Reader Views

Out of the Woods: Healing from Lyme Disease and other Chronic Illness – Body, Mind & Spirit

Article first published as Book Review: Out of the Woods: Healing from Lyme Disease and other Chronic Illness by Katina I. Makris on Blogcritics.

When a healer and a health care columnist spends several years completely baffled and in absolute torment, chances are that her mysterious flu-like illness is something that is truly difficult to diagnose. It took Ms. Makris five years to receive a correct diagnosis, and a long time to even partially recover from it. Her journey is described beautifully in “Out of the Woods,” which encompasses both her memoirs and an eye-opening “Nuts and Bolts” section on signs, symptoms, and available treatments for Lyme disease.

There were many valuable lessons to be learned from this beautifully written book. Some were rather obvious ones about cherishing what we have, since it could so easily be gone the very next moment, the importance of having a good support system and the need to work with one’s doctor(s). Then there were those that should be obvious, but many times are not, like the importance of being persistent in trying to get your point across to the doctor when one does not feel that the real issue is being addressed. Nobody knows us better than we know ourselves, and nobody else can say with more certainty whether something is working for us or not. Perhaps the most important issue was the holistic view of treatments – it is vitally important that all facets of the issue are addressed adequately, since good results simply can not be achieved without proper balance. Many of us would do well to read – and reread – the section on importance of real, true rest to the healing process. It might sound limiting and difficult to achieve, but Ms. Makris illustrated really well how essential it was to her effort to get well again. And let’s not forget the “there are no coincidences” factor – if one even remotely believes that, one would be hard pressed to find a more fitting story to exemplify it.

I wish this book would have been published years ago, when several people close to me were diagnosed with Lyme disease. They were lucky to have at least received the correct diagnosis rather early, yet their recovery was difficult and very lengthy in each of the three cases that I know of. I am certain that quite a lot of the information from the Part Two of this book would have been a great help to them, and I am simply grateful that the book is available to anybody who needs it now.

“Out of the Woods” by Katina I. Makris should be required reading not only for patients struggling with the Lyme disease, or those who suspect that Lyme might be the cause of their problems, but also anybody who has been struggling with any debilitating chronic disease, as well as for those who provide care for such patients, regardless of whether they do it in a professional or amateur capacity. Ms. Makris’ descriptions of her struggles with even the simplest tasks were frighteningly eye-opening to me, and I can only hope they will make me more understanding and more tolerant in the future. Moreover, I greatly enjoyed Ms. Makris’ writing and her vivid descriptions of things, people, and events in her world. She made it come to life in full color.


Out of the Woods: Healing from Lyme Disease and other Chronic Illness – Body, Mind & Spirit
Katina I. Makris, CCH, CIH
Elite Books (2011)
ISBN 9781600700712
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (2/12)

Why Do We All Love Dr. Seuss?: Discovering the Mystery and Magic of an Icon

Article first published as Book Review: Why Do We All Love Dr. Seuss?: Discovering the Mystery and Magic of an Icon by Lois Einhorn, Ph.D. on Blogcritics.

“Why Do We All Love Dr. Seuss?” by Lois Einhorn, Ph.D., provides an interesting and inspiring perspective to the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss! Dr. Einhorn offers her powerful insight into the magical words of Dr. Seuss. I was impressed with the connections she was able to make. Of course, it all seems obvious once she sheds light on those connections, but I know personally I would have missed out on many Dr. Seuss life lessons had I not read this book.

Some of the topics Dr. Einhorn includes are natural order, interconnectedness, balance, gratitude, respect, action, play and so much more. The chapter about the universe being one circle reminded me of how life is harmonious and whole. Dr. Einhorn says, “A circle has no borders, boundaries, or blocks, no corners, confines, or crevices… In an open circle everyone belongs.” That is powerful for adults and children alike. What comfort that must bring to young children just discovering the world.

Another chapter that spoke to me was chapter 11, “Gratefulness.” This chapter inspired me and reminded me to be truly grateful for my life, including my troubles. Sometimes simplicity carries great power and this chapter’s simple reminder served its purpose.

This book is sprinkled with thought-provoking quotes by interesting people, adding to the tidbits of wisdom throughout this book. My next read will be some of the old Dr. Seuss favorites so I can relive childhood joys with new insight. I will keep Lois Einhorn’s “Why Do We All Love Dr. Seuss?” as a reference for when I need to be reminded of how wonderfully whole our world is!


