self help

 

The next JPCLA Reader’s Advisory Roundtable (RART) meeting will be on Zoom on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 9am and we’ll be discussing mental illness and disability in fiction.

Due to the recent internet outage the cooperative is experiencing this morning, the voting agenda for topics and moderator (should any one else have a wish to run) for 2021-22 has been pushed back to the October meeting.

Keep your email eyes peeled for the upcoming JCPLA Staff Appreciation Week the end of September.  Your executive committee is hard at work crafting quality content for you! If you or your library offers online form-based reader’s advisory, or any other virtual RA, do let me know at hwesley@oneallibrary.org.

This morning, RART met on Zoom for a discussion of self-help titles. All blurbs pulled from amazon.com unless otherwise noted.

Thirteen in attendance:

Holley W, O’Neal
Paul C, BPL Southside
Loretta J, BPL Powderly
Tamiko N, BPL North Birmingham
Lynn H, BPL Central
Beth L, BPL Central Southern History
Nicole L, Tarrant
Erika W, BPL Smithfield
Jiemin F, BPL Central Circulation
Shawn C, Pinson
Leigh W, BPL North Birmingham
I did not catch a library name for Jackie N and Lawana R. 

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney

One of the world's most esteemed and influential psychologists, Roy F. Baumeister, teams with New York Times science writer John Tierney to reveal the secrets of self-control and how to master it.

Holley, O’Neal Library

The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll

New York Times bestseller! A powerful goal-setting and time-management system for anyone trying to organize their lives by the founder of the enormously popular Bullet Journal® planner.

Lynn, BPL Central

What a Time to Be Alone: The Slumflower’s Guide to Why You Are Already Enough by Chidera Eggerue

Peppered with insightful Igbo proverbs from Chidera's Nigerian mother and full of her own original artwork, What A Time To Be Alone will help you navigate the modern world. We can all decide our own fates and Chidera shows us how, using a three part approach filled with sass, wisdom, and charm.

Shawn, Pinson

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature.

Shawn, Pinson

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

In the New York Times bestseller, Boundaries, Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend help you learn when to say yes and know how to say no in order to take control of your life and set healthy, biblical boundaries with your spouse, children, friends, parents, co-workers, and even yourself.

Shawn, Pinson

Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie

With instructive life stories, personal reflections, exercises, and self-tests, Codependent No More is a simple, straightforward, readable map of the perplexing world of codependency--charting the path to freedom and a lifetime of healing, hope, and happiness.

Shawn, Pinson

Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too by Jomny Sun

Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too is the illustrated story of a lonely alien sent to observe Earth, only to meet all sorts of creatures with all sorts of perspectives on life, love, and happiness, all while learning to feel a little better about being an alien—based on the enormously popular Twitter account, @jonnysun.

Holley, O’Neal Library

On Death and Dying: What the Dying Have to Teach Doctors, Nurses, Clergy and Their Own Families by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

One of the most important psychological studies of the late twentieth century, On Death and Dying grew out of Dr. Kübler-Ross’s famous interdisciplinary seminar on death, life, and transition. In this remarkable book, Dr. Kübler-Ross first explored the now-famous five stages of death: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Through sample interviews and conversations, she gives readers a better understanding of how imminent death affects the patient, the professionals who serve that patient, and the patient's family, bringing hope to all who are involved.

Leigh, BPL North Birmingham

The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck

Written in a voice that is timeless in its message of understanding, The Road Less Traveled continues to help us explore the very nature of loving relationships and leads us toward a new serenity and fullness of life. It helps us learn how to distinguish dependency from love; how to become a more sensitive parent; and ultimately how to become one’s own true self.

Holley, O’Neal Library

Safe People: How to Find Relationships that are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren’t by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend offer solid guidance for making safe choices in relationships, from family to friendship, romance, and work. 

Loretta, BPL Powderly

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing I the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin

In this lively and compelling account, Rubin 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. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

Holley, O’Neal Library

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis

Rachel is real and talks about real issues. More than that, she reveals the specific practical strategies that helped her move past them. In the process, she encourages, entertains, and even kicks a little butt, all to convince you to do whatever it takes to get real and become the joyous, confident woman you were meant to be. Because you really can live with passion and hustle – and give yourself grace without giving up.

