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BlindSpots: 21 Good Reasons to Think before You Talk
by Christian De QuinceyExamines 21 unquestioned assumptions that cloud our collective consciousness • Reveals faulty thinking and conceptual blindspots that distort beliefs in science, philosophy, and spirituality--from “the universe exploded from nothing in a Big Bang” to “we create our own reality” • Explains how “thought viruses” spread as we use these clichéd assumptions in our daily communications We live in a world filled with clichés--convenient assumptions and unquestioned conclusions that many of us use without giving them a second thought. We all spread these “thought viruses,” infecting everyone we come in contact with. But many of these blindspots in how we think about ourselves and the world do not withstand rigorous scrutiny--or even casual scrutiny in some cases--yet they fall out of the mouths of scientists, religious teachers, journalists, and authors with dumbfounding frequency. Over the years philosopher Christian de Quincey spotted these cognitive gremlins in books, blogs, websites, TV shows, movies, classrooms, and casual conversations--and he wondered: Why do so many people speak before thinking, spreading ideas that make no sense, yet fool us into thinking they do? How did these unquestioned beliefs about life, space, time, energy, consciousness, evolution, artificial intelligence, and even God take hold in our collective consciousness? In this book, de Quincey deliberately provokes and illuminates the dark side of jumping to conclusions, casting a skeptical eye on 21 beliefs that keep science, philosophy, and spirituality in the dark--from “the universe exploded from nothing in a Big Bang” and “we create our own reality” to “nobody knows what consciousness is” and “everything is energy.” These ideas distort and block our understanding and openness to important questions about life, the universe, mind, matter, God, and the miraculous. By exposing these thought viruses that take our minds hostage when we fail to think things through, de Quincey aims to help change the way we think not just about thinking but also about how we live our lives, interact with others, and contemplate the world around us.
Bliss Brain: The Neuroscience of Remodeling Your Brain for Resilience, Creativity, and Joy
by Dawson ChurchAward-winning author and thought leader Dawson Church, Ph.D., blends cutting-edge neuroscience with intense firsthand experience to show you how you can rewire your brain for happiness-starting right now.Neural plasticity-the discovery that the brain is capable of rewiring itself-is now widely understood. But what few people have grasped yet is how quickly this is happening, how extensive brain changes can be, and how much control each of us has over the process.In Bliss Brain, famed researcher Dawson Church digs deep into leading-edge science, and finds stunning evidence of rapid and radical brain change. In just eight weeks of practice, 12 minutes a day, using the right techniques, we can produce measurable changes in our brains. These make us calmer, happier, and more resilient.When we cultivate these pleasurable states over time, they become traits. We don't just feel more blissful as a temporary state; the changes are literally hard-wired into our brains, becoming stable and enduring personality traits.The startling conclusions of Church's research show that neural remodeling goes much farther than scientists have previously understood, with stress circuits shriveling over time. Simultaneously, "The Enlightenment Circuit"-associated with happiness, compassion, productivity, creativity, and resilience-expands.During deep meditation, Church shows how "the 7 neurochemicals of ecstasy" are released in our brains. These include anandamide, a neurotransmitter that's been named "the bliss molecule" because it mimics the effects of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. It boosts serotonin and dopamine; the first is an analog of psilocybin, the second of cocaine. He shows how cultivating these elevated emotional states literally produces a self-induced high.
