To what extent can our minds be instruments of our own healing, and are there biological bases for this self-help phenomenon? These are the puzzles Jerome Groopman attempts to solve in this series of case studies and reports, most of which are from his own medical files. Groopman holds a chair at Harvard Medical School, heads the experimental medicine division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and is a staff writer on medicine and biology for The New Yorker. In presenting this gallery of patients whose destinies were apparently altered by the presence or absence of hope, Groopman is quick to draw the line between “false hope,” which fails to acknowledge the seriousness of a disease and to cooperate fully in its treatment, and “true hope,” which understands that mind and medicine may be powerful enough to delay or derail what appears to be a certain death sentence.

One of the most fascinating case studies is Groopman’s account of his own struggle with debilitating back pain after he ruptured a lumbar disc in 1979. Despite operations, physical therapy and a severe curtailment of movement, the pain plagued Groopman for 20 years. Finally, he sought relief at the Spine Center of New England Baptist Hospital, where Boston Celtic star Larry Bird had been helped. There, a doctor examined Groopman and told him, “You are worshipping the volcano god of pain” meaning that he had forfeited normal activity in the hope of avoiding pain. The doctor recommended a regimen in which belief in recovery slowly blunted the pain of stretching unused muscles. It was an arduous trip back, but Groopman eventually conquered the pain and “felt reborn.” Since his recovery, Groopman has continued to investigate “the biology of hope” the mechanism between body and mind and his studies have convinced him such a connection exists. “Each disease is uncertain in its outcome,” he concludes, “and within that uncertainty we find real hope.” Edward Morris reviews for BookPage from Nashville.

If you’re interested in living to an advanced age and still having a "a good life" something the Greeks attempted to define 2,400 years ago a new book by a Harvard psychiatrist offers some unexpected and invaluable insights.

Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development casts a spotlight on the behaviors that make for happy longevity and those that result in illness and early death. The conclusions in the book are based on a study of behavior that began with Harvard sophomores in 1938 and is the oldest, most thorough study of aging ever undertaken.

"Aging well involves both mental and physical health," says author George Vaillant, M.D., who began managing the study in 1970. "So when we talk about well-being, we’re talking about two facets, not just one." For example, he notes, "alcohol abuse is bad for emotional and physical well-being. Smoking is only bad for physical well-being." Just as Benjamin Spock taught millions of mothers to anticipate child development and to understand what could be changed and what had to be accepted, Vaillant’s book does the same for the later stages of life. The Study of Adult Development, using periodic interviews and questionnaires, follows three groups of elderly men and women, all of whom have been studied continuously for six to eight decades. First, there is a sample of 268 socially advantaged Harvard graduates born about 1920. Second, there is a sample of 456 socially disadvantaged inner-city men born about 1930. Third, there is a sample of 90 middle-class, intellectually gifted women born about 1910. All of these prospective studies (a "prospective" study is one that studies events as they occur, not in retrospect) are the oldest studies of their kind in the world. From these 824 individuals, the book attempts to generalize theories about behaviors that promote health and good living and those that don’t.

One generalization and perhaps the most important to the average reader is that there are six factors at age 50 that have a great deal to do with whether you will get to age 80. The six are having a warm marriage, possessing adaptive or coping strategies, not smoking heavily, not abusing alcohol, getting ample exercise and not being overweight. Those who observe these factors are better at wending through what Vaillant calls "the minefields of aging." For these people, there is a statistically greater chance to achieve emotional and physical health. He calls them "the happy well." The happy well are those, he says, "who subjectively enjoy their lives and are objectively healthy." By contrast, the "sad sick" occupy another category. "The sad sick are people who feel and are sad and they feel and are sick." Obviously, one can have a majority of the six factors but be felled by a fatal compulsion. So Babe Ruth, a heavy cigar smoker, died of laryngeal cancer at age 53, even though he had a fine second marriage and possessed most of Vaillant’s other factors. A gifted ballplayer, Mickey Mantle often repeated the line attributed to the 100 year-old Hubie Blake: "If I’d known I’d live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself." Mantle’s marriage and then his health were ruined by alcohol. He succumbed to a cancerous liver at 63. Marilyn Monroe’s failing was more subtle. It has to do with what Vaillant calls "taking people inside," the ability to internalize and be enriched by the love and caring of others.

