1 to 14 of 14
Review Date: 4/18/2009
Helpful Score: 1
This book is the latest in my quest to know EVERYTHING about natural fertility awareness. It is by far the best resource I have on my bookshelf right now. It is harder reading than the rest, but is thoroughly documented and easily applicable. It goes through practically everything one might encounter in tracking a woman's cycle and backs up each application point with research and statistics. I highly recommend reading this book if you want to know lots of details about Natural Family Planning, but it isn't necessary just for learning the method.
Review Date: 2/9/2009
Helpful Score: 11
I read this book before I was engaged, again when I was engaged, and again when I was married. It is very obvious that theologically, Joshua Harris is well on the reformed side, so there is a heavy dose of predestination in his thoughts on "choosing" your mate. I enjoyed this book mainly because I enjoy reading anything that glorifies God in our families and our lives, and that is what the author seeks to do. But I was never completely comfortable with this book, because it seems to make a lot of rules and regulations seem "spiritual" and even "biblical," but from personal experience, those rules did not play out in my own (wonderful, God-seeking) journey towards marriage. There are lots of good things to think about, but also a lot of things that can easily confuse.
For example, I don't agree at all (and especially not in the last nerve-wracking months before my marriage) that an engaged couple shouldn't even talk about sex until after the alter. However, Joshua writes it as positively sinful to even think about such a discussion- which, even though I was firm in my own mind, caused twinges of doubt about a healthy and necessary discussion I needed to have with my (then) fiance. This is just one example, but he spends a lot of time dwelling on details like these that make it seem almost impossible to have a "Godly courtship" (in his painting of the term). People who are truly seeking God, but don't fall exactly in line with his tight definitions, simply don't need the guilt trip.
Ultimately, I think the point of the book was that God can be trusted, even in your wait for a spouse. Honor Him, seek counsel, don't rush, and, in your relationships, honor the person, and your future marriage, by being intentional and pure. Good message, I do recommend this book if anyone is looking for encouragement or ideas in their view of the relationships which lead to marriage.
For example, I don't agree at all (and especially not in the last nerve-wracking months before my marriage) that an engaged couple shouldn't even talk about sex until after the alter. However, Joshua writes it as positively sinful to even think about such a discussion- which, even though I was firm in my own mind, caused twinges of doubt about a healthy and necessary discussion I needed to have with my (then) fiance. This is just one example, but he spends a lot of time dwelling on details like these that make it seem almost impossible to have a "Godly courtship" (in his painting of the term). People who are truly seeking God, but don't fall exactly in line with his tight definitions, simply don't need the guilt trip.
Ultimately, I think the point of the book was that God can be trusted, even in your wait for a spouse. Honor Him, seek counsel, don't rush, and, in your relationships, honor the person, and your future marriage, by being intentional and pure. Good message, I do recommend this book if anyone is looking for encouragement or ideas in their view of the relationships which lead to marriage.
Review Date: 4/19/2009
This heroine reminds me a lot of Scarlett O'Hara in her selfishness and obsessions with the wrong men. But of course, she's in Norway in the Middle Ages, instead of America during the civil war. The writing and story is captivating, and the glimpses of medieval life are equally fascinating. Although the story is mainly about Kristin, I loved the occasional scenes of the other significant people in the story- all the characters are compelling in their own right. I'm definitely planning on reading the other two books in the trilogy.
The Contraception Guidebook: Options, Risks, and Answers for Christian Couples
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Review Date: 3/1/2009
This book lays out the current information on contraception with a balanced, cautious look at what it means for Christians. It is a good resource to get clear on the facts of what science does know, what it doesn't know, and what that might mean in a moral sense. The author is obviously in favor of the pill in its current form, but gives respectful, non-judgmental information as to why others might not be comfortable with it. Overall, a good read for anybody confused about propaganda given out by both sides of the contraception debate. I've personally studied the current research as thoroughly as I can, and didn't really learn anything new from this book.
