Science & Technology Reviews, October 1, 2010
Oct 1, 2010AGRICULTURE
Fogle, Bruce. Dog: The Definitive Guide for Dog Owners. Firefly. 2010. 384p. illus. photogs. index. ISBN 9781554077793. $39.95; pap. ISBN 9781554077007. $29.95. PETS
The subtitle says it all. Fogle, veterinarian and author of more than 20 books on pet care, has written a one-volume compendium on everything canine. He begins with an explanation of the dog's evolution, genetics, and classification. Then he delves into the human-dog relationship, giving up-to-date information and advice about selecting and training a new puppy, surviving its adolescence, enjoying its adulthood, coping with its declining years, and, finally, coming to grips with its demise. Eye-catching, full-color illustrations enhance almost every page. VERDICT Fogle has the well-deserved reputation of being the world's best-selling practicing veterinarian. He merges current scientific research with his own clinical experience, unabashed love of dogs, and delightful sense of humor into an easy-to-read, attractive, indispensable guide for the novice and veteran dog owner alike. This book updates and combines his understanding of canine behavior in The Dog's Mind (1992), the breed information of The New Encyclopedia of the Dog (2000), and the training advice of Complete Dog Care Manual (2006). Dog-loving patrons will want this one.—Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY
Rsbüldt, Anke. Skin Diseases of the Horse: Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment. Cadmos. 2010. c.80p. photogs. ISBN 9783861279785. pap. $19.95. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
German veterinarian and equine specialist Rüsbüldt is the author of numerous medical books about horses, including Horse Anatomy and First Aid for My Horse. Her latest contribution to the field is very short, yet it thoroughly covers the 50 most common skin diseases and includes many helpful color photographs. The book is divided into five sections: introduction, diagnosis, infectious and noninfectious diseases, and prevention. The writing is straightforward and easy to understand, making it clearly a book intended for a lay audience. This concise work compares favorably with other books on horse health, such as Caring for the Older Horse: How to Keep Your Veteran Fit and Healthy by Claudia Jung. For a smaller library serving a horse community, however, a more comprehensive volume on horse health, such as 101 Veterinary Tips for Horse Owners: Health Care and Problem Prevention, might be a better buy. VERDICT Recommended for large libraries located in horse communities.—Patsy E. Gray, Huntsville P.L., AL
Strawbridge, Dick & James Strawbridge. Self Sufficiency for the 21st Century. DK. 2010. 304p. ed. by Sharon Amos & Emma Callery. illus. photogs. index. ISBN 9780756663209. $30. AGRI
British father and son Dick and James Strawbridge (cohosts, It's Not Easy Being Green, BBC, UK) share their years of experience working Newhouse Farm, their smallholding in Cornwall, England, describing how everyone, including urban and suburban dwellers, can become more self-sufficient and environmentally conscious. They cover everything from conserving energy, harnessing energy from wind and water, gardening, and keeping livestock, to cheese making and creating willow baskets. Using step-by-step instructions and numerous useful photographs, the two show the reader, in just a few pages per subject, how to perform often complex tasks. Their enthusiastic, engaging style makes for easy reading, and the book paints a realistic picture of what it would be like to live as self-sufficiently as possible on a small farm. Many of the subjects they include, however, such as raising livestock, rate an entire book by themselves. VERDICT This is a useful overview of the range of possibilities for becoming more self-sufficient, written by knowledgeable authors, with the understanding that beginners would need additional instruction to handle many of the tasks.—Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., IL
HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Against Health: How Health Became the New Morality. New York Univ. Nov. 2010. c.240p. ed. by Jonathan M. Metzl & Anna Kirkland. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9780814795934. pap. $22. HEALTH
Building on the 2006 Against Health conference, this collection of essays reexamines the definition of "health," particularly as a mechanism for moral judgment. Experts in anthropology, bioethics, women's studies, law, and literature examine the influences of business, politics, globalization, and science on health in the United States. Contributors explain how changing definitions of health may lead to the stigmatization of people who fall outside of the ideal and how these views influence their individual freedoms. Others examine how the pressure to market pharmaceuticals can lead to overemphasizing disease symptoms to justify the need for new medications. A particularly interesting piece explores how an increased emphasis on evidence-based research may remove health care from those who need it the most. A final essay tackles how society's fear of pain may lead to unfortunate decisions for the terminally ill or for those with disabilities. VERDICT Lots of food for thought—this highly philosophical book may discourage some readers but will be of interest to those wanting to stretch their views on health care.—Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida St. Petersburg Lib.