"Look at that famous line when Monroe says to Joe DiMaggio [then her husband], You don’t know what it’s like to have 50,000 people cheering for you,’ and he said, Yes, Marilyn, I do.’ She was a beautiful person physically and quite a nice person and talented, so most people that knew her cared about her, but it did her absolutely no good, because she couldn’t eat any of the fruit she couldn’t take the love inside." Many of the answers that study participants send back offer excellent guides to living the good life. One question was: "What is the most important thing that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?" An 84-year-old study member answered, "I live to work, to learn something that I didn’t know yesterday to enjoy the precious moments with my wife." Other cases offer surprises. Anthony Pirelli was one of the socially disadvantaged inner-city subjects. His parents were born in Italy and barely spoke English. Pirelli grew up poor. Worse, his father was an abusive, alcoholic lout who beat his wife and children. A psychologist described the 13-year-old Pirelli as "unaggressive, sensitive, and fearful of parental disapproval." But the real lesson of his life was that he was not a prisoner of childhood: by age 30 he was a successful CPA and had a successful marriage. Now 70, Pirelli has survived open-heart surgery. He plays tennis, enjoys his retirement and says, "Life is never boring for me." Pirelli’s case illustrates one of Vaillant’s hopeful creeds: The past often predicts but never determines our old age.

Happily, Aging Well is free of the jargon and academic-speak that scares off would-be readers of scientific studies. The writing is clear, passionate and chock-full of poetic sentiments on aging. In one instance Vaillant reminds us of the words of Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: "Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But if the course be departed from, the ends will change." People can change; there is hope. But change is easier when you come armed with sufficient knowledge about how to change. Vaillant has provided that knowledge in Aging Well.

Golden oldies The study identified several factors that affect the quality of life as we age: It is not the bad things that happen to us that doom us; it is the good people we encounter at any age that facilitate enjoyable aging.

A good marriage at age 50 predicts positive aging at 80. But surprisingly, low cholesterol levels at age 50 do not. Alcohol abuse unrelated to unhappy childhood consistently predicts unsuccessful aging, in part because alcohol damages future social supports. Learning to play and create after retirement and learning to gain younger friends as we lose older ones add more to our enjoyment than retirement income.

Healing relationships a key component of aging well are facilitated by a capacity for gratitude and forgiveness.

Guides for shaping up after the holidays For millions of Americans, the increasing obesity rate isn’t just a news story it’s a personal matter. And after rounds of turkey, pie and cookies consumed during holiday celebrations, many people put losing weight at the top of their New Year’s resolutions. To help out, we’ve gathered four of the biggest diet books of the year. With expert advice from the authors of these best-selling books, you and your family can be on the road to health and fitness in no time flat.

Advice for teens Adults aren’t the only ones at risk of being overweight. Increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease in teenagers prove that they too need to be aware of the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet. Phil McGraw’s son, Jay McGraw, takes on this timely topic in his new book, The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens: The 7 Keys to Weight Freedom (Free Press, $15.95, 295 pages, ISBN 0743257472). As the “teen expert” on the Dr. Phil show and the author of the best-selling Life Strategies for Teens, Jay McGraw understands the specific challenges faced by teenagers. The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens is filled with the personal stories of young adults who have struggled with weight issues (McGraw interviewed more than 10,000 teens while researching the book). He encourages teens to set goals, avoid “bully thinking” (“I’m a failure,” “I’ll never lose weight”), choose a fun method of exercise, find a group of supportive friends and family, and think about how changing their environment can change their eating habits. Each chapter highlights one of McGraw’s seven keys, and includes space for readers to answer questions and find their own solutions to common weight loss problems. The conversational tone and interactive nature of this sensible book make it a must-have for teens and parents alike.