The only scientifically off-base statement I came across was that people concerned about the (probably) rare but possible event of a break-through ovulation on the pill should also monitor their fertility signs and abstain or use alternate protection if the woman appears to be ovulating. This would be impossible to implement based on the way that the pill affects the natural fertility signals of a woman not on hormones- a "break-through" ovulation would not produce classic signs in a woman on the pill, and there may appear to be many "fertility" signs in a woman on the pill who is, in fact, anovulatory, due to the overload of hormones in her system. Other than this, all the information and advice seemed very current and accurate.
The only scientifically off-base statement I came across was that people concerned about the (probably) rare but possible event of a break-through ovulation on the pill should also monitor their fertility signs and abstain or use alternate protection if the woman appears to be ovulating. This would be impossible to implement based on the way that the pill affects the natural fertility signals of a woman not on hormones- a "break-through" ovulation would not produce classic signs in a woman on the pill, and there may appear to be many "fertility" signs in a woman on the pill who is, in fact, anovulatory, due to the overload of hormones in her system. Other than this, all the information and advice seemed very current and accurate.
Review Date: 5/12/2010
Seriously, just as cheesy as the 20s movies. I couldn't believe it, but loved every cliche-ridden page and over dramatized battle between good and evil. I'm very much not a horror story reader, but this was just plain fun.
I Can Feed Myself!: The Baby-Led Weaning Approach to Introducing Solid Foods
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Review Date: 2/5/2013
This information is good, but the book is about twice as long as it needed to be. It is very easy to learn from though, and application was a cinch.
Review Date: 4/11/2012
I read this book first in high school, and have re-read it twice since then, each time liking it more. It is not a simple read, but well worth the time and effort. The ideas are strongly related to the author's faith (he was a pastor), and the elements of fantasy are used to relate the spiritual journey of the main character. At the same time, the story is a lot richer than a simple allegory, and the characters have a personal draw that is lacking in such Christian tales as "Hinds Feet on High Places."
This book gives one a lot to think about, with many different scenarios and themes presented in swift succession. Because it is older and fairly obscure, I find it more engaging to the imagination since it doesn't use a lot of the popular symbolism and euphemisms that make it easy to gloss over so many fantasy stories. Read this book slowly for the full emotional impact, because there's a lot of depth to it.
This book gives one a lot to think about, with many different scenarios and themes presented in swift succession. Because it is older and fairly obscure, I find it more engaging to the imagination since it doesn't use a lot of the popular symbolism and euphemisms that make it easy to gloss over so many fantasy stories. Read this book slowly for the full emotional impact, because there's a lot of depth to it.
Review Date: 3/27/2012
This book was about 1/3 longer than it should have been. I really enjoyed the beginning, but the ideas and observations kept repeating themselves over and over- I felt like I'd read the book twice by the time I'd finished. I generally enjoyed it, just not as much as I thought I would after the first few chapters.
Review Date: 6/29/2012
Helpful Score: 1
I am a pediatric nurse with 10 years of experience both in hospital and primary care peds, a breastfeeding mom of a 6 month old,and a Christian. I say this because qualifications on advice matter. Gary Ezzo, the author of this book, has none besides one degree in theology, and the "co-author," Robert Bucknam, apparently only wrote the forward, and that while he was still in training. The information in this book is opinion, pure and simple, and the advice is benignly wrong in some places and dangerously wrong in others.
All quotes and references come from the 2006 edition of the book.
The book is built around 2 main logical fallacies. The "straw man" fallacy of 2 fictional babies that drive the text (pg. 18), and the either-or fallacy of Ezzo vs. everyone else. The language is extreme (Ezzo's way gives "bliss," while ignoring his advice brings "chaos"), and the supposed consequences of not following his advice are designed to promote fear (ADHD- pg.54, loss of milk supply- pg. 58, ruined marriage- pg. 22, obesity- pg. 140, academic failure- pg. 141... the list goes on.). Most of the claims have no citations, those that do often cite things like 20/20 specials, and the few actual research studies referenced are often out of date, made up by the author himself and unpublished, or misinterpreted to fit the claims of the book.
The underlying concept of the book is that parents must teach their children from day one that they are not the center of the universe, doing so by "shaping their hunger cycles" (pg. 30) and teaching them "delayed gratification" in the form of leaving them to cry, especially at nap time (pg. 140, for example). Healthy indicators of infant development are misinterpreted as pathological, the most obvious example of which is teaching that the behavior associated with a normal "separation anxiety" phase is a sign of unhealthy attachment.
