Diet Health Books

This book is a great aid to losing the "mommy pouch". Details the physical changes of of your muscles during pregnacy and shows you a great techique of how to get them back in order. A must for new moms and also good for mothers still trying to tighten up their mummy tummy years down the road.

Thank you Julie! It has been one year since the birth of my second child and I will now be able to wear a bathing suit...a bikini..this summer. After I gave birth to my first child, I thought there was no hope of getting rid of my post-baby pouch. I tried Pilates and situps which did not help (and now I know only made my diastasis worse). I gave away all my post baby clothes since I figured that I would never fit back into them. Thankfully, I read an article about the Tupler technique prior to the birth of my second child. A week after my daughter was born, I started my exercise program using Julie's techniques. My diastasis was a 5! You need to be disciplined- wear the splint and work up to 1,000 stomach squeezes each day-but the results are worth it. If I rebel and do not do my exercises, I immediately feel my stomach starting to distend. I am so happy to have my pre-baby figure back. I did not think it was possible without surgery. Julie's book and DVD should be handed out during all childbirth seminars. I highly recommend watching the DVD and if possible attending one of her seminars. Leslie, NYC

I had 3 kids in under 2 years and my muscles were at least 3 fingers separated. I highly recommend this book - it has a really lite workout program thats easy for postpartum and it really helps you work your transverse muscles. It really a rehabilitative exercise and very therapeutic. She really does know her stuff. Its a great present to any mother, and even just someone who has very weak stomach muscles. I highly recommend it.

If you really want to get rid of your "mummy tummy" and can't figure out why, thousands of sit-ups later, the rest of your body has returned to normal with the exception of your stomach, "Lose your Mummy Tummy" is the ONLY book you'll ever need. Guaranteed. You most likely have something called a diastasis, which is essentially a separation of the outermost abdominal muscle. This is a very common problem for women (that often gets worse the more children you have) that can indeed be repaired. You probably can't pronounce "diastasis" yet, but when you get through reading this treasure of a find, you will be repeating it enthusiastically to everyone you meet and be a total convert - complete with flatter belly!

Three months ago I was considering a tummy tuck. But in just weeks after doing the simple series of exercises recommended in "Lose your Mummy Tummy," and ALWAYS looking five months pregnant with my formerly perennial pooch, I am close to looking like I did pre-pregnancy with my first son! Family and friends have been astonished and people I meet now don't even believe I've had children, let alone three - I love and adore this reaction as it is the greastest compliment and testament to the book! Hands-down, this is the most fantastic purchase and investment I've ever made towards my body and well-being. The results have been phenomenal for such a short period of time and the positive habits I've formed will be with me for a lifetime. Follow the simple instructions and movements presented and you will be absolutely amazed by the results!

Lastly, at first I thought it was totally unfair to have some woman on the cover who had never had kids. It turns out, this is an ACTUAL MOM who formerly had a diastasis. So give up that tired, old collection of exercise and workout programs that has left everything but your belly flat, and get your stomach to where you really want it to be with "Lose your Mummy Tummy." No doubt you will be writing a stellar review like me in no time.

I'm always surprised at the number of women I talk to that have no idea what a diastisis is, and can't believe this isn't talked about more in pre- and post-natal visits. I knew nothing about this until doing an internet search after my first daughter was born, and I was determined to get my six-pack abs back. If you're serious about losing your mummy tummy, this book is worth the investment. I also own the DVD and the splint, which I wear religiously (even as I type!). The exercises Julie Tupler prescribes really work. They did with my first daughter, and I can't believe how quickly my stomach is flattening with my 2nd. Doing these exercises takes time as another reviewer mentioned, but you can knock them out while nursing or driving your car - no problem. This book, DVD and splint make a nice package for any woman that has just had a baby and is anxious to get her body back.

While there are now many books out on the so-called glycemic index (GI), most of these pretty much miss the point that the low-GI approach to eating, while better than the usual, is still inadequate. By itself, relying on only the glycemic index misses some important issues in postprandial responses to various carbs. What really counts, regarding the postprandial state, is the glycemic LOAD of one's carbs. Dr. Thompson has done his research homework and explains the scientific rationale for the GL approach to controlling postprandial insulin spikes, and does so probably better than anyone else I've read. That's why readers here are so enthusiastic about the book. They should be; the low-GL approach to (lifelong) eating not only produces great results in terms of blood sugar, it balances some of the defects of a purely low-carb approach to eating. And, it gives more variety to low-carb-conscious folks who want to include things like fruit and legumes but are afraid to do so. Probably the best part, though, is that if you choose your food choices wisely and control the post-prandial spikes, you don't need to reduce your food intake; in fact, "diets" don't work long-term anyway. Eating heartily while still taking the weight off is a novel concept to many but it has been proven in the research.