Doctor’s orders Jay McGraw’s book for teens was inspired by his father’s latest bestseller, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom (Free Press, $26, 320 pages, ISBN 0743236742). Talk-show host Dr. Phil McGraw applies his no-nonsense attitude to weight loss, reminding readers that losing weight isn’t quick or easy. He believes that in most cases, being overweight is the result of lifestyle choices, and that if people are willing to alter their routines to create a healthier lifestyle, losing weight is all but guaranteed. The Ultimate Weight Solution encourages people to take control of their weight with a common-sense approach to portion sizes, exercise and attitude. Dr. Phil promises that a total commitment to all seven keys will lead to success, and hundreds of people have taken the challenge. This inspiring book which claims that willpower and calorie-counting aren’t necessary for success is a great guide for those who want to slim down.

Going Greene So you’ve got the weight off now what? Another Oprah favorite, personal trainer Bob Greene, is weighing in with two new installments in his Get with the Program! series. Get with the Program! Getting Real about Your Weight, Health, and Emotional Well-Being (Simon &and Schuster, $12, 224 pages, ISBN 0743238044) offers indispensable advice on maintaining a healthy weight along with motivational, personal anecdotes from Greene’s own clients. Greene divides his plan into four phases, which readers can complete at their own pace. Phase One puts you in the right mindset by changing your attitude about diet and exercise. After you’ve made your commitment to staying in shape, Phase Two teaches you how to jump-start your metabolism with exercise. Phase Three seeks out the reasons behind overeating and tries to resolve them, and Phase Four unifies the three previous phases, reinforcing what you’ve learned and helping you step up your exercise and dieting to build muscle. Another excellent resource for people who want to stay in shape is The Get with the Program! Guide to Fast Food and Family Restaurants. This pocket-sized reference reminds readers of the rules for healthy eating, then lists low-fat menu options at more than 50 chain and fast-food restaurants like Applebee’s, Schlotzsky’s Deli, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King. (Here’s a hint super-sizing is a no-go.) While that Big Mac is always a temptation, Greene’s guide proves that resolute dieters can accompany friends and family to their favorite restaurants without sabotaging their weight-loss goals.

Guides for shaping up after the holidays For millions of Americans, the increasing obesity rate isn’t just a news story it’s a personal matter. And after rounds of turkey, pie and cookies consumed during holiday celebrations, many people put losing weight at the top of their New Year’s resolutions. To help out, we’ve gathered four of the biggest diet books of the year. With expert advice from the authors of these best-selling books, you and your family can be on the road to health and fitness in no time flat.

Advice for teens Adults aren’t the only ones at risk of being overweight. Increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease in teenagers prove that they too need to be aware of the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet. Phil McGraw’s son, Jay McGraw, takes on this timely topic in his new book, The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens: The 7 Keys to Weight Freedom (Free Press, $15.95, 295 pages, ISBN 0743257472). As the “teen expert” on the Dr. Phil show and the author of the best-selling Life Strategies for Teens, Jay McGraw understands the specific challenges faced by teenagers. The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens is filled with the personal stories of young adults who have struggled with weight issues (McGraw interviewed more than 10,000 teens while researching the book). He encourages teens to set goals, avoid “bully thinking” (“I’m a failure,” “I’ll never lose weight”), choose a fun method of exercise, find a group of supportive friends and family, and think about how changing their environment can change their eating habits. Each chapter highlights one of McGraw’s seven keys, and includes space for readers to answer questions and find their own solutions to common weight loss problems. The conversational tone and interactive nature of this sensible book make it a must-have for teens and parents alike.

Doctor’s orders Jay McGraw’s book for teens was inspired by his father’s latest bestseller, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom (Free Press, $26, 320 pages, ISBN 0743236742). Talk-show host Dr. Phil McGraw applies his no-nonsense attitude to weight loss, reminding readers that losing weight isn’t quick or easy. He believes that in most cases, being overweight is the result of lifestyle choices, and that if people are willing to alter their routines to create a healthier lifestyle, losing weight is all but guaranteed. The Ultimate Weight Solution encourages people to take control of their weight with a common-sense approach to portion sizes, exercise and attitude. Dr. Phil promises that a total commitment to all seven keys will lead to success, and hundreds of people have taken the challenge. This inspiring book which claims that willpower and calorie-counting aren’t necessary for success is a great guide for those who want to slim down.