While Ezzo does say to feed the baby if he is hungry sooner than the book's 2 1/2 hour minimum, he also repeats frequent warnings such as "do not deviate so often as to establish a new routine" (pg. 116). His breastfeeding advice on foremilk vs. hindmilk and "snacking" is completely incorrect physiologically. He clearly knows that educated, certified lactation consultants will disagree with him, because he issues a warning to boycott and warn others away from a consultant who tells you differently from his book (pg. 100-101). His pronouncement that NICUs are on a 3-hour feeding schedule, thust preventing Failure to Thrive (pg. 97)is so wrong that it's scary.
Most of his advice is bad, in large part, because it is developmentally inappropriate. Infants aren't capable of learning delayed gratification, but they are capable of learning that their cries go unanswered. Many infants who give up crying on this system, "flexible" though it says it is, have gone on to refuse feeds altogether, having given up hope that their cries will be answered. Hundreds of cases of Failure to Thrive have been reported around the country, where parents were following Ezzo's advice. Unsurprisingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings regarding scheduled feedings in general and dehydration associated with "Babywise" specifically since they organized a review board in 1998 to address the concerns of pediatricians.
I could go on. This book scares me as a nurse, and it scares me as a parent. Do your research. Look at what experts have to say. Think critically in terms of who is telling you something and what kind of education they have. Just because a book is popular doesn't make it a good resource.
All quotes and references come from the 2006 edition of the book.
The book is built around 2 main logical fallacies. The "straw man" fallacy of 2 fictional babies that drive the text (pg. 18), and the either-or fallacy of Ezzo vs. everyone else. The language is extreme (Ezzo's way gives "bliss," while ignoring his advice brings "chaos"), and the supposed consequences of not following his advice are designed to promote fear (ADHD- pg.54, loss of milk supply- pg. 58, ruined marriage- pg. 22, obesity- pg. 140, academic failure- pg. 141... the list goes on.). Most of the claims have no citations, those that do often cite things like 20/20 specials, and the few actual research studies referenced are often out of date, made up by the author himself and unpublished, or misinterpreted to fit the claims of the book.
The underlying concept of the book is that parents must teach their children from day one that they are not the center of the universe, doing so by "shaping their hunger cycles" (pg. 30) and teaching them "delayed gratification" in the form of leaving them to cry, especially at nap time (pg. 140, for example). Healthy indicators of infant development are misinterpreted as pathological, the most obvious example of which is teaching that the behavior associated with a normal "separation anxiety" phase is a sign of unhealthy attachment.
While Ezzo does say to feed the baby if he is hungry sooner than the book's 2 1/2 hour minimum, he also repeats frequent warnings such as "do not deviate so often as to establish a new routine" (pg. 116). His breastfeeding advice on foremilk vs. hindmilk and "snacking" is completely incorrect physiologically. He clearly knows that educated, certified lactation consultants will disagree with him, because he issues a warning to boycott and warn others away from a consultant who tells you differently from his book (pg. 100-101). His pronouncement that NICUs are on a 3-hour feeding schedule, thust preventing Failure to Thrive (pg. 97)is so wrong that it's scary.
Most of his advice is bad, in large part, because it is developmentally inappropriate. Infants aren't capable of learning delayed gratification, but they are capable of learning that their cries go unanswered. Many infants who give up crying on this system, "flexible" though it says it is, have gone on to refuse feeds altogether, having given up hope that their cries will be answered. Hundreds of cases of Failure to Thrive have been reported around the country, where parents were following Ezzo's advice. Unsurprisingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings regarding scheduled feedings in general and dehydration associated with "Babywise" specifically since they organized a review board in 1998 to address the concerns of pediatricians.
I could go on. This book scares me as a nurse, and it scares me as a parent. Do your research. Look at what experts have to say. Think critically in terms of who is telling you something and what kind of education they have. Just because a book is popular doesn't make it a good resource.