Bliss More: How to Succeed in Meditation Without Really Trying
by Light WatkinsFrom one of America’s top meditation teachers comes a revolutionarily simple approach to everyday practice—especially if you don’t think you have the time or the patience. Imagine you’re sitting on a cushion with your legs crossed, ready to tap into unlimited joy. There’s just one problem: You can’t get comfortable (let alone still), and your head is full of way too many thoughts. The problem is not with meditation, or you, though—the issue may be with your approach. When properly understood and practiced, meditation should feel easy, calming, and comfortable. In Bliss More, maverick instructor Light Watkins provides the tools for making it E.A.S.Y. (Embrace, Accept, Surrender, Yield), dispels the biggest myths and misunderstandings, and shares real-world tips and straight talk for hacking into this ancient practice. The result: a happier and healthier you, inside and out. Watkins also shares candid testimonials from people whose lives have been enriched through his method, and extensive resources for transforming a daily chore into an enjoyable activity. Even the biggest skeptic will look forward to sitting for meditation every day. Whether you’re a novice or experienced practitioner, Bliss More will shed light on the path to a clearer mind, better sleep, and more bliss in everyday life.Advance praise for Bliss More“Light Watkins’s approach to meditation is both simple and profound. With him as your guide, you will unlock the secrets to establishing a regular and powerfully healthy daily practice.”—Deepak Chopra, MD, author of The Healing Self “It’s impossible to read Bliss More and not come away with a comprehensive understanding of how easy and simple meditation can be, why you should be practicing it daily, and how it will improve your life in meaningful and transformative ways.”—Mark Hyman, MD, author of Eat Fat, Get Thin and The Blood Sugar Solution “Light was my meditation teacher, and Bliss More perfectly encapsulates the timeless wisdom I learned in his training. If you’re ready to start a solid meditation practice, look no further.”—Rosario Dawson, actress “In a confusing world of information, one fact always comes up undisputed—meditating is good for you. I was ‘too busy’ and ‘didn't know how’ to meditate. Light Watkins has been the individual to show me just how easy it is to make meditation a part of my everyday life. We all owe those few minutes a day to ourselves.”—Gabby Reece, professional volleyball player and author, My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper
The Bliss of Inner Fire
by Jonathan Landaw Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche Robina Courtin Lama Thubten Yeshe Alisa CameronIn the classic bestseller, Introduction to Tantra, Lama Yeshe offered a profound and wonderfully clear glimpse into the sophisticated practices of Tibetan Buddhist tantra. This present book, the last major teachings of this great lama, opens up the world of advanced practices for Highest Yoga Tantra initiates in much the same way his earlier work opened up the world of tantra in general. Following Je Tsongkhapa's (1357-1419 C.E.) text Having the Three Convictions, Lama Yeshe introduces the renowned Six Yogas of Naropa, focusing mainly on the first of these six, the practice of inner fire (tummo). Mastery of inner fire quickly brings the mind to its most refined and penetrating state--the experience of clear light, an extra-ordinarily powerful state of mind that is unequaled in its ability to directly realize ultimate reality. Lama Yeshe felt that twentieth-century Westerners could easily grasp the often misunderstood ideas of this esoteric tradition: "We really need tantra these days because there is a tremendous explosion of delusion and distraction.and we need the atomic energy of inner fire to blast us out of our delusion." Lama Yeshe's aim was for his students to actually taste the experience of inner fire rather than merely gain an intellectual understanding. Lama's own realization of the transformative power of these practices comes through, inspiring his students to discover for themselves their own capacity for inexhaustible bliss.
The Blissful Baby Expert
by Lisa CleggThere are few life experiences more joyful than becoming a parent, but caring for a newborn can be daunting, particularly when you're not sure whose advice to follow or what your baby really needs. In The Blissful Baby Expert, Lisa Clegg draws on her own experience of motherhood and her professional life as a nanny and maternity nurse to share her essential, trusted advice. Gentle, reassuring and practical, her book guides you every step of the way from birth to two years. It includes:- Equipment – what is essential and what is helpful- Coming home – how to cope and bond in the early days- Sleep – flexible plans to help your baby settle and sleep - Feeding – guilt-free breast- and bottlefeeding- Weaning – when to start and how to do it- Q&As – common worries and what to do- Development – what to expect and advice on toysEvery baby is different and this is why Lisa's book isn't a restrictive one-size-fits-all plan. Instead, she gives you the knowledge you need to trust your own instincts, build your confidence and learn to recognise what is best for your baby. With this knowledge, you'll enjoy calm, happy parenting and a blissful, settled baby.