Going Greene So you’ve got the weight off now what? Another Oprah favorite, personal trainer Bob Greene, is weighing in with two new installments in his Get with the Program! series. Get with the Program! Getting Real about Your Weight, Health, and Emotional Well-Being offers indispensable advice on maintaining a healthy weight along with motivational, personal anecdotes from Greene’s own clients. Greene divides his plan into four phases, which readers can complete at their own pace. Phase One puts you in the right mindset by changing your attitude about diet and exercise. After you’ve made your commitment to staying in shape, Phase Two teaches you how to jump-start your metabolism with exercise. Phase Three seeks out the reasons behind overeating and tries to resolve them, and Phase Four unifies the three previous phases, reinforcing what you’ve learned and helping you step up your exercise and dieting to build muscle. Another excellent resource for people who want to stay in shape is The Get with the Program! Guide to Fast Food and Family Restaurants (Simon &and Schuster, $12.95, 168 pages, ISBN 0743256212). This pocket-sized reference reminds readers of the rules for healthy eating, then lists low-fat menu options at more than 50 chain and fast-food restaurants like Applebee’s, Schlotzsky’s Deli, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King. (Here’s a hint super-sizing is a no-go.) While that Big Mac is always a temptation, Greene’s guide proves that resolute dieters can accompany friends and family to their favorite restaurants without sabotaging their weight-loss goals.

Guides for shaping up after the holidays For millions of Americans, the increasing obesity rate isn’t just a news story it’s a personal matter. And after rounds of turkey, pie and cookies consumed during holiday celebrations, many people put losing weight at the top of their New Year’s resolutions. To help out, we’ve gathered four of the biggest diet books of the year. With expert advice from the authors of these best-selling books, you and your family can be on the road to health and fitness in no time flat.

Advice for teens Adults aren’t the only ones at risk of being overweight. Increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease in teenagers prove that they too need to be aware of the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet. Phil McGraw’s son, Jay McGraw, takes on this timely topic in his new book, The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens: The 7 Keys to Weight Freedom (Free Press, $15.95, 295 pages, ISBN 0743257472). As the “teen expert” on the Dr. Phil show and the author of the best-selling Life Strategies for Teens, Jay McGraw understands the specific challenges faced by teenagers. The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens is filled with the personal stories of young adults who have struggled with weight issues (McGraw interviewed more than 10,000 teens while researching the book). He encourages teens to set goals, avoid “bully thinking” (“I’m a failure,” “I’ll never lose weight”), choose a fun method of exercise, find a group of supportive friends and family, and think about how changing their environment can change their eating habits. Each chapter highlights one of McGraw’s seven keys, and includes space for readers to answer questions and find their own solutions to common weight loss problems. The conversational tone and interactive nature of this sensible book make it a must-have for teens and parents alike.

Doctor’s orders Jay McGraw’s book for teens was inspired by his father’s latest bestseller, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom. Talk-show host Dr. Phil McGraw applies his no-nonsense attitude to weight loss, reminding readers that losing weight isn’t quick or easy. He believes that in most cases, being overweight is the result of lifestyle choices, and that if people are willing to alter their routines to create a healthier lifestyle, losing weight is all but guaranteed. The Ultimate Weight Solution encourages people to take control of their weight with a common-sense approach to portion sizes, exercise and attitude. Dr. Phil promises that a total commitment to all seven keys will lead to success, and hundreds of people have taken the challenge. This inspiring book which claims that willpower and calorie-counting aren’t necessary for success is a great guide for those who want to slim down.

