Reviewed By Geree McDermott for Readers' Favorite

Hard to believe, because it is so amazing, but David McLaughlin's I Am Anxiety actually worked for me! This spectacular handbook significantly reduced my anxiety practically as I read. After I finished the first thirty pages, I slept well and woke without the typical (for me) anxiety-induced stomach pain, and it has not returned. It was as if my brain learned what I wanted it to do and did it as I slept.
What is delightful and unexpected is the warm, comforting tone of the smooth narrative voice. David McLaughlin speaks to us as if we are good friends as he reassures us we are not crazy and we can learn to free ourselves from the grip of anxiety. In I Am Anxiety, we learn where anxiety originates, what fuels it, and the havoc it causes within us. We learn how to cope with stress and control anxiety mechanisms. We learn to accept our illness without fear. And, we learn to free ourselves of anxiety.

David McLaughlin calmed, encouraged, and prepared me for life after anxiety, but I never expected to gain so much so quickly. I am relieved to learn my symptoms are not only controllable, but they seem to have disappeared, and I expect never to suffer from anxiety again. I Am Anxiety is the answer to my life-long struggle and I am grateful. David McLaughlin's I Am Anxiety is instructive, supportive, and life changing. I would very much like to see it available as an audio book. I highly recommend it and give it the highest review of five stars.

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Second Chance: A Mother’s Quest for a Natural Birth after a Cesarean by Thais Nye Derich is the beautiful journey of the author whose first birth experience in hospital culminated in an unplanned cesarean. The author shares her difficulties of healing and recovery after a cesarean and how she opted for a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC). Her book reaches out to all expectant mothers and empowers them during the birth of their children, enabling them to grow in their spirituality, confidence, and power through birth. Not many women experience a cesarean and VBAC, and this memoir is an honest look at the birth process and the choice in birth style.

The book is candid and the author shares intimate details about her pain, trauma, suffering, and healing, and finally deciding to opt for a VBAC for her second child. The author’s physical and emotional trauma sheds light on the healthcare system when it comes to giving birth and her frustration is palpable while reading the book. The memoir is an encouragement to all mothers who want to go for natural birth and it also proves that vaginal birth is possible after a cesarean, though many hospitals in the USA have banned vaginal birth after a cesarean. The author’s story is heartrending and poignant, and will make everyone look at the options of what should be done to make childbirth safer and healthier for women. It captures the process, excitement, vulnerability, tension, expectation, and finally the raw surrender of giving birth.

Reviewed By Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

With Fingers Crossed and Love Unyielding by Dr. Karen Hutchins Pirnot is a wonderful and simply amazing memoir that had me on the verge of tears. The emotions are so raw, the feelings so deep and the people so real that I had a hard time finishing this book. But I did finish it, even if I felt like my heart was breaking in my chest. Their story was so moving, but it was also endearing. The connection between the author and her husband was touching. She took care of her husband as if her life depended upon it and he loved her and adored her, even though his mind was slipping away from him. Charlie and Karen loved each other dearly and when they vowed through “sickness and health,” they truly meant it.

Charlie and Karen had a good, fulfilling life that was filled with love and affection for each other. They trusted each other and spent a great chunk of their lives together, so when the tragedy hit, it was obvious that they would be together in it as well. Charlie had Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and cancer, so Karen did what she had always done; she stood by his side and loved him. Karen fought for herself just as much as she fought for Charlie. The author shared her tips and tools that will help couples like these two combat these diseases and make it just a little bit easier for them to cope with their situation and emerge fighting. I was simply touched!

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Everyone wants a happy life but it seems to be a far-fetched dream in times where there is so much judgment, suffering, and victimhood. Activate Your Joy: A Transformative Awakening to Health, Happiness, and Success by Erik Ohlsen is an insightful book that gives good tools and techniques to readers on how to design their lives the way they want it to be. The book is a wakeup call to discover the source of love, transform the darkness, and it helps readers to find their power to create a wonderful life. The action steps are helpful when it comes to becoming a master healer in one's personal life and creating abundance.