The Blissful Toddler Expert: The complete guide to calm parenting and happy toddlers
by Lisa CleggTrusted maternity nurse Lisa Clegg is on-hand to gently guide you through your child’s toddler years. In this book, you’ll learn everything you need to know to support your toddler’s development, including: · Potty training – when and how to start · Behaviour – avoiding and coping with tantrums · Feeding – introducing new foods and avoiding fussy eating · Learning – encouraging language and movement · Next steps – preparing your toddler for nursery and pre-school With practical advice, answers to common questions and confidence-boosting tips, The Blissful Toddler Expert is the essential handbook for all parents with toddlers.
The Bloat Cure: 101 Natural Solutions for Real and Lasting Relief
by Robynne ChutkanThe must-have A to Z manual to banish your bloat for good, from the author of Gutbliss and The Microbiome Solution. If you're bloated and looking for relief, you've come to the right place. In her medical practice The Digestive Center for Women, Dr. Robynne Chutkan has helped thousands of women get back into their skinny jeans, and she can do the same for you. Understanding what's behind your suffering is the key to deflating for good. The Bloat Cure helps you identify the root cause of your bloat, whether it's the artificial sweeteners in your sports drink, the cough medicine you're taking, an undetected thyroid problem, or one of the other 101 common causes. Once you pinpoint your condition, Dr. Chutkan offers a clear plan of action to stop whatever's triggering it, rehabilitate your system, and get your GI tract running like a well-oiled machine. Get ready for immediate relief -- and start feeling like yourself again! From the Hardcover edition.
The Bloated Belly Whisperer: See Results Within a Week and Tame Digestive Distress Once and for All
by Tamara Duker Freuman MS, RD, CDNAmerica's trusted digestive nutrition expert shares her personal program to vanquish bloating in a groundbreaking book that will help readers see results in a week or less!With 50 recipes from former Bon Appétit editor and cookbook author Kristine Kidd“This book could be a game-changer for anyone suffering from chronic belly upset...a deliciously do-able plan to keep you happy, healthy and bloat-free.” --Ellie Krieger, MS RD, host of Ellie’s Real Good Food, and award-winning cookbook author"With candor and science-based expertise, Freuman offers invaluable information for readers suffering from a range of debilitating digestive issues." -- Publishers Weekly, starred reviewBloating: ugh. About the most common complaint they get from patients, according to gastroenterologists. But Tamara Duker Freuman, a highly trained and sought-after nutritionist, knows something many doctors don’t: every unhappy belly is unhappy in its own way. That’s why Tamara’s clients call her “The Bloated Belly Whisperer,” and for good reason—for many years she’s successfully helped her clients accurately describe their symptoms, and find a course of treatment that delivers rapid and lasting relief.In The Bloated Belly Whisperer, Tamara guides readers through the same steps she would use in a consultation, first with a quiz to help them hone in on their specific symptoms, and then by discussing the latest research and patient stories to offer dozens of solutions that will reduce abdominal bloating in a week or less by:· Helping identify the specific cause of bloating · Equipping readers with the right terminology and questions to take to their next doctor’s visit · Teaching the most effective dietary remedies for each particular brand of bloating· Laying out the tools and healthy practices to end abdominal distress and bloating once and for all
Blockchain in Digital Healthcare
by Malaya Dutta Borah, Roberto Moro-Visconti and Ganesh Chandra DekaBlockchain is a series of transactions recorded in blocks and secured cryptographically. It is immutable, decentralized, and transparent and has proved to be beneficial across all domains to protect and store data. Maintaining privacy, integrity, and security, blockchain is particularly valuable to the healthcare industry. of healthcare data. Blockchain in Digital Healthcare provides a panoramic review of prospects of blockchain technology in the healthcare domain. Users can record transactions in blocks in an immutable distributed ledger that cannot be changed once recorded and/or published. Blockchain is also decentralized, which eliminates dependency on a trusted third party to facilitate transactions, enabling clients and other users of the blockchain to take ownership of the data they push on the network. Blockchain also makes transactions more secure as clients have their own copies. Features: Provides systematic and comprehensive understanding of the block chain technology and the potential in healthcare Describes how security and privacy concerns of healthcare data can be addressed using Blockchain Technology Discusses the concept of smart contracts for performing advanced level scripting to create a blockchain network to provide a platform for the development of decentralized applications Includes a chapter on role of blockchain based insurance application using Ethereum/Hyperledger Presents cases of blockchain use for various aspects of drug manufacturing and the pharma supply chain This book serves as a reference book for IT professionals, scientific investigators and researchers who need to analyze the prospects of blockchain technology in healthcare.