On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
86
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
86
Review Date: 6/29/2012
Helpful Score: 2
I am a pediatric nurse with 10 years of experience both in hospital and primary care peds, a breastfeeding mom of a 6 month old,and a Christian. I say this because qualifications on advice matter. Gary Ezzo, the author of this book, has none besides one degree in theology, and the "co-author," Robert Bucknam, apparently only wrote the forward, and that while he was still in training. The information in this book is opinion, pure and simple, and the advice is benignly wrong in some places and dangerously wrong in others.
All quotes and references come from the 2006 edition of the book.
The book is built around 2 main logical fallacies. The "straw man" fallacy of 2 fictional babies that drive the text (pg. 18), and the either-or fallacy of Ezzo vs. everyone else. The language is extreme (Ezzo's way gives "bliss," while ignoring his advice brings "chaos"), and the supposed consequences of not following his advice are designed to promote fear (ADHD- pg.54, loss of milk supply- pg. 58, ruined marriage- pg. 22, obesity- pg. 140, academic failure- pg. 141... the list goes on.). Most of the claims have no citations, those that do often cite things like 20/20 specials, and the few actual research studies referenced are often out of date, made up by the author himself and unpublished, or misinterpreted to fit the claims of the book.
The underlying concept of the book is that parents must teach their children from day one that they are not the center of the universe, doing so by "shaping their hunger cycles" (pg. 30) and teaching them "delayed gratification" in the form of leaving them to cry, especially at nap time (pg. 140, for example). Healthy indicators of infant development are misinterpreted as pathological, the most obvious example of which is teaching that the behavior associated with a normal "separation anxiety" phase is a sign of unhealthy attachment.
While Ezzo does say to feed the baby if he is hungry sooner than the book's 2 1/2 hour minimum, he also repeats frequent warnings such as "do not deviate so often as to establish a new routine" (pg. 116). His breastfeeding advice on foremilk vs. hindmilk and "snacking" is completely incorrect physiologically. He clearly knows that educated, certified lactation consultants will disagree with him, because he issues a warning to boycott and warn others away from a consultant who tells you differently from his book (pg. 100-101). His pronouncement that NICUs are on a 3-hour feeding schedule, thust preventing Failure to Thrive (pg. 97)is so wrong that it's scary.
Most of his advice is bad, in large part, because it is developmentally inappropriate. Infants aren't capable of learning delayed gratification, but they are capable of learning that their cries go unanswered. Many infants who give up crying on this system, "flexible" though it says it is, have gone on to refuse feeds altogether, having given up hope that their cries will be answered. Hundreds of cases of Failure to Thrive have been reported around the country, where parents were following Ezzo's advice. Unsurprisingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings regarding scheduled feedings in general and dehydration associated with "Babywise" specifically since they organized a review board in 1998 to address the concerns of pediatricians.
I could go on. This book scares me as a nurse, and it scares me as a parent. Do your research. Look at what experts have to say. Think critically in terms of who is telling you something and what kind of education they have. Just because a book is popular doesn't make it a good resource.
All quotes and references come from the 2006 edition of the book.
The book is built around 2 main logical fallacies. The "straw man" fallacy of 2 fictional babies that drive the text (pg. 18), and the either-or fallacy of Ezzo vs. everyone else. The language is extreme (Ezzo's way gives "bliss," while ignoring his advice brings "chaos"), and the supposed consequences of not following his advice are designed to promote fear (ADHD- pg.54, loss of milk supply- pg. 58, ruined marriage- pg. 22, obesity- pg. 140, academic failure- pg. 141... the list goes on.). Most of the claims have no citations, those that do often cite things like 20/20 specials, and the few actual research studies referenced are often out of date, made up by the author himself and unpublished, or misinterpreted to fit the claims of the book.
The underlying concept of the book is that parents must teach their children from day one that they are not the center of the universe, doing so by "shaping their hunger cycles" (pg. 30) and teaching them "delayed gratification" in the form of leaving them to cry, especially at nap time (pg. 140, for example). Healthy indicators of infant development are misinterpreted as pathological, the most obvious example of which is teaching that the behavior associated with a normal "separation anxiety" phase is a sign of unhealthy attachment.