But let's talk a minute about the critics of the GI/GL approach to carbs. This, surprisingly, includes a majority of the medical profession, many of whom are still 30 years behind the research. In fact, one could (quite accurately, unfortunately) go so far as to say that if someone wanted real advice on what to eat and nutrition in general, the last place they should probably go is their family doctor. That one nutrition course they had in med school 35 years ago, if they had any at all, unfortunately isn't enough. It gets worse. As one on-target cardiologist prominent on the web remarks, whose name I won't give here, if you want to increase your chances of getting diabetes, just follow the ridiculous carb advice still given by the American Diabetes Association; and if you want to increase your chances of getting heart attacks, just follow the current dietary advice of the AHA. These drug-company-dominated groups aren't exactly following the Hippocratic Oath very well ("first, do no harm"), but then again, it's hard to give up perks like free fancy hotels, fine dining, and other extravagant perks enjoyed by MDs attending seminars given by the big drug companies...But I'll leave that soapbox alone.

The low-GL approach to eating (I didn't say "diet", diets don't work) is the middle road between extreme low-carb and extreme low-fat advice, and it's the most reasonable way for most people to go. That includes about
all of us, not just the 25% of so estimated to have metabolic syndrome. This is an important point. Pretty much everybody has decreased ability to handle dietary sugars as we age throughout life; it's one of the unavoidable physiological negatives of getting older. Hence, the low-GL way of life not only makes sense for the insulin-resistant folks, it makes sense for everyone. The only thing I would add here to Dr. Thompson's book is that one can tweak this plan in various ways he doesn't mention much of. Various supplements are quite a help, and some pleasant food items like 1-2 glasses of red wine daily with dinner can really boost one's insulin sensitivity (wine is kind of glossed over in the book). Oh well. Next edition, I expect this cardiologist to include a section praising the virtues of raising a glass or two...Cheers!

I'm insulin resistant and the books I read about insulin resistance & the glycemic index (different from glycemic load) years ago never mentioned slow twitch muscles or starch. I've been "slow twitch" walking every other day and I'm at about 80% on my food choices. I lost two pounds in the first week. I plan to increase my frequency of walking and become completely starch, pop & refined carb free! This book has provided a lot of answers for me in the food/mood/craving/weight gain connection. I'm back today to buy one for my mom who is diabetic. I highlighted the entire book on the first read and intend to start reading it again tomorrow - it's been a godsend in keeping me on track because it explains really well WHY carbs, starches and slow twitch muscles work the way they do. The recipes weren't really for me, but I would not hesitate to suggest this book for the rest of it's content. It's made me feel like I have control again. Love it!!

This book is very easy to read. It has some great information on the background of how we have gotten to the high rate of diabetes and obesity. The diet itself is very basic and easy to follow; not to metion, very scientifically based. I have and will continue to recommend this book to my patients.

Don't let the title turn you off, though I could've come up with something better: perhaps The Slow-Twitch Shuffle?

Nonetheless -- I want to give this book 6 stars!

I am no longer confused about food -- fat, protein, and carbohydrates -- or calories, colesterol, glucose, insulin, starch, refined sugar, how stored fat is gained and lost, the type and amount of exercise most people need, or what causes diabetes.

A breadth and depth of critical information is presented in a succinct, clear, and fluid writing that will have you breezing through this book in a couple of days, if not in a single day. The last third of the book comprised recipes.

My wife and I took turns reading chapters of this book aloud so we each didn't have to read it. We began this new way of eating and haven't looked back; it's been three weeks and we feel better already. A friend who hadn't seen me in while said, "are you getting taller?" lol

Dr. Thompson deservers some kind of award for writing this book.

One of the reasons I bought this book was for the list of foods. I can make no sense of his values for glycemic load because they are different from all others I have seen by a factor of 10! If I could know that for sure, i.e . the multiplier, then I could use the list. But as it is, the list is useless. The book is otherwise fine for someone who has not been obsessively researching this topic as I have been for the last month. If you are already conversant on the topic, save your money. If I had seen the book in a store before I ordered it, I would not have bought it.

This book was excellent and informative. It covers all the basics of what to look for and how to treat it.