Shawn, Pinson

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis

With a challenge to women everywhere to stop talking themselves out of their dreams, Hollis identifies the excuses to let go of, the behaviors to adopt, and the skills to acquire on the path to growth, confidence, and believing in yourself.

Shawn, Pinson

The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Greene (not available in the JCLC system)

In The 50th Law, hip hop and pop culture icon 50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson) joins forces with Robert Greene, best-selling author of The 48 Laws of Power, to write a "bible" for success in life and work, based on a single principle: fear nothing. This deeply inspirational book is perfect for entrepreneurs as well as anyone interested in the extraordinary life of Curtis Jackson.

 

Shawn, Pinson

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.

Jiemin, BPL Central Circuation

The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships by Esther & Jerry Hicks

This book uncovers a myriad of false premises that are at the heart of every uncomfortable relationship issue, and guides you to a clear understanding of the powerful creative Vortex that has already assembled the relationships that you have desired. 

Jiemin, BPL Central Circulation

What Color is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard N. Bolles

With more than 10 million copies sold in 28 countries, the world's most popular job-search book is updated each year, tailoring Richard Bolles's long-trusted guidance with up-to-the-minute information and advice for today's job-hunters and career-changers.

Leigh, BPL North Birmingham

 

GENERAL DISCUSSION:

Books coauthored by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Brene Brown’s work

Those expletives books:

The Badass series of books by Jen Sincero

Unfu*k Yourself series of books by Gary John Bishop

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

consumer health

RART met last week for a discussion of consumer health resources.  The next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 6th at the Avondale Library at 9am and the topic up for discussion will be audiobooks and digital material.  The meeting was moved from our normal 2nd Wednesday to avoid conflict with the Alabama Library Association annual conference in nearby Gadsden, AL.

Annotations obtained from www.amazon.com unless otherwise noted.

This Is What You Just Put In Your Mouth: From Eggnog to Beef Jerky, the Surprising Secrets of What's Inside Everyday Products by Patrick Di Justo

What do a cup of coffee and cockroach pheromone have in common? How is Fix-A-Flat like sugarless gum? Is a Slim Jim meat stick really alive? If I Can't Believe It's Not Butter isn't butter, what is it? All of these pressing questions and more are answered in This Is What You Just Put In Your Mouth? Based on his popular Wired magazine column What's Inside, Patrick Di Justo takes a cold, hard, and incredibly funny look at the shocking, disgusting, and often dumbfounding ingredients found in everyday products, from Cool Whip and Tide Pods to Spam and Play-Doh. He also shares the madcap stories of his extensive research, including tracking down a reclusive condiment heir, partnering with a cop to get his hands on heroin, and getting tight-lipped snack-food execs to talk. Along the way, he schools us on product histories, label decoding, and the highfalutin chemistry concepts behind everything from Midol to Hostess fruit pies.

Packed with facts you're going to want to share immediately, this is infotainment at its best—and most fun!—which will have you giving your shampoo the side-eye and Doritos a double take, and make you the know-it-all in line at the grocery store.

Mondretta, Leeds

Stretching in the Office by Bob Anderson

This book provides simple stretching routines to make high-tech life healthier. Easy-to-follow instructions and line drawings accompany each stretch. The book also includes tips on creating an ergonomic workstation. “Task-specific stretches that keep you stress-free on the job.” — Self magazine “Addresses the dilemma of the ... workday: getting in some exercise when you have no time to work out.” — Publishers Weekly

Mondretta, Leeds

Ministry of Health and Healing: An Adaptation of the Ministry of Healing by Ellen G. White

Many things contribute to good health—cheerfulness, fresh air, exercise, diet, and positive relationships with other people, to name a few. Crucial also is a personal relationship with the Creator who gave us life and everything we need for health and happiness. In this book Ellen White deals with sickness of the soul and the healing balm to be found by trusting God for all things. Written in simple, beautiful language, Ministry of Healing will point you to a life full of joy and gladness—a life in touch with the Source of healing power.