While Ezzo does say to feed the baby if he is hungry sooner than the book's 2 1/2 hour minimum, he also repeats frequent warnings such as "do not deviate so often as to establish a new routine" (pg. 116). His breastfeeding advice on foremilk vs. hindmilk and "snacking" is completely incorrect physiologically. He clearly knows that educated, certified lactation consultants will disagree with him, because he issues a warning to boycott and warn others away from a consultant who tells you differently from his book (pg. 100-101). His pronouncement that NICUs are on a 3-hour feeding schedule, thust preventing Failure to Thrive (pg. 97)is so wrong that it's scary.
Most of his advice is bad, in large part, because it is developmentally inappropriate. Infants aren't capable of learning delayed gratification, but they are capable of learning that their cries go unanswered. Many infants who give up crying on this system, "flexible" though it says it is, have gone on to refuse feeds altogether, having given up hope that their cries will be answered. Hundreds of cases of Failure to Thrive have been reported around the country, where parents were following Ezzo's advice. Unsurprisingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings regarding scheduled feedings in general and dehydration associated with "Babywise" specifically since they organized a review board in 1998 to address the concerns of pediatricians.
I could go on. This book scares me as a nurse, and it scares me as a parent. Do your research. Look at what experts have to say. Think critically in terms of who is telling you something and what kind of education they have. Just because a book is popular doesn't make it a good resource.
On Becoming Baby Wise: Learn How over 500,000 Babies Were Trained to Sleep Through the Night the Natural Way
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
116
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
116
Review Date: 6/29/2012
I am a pediatric nurse with 10 years of experience both in hospital and primary care peds, a breastfeeding mom of a 6 month old,and a Christian. I say this because qualifications on advice matter. Gary Ezzo, the author of this book, has none besides one degree in theology, and the "co-author," Robert Bucknam, apparently only wrote the forward, and that while he was still in training. The information in this book is opinion, pure and simple, and the advice is benignly wrong in some places and dangerously wrong in others.
All quotes and references come from the 2006 edition of the book.
The book is built around 2 main logical fallacies. The "straw man" fallacy of 2 fictional babies that drive the text (pg. 18), and the either-or fallacy of Ezzo vs. everyone else. The language is extreme (Ezzo's way gives "bliss," while ignoring his advice brings "chaos"), and the supposed consequences of not following his advice are designed to promote fear (ADHD- pg.54, loss of milk supply- pg. 58, ruined marriage- pg. 22, obesity- pg. 140, academic failure- pg. 141... the list goes on.). Most of the claims have no citations, those that do often cite things like 20/20 specials, and the few actual research studies referenced are often out of date, made up by the author himself and unpublished, or misinterpreted to fit the claims of the book.
The underlying concept of the book is that parents must teach their children from day one that they are not the center of the universe, doing so by "shaping their hunger cycles" (pg. 30) and teaching them "delayed gratification" in the form of leaving them to cry, especially at nap time (pg. 140, for example). Healthy indicators of infant development are misinterpreted as pathological, the most obvious example of which is teaching that the behavior associated with a normal "separation anxiety" phase is a sign of unhealthy attachment.
While Ezzo does say to feed the baby if he is hungry sooner than the book's 2 1/2 hour minimum, he also repeats frequent warnings such as "do not deviate so often as to establish a new routine" (pg. 116). His breastfeeding advice on foremilk vs. hindmilk and "snacking" is completely incorrect physiologically. He clearly knows that educated, certified lactation consultants will disagree with him, because he issues a warning to boycott and warn others away from a consultant who tells you differently from his book (pg. 100-101). His pronouncement that NICUs are on a 3-hour feeding schedule, thust preventing Failure to Thrive (pg. 97)is so wrong that it's scary.
Most of his advice is bad, in large part, because it is developmentally inappropriate. Infants aren't capable of learning delayed gratification, but they are capable of learning that their cries go unanswered. Many infants who give up crying on this system, "flexible" though it says it is, have gone on to refuse feeds altogether, having given up hope that their cries will be answered. Hundreds of cases of Failure to Thrive have been reported around the country, where parents were following Ezzo's advice. Unsurprisingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings regarding scheduled feedings in general and dehydration associated with "Babywise" specifically since they organized a review board in 1998 to address the concerns of pediatricians.