Why Do We All Love Dr. Seuss?: Discovering the Mystery and Magic of an Icon
Lois Einhorn, Ph.D.
Robert Reed Publishers (2012)
ISBN 9781934759585
Reviewed by Christine Watson for Reader Views (4/12)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’ve Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic’s Mood Chart

Article first published as Book Review: Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I've Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic's Mood Chart by Derek Thompson on Blogcritics.

Except for being personally diagnosed, every aspect of my life is touched by people with bipolar disorder. From friends, to family, to my students, it seems like this disorder is more common than most people would think.  Many years ago, before it was well known, a close friend’s mother was diagnosed with it. Her symptoms were severe. When my friend’s sister and nine-year-old son also received the diagnosis, I tried to learn as much as I could about it from her. One thing that always stayed with me was that she said, “Imagine that the rest of the world is crazy and you are the only normal one.” This was what she felt her family members were experiencing.  I always tried to keep this in mind when working with my students who are bipolar.   Reading Derek Thompson’s memoir, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’ve Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic’s Mood Chart,” about dealing with this disorder was truly a blessing for me because I feel it will help me deal more effectively with my students who have this diagnosis.  The more I can understand about what it is like to experience this, the more effective support that I can provide to them.  Providing the proper support can help have a huge impact on them completing their educational goals.

Organized in blog entries, Derek tells his personal story by organizing the symptoms into sections rather than chronologically.  I felt this idea was incredibly creative and seemed to help the book flow better. I would have expected it to seem disjointed, but since each entry stands alone, it was actually very helpful to do this in this manner.  Organized as a mood chart, he breaks the book down into three sections with differing levels of severity which are reflected by colors of the rainbow. The first section covers depressed, then normal and finally elevated (manic).

I really admired the author for writing in a manner than included a great deal of both insight and humor.  Readers will find themselves captivated by his experiences and the fact that he is able to maintain a sense of humor about all that has happened to him.   The amount of personal information that he shares is also extremely helpful because I felt that by sharing everything, even the embarrassing experiences will help others relate to him, and in turn gain a greater understanding of the experience of being bipolar.

I also think that “Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’ve Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic’s Mood Chart” will help remove some of the stigma associated with being bipolar. Obviously, it isn’t an easy mental health condition to have to live with; however, reading Derek’s story will help people who don’t have it understand that the ones who do are human beings who deserve compassion and respect for having to ride the rollercoaster that they are on.  I highly recommend this book for people who are diagnosed with it, and for those who deal with those who have it, including both professionals and loved ones.  Derek Thompson’s memoir has had a huge impact on my life, and I really appreciate his willingness to put it all out there.


Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’ve Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic’s Mood Chart
Derek Thompson
CreateSpace (2012)
ISBN 9781467935234
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/12)

Do Not Invent Buggy Whips: Create! Reinvent! Position! Disrupt!

Article first published as Book Review: Do Not Invent Buggy Whips: Create! Reinvent! Position! Disrupt! by Kenneth J. Thurber, Ph.D on Blogcritics.

Kenneth J. Thurber’s “Do Not Invent Buggy Whips” is one of those books that truly make you think. It matters little whether you are an aspiring inventor, an old hand in this field, or simply a curious individual with an insatiable desire to learn, there will be plenty to astonish and amaze you in “Do Not Invent Buggy Whips.”

While I certainly found the theory of invention and reinvention captivating, particularly since this book was written in a clear, concise and easy to follow manner, I got even more involved while reading parts 3 and 4, which deal with application of concepts and examples of product strategies respectively. There were a lot of rather nostalgic moments involved, since some of the ideas that already need to be reinvented were such important discoveries or new products in my own past. I had to laugh time again about the way I first misread the title itself as well. Being somebody who is always dealing with a computer, my first thought on seeing the word “buggy” was something with a lot of bugs, the computer type ones... Granted, the whips threw me off immediately there, but it still took me a moment to associate the word buggy with a horse drawn vehicle, which just shows you how quickly things, including language, change and need to be updated and reinvented.

The word “reinvented” brings us to the main premise of the book, namely the need for the inventions to be relevant and the simple truth that many of the formerly great and valuable inventions simply aren’t that any longer. Kenneth J. Thurber describes a clear path of how such a process should be designed, put in place and implemented to disrupt the status quo on the market and bring in considerable success along the way. While he never promises to make the reader rich, and I certainly found that to be a wonderful departure from the style of all too many so called self-help books, he creates an easy to follow and quite reasonable outline of how one should approach this type of invention/reinvention and which factors one should pay particular attention to.