This book really didn't help me much. The foods that are on the "allow" list are in actuality NOT allowed and can really set a candida patient back on their quest for health. I would not recommend to someone that is truly fighting this disease.

Years ago, on the advice of a holistic doctor, I went on a yeast-free, sugar-free diet for 6 weeks. I successfully eliminated excess candida from my body and my health improved vastly. Unfortunately, in those days the only cookbook available was Dr. William Crook's The Yeast Connection Cookbook, which, while essential, was difficult to follow. This time around, I looked for a cookbook that was more up-to-date, varied, and easy to use. I found it in Candida Albican Yeast-Free Cookbook. Its Rainbow Food Plan is not only easier to follow, but it makes a pretty, well balanced meal as well. I especially liked the Oat-Bran Sweet Potato Muffins, zucchini soup (most of their soups are easy to make), Fish in Butter-Ginger Sauce, and Beef Rutabaga Stew (made without the rutabaga, and it was fine). Many of the recipes are for 2 servings only because one is not supposed to have leftovers since it tends to encourage mold growth (those sensitive to yeast also tend to be sensitive to molds). I went ahead and doubled the recipes since I was making it for my daughter (who was also on the diet) and husband (who wasn't). Everyone seemed to agree that the recipes were tasty and satisfying.
Oh, by the way, I lost 8 lbs. in 6 weeks, and feel great. And I still plan to make the muffins, some of the soups and the dips.

Of the large numbers of books on this subject, this one offered little new information. I did see a few recipes that appealed, but could have easily skipped this one.

I like this cookbook. It is not quite as restrictive as some other candida diets, so that should be kept in mind for those searching for a way to conquer candida. Also, it is a cookbook, not a health book, so it does not go into great depth about candida, though it does offer some useful information. I would not make this my primary reference book on candida. I like the book for its simple, healthy whole foods recipes, though.

Lunch Lessons is an in-depth expose of how our unhealthy American diet is literally killing us, particularly its impact on our kids who participate in the USDA school lunch program. Nearly 80% of American schools don't meet the USDA's nutritional requirements. This doesn't come as a surprise seeing as schools are expected to provide a full meal for $1.50 per child. Many schools have done away with kitchens entirely, and rely on reheating processed foods. Financially-strapped districts raise money for extracurricular activities by contracts with soft drink and fast food companies, fueling the current childhood obesity crisis.

Lunch Lessons looks at the impact of revolutionary school lunch programs that aim to reconnect students with their food by raising their own vegetables from seeds, performing investigations, and preparing the fruits of their labor. Other featured schools buy locally grown organic produce for slightly more than commercial brands, and prepare meals that are proportioned appropriately and contain whole grains, fruits and vegetables without additives, extra sugars, or fat. There are also suggestions on how to "green" your home by buying eco-friendly cleaners, composting and recycling, and green dining and shopping alternatives. The book is scattered with statistics on American obesity, diet-related disease, and sidebars, but the placement was disruptive to the text and I frequently lost my place as I skipped around reading the various doom-and-gloom factoids.

The rest of the book consists of recipes taken from the various schools and programs mentioned earlier in the book, and include selections for breakfast, snacks, and lunch. Full nutritional info is included, as well as a conversion guide to figure out the daily values for various ages (the standard nutritional info is based on a 2,000 calorie diet, which is about two times too high for very young children, and not enough for an active teen). Many of the recipes are vegetarian and are low-fat, and are simple enough that older children could prepare these on their own. Some of the more interesting choices included frittata with spinach, mushrooms, and cheese, peanut butter and jelly power muffins, fruit smoothie, orzo salad, pumpkin curry, carrot-ginger soup, and red lentil burgers, although many sounded adventurous for picky eaters.

Great ideas for the picky eater and this helps add ideas to the mundane lunch box routine

This book has great ideas for lunch meals. We tend to get into a routine of turkey and yogurt for lunch, but this book breathes new ideas into a hum drum meal. I love that the nutritional contents are included. It gives great advice for portion control, too.

I bought this to help my kids & I have more creative solutions for school lunches. We are VERY excited about trying several ideas & I loved the information rich intro. I don't have much of a battle getting my kids to take lunch from home but it helped for them to know that "Mom" wasn't making up the lack of nutrition stats that surround school lunch menus. I highly recommend this for any Mom that is making an effort to keep her kids healthy during all meals!