Chopra, Sanjiv & Alan Lotvin with David Fisher. Doctor Chopra Says: Medical Facts and Myths Everyone Should Know. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Dec. 2010. c.448p. index. ISBN 9780312376925. $26.99. HEALTH
If you've ever been intrigued by ads for newsletters that promise to tell you "what doctors don't want you to know," just buy this book. Chopra (medicine, Harvard Medical Sch.) and cardiologist Lotvin want us to know everything, including the myths that sometimes get in the way of good medical care. Arranged in six sections—"Food and Drink," "Drugs," "Vitamins and Supplements," "Medicine," "Alternative Medicine," and "Health Risks"—the book covers prevalent theories one by one. Each is analyzed according to current scientific research and shown to be either true or false or somewhere in between. For instance: no, vaccines do not cause autism. And yes, one glass of red wine a day is good for you. VERDICT Well organized and easy to read, this title will be of interest to anyone interested in medical science. Highly recommended.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH
Fields, Stanley & Mark Johnston. Genetic Twists of Fate. MIT. Oct. 2010. c.240p. ISBN 9780262014700. $24.95. MED
The sequencing of the human genome has led to research that sometimes suggests that the cure for a disease is imminent because the gene that causes it has been found. The reality is not quite that simple, so it is good that this new book geared to the general public takes a realistic look at what we know about genetics and how it relates to medicine. Fields (genome sciences and medicine, Univ. of Washington) and Johnston (chair of biochemistry and molecular genetics, Univ. of Colorado School of Medicine) have written an engaging text that uses case studies and stories of famous people to illustrate genetic principles and progress in treating diseases such as diabetes, phenylketonuria, Huntington's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's), and Alzheimer's. The ethics of how we use genetic knowledge is also considered. VERDICT Recommended for public and university libraries with consumer health collections and readers looking for straight information.—Margaret Henderson, Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Lib., Richmond
Friedman, Howard S. & Leslie R. Martin. The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study. Hudson Street. Mar. 2011. c.272p. index. ISBN 9781594630750. $25.95. HEALTH
Analyzing the data from the Terman study and following up on the 1500 participants, Friedman (psychology, Univ. of California, Riverside) and Martin (psychology, La Sierra Univ.) investigate why some people live until old age while others die or become ill prematurely. Unlike most studies, this work looks at key psychological factors, habits, and patterns that affect health and longevity over time. Some of the authors' conclusions about achieving longevity are surprising. Factors such as the study participants' sociability, conscientiousness, happiness, and religious involvement were analyzed to show which patterns lead over time to an increased life span. The authors have provided a well-written and easy-to-follow analysis of this interesting study. Readers will enjoy the self-assessment quizzes that allow them to see where they fit into the profile. A list of research collaborators and references is also provided. VERDICT Recommended for most public libraries and readers interested in consumer health issues.—Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs. & Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Health Syst., Richmond
Graber, Alan L., M.D., & others. A Life of Control: Stories of Living with Diabetes. Vanderbilt Univ. Nov. 2010. c.184p. ISBN 9780826517326. $39.95; pap. ISBN 9780826517333. $19.95. HEALTH