Blockheads!: Essays on Ned Block's Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness (The\mit Press Ser.)
by Adam Pautz Daniel StoljarNew essays on the philosophy of Ned Block, with substantive and wide-ranging responses by Block.Perhaps more than any other philosopher of mind, Ned Block synthesizes philosophical and scientific approaches to the mind; he is unique in moving back and forth across this divide, doing so with creativity and intensity. Over the course of his career, Block has made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of intelligence, representation, and consciousness. Blockheads! (the title refers to Block's imaginary counterexample to the Turing test—and to the Block-enthusiast contributors) offers eighteen new essays on Block's work along with substantive and wide-ranging replies by Block. The essays and responses not only address Block's past contributions but are rich with new ideas and argument. They importantly clarify many key elements of Block's work, including his pessimism concerning such thought experiments as Commander Data and the Nation of China; his more general pessimism about intuitions and introspection in the philosophy of mind; the empirical case for an antifunctionalist, biological theory of phenomenal consciousness; the fading qualia problem for a biological theory; the link between phenomenal consciousness and representation (especially spatial representation); and the reducibility of phenomenal representation. Many of the contributors to Blockheads! are prominent philosophers themselves, including Tyler Burge, David Chalmers, Frank Jackson, and Hilary Putnam.ContributorsNed Block, Bill Brewer, Richard Brown, Tyler Burge, Marisa Carrasco, David Chalmers, Frank Jackson, Hakwan Lau, Geoffrey Lee, Janet Levin, Joseph Levine, William G. Lycan, Brian P. McLaughlin, Adam Pautz, Hilary Putnam, Sydney Shoemaker, Susanna Siegel, Nicholas Silins, Daniel Stoljar, Michael Tye, Sebastian Watzl
Blogging a Five Element Life
by Nora FranglenBased on her widely read blog, this collection includes Nora Franglen's reflections on her own continually developing five element practice, and the lived world between 2014 and March 2017, a time of enormous change. Covering everything from politics, to her penchant for coffee shops, to how to treat patients effectively, and from tips on using moxa sticks to her acerbic thoughts on the effects of technology on society, Nora illustrates how the five elements influence, illuminate and enrich all aspects of her life, and vice versa.
Bloke’s 100 Top Tips For Surviving Pregnancy
by Jon SmithA follow on to the bestselling Bloke's Guide to Pregnancy, this pocket bite size guide book has all the crucial advice for expectant blokes and outlines 100 absolute need to know tips for surviving pregnancy. Written in his customary no nonsense, straightforward style – These 100 tips are taken from interviews with 100 blokes who have lived to tell the tale. This is the only guide to be reading for all expectant dads out there.