I guess I was thinking the was more of a cookbook, but instead it IS a Lesson, or more like a lecture on lunch programs.
Good if you are interested in the subject, but only offers very minimum recipes and NO Pictures. Could have been better... (not worth the $$.) Check it out at the library first before you purchase.

Wish it had 1/2 on the suject and 1/2 on recipes with good pictures to get you motivated.

The name of the book is the new 8 week cholesterol cure and it is a fabulous book with plenty of informaion and tips on lower choleterol. I would recommend this book to anyone with heart problems as it gives great advice on all things to do with heart disease and how to keep choleterol down.

I bought this book to help reduce my recently diagnosed high cholesterol problem. I'm an RN and found this book very inspiring and informative. I highly recommend it and am using most of his suggestions. The best book I have found on the subject & I have lowered my LDL and raised my HDL. Now I am trying his weight loss ideas that cover one chapter and suggest restricting carbs. I started that today. This book is worth the money and the author also writes a newsletter that you can subscribe to.

Amazing results and pretty easy! Believe me, you can lower that colesterol and still eat well! Following a few suggestions in this book--I wasn't even that strict---oat bran, niacin, more vegatables, avoiding transfats ect, my total colesterol dropped 116 points in SIX WEEKS! My "bad" colesterol went from 177 to 80. The book is easy to read and you will learn tons about how your body works.

I got my total cholesterol down from 275 to 191, Triglycerides down from 221 to 96. LDL down from, 182 to 118 and HDL up from 49 to 54.
This was accomplished in 10 weeks by rigidly sticking to the zero saturated fat recommendation and half heartedly trying the Niacin regimen.
I cut out cheese, milk, whole eggs, etc. and substituted with olive and canola oils.
I have since ramped up the niacin regimen to the complete doses recommended by the book and will see if I can improve on these already impressive numbers.
Try it, it works.
UPDATE - 10 weeks after the review above I had my lipids checked again and my total cholesterol is now 133; that's pretty amazing considering my
total was 275 just five months ago and I have not taken any prescription medications. My LDL is now 75 (down from 182) and my triglyserides are now 71 (down from 221). I am actually concerned my cholesterol may now be too low. Great advice!

This book is an excellent read with practical, easy to follow diet changes. My cholesterol went from 257 to 187 in 3 months time. In addition to reading this book, I used recipes from the American Heart Assoc. cookbook, excersized almost every day, and read the "Cholesterol Down" book. This book has helped me understand how to change my life for the better, giving me the information to understand why I needed various diet adjustments.
In particular, I really enjoy the muffin recipes in the back of the book. And typically eat 2-3/day! Benecol also now makes a chewy caramel that I used to help get my intake of plant stanols/sterols as per the recommendations.

Well written and good info but as a borderline patient, I'm not ready to give up all animal products in my diet.

As an RN I find this information easy for the lay person to understand and apply. My brother has used a lot of this information and his diabetes is very controlled (off medication) and he has no other diabetic related problems. This is a must read for all diabetes and their families. The large print book is so helpful!

I bought this book after I received high blood sugar and high cholesterol reports on a blood test. I decided to give the program a try during Lent (40 Days) and then have my blood work done to compare results. After doing this program my results were so much better that I have made it how I live and eat on a daily basis. It is a true life-changing way to eat and I recommend this book and program to anyone who wants to be healthy. By following Dr. Barnard's program I lost weight, my blood sugar and cholesterol counts lowered to the normal range and I have the energy and vitality to do activities that I love to do.

The goal is here is not to improve your diabetes but to CURE it! For Type II Diabetics there is no better gift to give to yourself or your family than to buy this book and follow the program.

The diet in this book is a vegan version of the nearly-vegan, low-fat diabetes diet given by Nathan Pritikin (Live Longer Now, 1974); identical to the vegan diabetes diet of John McDougall, MD (The McDougall Plan, 1983); and a vegan version (without supplements) of the low-fat diabetes diet employed by Julian Whitaker, MD (Reversing Diabetes, 1987). All in all, the author's claims to originality don't hold any water.

The only things original in this book seem to be the results of A1c measurements, and comparison with the ADA diet (which has been known to be lacking for many years).

The author never mentions the highly successful diabetes treatment programs that have been in operation for the better part of 20-30 years at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Aventura FL, the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach CA, and Dr. McDougall's Health and Medical Center in Santa Rosa CA. These three programs have successfully treated a combined total estimated at over 40,000 diabetes patients.

The author never mentions how he, personally, lionized the Pritikin Program in one of his previous books (The Power of Your Plate, 1995), and then forgot about it in the present book.