Going Greene So you’ve got the weight off now what? Another Oprah favorite, personal trainer Bob Greene, is weighing in with two new installments in his Get with the Program! series. Get with the Program! Getting Real about Your Weight, Health, and Emotional Well-Being (Simon &and Schuster, $12, 224 pages, ISBN 0743238044) offers indispensable advice on maintaining a healthy weight along with motivational, personal anecdotes from Greene’s own clients. Greene divides his plan into four phases, which readers can complete at their own pace. Phase One puts you in the right mindset by changing your attitude about diet and exercise. After you’ve made your commitment to staying in shape, Phase Two teaches you how to jump-start your metabolism with exercise. Phase Three seeks out the reasons behind overeating and tries to resolve them, and Phase Four unifies the three previous phases, reinforcing what you’ve learned and helping you step up your exercise and dieting to build muscle. Another excellent resource for people who want to stay in shape is The Get with the Program! Guide to Fast Food and Family Restaurants (Simon &and Schuster, $12.95, 168 pages, ISBN 0743256212). This pocket-sized reference reminds readers of the rules for healthy eating, then lists low-fat menu options at more than 50 chain and fast-food restaurants like Applebee’s, Schlotzsky’s Deli, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King. (Here’s a hint super-sizing is a no-go.) While that Big Mac is always a temptation, Greene’s guide proves that resolute dieters can accompany friends and family to their favorite restaurants without sabotaging their weight-loss goals.

Guides for shaping up after the holidays For millions of Americans, the increasing obesity rate isn’t just a news story it’s a personal matter. And after rounds of turkey, pie and cookies consumed during holiday celebrations, many people put losing weight at the top of their New Year’s resolutions. To help out, we’ve gathered four of the biggest diet books of the year. With expert advice from the authors of these best-selling books, you and your family can be on the road to health and fitness in no time flat.

Advice for teens Adults aren’t the only ones at risk of being overweight. Increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease in teenagers prove that they too need to be aware of the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet. Phil McGraw’s son, Jay McGraw, takes on this timely topic in his new book, The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens: The 7 Keys to Weight Freedom. As the “teen expert” on the Dr. Phil show and the author of the best-selling Life Strategies for Teens, Jay McGraw understands the specific challenges faced by teenagers. The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens is filled with the personal stories of young adults who have struggled with weight issues (McGraw interviewed more than 10,000 teens while researching the book). He encourages teens to set goals, avoid “bully thinking” (“I’m a failure,” “I’ll never lose weight”), choose a fun method of exercise, find a group of supportive friends and family, and think about how changing their environment can change their eating habits. Each chapter highlights one of McGraw’s seven keys, and includes space for readers to answer questions and find their own solutions to common weight loss problems. The conversational tone and interactive nature of this sensible book make it a must-have for teens and parents alike.

Doctor’s orders Jay McGraw’s book for teens was inspired by his father’s latest bestseller, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom (Free Press, $26, 320 pages, ISBN 0743236742). Talk-show host Dr. Phil McGraw applies his no-nonsense attitude to weight loss, reminding readers that losing weight isn’t quick or easy. He believes that in most cases, being overweight is the result of lifestyle choices, and that if people are willing to alter their routines to create a healthier lifestyle, losing weight is all but guaranteed. The Ultimate Weight Solution encourages people to take control of their weight with a common-sense approach to portion sizes, exercise and attitude. Dr. Phil promises that a total commitment to all seven keys will lead to success, and hundreds of people have taken the challenge. This inspiring book which claims that willpower and calorie-counting aren’t necessary for success is a great guide for those who want to slim down.

Going Greene So you’ve got the weight off now what? Another Oprah favorite, personal trainer Bob Greene, is weighing in with two new installments in his Get with the Program! series. Get with the Program! Getting Real about Your Weight, Health, and Emotional Well-Being (Simon &and Schuster, $12, 224 pages, ISBN 0743238044) offers indispensable advice on maintaining a healthy weight along with motivational, personal anecdotes from Greene’s own clients. Greene divides his plan into four phases, which readers can complete at their own pace. Phase One puts you in the right mindset by changing your attitude about diet and exercise. After you’ve made your commitment to staying in shape, Phase Two teaches you how to jump-start your metabolism with exercise. Phase Three seeks out the reasons behind overeating and tries to resolve them, and Phase Four unifies the three previous phases, reinforcing what you’ve learned and helping you step up your exercise and dieting to build muscle. Another excellent resource for people who want to stay in shape is The Get with the Program! Guide to Fast Food and Family Restaurants (Simon &and Schuster, $12.95, 168 pages, ISBN 0743256212). This pocket-sized reference reminds readers of the rules for healthy eating, then lists low-fat menu options at more than 50 chain and fast-food restaurants like Applebee’s, Schlotzsky’s Deli, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King. (Here’s a hint super-sizing is a no-go.) While that Big Mac is always a temptation, Greene’s guide proves that resolute dieters can accompany friends and family to their favorite restaurants without sabotaging their weight-loss goals.

