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Mind and Body FitnessApril 2016
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As always, if the library does not own one of the books on this list, please feel free to place a request. We will contact you when your book is available. Request a book
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| Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body by Jo MarchantIn scientific trials of new drugs, researchers assume that inactive substances (placebos) given to some participants have no actual effect (any change the patient perceives is imaginary). But in Cure, scientist Jo Marchant explores the possibility that the mind has power to promote real healing. While affirming the importance of rigorously controlled scientific testing, Marchant considers the measurable benefits discovered in those who used nontraditional approaches such as hypnosis and visualization. She sees hope in some alternative treatments, though she doesn't predict a revolution in pharmaceutical medicine. For another well-researched book on the mind's healing potential, try Jerome Groopman's Anatomy of Hope. |
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| The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need from... by Erika ChristakisPreschool education expert Erika Christakis has taught preschoolers herself as well as teaching college students studying early childhood education. In The Importance of Being Little, she challenges American methods of teaching young children, offering abundant examples to illustrate her points. She follows up with different ways to understand little kids and advice on how adults can interact with them more effectively. In this scholarly but easily accessible presentation, Christakis promotes creative and practical teaching methods that work with children's natural abilities. |
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| Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More by Tieraona Low DogIn Fortify Your Life, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog offers easy-to-follow and engaging guidance on determining which supplements are right for given health needs (hint: reading labels is important). She enlivens her explanations of the purpose and appropriate use of the substances she describes by adding historical tidbits about related conditions. She also notes factors that can interfere with obtaining adequate nutrients from an ordinary diet. Advice on food journaling, customizing supplements, and drug interactions enhance this well-documented book's usefulness. |
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| 121 First Dates: How to Succeed at Online Dating, Fall in Love, and Live Happily... by Wendy NewmanArranging dates via the Internet has become very popular, but it has risks and challenges. In 121 First Dates, dating coach Wendy Newman explores questions that women should consider when planning an assignation. Newman went through 121 first meetings before she found someone with whom she felt compatible, and she draws from her personal experience as well as general knowledge to offer advice to web-dating newbies. Each chapter provides advice or information on topics in several categories, from "Getting Ready to Date" through "After the First Date." Many chapters are illustrated with anecdotes drawn from Newman's 121 first dates. |
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| The Dirt Cure: Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from Soil by Maya Shetreat-KleinIn The Dirt Cure, author Maya Shetreat-Klein, a pediatric neurologist, doesn't explain how to use dirt for healing, but she does discuss why dirt-grown produce is preferable to overuse of cleaning solutions and antibiotics. In this book geared to people concerned about processed foods, allergies, and environmental sustainability, she stresses the positive value of some bacteria in supporting the immune system. She also gives advice on finding fresh, pasture-raised meat and organic produce, as well as on interpreting food labels. This scientifically grounded guide is accessible and user-friendly, with recipes to complement the explanatory text. |
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April is Autism Awareness Month
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| Special-Needs Kids Eat Right: Strategies to Help Kids on the Autism Spectrum... by Judy ConverseParents of children with autism may be aware that nutrition is a significant aspect of their kids' needs, but it's often hard to find reliably informed guidance. In Special-Needs Kids Eat Right, registered dietician Judy Converse offers comprehensive and accessible information about nutrition therapy. She discusses diagnosis and non-dietary aspects of treatment and explains special diets. She includes guidance on working with health care providers, how to discover the right diet for a specific child, and tips for managing the nutritional plan. There's also a section on further details and additional resources. |
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| The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed by Temple Grandin and Richard PanekIn 1950, a doctor diagnosed three-year-old Temple Grandin with brain damage (having first ruled out epilepsy and deafness). Still, Grandin considers herself lucky: had she been born a decade later, she likely would have been institutionalized. Instead, thanks to early intervention, she learned to navigate the often baffling world of "neurotypicals" and went on to have a successful career as a specialist in animal behavior. Eventually diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome, Grandin here describes the autistic brain, discussing recent scientific research and the advantages and challenges of being differently wired. |
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| Parallel Play by Tim PageAuthor Tim Page struggled throughout his childhood to understand what teachers expected of him; it wasn't until he was 45 that he learned he had Asperger's Syndrome. In Parallel Play, he reveals his frustrations in school, his joy at observing and remembering details (which impressed some people and bored others), and his love of music. Page was able to channel his passion for music into an award-winning career as a critic, but otherwise he never felt as though he fit in. This absorbing "testament to growing up different" (Kirkus Reviews) offers insight into the challenges and success of a man on the autism spectrum. |
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| Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child by Ricki G. RobinsonAccording to the Centers for Disease Control, about one American child in 68 has been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This means that a significant number of parents are learning that their children are different and may need specific kinds of support to thrive. In Autism Solutions, Dr. Ricki Robinson provides detailed information about recognizing and evaluating behavior differences in young children and understanding how a child experiences his or her environment. Once an ASD has been identified, the book's sections on communication and physical health supply invaluable information and guidance. A section on quality of life rounds out this "useful and reassuring" (Publishers Weekly) guide. |
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| Does Your Baby Have Autism? Detecting the Earliest Signs of Autism by Osnat and Philip TeitelbaumWhile Autism Spectrum Disorders are typically identified through observation of a child's social interaction, Does Your Baby Have Autism focuses on developmental differences that may appear in much younger children. Beginning with an explanation of what autism is, authors Osnat and Philip Teitelbaum continue with detailed discussions of motor development accompanied by helpful illustrations. Though identifying differences and delays in a particular child doesn't amount to a conclusive diagnosis, parents can learn how to seek additional medical advice and follow up with early intervention when they see atypical developmental patterns. |
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