Many books describe the physical and psychological effects of diabetes. Few allow those with the disease to share their stories in an empathetic and educational fashion. Endocrinologist Graber's interviews with almost 40 patients highlight the challenges, failures, successes, and coping mechanisms that have helped or hindered diabetic control. Part 1 emphasizes that the patient's role is far more important than the clinician's; those who can accept and maintain responsibility for self-management are generally healthier and have a greater sense of control. Part 2 illustrates the effects of diabetes on the family and the impact the family can have on the patient's controlling the disease. Part 3 describes how the social and physical environment of work, school, and play can affect how people manage their health. The fourth and final part addresses the role of the clinician/patient relationship in promoting trust and influencing positive lifestyle changes. VERDICT Readers can find many lessons, gently provided, from those who are experiencing similar challenges. Recommended for consumer health collections and for diabetes patients and their families.—Janet Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa
Grant, Gilbert J., M.D. Epidural Without Guilt: Childbirth Without Pain. Hastings. Oct. 2010. c.128p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780975993934. pap. $14.95. MED
Portions of this slim paperback should be required reading for pregnant women. Few books get this detailed about epidural pain relief, and it is such important information for women to have as they consider their options during childbirth. Unfortunately, the book is marred by bias. The author, an anesthesiologist, is dismissive of natural childbirth to a degree that is sure to turn off natural childbirth advocates before they even reach the best, most factual chapters. His suggestion that women continue epidural pain relief into the postpartum period may surprise many readers. He acknowledges that not all will have such a painful postpartum period that they will need anesthetics, but awareness that it is possible may be a comfort to first-time moms. Throughout the book, the author speaks almost exclusively of "walking epidurals," a lower, less risky dose of anesthetics. Chapters 6 and 9, a guided tour of epidurals and spinals, and a discussion of risks, respectively, are particularly informative. VERDICT Readers who want to justify their decision to anesthetize during labor will flock to this book. Many will pass it by or be turned off by the first few chapters. Libraries will likely want to have it available.—Mindy Rhiger, St. Paul
Moynihan, Ray & Barbara Mintzes. Sex, Lies and Pharmaceuticals: How Drug Companies Plan To Profit from Female Sexual Dysfunction. Greystone: Douglas & McIntyre, dist. by PGW. Oct. 2010. c.272p. index. ISBN 9781553655084. pap. $17.95. HEALTH
Moynihan (Selling Sickness), an academic researcher and health journalist in Australia, here monitors the creation of a new medical condition called female sexual dysfunction (FSD). It appears pharmaceutical companies are sponsoring relevant medical research, while helping to design the tools to diagnose FSD. Meanwhile, a feminist backlash is building against making a condition out of low desire. Moynihan reviews the pervasive support that pharmaceutical companies offer to medical associations, conferences, seminars, journals, and research studies. Mintzes (pharmacology, Univ. of British Columbia) contributes a chapter describing how Viagra and similar medications have been promoted. The public now sees erectile dysfunction as a physical problem that can easily be treated. Mintzes is concerned that something similar could happen with new drugs or hormones designed for women. VERDICT Moynihan presents a solid, detailed study of how the influence of the pharmaceutical industry may be distorting medical science. This book will be of most interest to students and those broadly concerned about health issues.—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., B.C.
