rubin's resolutions were based on the following actions: give proofs of love, ask for help, find more fun, keep a gratitude notebook, and forget about results.
Illuminating and entertaining, Rubin speaks to us in the voice of a friend (or neighbor) as she details her progress. One important lesson she learned: "If I keep my resolutions and do the things that make me happier, I end up feeling happier and acting more virtuously. Do good, feel good; feel good, do good." Most of what she describes is a way of taking specific actions that result in more positive experiences (and feelings).
Act as if, fake it `til you make it, etc. All are ways of changing and reframing events so that our actions lead to more positivity. Sometimes it's as simple as changing a voice tone or the wording of a message...from a negative spin to a positive one.
Mindfulness is another aspect of her plan. Finding ways to notice and be aware.
Each chapter is dedicated to a specific month, and for each one, she outlines specific tasks. One of her initial tasks, for example, is finding more energy, which involves getting enough sleep and more exercise. Then she moves on to clearing out the clutter. This is important to her because disorder was a constant drain on her energy.
Chock full of great ideas, I couldn't even imagine NOT doing this. So I'm thinking that I will dedicate one of my existent blogs to creating my own project. Probably my Obsessions and Compulsions blog!
This book deserves more than five stars. 』
(What's not to be happy about?) 『I love the concept of finding happiness in everyday life and I love self help books too. Gretchen Rubin has an entertaining writing style and I had high hopes for her book. As I read it though, I found myself feeling a little irritated and had this sense of waiting to find out what she was overcoming in order to be happy. It's just not there. She has a nice life with a good marriage, two healthy children, a satisfying career, plenty of whatever material goods she wants, etc. etc. What's not to be happy about? She completely lost me when she was describing her challenge in remaining happy when dealing with a cranky toddler. Oh, please. Come back and rewrite your book when you've had a real problem or two, Gretchen.
If she had talked about finding happiness in the face of, oh, let's say a chronic illness, difficult financial times, an autistic child, a divorce, a huge personal setback or ANYTHING which might be considered a larger challenge then her ideas might seem more respectable. Unfortunately, I just can't get right on board with someone who has "bravely" battled the challenge of an ordinary life and been able to come up happy.』
(Rubin's Year of Skimming) 『A year of skimming other pop-psychology self-help books does not qualify Rubin to give advice to anyone about anything. If she committed five years to her pursuit and then wrote a book she might have had something of value to say. There's a reason why first-year art students or M.D.'s or psychiatrists or Buddhists don't write books heralding their insights--because they haven't had any. If Rubin's book proves anything, it's that she couldn't possibly, in a mere year, have dug deeply enough into the problems of life to have come up with any useful conclusions. But let's face it, her chief reason for the publishing the book wasn't gaining insight; she wrote this book for one reason--book sales. She's been promoting the crap out of if since the day she conceived her flaccid project, and it worked. The book is selling well. But her book sales are more an indication of the pernicious effect Oprah and Deepak Chopra have had on our society than of any inherent value in Rubin's paper-thin insights. As a society, we're only too happy to be satisfied with prescriptions for happiness that involve something easy like making your bed, or a fifteen-minute walk. The real reasons for our society's discontent are many and substantial, and talking about these issues won't make you feel good and are not easily patched over. And the worst part is that, like Sarah Palin's success, the success of Rubin's nauseatingly-simplistic tome will guarantee endless subsequent nauseatingly-simplistic tomes. Her drek is here to stay. The bottom line: save yourself the trouble and wasted effort of reading Rubin's book, and go to the original sources she cites and figure out your own route--this way, you might actually learn something.』
(Mistitled Book) 『This book is very well written and it is interesting to read, especially if you know the author. I think the book should be titled "My happiness Project," since it represents the author's project, not happiness in general. Essentially, the book falls under the category of those views of happiness which are developmental, as Maslow and Csikszentmihaly would describe. From this perspective, the book describes what the author did to acquire or obtain happiness; it does not describe what happiness is. It does not fall under the category of clasic theories or views of happiness, only of characteristics of the pursuit of happiness.』 『
Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.
In this lively and compelling account of that year, Rubin carves out her place alongside the authors of bestselling memoirs such asJulie and Julia,The Year of Living Biblically, andEat, Pray, Love. With humor and insight, she chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier.
Rubin didn't have the option to uproot herself, nor did she really want to; instead she focused on improving her life as it was. Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions: give proofs of love, ask for help, find more fun, keep a gratitude notebook, forget about results. She immersed herself in principles set forth by all manner of experts, from Epicurus to Thoreau to Oprah to Martin Seligman to the Dalai Lama to see what worked for her—and what didn't.
Her conclusions are sometimes surprising—she finds that money can buy happiness, when spent wisely; that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that "treating" yourself can make you feel worse; that venting bad feelings doesn't relieve them; that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference—and they range from the practical to the profound.
Written with charm and wit,The Happiness Projectis illuminating yet entertaining, thought-provoking yet compulsively readable. Gretchen Rubin's passion for her subject jumps off the page, and reading just a few chapters of this book will inspire you to start your own happiness project.
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