Blood: The science, medicine, and mythology of menstruation
by Dr. Jen GunterThe galvanizing new book from Dr. Jen Gunter, #1 bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, dispels the shame, mythology, and misinformation around menstruation with scientific facts, medical expertise, and a fierce feminist perspective.Most of us know about as much about how the uterus and ovaries function as we do about how the liver works. Add in societal shame around the menstrual cycle and it&’s not surprising that misinformation is widespread. But, as women&’s health advocate and trusted OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter writes, &“you don&’t have to think about your liver 5 days a month for 30 years, so I&’d argue people should know more about the uterus." Enter Blood. In her new book, Dr. Gunter offers a clear, no-nonsense guide to reproductive anatomy and answers all the questions you never knew you had about menstrual bleeding—for example, where does the blood come from? And where does it go if you miss a period? Why do we even menstruate in the first place? With her expertise and trademark wit, Dr. Gunter debunks myths and challenges patriarchal attitudes toward this natural bodily process, shedding light on:The endometrium's fascinating connection to the immune systemThe brain-ovary connectionLegitimate menstrual products, and the facts behind toxic shock syndromeIrregular, heavy, and breakthrough bleedingPeriod painEndometriosisPolycystic Ovary SyndromeHormonal contraception, menstrual tracking, and FAM (fertility awareness methods)Abortion as menstrual managementAnd much more. Surprising, funny, and fact-filled, Blood is an essential and empowering resource from the doctor who "takes the mystery out of women&’s health and replaces it with evidence-informed concrete recommendations." (Lori Brotto, Canada Research Chair in Women's Sexual Health)
Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation
by Dr. Jen GunterThe New York Times bestselling author, internationally known ob/gyn, and internet superstar who has become the go-to expert for women&’s health issues now takes on a topic that affects more than 72 million Americans every month, bashing myths about menstruation and giving readers the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for their bodies. Most women can expect to have hundreds of periods in a lifetime. So why is real information so hard to find? Despite its significance, most education about menstruation focuses either on increasing the chances of pregnancy or preventing it. And while both are crucial, women deserve to know more about their bodies than just what happens in service to reproduction. At a time when charlatans, politicians, and even some doctors are succeeding in propagating damaging misinformation and disempowering women, Dr. Jen provides the antidote with science, myth busting, and no-nonsense facts. Not knowing how your body works makes it challenging to advocate for yourself. Consequently, many suffer in silence thinking their bodies are uniquely broken, or they turn to disreputable sources. Blood is a practical, empowering guide to what&’s typical, what&’s concerning, and when to seek care—recounted with expertise and frank, fearless wit that have made Dr. Jen today&’s most trusted voice in women&’s health. Dr. Jen answers all your period-related questions, including: What exactly happens during menstruation? How heavy is too heavy? How much should periods hurt? and provides essential information about topics such as: * The impact of stress and health on the menstrual cycle * Menstrual migraines, PMS, and period diarrhea (yes, it&’s totally normal) * Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and fibroids * Endometriosis and the latest treatments * The endometrium's (the uterine lining&’s) fascinating connection to the immune system * Different cultural perceptions of menstruation, and how they affect girls and women * Legitimate menstrual products, and the facts behind toxic shock syndromeBlood is about much more than biology. It&’s an all-in-one, revolutionary guide that will change the way we think about, talk about—and don&’t talk about—our bodies and our well-being.
Blood: The science, medicine and mythology of menstruation
by Dr. Jennifer Gunter'The world's most famous and outspoken gynaecologist' (The Guardian) fights myths and fearmongering with real science, inclusive facts, and shame-free advice on the topic that impacts more than 1.8 billion people worldwide: menstruation. Women can expect to have between 350 and 450 periods in a lifetime. So why is real information so hard to find? Despite its significance, most education about menstruation focuses either on increasing the chances of pregnancy or preventing it. And while both are crucial, women deserve to know more about their bodies than just what happens in service to reproduction. Not knowing how your body works makes it challenging to advocate for yourself. Consequently, many people suffer in silence thinking their bodies are uniquely broken or they turn to disreputable sources. Blood is a practical, empowering guide to what's typical, what's concerning and when to seek care - recounted with the no-nonsense expertise and frank, fearless wit that have made Dr Jen today's most trusted voice in women's health. Dr Jen answers all your period-related questions, including: What exactly happens during menstruation? How heavy is too heavy? How much should periods hurt? And provides essential information about topics such as: * The impact of stress and health on the menstrual cycle * Menstrual migraines, PMS and period diarrhea (yes, it's totally normal) * Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and fibroids * Endometriosis and the latest treatments * The endometrium's (the uterine lining's) fascinating connection to the immune system * Different cultural perceptions of menstruation and how they affect girls and women * Menstruation and the trans and non-binary experience * Legitimate menstrual products and the facts behind toxic shock syndrome * The risks and benefits of hysterectomies Blood is about much more than biology. It's an all-in-one, revolutionary guide that will change the way we think about, talk about - and don't talk about - our bodies and our well-being.