Yoga remains a popular pursuit for people of all ages, and veteran sportswriter and journalist John Capouya is among the committed devotees. With his Real Men Do Yoga: 21 Star Athletes Reveal Their Secrets for Strength, Flexibility and Peak Performance, the author provides a readable and well-illustrated guide to yoga practice. The ostensible “guy hook” here comes by way of testimonials from high-profile jocks such as Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, New York Mets pitcher Al Leiter, all-star forward Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves and many others, all of whom endorse yoga as a serious adjunct athletic regimen that enhances flexibility, improves balance, helps prevent injury, increases breath support and relieves stress. “Regular” guys chime in as well truck drivers, restaurateurs, architects, etc. giving witness to yoga’s role in general fitness and mind-body awareness. Besides a rundown of basic yoga poses and how to achieve them, the text also offers sport-by-sport workouts, material on meditation (for the guy who strives to go “deeper within”), and a chapter on yoga’s positive impact on one’s sex life. Capouya’s own New York City-based yoga guru Michael Lechonczak serves as consultant to this earnest volume.

Eating Well When You’re Expecting is the newest offering from the rapidly growing What to Expect dynasty of books, and it’s a useful addition dedicated solely to nutrition during pregnancy and in the months postpartum. Author Heidi Murkoff has a tendency to get silly with her puns (a section on whole grains is, of course, called Don’t Go Against the Grain and a discourse on salad dressing is titled Dressing for Success ). But she offers solid advice in a soothing, motherly voice, and takes a less militant tone than some of the previous What to Expect volumes, recognizing that pregnant women sometimes will eat that ice cream, whether it’s good for them or not. The recipes at the end of the book are a great resource for women who need ideas for how to get the best nutrition for themselves and their babies.

As the mother of a nine-month-old, Amy Scribner did extensive personal research for this article.

The most comprehensive pregnancy guide imaginable, The Whole Pregnancy Handbook covers fertility, nutrition, prenatal yoga, miscarriages, labor and plenty more in between. The book approaches pregnancy and childbirth by combining alternative practices with more conventional medicine. Author Joel Evans sees no conflict, for example, in someone planning a drug-free childbirth yet also taking advantage of the best prenatal testing that modern science offers.

An OB/GYN who is board certified in holistic medicine, Evans also happens to be a beautiful writer who clearly enjoys his work. Birth is an event of joy and continuity; it’s life and breath, he writes. The handbook employs one popular practice of many books in the pregnancy and childbirth genre: including quotes and advice from real-life mothers. The breezy, been-there-done-that style of these entries provides a great balance to the more factual, how-to portions of the book.

As the mother of a nine-month-old, Amy Scribner did extensive personal research for this article.

ng with cancer: helpful books for the journey First, you fall apart. That’s OK. You have just been told by your doctor that you have cancer. On hearing such news, everybody falls apart, in his or her own way. Then you gather up the pieces and try to figure out what to do next. It’s a decision facing many Americans, since approximately one-third of women and one-half of men will get cancer during their lifetimes. No one is immune, not even this writer who battled (and survived) uterine cancer. And for many people facing cancer the first step is to amass the most powerful weapon against the disease: information.