What makes the book credible and tangible is the author's personal healing and awakening to life's purpose. His personal struggles, tragedies, healing, and transformation give readers hope. The book has four strategies for life; vision, connection, transformation, and regeneration. This will give readers the framework for healing relationships and designing life. Each part will help to activate love and heal the world through self-healing. The topic has been dealt with in a way that is easy to comprehend and implement without much difficulty. The book will help readers examine their lives to see where each of the 12 missions can be applied and activated to draw love and peace into their lives. The writing style is neat, elegant, and fluid, and connects easily with readers. It has been written in an interactive way with exercises to do and this makes the book interesting to readers.

Reviewed By Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Meet Me Where I Am: An Alzheimer's Care Guide by Mary Ann Drummond is a non-fiction book mainly designed for caregivers who deal with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In this book, Mary Ann Drummond draws upon her personal experience in the field of nursing and management of facilities that are specifically created for elderly people who have dementia and require long-term care. The book is divided into several broad chapters including an introduction to the book, understanding what Alzheimer’s disease is, how to maximize success and minimize loss, providing a calm, therapeutic environment for the patient, how to manage challenging symptoms and behaviors such as sexual inappropriateness, personal hygiene, caring for the caregiver themselves, and a quick list of questions and answers for easy reference, among other things. The book also includes a list of some reference books and websites for further reading on Alzheimer’s disease.

I really enjoyed Meet Me Where I Am by Mary Ann Drummond and I felt that this was a comprehensive, well-thought out book on Alzheimer’s disease and how to cope with it in the best possible way from the perspective of a caregiver. Indeed, this book is applicable to all forms of dementia in the elderly and perhaps the title can be modified to broaden the scope of this book and give readers an accurate idea of what to expect. Mary Ann Drummond obviously comes from a place of compassion for these patients and this shows through in her thorough and careful writing style. This is definitely a must-read for anyone working or living with someone with any form of dementia for helpful guidance and tips.

Reviewed By Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I am not overly vain and I have resigned myself to getting old and not being able to do as much as I could in my youth. But I have had a full, even luxurious head of hair my entire life and if I can keep it, I want to do so. Right now, my hairline is receding in the front and there is a spot on the top where hair is disappearing fast. This is why I read Hair Loss: Options for Restoration and Reversal by Gustavo J. Gomez Ph.D. I am a methodical person and I like to approach problems like hair loss in a systematic and scientific manner. I would rather read a book by an expert than react to a sixty-second infomercial. The only drawback to this way of doing things is finding the right book. If you are in a similar situation as to what you can do about hair loss, let me assure you. This is the book for you.

Hair Loss by Gustavo J. Gomez does exactly what the title and subtitle implies. It lists your options to combat and restore the loss of hair in a clear and very organized manner, one that is not intent on selling you something but just giving you information you can use. The writing is clear and concise. The explanations reasonable and scientific. Hair Loss: Options for Restoration and Reversal has helped me decide which direction I need to go in as I tackle this problem. It is rare to find the book that tells you everything you need to know on a subject. When it comes to hair loss, Gustavo J. Gomez has written that book.

Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection in the Medicine of Light is the second book in the Called into Life by the Light Series by Bernard Fleury, a book with a content that is aptly captured in its title. In this book, the author explores the connection between mind, body, and soul and how mastering this connection can ensure inner peace, harmony, robust health, and fullness of life. Having experienced the phenomenon of light in its diverse forms, the author began a journey which would lead him to uncover the treasures in light and its healing energy. In this book, the author explores a new way of diagnosis and treatment for a variety of illnesses, sharing with readers powerful medical concepts related to light, the place of the eyes as the windows of the soul, and a lot more.

This book discusses modern medical procedures that use light and advanced devices to diagnose and treat different kinds of illnesses. The methods used in the modern treatments are less invasive, more accurate in diagnosis, and most effective when it comes to actual treatment, which has no life-threatening effects. This is one of the first medical books I have read that offers methods combining science and a holistic approach to treatment in a stunning manner. There is a spiritual as well as a philosophical aspect of this book that readers will enjoy as well. The book is well-researched and offers surprising discoveries about the energy of light, which comes primarily from the sun and is present in different life forms. This isn’t just a book for people seeking to be cured of an illness, but one that proposes a path to general wellness and wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection in the Medicine of Light is informative, a book that explores the mystery of life from a fresh and unique perspective. Bernard Fleury’s book is a gift for those who want to experience life deeply.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