Blood: The science, medicine and mythology of menstruation
by Dr. Jennifer Gunter'The world's most famous and outspoken gynaecologist' (The Guardian) fights myths and fearmongering with real science, inclusive facts, and shame-free advice on the topic that impacts more than 1.8 billion people worldwide: menstruation. Women can expect to have between 350 and 450 periods in a lifetime. So why is real information so hard to find? Despite its significance, most education about menstruation focuses either on increasing the chances of pregnancy or preventing it. And while both are crucial, women deserve to know more about their bodies than just what happens in service to reproduction. Not knowing how your body works makes it challenging to advocate for yourself. Consequently, many people suffer in silence thinking their bodies are uniquely broken or they turn to disreputable sources. Blood is a practical, empowering guide to what's typical, what's concerning and when to seek care - recounted with the no-nonsense expertise and frank, fearless wit that have made Dr Jen today's most trusted voice in women's health. Dr Jen answers all your period-related questions, including: What exactly happens during menstruation? How heavy is too heavy? How much should periods hurt? And provides essential information about topics such as: * The impact of stress and health on the menstrual cycle * Menstrual migraines, PMS and period diarrhea (yes, it's totally normal) * Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and fibroids * Endometriosis and the latest treatments * The endometrium's (the uterine lining's) fascinating connection to the immune system * Different cultural perceptions of menstruation and how they affect girls and women * Menstruation and the trans and non-binary experience * Legitimate menstrual products and the facts behind toxic shock syndrome * The risks and benefits of hysterectomies Blood is about much more than biology. It's an all-in-one, revolutionary guide that will change the way we think about, talk about - and don't talk about - our bodies and our well-being.
Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce
by Douglas StarrEssence and emblem of life--feared, revered, mythologized, and used in magic and medicine from earliest times--human blood is now the center of a huge, secretive, and often dangerous worldwide commerce. It is a commerce whose impact upon humanity rivals that of any other business--millions of lives have been saved by blood and its various derivatives, and tens of thousands of lives have been lost. Douglas Starr tells how this came to be, in a sweeping history that ranges through the centuries. With the dawn of science, blood came to be seen as a component of human anatomy, capable of being isolated, studied, used. Starr describes the first documented transfusion: In the seventeenth century, one of Louis XIV's court physicians transfers the blood of a calf into a madman to "cure" him. At the turn of the twentieth century a young researcher in Vienna identifies the basic blood groups, taking the first step toward successful transfusion. Then a New York doctor finds a way to stop blood from clotting, thereby making all transfusion possible.In the 1930s, a Russian physician, in grisly improvisation, successfully uses cadaver blood to help living patients--and realizes that blood can be stored. The first blood bank is soon operating in Chicago. During World War II, researchers, driven by battlefield needs, break down blood into usable components that are more easily stored and transported. This "fractionation" process--accomplished by a Harvard team--produces a host of pharmaceuticals, setting the stage for the global marketplace to come. Plasma, precisely because it can be made into long-lasting drugs, is shipped and traded for profit; today it is a $5 billion business. The author recounts the tragic spread of AIDS through the distribution of contaminated blood products, and describes why and how related scandals have erupted around the world. Finally, he looks at the latest attempts to make artificial blood. Douglas Starr has written a groundbreaking book that tackles a subject of universal and urgent importance and explores the perils and promises that lie ahead.