Here, we recommend a selection of the best books that offer help and advice for cancer patients and their families. All of these books are written either by health professionals or by cancer survivors (sometimes both), and in each the personal voice is strong, compassionate and empathetic. They share common insights, such as the power of positive thinking (though one is rightly careful to point out that even positive thinking is no magic cure). All are empowering, supplying the information needed for personal decision-making. All deal to some extent with alternative therapies. All include appendices of resources for support groups, information agencies (Internet and other) and health organizations. And all touch on the mind-body connection, some more than others.

Practical advice Three of our recommended books fall into the practical no-nonsense category, with an emphasis on the technical aspects of the disease. Wendy Schlessel Harpham’s Diagnosis: Cancer, Your Guide through the First Few Months is a revised and updated paperback edition of a book first published in 1991. Harpham is both a doctor and a cancer survivor, and she combines the insights of both. The question-and-answer format makes for easy reading, and the questions Harpham poses really are the questions a new cancer patient will ask. Least exhaustive and most manageable of all the books in this group, Diagnosis: Cancer is perhaps the best choice for a first book for the newly diagnosed patient although certainly not the last.

Caregiving: A Step-By-Step Resource for Caring for the Person with Cancer at Home by Peter S. Houts, Ph.

D., and Julia A. Bucher, R.N., Ph.

D., is designed for caregivers but is equally informative for the patient. Another in the down-to-earth category, it covers treatments (including how to pay for them), instruction and advice for emotional and physical conditions, managing care (for example, a section titled Helping Children Understand) and living with the results of cancer treatments. Well organized, although somewhat repetitive, Caregiving is helpful on the matter of when to get professional help for symptoms and answers questions likely to surface in day-to-day support for cancer patients.

Oncology nurse practitioner Katen Moore, M.S.

N., R.N., and medical researcher Libby Schmais, M.F.

A., M.L.

S., declare a simple goal for Living Well With Cancer: A Nurse Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Managing the Side Effects of Your Treatment.: how to feel better during cancer treatment. The emphasis here is not on the treatments themselves but on dealing with their side effects and symptoms. Many cancer patients can maintain a fairly normal life while under treatment; Moore and Schmais enable the patient to play an important role in managing his or her own disease, and in related decision-making. The authors’ traditional technical and medical expertise is obvious, but they also give a good deal of attention to complementary and alternative medicines.

Mind-body connection While all these books acknowledge the importance of treating the whole person, emotionally as well as physically, some authors put more emphasis on the psychological aspects of cancer treatment. Mind, Body, and Soul: A Guide to Living With Cancer is written by Nancy Hassett Dahm, a nurse with broad experience in treating cancer, who seems to take no guff from doctors. Clinical cases illustrate her key points, which include attitudes toward the sick and the dying, managed care, fear, stress and home care. In discussing “the continuum of pain control,” Dahm emphasizes that the patient, family and medical staff must work together to assess pain, report it to the doctor and see that proper medication is administered. Chapters on philosophical and religious inspiration reflect her own deeply felt experiences in these areas. Dahm includes a discussion of spiritual events, such as out-of-body episodes, that have been reported by her patients.

Before I had cancer, I already felt I “knew myself,” and all my “deepest longings, intentions, and purposes.” All I really wanted to do was come out of it safe (in some way) on the other side. Most of us recognize, however, that a traumatic event like dealing with cancer presents an opportunity for personal growth. In The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist’s Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person, oncologist Jeremy Geffen, M.D., makes that kind of personal growth the major goal of the cancer experience. His program aims to produce healing and spiritual transformation in cancer patients “at the deepest levels of your body, mind, heart, and spirit.” The author’s voice is compassionate and persuasive, especially as heard in clinical cases where he counsels patients and in his own experience with his father’s cancer when he was a medical student. Profoundly influenced by 20 years of “exploring the great spiritual and healing traditions of the East,” he invites readers to “embrace all the dimensions of who you are as a patient and as a human being.” Like the Eastern religions on which it is based, Geffen’s program presents sequential levels in the cancer experience, from the first level of learning basic information about the disease to levels of emotional healing, life assessment and the spiritual aspects of healing. Readers may not care to go all the way with Dr. Geffen, but they will find rich resources in joining him for some part of the journey.