“Do Not Invent Buggy Whips” by Kenneth J. Thurber, Ph.D., is a book that should find a permanent place on the bookshelves of those who always strive to better products – and ideas, and who are not afraid of hard work and some animosity along the way. Mr. Thurber’s models and ideas certainly could help a wide range of entrepreneurs, not only the inventors, therefore I would recommend this book to anybody in any kind of a business who wants to remain relevant and successful.


Do Not Invent Buggy Whips: Create! Reinvent! Position! Disrupt!
Kenneth J. Thurber, Ph.D.
Digital Systems Press (2012)
ISBN 9780983342434
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (3/12)

I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands: The Other Side of OCD

Article first published as Book Review: I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands: The Other Side of OCD by J.J. Keeler on Blogcritics.

I am sure most of us have jokingly said at some point in time that a certain behavior or pattern of ours or somebody else’s is due to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but I am also sure that most of us really know preciously little about the disorder affecting quite a few among us. If there’s one thing that I am certain of after having finished reading J.J. Keeler’s “I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands,” it is that I will certainly never joke about anything like that again.

While I hesitate to categorize her book as funny, that truly is the first thing that comes to mind. Her descriptions of life with OCD, as heart-wrenching as they are, are also incredibly funny, and never ceased to amaze me with the continuous display of intelligent humor and astonishingly sharp and poignant observations. J.J. Keeler accomplished something truly rare – she not only made me see OCD for what it is, but she made me feel like I was looking at it from the inside. I was not just a mildly curious observer, I felt immersed in the daily struggles of somebody coping with OCD. This was a true revelation to me, and a much needed reminder how little is generally known about such disorders and how easily they could be misunderstood.

I would highly recommend J.J. Keeler’s “I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands” to anybody who wishes to be better informed about OCD and most certainly to anybody who is struggling with the disorder. In addition to the truly brilliant descriptions of daily life with OCD, the author offers a lot of practical advice, written in a way that should help any fellow OCD sufferer realize that they are not alone in their battle with it. Although it is all written with a big dose of humor, it is also completely serious, pointing out that OCD is a real disorder and completely terrifying for those living with it or those sharing their life with a person afflicted by OCD.  A brave book by a gifted writer, this is a winner on every level.


I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands: The Other Side of OCD
J.J. Keeler
Paragon House (2012)
ISBN 9781557788924
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (4/12)

Citizen Soldier: An Overview of the US Military Reserve Forces

Article first published as Book Review: Citizen Soldier: An Overview of the US Military Reserve Forces by Blaine A. White on Blogcritics.

It’s difficult to find books that walk you through the process of joining the military, and it’s even harder to find something to use as a guide for the Reserve forces of the various military branches. White’s “Citizen Soldier: An Overview of the US Military Reserve Forces” fills in that gap by introducing the paths that are available to anyone considering the possibility of wearing a uniform.

The choice you make regarding the branch of the military you wish to serve in won’t affect the usefulness of this book since the content covers all the Reserve branches, including one known as the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC), which I had never heard of before reading this book. You’ll also discover a few little-known details regarding the various military branches, which might possibly affect the path you choose to take. For example, did you know that two of the Reserve units are under the command of the state governor first and the United States president second, while the remaining branches are exclusively commanded by the president? It was something new to me.

The author is serious about his commitment to the military and his passion easily shows in his writing, yet he doesn’t completely sugar-coat things. He explains the importance of being in good physical and mental shape, and he does advise asking the recruiter every question you can think of so that you don’t become one of those disillusioned enlistees that says he, or she, was “tricked” by their recruiter; when it comes to something as serious as serving your country, there is no such thing as a stupid question. The difference between entering the military reserves as an enlisted person or an officer are also explained, with information provided on how to transition from one to the other if you decide to take a route that’s different from the one you originally chose.

The book is well-written and flows smoothly, with a natural progression that’s easy to follow. If you, or someone you know, is considering a future in the Reserves, I would highly recommend they read “Citizen Soldier: An Overview of the US Military Reserve Forces” by Blaine A. White because the information tucked within these 212 pages could prove to be a valuable learning tool.


Citizen Soldier: An Overview of the US Military Reserve Forces
Blaine A. White
AuthorHouse (2012)
ISBN 9781468545463
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (3/12)

Five Steps to Draw Closer to God

Article first published as Book Reivew: Five Steps to Draw Closer to God by Doranda Jacques on Blogcritics.