Mondretta, Leeds

Deadly Emotions: Understand the Mind-Body-Spirit Connection That Can Heal or Destroy You by Don Colbert

Did you know that negative emotions can adversely affect your health? Depression, anger, guilt, condemnation, low self-esteem-these are only a few of the lethal toxins that threaten body and spirit.

Offering a clear definition of deadly emotions-what they are, where they come from, how they manifest themselves, and their effects on the body-Dr. Colbert uses scientific evidence to support his views. He further offers hope in the form of God's power to deliver readers from these toxins, focusing on the power of forgiveness and repentance, the value of a merry heart, and the joy of the Lord. Finally, Dr. Colbert shares insights on the role nutrition plays in removing the physical toxins that inhibit true health.

Mondretta, Leeds

Eat This, Not That series by David Zinczenko:

Eat This, Not That! first came on the scene in 2007 and now there are almost as many variations of it as there are of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Basically, this series is about choices and how by making some changes that won’t leave you feeling deprived, you can cut your calories, lose weight, and improve your health. For the meeting I picked three examples: Eat This, Not That! (Updated for 2012), Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide, and Eat It to Beat It! The format is similar in all three books:  a good choice on one side will be contrasted with a bad choice on the other side, with all the reasons for each choice spelled out. As an example, someone might open the Restaurant Survival Guide to California Pizza Kitchen and see that the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza is listed on the good choice side, along with several other sensible menu options, while on the other side of the page is the bad choice, the BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad. The format makes comparison and contrast easy and there are vivid photos along with other hints like “Hidden Dangers” and “Weapons of Mass Destruction” to warn readers of the real calorie bombs.

I like that this series is about good choices and lifestyle changes and not the deprivation associated with the term “going on a diet,” which instantly sounds like you can’t have anything that tastes good again, EVER. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that you can have foods like ice cream, cookies, pasta, and fast food without necessarily piling on the pounds or courting a coronary. You do have to be realistic about portion sizes and looking at labels. And prepare to be surprised—did you notice how in the CPK example above, a pizza is a better choice than a salad? Who knew? And you may find that some things you are already enjoying fall on the “good” side of the equation.  Take a look through the series and find the Eat This, Not That!

approach that is perfect for your needs.

Restaurant Survival Guide

Eat This, Not That 2012 edition

Eat It To Beat It

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

In early 2012 I was diagnosed with glossopharyngeal neuralgia of idiopathic origin, which was a fancy way for my doctors to tell me, “Your throat hurts and we don’t know why.” This was my introduction to the world of chronic pain. I was more fortunate than some: though no one has found a way to “cure” my condition, my physicians and counselors were able to come up with a combination of medicines that alleviate the worst of the pain and allow me to function. I have the occasional bad day with my neuralgia, but for some chronic pain patients, living with pain means grinding hardship on a daily basis.

The two books I selected for the meeting were choices I thought would be helpful for a pain patient and for their families, friends, and doctors. The Truth About Chronic Pain is a series of interviews with pain patients, their families and caregivers, and members of the medical community.  It would help almost anyone to a better understanding of why chronic pain can be soul-destroying—sometimes the frustrations of dealing with people who don’t understand how bad you feel can be almost as bad as the pain itself—and how chronic pain often opens the door to a host of other conditions such as depression.  A Nation in Pain examines how and why the medical community is far behind the times on pain relief and how it needs to seriously examine some of its practices in dealing with pain patients. For instance: pain medication is often under prescribed, even for terminally ill patients, because of the fear the patient will become “addicted.” If by some miracle the patient is cured, that’s the time to worry about weaning him off of the morphine.  