Blood and Germs: The Civil War Battle Against Wounds and Disease
by Gail JarrowAcclaimed author Gail Jarrow, recipient of a 2019 Robert F. Sibert Honor Award, explores the science and grisly history of U.S. Civil War medicine, using actual medical cases and first-person accounts by soldiers, doctors, and nurses.The Civil War took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and left countless others with disabling wounds and chronic illnesses. Bullets and artillery shells shattered soldiers' bodies, while microbes and parasites killed twice as many men as did the battles. Yet from this tragic four-year conflict came innovations that enhanced medical care in the United States. With striking detail, this nonfiction book reveals battlefield rescues, surgical techniques, medicines, and patient care, celebrating the men and women of both the North and South who volunteered to save lives.
Blood Brothers
by S. A. HarazinAlthough he has a great job at the hospital and dreams of becoming a doctor, Clay can't afford to go to college. Clay wishes his life could be more like his best friend Joeys. But Joeys golden future shatters when he overdoses at a party. Now hes clinging to life at the hospital where Clay works.
Blood Matters: From Inherited Illness to Designer Babies, How the World and I Found Ourselves in the Future of the Gene
by Masha GessenIn 2004 genetic testing revealed that Masha Gessen had a mutation that predisposed her to ovarian and breast cancer. The discovery initiated Gessen into a club of sorts: the small (but exponentially expanding) group of people in possession of a new and different way of knowing themselves through what is inscribed in the strands of their DNA. As she wrestled with a wrenching personal decision--what to do with such knowledge--Gessen explored the landscape of this brave new world, speaking with others like her and with experts including medical researchers, historians, and religious thinkers. Blood Matters is a much-needed field guide to this unfamiliar and unsettling territory. It explores the way genetic information is shaping the decisions we make, not only about our physical and emotional health but about whom we marry, the children we bear, even the personality traits we long to have. And it helps us come to terms with the radical transformation that genetic information is engineering in our most basic sense of who we are and what we might become.
Blood Matters: From BRCA1 to Designer Babies, How the World and I Found Ourselves in the Future of the Gene
by Masha GessenA National Book Award winner&’s personal journey through the ethical dilemmas and unsettling choices raised by the new frontier of DNA testing. Several years after Masha Gessen&’s mother died of breast cancer, she discovered she too had the BRCA1 gene mutation, which predisposes women to high rates of ovarian and breast cancer. Her doctors gave her narrow options: surgical removal of her breasts and ovaries or living with the likelihood of one day developing cancer. As Gessen wrestled with her own health decisions, she sought more information about the implications of genetic testing from a variety of sources—ranging from others faced with her same dilemma to medical researchers, historians, and religious thinkers. With concerns both practical and philosophical, personal and societal, her inquiry led her across the globe, with stops in Israel, Russia, Austria, and the United States. Weaving her own story into her journalistic research, Gessen offers insight into how knowledge that was once unimaginable now shapes our lives. Blood Matters explores not only the decisions we must make in our physical and emotional health, but also the ethical choices we face when choosing spouses or having children. &“Valuable reading to almost anyone facing a huge health decision, not only for the literary commiseration it offers, but also for the inspired example of medical sleuthing on one&’s own behalf that it provides. Gessen keeps an inflammatory topic at room temperature, writing elegantly and without self pity.&” —The New York Times Book Review
Blood! Not Just a Vampire Drink
by Stacy McAnultyFrom Stacy McAnulty, author of the entertaining and informative STEM picture book series Our universe, which includes Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, and Mars! Earthlings Welcome, comes an exciting picture book series focused on the science of the body. First up was Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack, and now we have Blood! Not Just a Vampire Drink, with illustrations by Shawna J. C. Tenney, author-illustrator of Pirates Don't Dance!Welcome to I Don’t Vant to Suck Your Blood Smoothie Shop, where all products are 100% blood-free!That’s good news for humans, but bad news for a thirsty vampire who just wants a pint of O-positive. With a little help from a friend, he’ll realize that blood isn’t a beverage. Humans need it! Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients, helps fight off infections, and so much more. So grab Blood! Not Just a Vampire Drink and a pineapple-spinach smoothie, and find out why blood is such a fabulous fluid.