I could go on. This book scares me as a nurse, and it scares me as a parent. Do your research. Look at what experts have to say. Think critically in terms of who is telling you something and what kind of education they have. Just because a book is popular doesn't make it a good resource.
All quotes and references come from the 2006 edition of the book.
The book is built around 2 main logical fallacies. The "straw man" fallacy of 2 fictional babies that drive the text (pg. 18), and the either-or fallacy of Ezzo vs. everyone else. The language is extreme (Ezzo's way gives "bliss," while ignoring his advice brings "chaos"), and the supposed consequences of not following his advice are designed to promote fear (ADHD- pg.54, loss of milk supply- pg. 58, ruined marriage- pg. 22, obesity- pg. 140, academic failure- pg. 141... the list goes on.). Most of the claims have no citations, those that do often cite things like 20/20 specials, and the few actual research studies referenced are often out of date, made up by the author himself and unpublished, or misinterpreted to fit the claims of the book.
The underlying concept of the book is that parents must teach their children from day one that they are not the center of the universe, doing so by "shaping their hunger cycles" (pg. 30) and teaching them "delayed gratification" in the form of leaving them to cry, especially at nap time (pg. 140, for example). Healthy indicators of infant development are misinterpreted as pathological, the most obvious example of which is teaching that the behavior associated with a normal "separation anxiety" phase is a sign of unhealthy attachment.
While Ezzo does say to feed the baby if he is hungry sooner than the book's 2 1/2 hour minimum, he also repeats frequent warnings such as "do not deviate so often as to establish a new routine" (pg. 116). His breastfeeding advice on foremilk vs. hindmilk and "snacking" is completely incorrect physiologically. He clearly knows that educated, certified lactation consultants will disagree with him, because he issues a warning to boycott and warn others away from a consultant who tells you differently from his book (pg. 100-101). His pronouncement that NICUs are on a 3-hour feeding schedule, thust preventing Failure to Thrive (pg. 97)is so wrong that it's scary.
Most of his advice is bad, in large part, because it is developmentally inappropriate. Infants aren't capable of learning delayed gratification, but they are capable of learning that their cries go unanswered. Many infants who give up crying on this system, "flexible" though it says it is, have gone on to refuse feeds altogether, having given up hope that their cries will be answered. Hundreds of cases of Failure to Thrive have been reported around the country, where parents were following Ezzo's advice. Unsurprisingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings regarding scheduled feedings in general and dehydration associated with "Babywise" specifically since they organized a review board in 1998 to address the concerns of pediatricians.
I could go on. This book scares me as a nurse, and it scares me as a parent. Do your research. Look at what experts have to say. Think critically in terms of who is telling you something and what kind of education they have. Just because a book is popular doesn't make it a good resource.
Pilates and Pregnancy: A Workbook for Before, During and After Pregnancy W/DVD
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 6/10/2011
Excellent instructions and explanations, accompanied by a DVD with 3 trimester-appropriate workouts. I've been very pleased with this workout so far!
Review Date: 6/4/2012
This book reads much like a historical war film, along the lines of "Braveheart." It is set in Northern Italy, along the French border. I learned a lot of history, as I had previously never heard of the Waldensian protestant group. It is rather graphic in its description of violence, but is otherwise an entirely clean read. Due to the fact that the sequence of events was not fictional, but also not widely known, I really did not know how the story would conclude the whole time. This book was difficult to put down and worth every evening I cut my sleep time short to read it!
Your Fertility Signals: Using Them to Achieve or Avoid Pregnancy Naturally
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
19
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
19
Review Date: 3/1/2009
This book does an excellent job of presenting the practical know-how use the Fertility Awareness Method. Simple and clear instructions on how to avoid pregnancy, time intercourse the best for getting pregnant, and a few hints and tricks along the way. Doesn't get very deep into physiology or research, but for anyone wanting a quick reference or crash course on natural birth control, this is an excellent resource. Very practical and applicable approach that gets straight to the point.
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