Dr. Jimmie Holland’s The Human Side of Cancer: Living with Hope, Coping with Uncertainty combines all the best parts of this category and reveals an independent streak. Top psychiatrist at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Holland has tired of the universal emphasis on positive thinking and includes a whole chapter on the “tyranny” of the truism, tackling in the process the idea that mind-body connection means you bring your cancer on yourself. Many anecdotal illustrations ease the reading and further her purposes, which include dealing with the diagnosis, societal myths, treatments and unique chapters on surviving cancer, dying from cancer and the grief of dying patients and their families. Holland’s book is less technical than some, but it’s wise and warm and a stand-out in the genre.

Not too long ago there were few technical and spiritual resources for newly diagnosed cancer patients; now a wealth of information floods bookstores and Web sites. That is hardly a cause for celebration but certainly one for gratitude.

Maude McDaniel is a long-time BookPage reviewer who writes from Cumberland, Maryland.

weet dreams: books to help you make friends with the night Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep, usually slips in quietly, delivers his blissful gift of slumber then melts humbly, silently away into the shadows of the night. But the gods can be contrary. Though you offer up countless sheep trying to entice his arrival, sometimes Hypnos is nowhere to be found, leaving you alone, agitated and wide-eyed in the dark. When the god of slumber abandons you, what better reading material to have by your bedside than books on sleep and dreaming? How to Sleep Soundly Tonight by Barbara L. Heller, is a charming and inexpensive little handbook full of simple, easily implemented methods for assessing your night’s sleep and making it the healthiest, most restorative experience it can be. Heller takes a naturalistic approach, promoting sleep-inducing tips like keeping your feet warm at night or drinking chamomile tea, but she concludes with a chapter about what to do and where to turn when self-help doesn’t work. The No More Sleepless Nights Workbook by Peter Hauri, Murray Jarman and Shirley Linde delves a little more deeply into the underlying causes of insomnia. (Hauri is the former director of the Mayo Clinic Insomnia Program and one of the world’s leading authorities on the problem.) The workbook provides many self-examining questionnaires on topics like “Lifestyle,” “Depression” and “Sleep History.” These are designed to help you pinpoint your individual type of sleep problem before planning your own “better-sleep” program. This step-by-step approach is followed by chapters on solutions to each particular “sleep stealer,” including night work, jet lag and Seasonal Affective Disorder. No More Sleepless Nights Workbook is a terrific overall resource book for insomniacs.

Though obviously many sleep robbers such as stress or a poor sleep environment are not gender related, certain sleep adversaries such as hormone-instigated night sweats or the demands of trying to juggle work and new motherhood are specific to women. A Woman’s Guide to Sleep by Joyce A. Walsleben, Ph.

D., and Rita Baron-Faust addresses the particular stumbling blocks to sleep that women face from menstruation through menopause and beyond and offers a wealth of research, insight and advice in a scholarly yet accessible style.

These books are about getting to sleep, but once you’ve gotten there and have Hypnos paying regular nocturnal calls to your bedside, you’ll want a visit from Morpheus, the god of dreams. (We mortals are so demanding!) In fact, many experts believe that REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which takes place during dreaming, is not only a normal and essential quality of “good” sleep, but plays a crucial role in memory and learning. Much has been written about why we dream, what we dream and what it all means, but The Committee of Sleep, by Deidre Barrett, Ph.

D., takes a different twist. Barrett presents dreams as a means of creative problem solving and explains how creative thinkers through the ages have capitalized on their subconscious visions. The book takes its title from a John Steinbeck quote: “It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.” In addition to authors, Committee discusses artists, musicians, filmmakers, scientists, mathematicians and others who have used their dreams something which “the committee” has fortuitously sent to them at night to enhance their creative work by day. This book will inspire you to keep a dream journal, so if and when the committee slips you a Pulitzer or Nobel Prize-winning idea, you can write it down and claim it for your own! If you or someone you know needs to make friends with the night, these books (and maybe a glass of warm milk) should help pave the way along the path to the Land of Nod. Sweet dreams! Linda Stankard is a writer in Cookeville, Tennessee.