Doranda Jacques writes to encourage her readers to grow spiritually while they develop a deeper relationship with God in her book “Five Steps to Draw Closer to God.”

The book is made up of five chapters. Each chapter opens with a spectacular awe-inspiring color photo creating a sense of quiet and peace. This is followed with the introduction of practical key points which develop an important scriptural principle designed to nurture a unique concept of spiritual growth which will lead to a more meaningful understanding of the fullness of God’s love and purpose.

A summary of the key points of each chapter helps the reader assimilate the narrative as well as capsulizing the material for focus, application, and determining personal action steps. This is followed with a checklist to ensure that the steps are incorporated in daily practice and experience. Provision is made for recording personal notes. Selected scriptures are included to reinforce these truths. A thought-provoking prayer is provided for contemplation and reflection.

Additional features in the book include:

• Practical notes on being tested in the process of drawing closer to God
• Thoughts on evaluating yourself in the process
• A section for recording your personal reflections in journal form
• A clear presentation of the Gospel for those unsure of their relationship with God

The book is designed as a devotional study rather than a theological discourse, however, Doranda Jacques’ writing is Biblical based and are true to the scriptures. The format of Doranda Jacques’ “Five Steps to Draw Closer to God” provides for a concise, yet comprehensive, plan leading to a deeper relationship with God which can be adapted for inclusion with any existing plan of devotional reading or Bible study.


Five Steps to Draw Closer to God
Doranda Jacques
CreateSpace (2012)
ISBN 9781453816189
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (3/12)

Soulmate Proprietors: How To Run a Business With Your Spouse and STAY Married!

Article first published as Book Review: Soulmate Proprietors: How To Run A Business With Your Spouse And STAY Married! by Danelle Brown on Blogcritics.

In her new book “Soulmate Proprietors,” author, consultant and business coach, Danelle Brown grapples with the question of whether spouses can run a business together and still stay married. Many have tried and failed, some losing both their business and their marriage in the end. But after casting a wide net of interviews among a diverse range of “small business families,” Brown reached the conclusion that despite a high degree of difficulty, not only can this arrangement work for spouses, there is indeed much to celebrate for the entire family.

Brown had a passion for writing this book that was borne out of necessity and intimate knowledge of the subject. Together with her husband, Marcel, she is co-owner and marketing director of MB Tech, Inc. which provides technology consulting services to small businesses and individuals. She is also the president and founder of Queen Bee Consulting which helps family and couple-owned companies grow their businesses. Danelle Brown is immersed in the issues she writes about.

“Soulmate Proprietors” is basically a comprehensive, well-organized and easy-to-understand how-to guide. In addition to the wise and relevant counsel of the author, each of the book’s seven chapters includes interview excerpts/case study comments from real spousal partners who were interviewed by Brown in preparation for writing the book. Each chapter also includes a “Soul Searching Questions” section that provides an important self-check summary to help the reader measure their understanding of the issues presented and promote reflection on those issues about which they have concerns. Each chapter is informative, entertaining and well written.

In Chapter One, “In It to Win It,” the author’s straight talk sets a strong, all or nothing standard for those contemplating running a business together. This challenge is echoed throughout the book, which proceeds to address the numerous issues involved such as is do you want to be in business with your spouse and is your marriage strong enough to make it work, how to divide your talents so that roles are clear, channeling stress to build a stronger relationship, dealing with the reality that the business becomes part of the family, bringing balance to your work and personal lives, and the fringe benefits of working with your spouse. And as Brown points out near the end of the book, believe it or not, this simply sets the foundation for a successful business with your spouse.

Danelle Brown says she really enjoys talking to people and helping and mentoring them. “Soulmate Proprietors” clearly shows this is so. Her writing style is warm and conversational, her counsel is candid, and her words are thoughtful and caring. Whether you’re just beginning to consider the possibility of starting a business with your spouse, or at whatever point you are in running a business together, I believe this book can help you. I know it would have made a difference in my attempt. Ignore this book at your own peril.


Soulmate Proprietors: How To Run a Business With Your Spouse and STAY Married!
Danelle Brown
Queen Bee Consulting (2011)
ISBN 9780982925706
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (1/12)

Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury

Article first published as Book Review: Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child's Traumatic Brain Injury by Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie on Blogcritics.