Nijhawan, Niraj, M.D. Modern Medicine Is Killing You: Start Your Healthcare Revolution Now! LEO. Nov. 2010. 292p. illus. ISBN 9780984337200. pap. $19.95. HEALTH
Modern medicine's technological wonders may seem marvelous, but Nijhawan, a practicing physician for 18 years, argues that all the gadgetry may not make us healthier, and it may lead us to undergo invasive procedures that use the technology instead of relying on what he calls "life ecology factors" such as diet, exercise, and stress reduction. Despite medicine's inability to prove technology's superior outcomes, it is profitable, so hospitals keep using it. The book urges patients to inform themselves about the success rates of various procedures and whether lifestyle changes might be a better way to heal. This book's strength is that it makes key criticisms of American health care accessible to a general readership. VERDICT In an attempt to be funny, the book's use of hypothetical case studies can be annoying and patronizing, and the author fails to recognize the need for clinical judgments about particular cases beyond statistics. Still, Nijhawan should be commended for attempting to speak about the problems of American health care in a manner that general readers can grasp.—Aaron Klink, Duke Univ., Durham, NC
Rankin, Lissa, M.D. What's Up Down There?: Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend. Griffin: St. Martin's. Oct. 2010. 400p. ISBN 9780312644369. pap. $14.99. HEALTH
This graphically hilarious account of a gynecologist's daily routine will keep you turning the pages with questions like, "What's the grossest thing you've ever seen?" Rankin, a practicing gynecologist and founder of the Owning Pink website, has written the entire book in Q&A format, covering sex, menopause, pregnancy, fertility, and any other question about vaginas and women's health that you could ever contemplate. It's not all just funny stories and embarrassing questions, though; in fact, quite a bit of the book is about sex and would work well as an educational tool for young women and men, though the tone of the book ("I hear you, sister") really addresses women. Writing in an empowering style, Rankin intermixes consumer health information with commonsense advice that everyone is different physically and emotionally. VERDICT Great fun and guaranteed to teach you something about your body or answer a question you were afraid to ask, this bookis recommended for women everywhere and men who are interested in learning something new about sex.—Elizabeth Williams, Washoe Cty. Lib. Syst., Reno, NV
HOME ECONOMICS
Fasenfest, Harriet. A Householder's Guide to the Universe: A Calendar of Basics for the Home, Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond. Tin House. Nov. 2010. 260p. illus. ISBN 9780982569153. pap. $16.95. HOME ECON
Fasenfest, a former restaurant owner and cook, writes an intimate reflection on a year of "householding," the art of managing the small-scale economy of a household. The book is organized by month, and each chapter is divided into "Home," "Kitchen," and "Garden" sections. Readers will find concrete tips on planting, harvesting, canning, preserving, and cleaning. Fasenfest skillfully cultivates an appreciation for skills that have been lost in our modern quest for convenience, while also showing readers why householding makes sense as an antidote to the destruction of our current economic system. VERDICT Helpful charts, a scattering of recipes, and personal stories make this hybrid how-to/memoir an enjoyable and informative read for aspiring urban homesteaders as well as those who would rather household vicariously. Readers who enjoyed Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life will find something to appreciate here. [Four-city tour.]—Rukshana Singh, Torrance P.L., CA
Bader, Beth & Ali Benjamin. The Cleaner Plate Club: More Than 100 Recipes for Real Food Your Kids Will Love. Storey. Jan. 2011. 312p. illus. index. ISBN 9781603425858. pap. $16.95. COOKING
"Real moms" and food bloggers Bader and Benjamin join forces to educate, inform, and inspire us about feeding the kids. They've endeavored to create a kind of handbook with guidelines for family nutrition by providing healthy recipes, supermarket strategies, and vegetable profiles. Sprinkled with quotations (from Michael Pollan, among others, of course!), the book also includes interesting information on pesticide residues in produce, analyses of oils, and tips for dealing with sugar fiends and balky eaters. The resource section lists organizations, publications, and favorite cookbooks. Presented in a colorful, kid-friendly style, with mom-next-door chatty text, this guide offers advice on what to choose and how to cook it in a fast-food age. VERDICT The market for books on this subject continues to grow following Pollan's 2006 best seller, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and this is a useful addition. Great for public libraries and all readers interested in healthy cooking/shopping for the family.—Barb Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO
