An appealing introduction to healthy living.
A simple guide to active living aimed at women over 60.
Stewart-Roache and Yarnell met on a Semester at Sea voyage and realized that they shared the same dedication to fitness, despite having different body types and being 62 and 70 years old, respectively. The two decided to create a basic fitness handbook for older women complete with information addressing frequent senior health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis and loss of vision, taste or hearing. Noting that most fitness articles aimed at older people promise to extend life or reverse aging, the authors focus on fitness as a way to improve the overall quality of one’s life rather than a way to erase wrinkles or turn back the clock. Stewart-Roache and Yarnell’s refreshing, no-nonsense attitude toward aging can be summed up by their brusque, introductory statement that “old can be active old or rocking chair old.” The book continues in a similarly conversational tone, with the first half consisting of a quick introduction to nutrition and aerobic exercise, interspersed with notes of friendly encouragement. Much of the nutrition wisdom is somewhat typical (such as encouragement to eat antioxidants and avoid high-fructose corn syrup), but the book also includes useful information on eating to avoid diabetes and the authors’ personal tips for maintaining a healthy weight. The fitness section includes information on achieving one’s target heart rate and proper warm-up and cool-down procedures, followed by tips to avoid injury and advice for staying goal-oriented. The remaining half of the book consists of useful reference information including charts of vitamins and minerals, exercise plans, goal sheets, healthy recipes and examples of the fitness plans followed by other older women. The authors provide short exercise plans for running, bicycling, yoga and swimming, but encourage women to explore other, equally healthy activities, such as ping-pong, scuba diving, skiing and golf. Fitness veterans may find the book lacks sufficient research or depth, but it’s a excellent start for beginners.
An appealing introduction to healthy living.Pub Date: April 24, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-913478-11-0
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A psychiatrist offers an encouraging and informative report on sexual harassment today, in a book suited to both male and female readers. All too often men try to act out their sexual fantasies at work; all too often women have been socialized not to protect themselves against these incursions. Sexual harassment policies, however, alert everyone to these issues. Rutter says: ``We are all inescapably involved in an unprecedented reconfiguring of the most important rules of daily social behavior—how we treat one another at our sexual boundaries.'' He offers helpful advice to men and women about getting along, being respectful, and above all, reasonable. And as in his previous book, Sex in the Forbidden Zone (1989), Rutter identifies common sexual boundary violations, discusses ways men can manage their sexual fantasies, and discourages relationships between people of unequal power. He maintains that the best way for workplaces and schools to stop sexual harassment is to establish and enforce clear policies. But the surest means of changing the sexist attitudes that lead to harassment is for other men to take the lead—condemning the old standards and engaging in new ethical and equitable behavior toward women. At the end of the book, Rutter presents a sample sexual harassment policy, several landmark legal decisions, and extensive lists of legal and psychological resources. His knowledge, first- hand counseling experience, and understanding of complex gender issues lend his book credibility. The weak spots stem from the author's overzealous support of his colleagues in the field, who he seems to believe can solve everything. The lay reader, however, may be skeptical when he suggests that employees involved in a workplace romance should inform the human resources officer so ``the officer can intervene more effectively should private tensions between the couple spill over,'' or when he recommends modified sexual harassment workshops for children, starting in the fourth grade. Nonetheless, a timely and thorough guide.
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-553-09954-X
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Bantam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
An elaboration, a rehash even, of Benson's Beyond the Relaxation Response: How to Harness the Healing Power of Your Beliefs (1984). Benson uses the analogy of a three-legged stool to describe how health and well-being rely on the balanced application of (1) pharmaceuticals, (2) surgery and procedures, and (3) self-care. Greater utilization of self-care has been his career focus, and here he recounts his discovery of the relaxation response, his research into the placebo effect (renamed here ``remembered wellness''), and his identification of ``the faith factor.'' Benson proposes that religious convictions enhance the relaxation response dramatically. He contends that as a species aware of its own mortality, human beings are ``wired for God,'' that is, through evolution we have become genetically programmed to have faith in some absolute power. Further, he argues that affirmative beliefs, especially faith in God, have many positive effects on health. In 60 to 90 percent of doctor visits, he says, remembered wellness and other self-care techniques can be the treatment of choice, and he lists numerous specific conditions—asthma, insomnia, hypertension—in which studies show that belief plays a major role. The flip side of the coin is that negative thoughts elicit powerful negative effects, and he offers some ideas on dealing with these. Benson's utilitarian approach to religion may offend thoughtful believers, and his spiritual approach to healing may not sit well with the scientific crowd. An appendix plugging a video and 17 audiotapes on relaxation available from Benson's Mind/Body Medical Institute gives the whole project a self-serving air. For those familiar with Benson's work, there's not much new here.
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-684-81441-2
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Scribner
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1996
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