It’s easy to feel hopeless if you’re facing severe pain day after day, particularly if you’ve been pretty healthy all your life. I know I felt robbed of the good health I’d always had and realized I’d been taking it for granted. That’s why books like these encourage patients to try alternative treatment methods such as acupuncture if necessary, or seek the advice of a chronic pain specialist—sometimes they’re hard to find, but more and more physicians are becoming aware that pain management is a specialty that deserves closer attention and there are internet pathfinders to help locate pain clinics. You may not recover your original state of health but sometimes with the proper combination of physicians and treatments, relief is possible.
Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

A Nation in Pain: Healing Our Biggest Health Problem by Judy Foreman

Out of 238 million American adults, 100 million live with chronic pain. And yet the press has paid more attention to the abuses of pain medications than the astoundingly widespread condition they are intended to treat. Ethically, the failure to manage pain better is tantamount to torture. When chronic pain is inadequately treated, it undermines the body and mind. Indeed, the risk of suicide for people in chronic pain is twice that of other people. Far more than just a symptom, author Judy Foreman writes, chronic pain can be a disease in its own right--and it's the biggest health problem facing America today.

Published in partnership with the International Association for the Study of Pain, A Nation in Pain offers a sweeping, deeply researched account of the chronic-pain crisis, from neurobiology to public policy, and presents practical solutions that are within our grasp today. Drawing on both her personal experience with chronic pain and her background as an award-winning health journalist, she guides us through recent scientific discoveries, including genetic susceptibility to pain; gender disparities in pain conditions and treatments, perhaps linked to estrogen; the problem of undertreated pain in children; the emerging role of the immune system in pain; advances in traditional treatments such as surgery and drugs; and fair-minded assessments of the effectiveness of alternative remedies, including marijuana, acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care. For many people, the real magic bullet, Foreman writes, is exercise. Though many patients fear it will increase their discomfort, studies show it consistently produces improvement, often dramatic. She also explores the destructive "opioid wars," which have led to a misguided demonization of prescription painkillers.

Foreman presents a far-reaching but sensible plan of action, ranging from enhancing pain education in medical schools to reforms of federal policies across the board. For doctors, scientists, policy makers, and especially patients, A Nation in Pain is essential reading.

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

The Truth About Chronic Pain: Patients and Professionals on How to Face It, Understand It, Overcome It by Arthur Rosenfeld
It's all in your head. "Learn to bear it." "That drug will make you a junkie."For the more than 75 million Americans affected by chronic pain, these are fighting words.Despite extraordinary medical progress in recent years, millions of people, debilitated by the pain of incurable cancer, crippling arthritis, unremitting headaches, and a host of degenerative disorders, continue to suffer needlessly. Here, in their own words, are the stories of more than forty people whose lives are dictated by pain-patients, healthcare professionals, ethicists, social commentators, and scientists-shining a powerful searchlight on America's most misunderstood health problem. The Truth About Chronic Pain reveals why pain is so often ignored or under-treated. Among the reasons are the widespread belief that pain is a sign of weakness and the unfounded fears that properly administered painkillers will cause addiction. As bureaucrats, doctors, and pharmacists become adversaries in the War on Drugs, people in pain are often denied the relief they need.The voices on these pages are an eloquent testament to individual courage and a powerful plea to medical institutions, political leaders, and insurance companies to implement effective solutions to the problem of pain.

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss (5th Ed) by Nancy Mace
When someone in your family suffers from Alzheimer disease or other related memory loss diseases, both you and your loved one face immense challenges. For over thirty years, this book has been the trusted bible for families affected by dementia disorders. Now completely revised and updated, this guide features the latest information on the causes of dementia, managing the early stages of dementia, the prevention of dementia, and finding appropriate living arrangements for the person who has dementia when home care is no longer an option. 

You'll learn: 
-The basic facts about dementia
-How to deal with problems arising in daily care-- meals, exercise, personal hygiene, and safety
-How to cope with an impaired person's false ideas, suspicion, anger, and other mood problems
-How to get outside help from support groups, friends, and agencies
-Financial and legal issues you must address. 

Comprehensive and compassionate, THE 36-HOUR DAY is the only guide you need to help your family through this difficult time.