All in all, Dr. Barnard seems to want the reader to get the impression he invented the vegan diet and was the first to use it to treat diabetes. He does say, "A new idea," "We have completely redesigned the dietary approach to diabetes," ". . . an entirely new approach to diabetes," and "This program is truly a revolution." All claims that appear to be untrue and unwarranted.

Whichever diabetes book you decide to read, first read Prtikin's Live Longer Now, 1974. Used copies are available on Amazon.com. I bought a nice used hardback for $5.

This book is great for mothers that are concerned about nutrtition while breastfeeding. There is a lot of information about food nutritional content and vitamins in food. Also, great recipes for healthy meals.

Very helpful nutritional information for breastfeeding moms. I finally got the answers I've been looking for.

I bought this book and sent it back immediately after reading in it that it advocates things such as drinking caffeine and eating high-sugar and high-trans fat foods while breastfeeding. It is disgusting to think that this book is so popular because the eating practices that this book preaches are so very wrong and especially harmful to your baby. I hate to say it, but it's with thinking like this that makes us Americans have all the health problems we do. I'd give this book no stars if I could.

I was gifted this book years ago and LOVE IT! I have a lot to lose and recently pulled this book out again. In the past I stopped short of my goal due to learning of other diets that sounded too good to be true. WHY stop something that is WORKING?!! This is a very healthy way to lose weight THAT WORKS~not just for breastfeeding Moms~and you won't be hungry, either. (((((HUGS))))) sandi

P.S. One thing I do with this book is write up a food journal to record my eating. In the front I copy the equation for my IBW and a list of foods (and the size of the serving) in each food group. I highlight the edges of these pages for easy reference. This way I can count food groups rather than calories, which is SO MUCH EASIER for me to keep track of!

This book has been very helpful for me to lose weight while breastfeeding. I had always been a petite 120 lb. woman until I got pregnant, and gained 43 lbs. I lost 17 lbs. the first month of breastfeeding after my son was born, but then I gained back 12 lbs. I was very frustrated because I have always been fit and healthy. I had been under the false pretense that I could now eat whatever I wanted and still lose weight while breastfeeding. Unfortunately this was not the case for me.
So, when I discovered this book about eating well and losing weight while breastfeeding I thought I would give it a chance. The thing I love most about this book is that it makes it easy to customize a healthy diet for your individual goals. It gives you a healthy weight range for all shapes and sizes of women. There are so many diets out there that lump everyone into the same category and just say how many calories to eat, or to cut out fat, or to cut out carbs. This book explains how to eat the correct number of calories for your individual body size without cutting out fat or carbs (but rather eating everything in moderation).
I also love the recipes! They are healthy and tasty. Imagine that. Quite contrary to the philosophy that if it tastes good, spit it out.
I recommend this book to anyone who really wants to make a life change and get back on track to a healthy weight while making sure to eat all of the healthy nutrients that your baby needs.

It is very difficult for me to review this item since I am still waiting for it. I have heard nothing from you people about the hold up and would appreciate an update on estimated delivery time for this book.
Cheers,
Sue Cook

I have noticed many people have said stuff like, "I wouldn't even want to try the recipies", and that they are "unconventional". Well, lets face it - the reason you (and I) are fat is that we don't eat healthy foods. If we liked eating all of the vegtables and spices (instead of salt) in this book, then we really wouldn't need it would we?

So I say, if you are serious about eating healthier, give it a try. I have found some of the dishes that sounded the least appealing actually tasted great. The only reason I gave the book a four instead of a five is that I have had to tone down the seasonings and experiment with flavors I am more used to, but other than that most of the recipies are great. I have been using it 3 weeks now and have lost 12lbs.

So, don't knock it till you've tried it.

Dr. Phil is back and this time it's a cookbook! Advice like his is hard to find except for on television, DVDs and in his books that Oprah has recommended. Eating is good, true, but with Dr. Phil on your back your diet is healthier than ever. Plain-spoken truth was never as clear as this. Fat makes you fat, and denial makes you deny things. Denying that this cookbook is the BEST would be false advertising. I am in favor of weight loss freedom like Dr. Phil emotes on television, and now in a COOKBOOK it's like having the good Dr. ("doctor") in your kitchen helping you and tasting your goodies! With added health you will perservere! Try the recipe for Pork Kabobs in Walnut Lamb Sauce on page 67.

Dr. Phil - like him or hate him - has some very good information here. Weight loss and diet control still boils down to the basics: Eat less and move more...but you have to start with eating healthy and getting your habits and mindset ready to get yourself more healthy.