David, Laurie (text) with Kirstin Uhrenholdt (recipes) & Maryellen Baker (photogs.) & Sarah Coleman (illus.). The Family Dinner: Great Ways To Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time. Grand Central Life & Style. Nov. 2010. c.256p. illus. index. ISBN 9780446565462. $29.99. COOKING
David (producer of An Inconvenient Truth) here champions the family dinner as an oasis from the overprogrammed lives we lead. Chapters include "Kids in the Kitchen," "Table Talk," and "Two Homes, One Table: Family Dinner After Divorce." She intersperses quotations as well as short interviews throughout the book with various celebrities and chefs, President Obama, and food writers of the moment such as Michael Pollan and Jonathan Safran Foer. She discusses the value of grandparents and saying grace, and she gives readers ideas for conversations and games. David's premise is somewhat undercut, however, by her use of a cook, Uhrenholdt, who contributes more than 75 recipes to the book. Many readers may lack the time to relax and eat with their families if they cannot afford the luxury of a personal cook. VERDICT This book is filled with recipes, ideas, happy photos, and good info and resources to improve the family dinner experience. However, Bader and Benjamin's The Cleaner Plate Club (see review, above) offers a more down-to-earth take on kids and food.—Barb Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO
SCIENCES
Weintraub, David A. How Old Is the Universe? Princeton Univ. Dec. 2010. c.368p. illus. ISBN 9780691147314. $29.95. SCI
Since astronomers already know the answer to this eponymous question to an accuracy of better than one percent (13.7 billion years), this book might perhaps be more aptly titled How Do We Know How Old the Universe Is? Throughout the text, Weintraub (astronomy, Vanderbilt Univ.; Is Pluto a Planet?: A Historical Journey Through the Solar System) takes the reader steadily outward, explaining step by step how astronomers have gleaned key information from clever observations and a grounding in testable principles of physics. Unfortunately, once he begins his discussion of dark matter (about two-thirds of the way through), the science behind the claims of what is well known goes largely unexplained. Since he has done such a wonderful job of it up to this point, readers may forgive the necessity, especially since a graduate course or two would be required to follow all the intricacies. VERDICT Weintraub outlines the rigorous process astronomers have followed from Earth itself out to the edge of the observable universe and makes it accessible to the science-minded lay reader. Highly recommended.—Marcia R. Franklin, St. Paul
Woestendiek, John. Dog, Inc.: The Uncanny Inside Story of Cloning Man's Best Friend. Avery: Penguin Group (USA). Dec. 2010. c.320p. index. ISBN 9781583333914. $26. SCI
This Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and Ohmidog.com blogger's book has quite an entertaining cast of characters: Snuppy, the Seoul National University–cloned puppy; the Missyplicity Texas A&M dog-cloning project; Genetic Savings & Clone; the Golden Clone giveaway; and Dolly the sheep and the man who cloned her, Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute. Dogs are proving more challenging to clone than expected, and dog cloning may never be much more than an expensive assisted-reproductive technology. But the ethics of and expectations for animal cloning are well worth examining and deliberating, and Woestendiek has produced an accessible and readable account of its ongoing history and relatively limited successes. VERDICT A valuable contribution illuminating the hubris and futility of trying to replicate dead pets (or people) that will appeal to dog lovers and those interested in cloning and science.—Mary Chitty, Cambridge Healthtech Lib., Needham, MA
Wootton, David. Galileo: Watcher of the Skies. Yale Univ. Oct. 2010. c.354p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780300125368. $35. SCI
Wootton (history, Univ. of York) here focuses on the intellectual life of Galileo Galilei, whom he calls the first true and modern scientist. Galileo's inventions, plus his adaptation of the telescope from a curiosity to a scientific instrument, enabled him to transform his observations into discoveries. Galileo, writes Wootton, also was the first to devise and defend the idea of "the fact," an essential scientific concept. Nevertheless, Galileo was flawed, for he was vain and self-destructive. His science was also sometimes flawed: for instance, he was wrong about the cause of the tides and the nature of comets. Showing his tendency not to live by others' rules, Galileo stubbornly left Venice, where he likely would have been protected from the Roman Inquisition. On trial for supporting Copernicanism (heliocentrism), he was convicted on grave suspicion of heresy and spent the rest of his life under house arrest, eventually going blind. VERDICT Wootton's stark but fair telling of Galileo's life story makes this biography a must-read for all students of the history of science.—Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado at Denver
