Review: The war, the West, and the wilderness
Editorial Review - Kirkus ReviewsValuable for both laymen and health professionals, this is a clear, intelligent, up-to-date synthesis of the principles of holistic medicine and an expert guide--based on the author's clinical practice--to their application. Jaffe begins with a striking quotation from Plato--contrasting the rote-medicine of the slave doctor with the philosophic discourse of the ""gentleman physician""--and proceeds logically to individual and social goals. Part I looks at definitions of illness from the different perspectives of the physician, the health care system, and the family; and scores ""the concept of illness as merely a localized phenomenon"" as both inadequate and inhibiting. Part II reports on current research and offers clinical examples of how an individual's illnesses may be connected to his/her daily existence, telling how to assess the possible role of stress, chronic frustration, family relations, and so on, in one's own illnesses. Part III presents specific techniques to ""reintegrate mind and body"" (""kinetic awareness,"" biofeedback, meditation) and outlines a self-help program aimed at maintaining one's own health. Throughout, Jaffe makes it plain that his program is designed to use the individual's internal resources to augment, not supplant, traditional medical treatment. There are real insights into the processes behind the ""will to live,"" the gratifications gained from illness, the placebo effect, and the stress response. Jaffe also offers cogent explanations of why some new techniques for pain control without medication work. Relaxation is important, he notes: much pain comes not from the injured area, but from tensed muscles around it; and by concentrating on pain, we face it directly, without anticipation or exaggerated fear. There are some gentle swipes at the medical establishment for not funding studies into the influences of emotions on disease. Looking toward the future, Jaffe envisions a medical care system more aware of the critical role of self-care and self-regulation in preventing or overcoming disease. His book is a balanced, thoughtful explanation--on the personal and institutional level--of how and why it could work.
Review: The War, the West, and the Wilderness
User Review - Donna - GoodreadsBrownlow's The War The West and The Wilderness was a follow up to his landmark The Parade's Gone By. The second of what I call Brownlow's Trilogy, this book is not to be missed. What is so wonderful ... Read full review
Review: The War, the West, and the Wilderness
User Review - Greta - GoodreadsDiscussion of silent films about WWI, westerns, and adventure documentaries. Read full review
Review: The War, West & Wildernes
User Review - Kieran - GoodreadsAnother terrific one by Kevin Brownlow. One to read and re-read. Read full review