Maura, Trussville

Infectious Madness: The Surprising Science of How We "Catch" Mental Illness by Harriet Washington
Is it possible to catch autism or OCD the same way we catch the flu? Can a child's contact with cat litter lead to schizophrenia? In her eye-opening new book, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author Harriet Washington reveals that we can in fact "catch" mental illness. In INFECTIOUS MADNESS, Washington presents the new germ theory, which posits not only that many instances of Alzheimer's, OCD, and schizophrenia are caused by viruses, prions, and bacteria, but also that with antibiotics, vaccinations, and other strategies, these cases can be easily prevented or treated. Packed with cutting-edge research and tantalizing mysteries, INFECTIOUS MADNESS is rich in science, characters, and practical advice on how to protect yourself and your children from exposure to infectious threats that could sabotage your mental and physical health.

Maura, Trussville

Yoga for Cancer: A Guide to Managing Side Effects, Boosting Immunity, and Improving Recovery for Cancer Survivors by Tari Prinster
Using yoga to manage the challenges of cancer and its treatment:
* Explains how to create a safe home yoga practice that addresses the specific physical needs, risks, and emotions of cancer patients and survivors 
* Includes 53 yoga poses and 20 practice sequences that use movement and breathing to reduce and manage treatment side effects 
* Reveals how current research supports the physical and psychological benefits of yoga to aid recovery and reduce risk of recurrence 
* Written by a cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher 

For those faced with a cancer diagnosis and the journey of doctor-led surgery and treatments, yoga offers a way to regain control of your body and take an active part in your recovery and long-term health. In this easy-to-follow illustrated guide, yoga teacher and cancer survivor Tari Prinster presents 53 traditional yoga poses that are adapted for all levels of ability and cancer challenges. She then applies the movements and breathwork of these poses to address 10 common side effects and offers 9 practice sequences for varying stages of treatment and recovery.

Sharing her own story as well as those of cancer survivors and yoga teachers with whom she has worked, Prinster explores how yoga can be used to strengthen the immune system, rebuild bone density, avoid and manage lymphedema, decrease anxiety, detoxify the body, reduce pain, and help the body repair damage caused by the cancer and conventional treatments. She reveals the research that supports the physical and psychological benefits of yoga as an aid to recovery and in reducing the risk of recurrence. Explaining how yoga must be tailored to each survivor, Prinster gives you the tools to create a safe home yoga practice, one that addresses your abilities, energy level, and overall health goals. 

Through personal stories, well-illustrated poses, and sample practices for beginners as well as experienced yoga practitioners, Prinster empowers survivors to create their own wellness plan in order to regain their independence and their physical and emotional well-being.

Maura, Trussville

Talk To Your Doc: The Patient’s Guide by Mary F Hawkins
Doctors are busier than ever and the Internet produces more information than ever for patients. Getting the right treatment can be challenging if you don't have the right approach. Mary Hawkins helps patients advocate for the best care with a guide on how to discuss your condition with your doctor.

Kelly, Springville Road

The Patient's Playbook: How to Save Your Life and the Lives of Those You Love by Leslie D Michelson

Too many Americans die each year as a result of preventable medical error—mistakes, complications, and misdiagnoses. And many more of us are not receiving the best care possible, even though it’s readily available and we’re entitled to it. The key is knowing how to access it.

The Patient’s Playbook is a call to action. It will change the way you manage your health and the health of your family, and it will show you how to choose the right doctor, coordinate the best care, and get to the No-Mistake Zone in medical decision making. Leslie D. Michelson has devoted his life’s work to helping people achieve superior medical outcomes at every stage of their lives. Michelson presents real-life stories that impart lessons and illuminate his easy-to-follow strategies for navigating complex situations and cases.

The Patient’s Playbook is an essential guide to the most effective techniques for getting the best from a broken system: sourcing excellent physicians, selecting the right treatment protocols, researching with precision, and structuring the ideal support team. Along the way you will learn:

Why having the right primary care physician will change your life

Three things you can do right now to be better prepared when illness strikes

The ten must-ask questions at the end of a hospital stay

How to protect yourself from unnecessary and dangerous treatments

Ways to avoid the four most common mistakes in the first twenty-four hours of a medical emergency

This book will enable you to become a smarter health care consumer—and to replace anxiety with confidence.