This cookbook is nothing but healthy food - you know, the stuff none of us want to eat until our doctor says you may die if you don't! Anyway, as far as diet foods go, this is a very good cookbook with some not-so-bad tasting meals in it. Along with Dr. Phil's books, this is a plan that can work for you---if you want it to and stick to it!

You may not like Dr. Phil, but his advice, foundation, and information is right on the mark.

If you have not bought the Ultimate Weight Solution . . . you may want to consider reading it and then purchase the cookbook. The Ultimate Weigt Solution helps you get you into the mindset needed to live a healthier lifestyle. The cookbook gives new recipes that keep the array of food choices plentiful. Each week we pull out two new recipes which keeps the mealtime full of a few surprises rather than the same old diet food.

I found the book well written, easy to read and understand the content. It provided helpful information concerning why/how we make choices about food and how we approach eating in general.

This book was very helpful and actually changed my life in a way that no other book has! I recommend it to anyone who is an emotional eater!

The information in this book is vague, hazy and totally non-motivating. Please, before you spend $$$ on Eating Mindfully purchase The Seven Secrets of Slim People. It is focussed, dense with wisdom and EXCELLENT exercises that develop your sane sense of how, why and when you eat so that you can lose that obsessive relationship you now have with food. Eating Mindfully will leave you treading water with no shore in sight.
The Seven Secrets of Slim People

What a wonderful, compassionate and helpful guide! I've run across this book in several places but I finally broke down and bought it when I saw it in Oprah Magazine. I'm glad I did. It was different than the other diet books I've bought. It was insightful, easy to read and positive. It helped me to understand why I mindlessly eat and gave a lot of helpful hints for eating in a more mindful, relaxed way. If you want a sample of what is inside this book before you buy it, check out Dr. Albers' website. It was a helpful resource for me and would be for anyone with eating issues.

This book is a collection of 46 brief observations on mindless eating. The observations are short, one or two pages, and include suggestions on how to turn mindless eating into mindfull eating. The observations themselves are diverse so every reader will most likely find several that relate to their specific problems with eating.

However, very little of the book is devoted to the fundamentals of "mindfullness". The book causally quotes the Buddhist origins of "mindfullness" but does not expand on the topic. This causes the observations to feel a little empty since they're constantly referring to a "mindfullness" concept that hasn't been meaningfully explained.

If you want a fundamental understanding of Buudhist "mindfulness" before you apply it to eating problems then I would read "The Zen of Eating" by Kabatznick. If you prefer a more 'thought for the day' type of format then this book is more appropriate.

Valerie brings an uplifting, common sense attitude to this stage of our lives. She will make you rethink any negative attitudes and make you smile and be grateful for all that you are.

My father gave me Gracefully for mother's day. I then went to see Valerie Ramsey at the Tattered Cover in Denver when she did a book signing there. I was so impressed! She is wonderfully open and honest about her own life and how she and Heather Hummel came to write Gracefully. I was inspired to read the book cover to cover! The book is so easy to read - simple to understand and effortless to apply the concepts contained therein to one's own life. This is a book that would be perfect for anyone. May I only grow older (I am 41) as gracefully as Valerie Ramsey has!

Valerie Ramsey understands the true wisdom of beauty--that even though it is outwardly visible, its true source comes from within. Perhaps that is why all treatise on beauty should be written from the perspective of someone, like Ramsey, who has lived a life that allows for true beauty to flourish. Aging is bounded by time, beauty is not. And so, Ramsey, in prose that is clean, compelling, and--most of all--entirtely applicable, demonstrates what is so obvious and yet, for our youth obsessed world, often overlooked in terms of how to cultivate beauty, grace, and soulfulness throughout our lives.

This book Heather Hummel and Valerie Ramsey is full of wonderful advice for women of all ages. I found Valerie Ramsey's lust for life inspirational; she is a woman with a lot to teach. The book also gives practical tips such as how to look great in a photograph, and I will use it as a reference tool for years to come. It is an easy and interesting read, and I would highly recommend it.

I found this book to be so easy to read with practical useful advice on creating a life that you want. It was inspirational at the same time, making me reaffirm my beliefs that one can accomplish whatever one puts one's mind to. I have passed this on to my mother and recommended to my girlfriends and aunts, but the over-riding message of this book is applicable to both genders. Worth the read. I took away tips to apply in daily life as well as future planning/dreaming.