Following her own child’s harrowing traumatic brain injury Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie wrote a highly acclaimed book which emotionally and passionately documented her nightmarish journey as mother and caregiver. In that book, “Unthinkable: A Mother’s Tragedy, Terror and Triumph Through a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury,” published in 2010, each chapter, written with deep emotion, is concluded with tips for coping and participating throughout the process. It was these rational tips that offset the unbridled emotion in that first book.

In the Introduction of her new, follow-up book, “Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury,” the author has excerpted these tips to create a concise yet thorough caregiver’s companion. Coskie’s priceless experience make this book a valuable resource for dealing with an unthinkable, life-changing event for which none of us is ever prepared.

Coskie presents her tips in ten sections. The first group of tips addresses the steps and components of preparedness. The advice offered in this section is not unlike that which is generally recommended for any medical emergency. But, the reader is cautioned not to assume that brain trauma events are like other medical events. Section 2, “Traumatic Event,” will abruptly and jarringly dismantle that false assumption. And from that point forward, the reader will be riveted by information that might make some readers simply give up and set the book aside.

But read on we must if we, our child and our other family members are to have any chance at all of surviving one of the most horrific and unthinkable occurrences that can befall us. Not only should primary and secondary caregivers and other family members read this book, so should doctors and medical services providers involved in the process.

Each section of tips following Section 1 in “Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury” continually startled me with relentless “slaps in the face” of reality. But I feel blessed for having had the opportunity to read the book and I am grateful that Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie had the strength and passion to share her experience and lessons learned. Otherwise, who would have known?


Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury
Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie
Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781936214419
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (11/11)

My Annie: The True to Life Story of a Liberated Woman Written by her Husband

Article first published as Book Review: My Annie: The True to Life Story of a Liberated Woman Written by her Husband by Douglas Richie on Blogcritics.

Born in mid 1926, Annie Whitaker Richie could have grown up to be exactly like all of the other girls living in this time period – quiet, submissive, a housewife and a stay at home mom, and someone with no life outside of the four walls they call ‘home’. Yet despite the negative and demeaning experiences she endured from her own mother during a difficult childhood and the cultural norm of restriction for women, she fought to break free of the general mold labeled ‘proper wife’ and went on to live an uncommon and invigorating life. Call her forward-thinking, call her educated, or call her liberated. But to her husband - and the author of her biography - she’s just ‘My Annie’.

“My Annie: The True to Life Story of a Liberated Woman Written by her Husband” is an extensive biography. Written by her loving husband, the story follows Annie from the time she was a little girl, through college and their courtship, through four children and two surprise overseas adoptions, (where they went over to Korea for one child and came back with two), through international travels and volunteering, and up to present day where she happily lives with Douglas Richie in Carlsbad, California. She describes the high points in her life but she also shares the low ones – her husband’s firing and brush with a breakdown, the eventual break from the two difficult Korean adoptees, and running away from her family to the tropical islands of Hawaii. Her amazing story is one of hope, faith, and determination.

“My Annie” is a cherished find for fans of biographies and autobiographies. The vivid recounting of the various stories is genuine and heartfelt while the sheer amount of detail included is surprising and impressive! I couldn’t believe how clear each chapter’s descriptions were – I really felt like I was put into the setting and could see what she was seeing or feel what she was feeling. For example, the meticulous elements of their first date are included: that there had been a polio epidemic that year, that the boys they hung out with were all in the glee club, that her and her eventual-husband talked of things like the trains, or that he had the same last name that the head of a work camp she’d gone to had, etc, etc, etc. Or the fact that she got penicillin every three hours, day and night, when she developed a horrible case of strep throat in college. This kind of detail is in every page, every story, and every chapter. The book took you through each phase of Annie’s life and allowed you to be a part of her thought process and growth. While written by her husband, the book relays the entirety of her story in first person. I thought this might make the story more difficult to read but it gave the tone a deeply personal feel. Douglas Richie does an impeccable job ‘becoming’ Annie and bringing her story to life. He further excels at keeping the book flowing so as not to weigh down the reader or allow things to get boring. Both organization and editing are top-notch. I was disappointed that there weren’t more photographs of Annie throughout the years, though. There are two pictures at the very end of the book – one family picture and one of her four children when they were very young. Inspirational and entertaining!


My Annie: The True to Life Story of a Liberated Woman Written by her Husband
Douglas Richie
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432779641
Reviewed by Vicki Liston for Reader Views (1/12)