ADHD Explained: What Every Parent Needs to Know is a nonfiction book about children’s health and learning disorders written by Dr. Nekeshia Hammond. Hammond has been a practicing psychologist for over ten years and has her own private practice. What is ADHD, and how does a doctor or psychologist actually come to the decision that a child has it? Dr. Hammond describes the symptoms and behaviors that prompt parents or teachers to consider if a child should be evaluated, and she sets out the procedure which begins with a medical examination to ensure that the child’s behavior is not the result of a physical ailment or illness. She also discusses the various issues that might result in a misdiagnosis. Is the child being bullied at school or has he or she been a victim of abuse? Once an assessment has been made, then parents, teachers and the child’s doctor/psychologist can begin to craft a personalized program to ensure that the child’s educational development continues at a pace that fits their abilities.

ADHD Explained sets out easily understood information about a disorder that has many parents confused and understandably concerned. Will a diagnosis of ADHD affect a child’s future as an adult? Does a child’s disinterest in completing chores or homework or disinclination to keep a tidy knapsack mean they’ve got ADHD, or are they simply being kids who haven’t gotten organizational skills down pat? As I read this informative work, I breathed a sigh of relief that this diagnosis hadn’t been around when I was a child. It was fairly well understood that kids really didn’t enjoy doing chores, especially if they had homework assignments to keep them occupied, and some kids were neat freaks while others really didn’t care about the condition of their backpack or their desk. That said, I was most impressed with Dr. Hammond’s work as she quite ably demystifies ADHD, giving parents some guidance for navigating doctors’ offices and principals’ offices, and ensuring that their kids receive necessary treatment or therapy as necessary. I especially appreciated her cautioning parents not to use this or any other book to diagnose their child themselves as there are just too many variables to be considered that are properly left to the professionals. ADHD Explained: What Every Parent Needs to Know is highly recommended.

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Dr. Gordon Fimreite's 15 Steps to Healthy Living is an uplifting and useful guide for all readers who are on the lookout for tips to lose weight naturally, get a health plan organized, and glow from the inside out. The book speaks about eating healthily and keeping the mind and body active for a healthy and long life. The 15 steps include food selection, detoxing from the inside out, sleep, exercise, stress strategies, and happiness that will guide all readers to achieving an enriching and fulfilling life. The book also introduces readers to the author’s 105-year-old grandmother and her healthy living, which is inspiring, and terms it as one of the main reasons that contribute to longevity.

I like the way the author handles a topic that has been discussed many times before with a different outlook. The tips are simple, clear, and easy to comprehend for readers who want to make changes in their dietary lifestyle. There is a lot of healthy information, insights, and a positive approach towards handling diet, thereby making readers think about health in a new way. The transition to healthy living is a slow one for those who have been leading a not-so-healthy lifestyle, and the tips and techniques in this book will motivate them to make healthier choices so that they can feel better, look different, and have more energy. And as the author rightfully puts it, ‘healthy living is a process, not a destination.’ I have written down my health plan after reading this book. What about you?

Reviewed By Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine by Rajeev Kurapati achieves three major milestones of non-fiction writing. It is hugely important. It is masterfully researched. It is fascinating to read. Dr. Kurapati has done a major service to his profession by recapping the most cogent aspects of medicine’s rise to respectability, consistency, and applicability, including the earliest days of philosophical and religious-based misunderstandings, entrenched myths and dogmas, as well as genuinely good intentions towards healing the diseased and stricken. One might think this would take volumes, but it speaks to Dr. Kurapati’s keen ability to condense a mass of information into a coherent and highly accessible chronology that this book reads so easily and quickly, yet impacts one’s understanding with the power of revelation.

Lest one think Rajeev Kurapati deals only with the past in his comprehensive book, Physician, the whole point of his efforts is to bring the reader into present awareness of current day medicine and the implications for its rapid immersion within a fast-approaching, almost incomprehensible future. In so doing, Rajeev Kurapati is compelled to return to medicine’s philosophical roots and the grand ideal of a holistic but personalized study, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals. While there is no going back to mystical incantations or denial of technological tools, the digital age promises an ability for internal monitoring and reporting and even experimentation and treatment that rivals past and current methods with quantum levels of improvement. The implications and ramifications of this profound development, along with some last-minute adjurations to his fellow doctors, are what concludes this brilliant author’s elegant summary of what it means to be a physician.