The Blood of Avalon: The Secret History of the Grail Dynasty from King Arthur to Prince William
by Adrian GilbertThe story of King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail is well known; less so is that of the coming of Christianity to Britain at around the time of the Roman invasion. It is generally assumed that both these legends revolve around town of Glastonbury, yet the paucity of evidence for this assumption has always been troubling to those who like their history to be founded on fact. In this extraordinary book, Adrian Gilbert reveals the location to be not just of the true 'Avalon' or 'Glastonbury' but of many other sites crucial to the Arthurian legend. He shows how the core teachings of Christianity were kept secret by a dynasty of Welsh kings and saints and later (after the Norman invasions) by their surviving descendants. For centuries this remnant of the Brittano-Welsh nobility, still living in 'Avalon', kept alive a hope: they prayed that one day a new Arthur, one with the holy blood of the family of Mary flowing in his veins, would sit once more on the throne of Britain. Extraordinary as it may seem, this hope may soon be realised - for through the late Diana, Princess of Wales, our own Prince William, whose middle name is indeed Arthur, is so descended.
The Blood of Strangers: Stories from Emergency Medicine
by Frank HuylerReminiscent of Chekhov's stories, The Blood of Strangers is a visceral portrayal of a physician's encounters with the highly charged world of an emergency room. In this collection of spare and elegant stories, Dr. Frank Huyler reveals a side of medicine where small moments--the intricacy of suturing a facial wound, the bath a patient receives from her husband and daughter--interweave with the lives and deaths of the desperately sick and injured. The author presents an array of fascinating characters, both patients and doctors--a neurosurgeon who practices witchcraft, a trauma surgeon who unexpectedly commits suicide, a wounded murderer, a man chased across the New Mexico desert by a heat-seeking missile. At times surreal, at times lyrical, at times brutal and terrifying, The Blood of Strangers is a literary work that emerges from one of the most dramatic specialties of modern medicine. This deeply affecting first book has been described by one early reader as "the best doctor collection I have seen since William Carlos Williams's The Doctor Stories."
Blood Orange Night: My Journey to the Edge of Madness
by Melissa BondBrain on Fire meets High Achiever in this &“page-turner memoir chronicling a woman&’s accidental descent into prescription benzodiazepine dependence—and the life-threatening impacts of long-term use—that chills to the bone&” (Nylon).As Melissa Bond raises her infant daughter and a special-needs one-year-old son, she suffers from unbearable insomnia, sleeping an hour or less each night. She loses her job as a journalist (a casualty of the 2008 recession), and her relationship with her husband grows distant. Her doctor casually prescribes benzodiazepines—a family of drugs that includes Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan—and increases her dosage on a regular basis. Following her doctor&’s orders, Melissa takes the pills night after night; her body begins to shut down and she collapses while holding her infant daughter. Only then does Melissa learn that her doctor—like many doctors—has over-prescribed the medication and quitting cold turkey could lead to psychosis or fatal seizures. Benzodiazepine addiction is not well studied, and few experts know how to help Melissa as she begins the months-long process of tapering off the pills without suffering debilitating, potentially deadly consequences. Each page thrums with the heartbeat of Melissa&’s struggle—how many hours has she slept? How many weeks old are her babies? How many milligrams has she taken? Her propulsive writing crescendos to a fever pitch as she fights for her health and her ability to care for her children. Lyrical and immersive, Blood Orange Night shines a light on the prescription benzodiazepine epidemic as it reaches a crisis point in this country.