Kelly, Springville Road

Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody's Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Travel by Josef Woodman
More than ten million patients now travel abroad every year for affordable, high-quality healthcare. From Thailand's American-accredited Bumrungrad International Hospital to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Center in Antigua to Johns Hopkins International Medical Center in Singapore, health travelers now have access to a full array of the world's safest, best choices in healthcare facilities and physicians.

Now in its third edition, Patients Beyond Borders remains the best-read, most comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to medical tourism, written by the world's leading spokesperson on international health travel. 

This new edition of Patients Beyond Borders lists the 25 top medical travel destinations, where patients can choose from hundreds of hospitals and save 30-80 percent on medical procedures, ranging from a comprehensive health check-up to heart work, orthopedics, dental and cosmetic surgery, in vitro fertilization and more.

Samuel, Springville Road

Understanding Psychosis: Issues and Challenges for Sufferers, Families, and Friends by Donald Capps
When a loved one is struck with psychosis, people often misunderstand what is happening and why. They may feel helpless or confused or frightened, not knowing what to do with or for the sufferer or how to handle the situation themselves. This book takes a look at psychosis and how it has been handled over the last century or so. Beginning with a definition of psychosis and moving to a consideration of how people who suffer from it were once institutionalized and are now expected to be cared for at home, the author traces the challenges families and communities face, considers the plight of sufferers and what they experience, and offers case examples throughout to illustrate the onset of psychosis, the infringement it makes on personal and professional life, and the toll it takes on sufferers and caregivers alike. Capps covers the magnitude of the problem, the treatment of sufferers, the warning signs, facts and realities of recovery, treatments, prevention, and coping strategies for family members and caregivers. Readers will come away from this work with a better understanding of psychosis in the context in which it occurs, and what to do for themselves and their loved one as they navigate daily life, the mental health system, and family dynamics.

Samuel, Springville Road

CAPHIS (Consumer and Patient Health Information Section) Top 100 List: Health Websites You Can Trust
The purpose of the CAPHIS Top 100 List is to provide CAPHIS members and other librarians with a resource to use in their daily practice and teaching. Secondly, it is our contribution to the Medical Library Association so that the headquarters staff can refer individuals to a list of quality health web sites. Our goal is to have a limited number of resources that meet the quality criteria for currency, credibility, content, audience, etc., as described on our website. These lists of resources expand upon the MLA Top Ten List. (from website)

Leigh, North Birmingham

Medlineplus
MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health's Web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free. (from website)

Leigh, North Birmingham

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic's mission is to inspire hope and contribute to health and well-being by providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education, and research. Our primary value is "The needs of the patient come first." (from website)

Leigh, North Birmingham


Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister and John Tierney
(provided by reader) If you've ever wondered why willpower seems to drift away under the onslaught of the afternoon doughnut, cookie, or candy bar, the after work drink, or the face of the post work gym visit, Roy Baumeister can explain it to you in clear, easy to understand, and (most importantly) interesting terms.  There is no willpower for this and separate willpower for that.  It's all one pool, from that afternoon snack, to avoiding snapping at a coworker, to getting in that daily workout, to having patience with your kids/partners/spouses when you get home.  Strengthening that will power is not the easiest thing in the world either.  This book does a great job of getting me motivated to try though!
Holley, Emmet O'Neal


Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons From the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
(provided by reader) Okay, so this book does not really deal very directly with consumer health, especially in the early portions of the book.  There is, however, a plethora of gory details on death, decomposition, embalming, and cremation.  Since the American Civil War era, death HAS become a public health issue.  Or, at least, the death industry has made it one.  Ms. Doughty, creator of the group The Order of the Good Death and co-owner of a progressive funeral home called Undertaking LA, spends the latter half of this compulsively readable book debunking many of the myths surrounding corpses and the impact of decomposition on us living folk.  Fascinating, illuminating, and ultimately uplifting, surely Smoke Gets in Your Eyes will not be Ms. Doughty's only book.
Holley, Emmet O'Neal