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Thinking Matters

Revisado: 12-10-23

What I learned about menopause in med school would easily fit into this sentence. I can assure you that, collectively, we medical people--especially us of the male gender--haven't given it much thought, other than it happens to all women and there's not much to be done about it. This view, as Carol Travis says, is logical, widely accepted, and wrong. I am so appreciative of scientists and health professionals who are willing to challenge existing ideas including their own. Travis and Bluming are two such people and their value to our culture cannot be overstated. As much as this is a book about menopause and the benefits, and risks (actual and purported) of hormonal therapy, it is also a book about thinking and the ease with which we can draw erroneous conclusions from scientific data, some of which isn't scientific at all. It is also astounding, yet we in the business have seen it over and over again, how some self-professed experts choose winning the argument over finding the truth. On the surface, this looks like arrogance. But I wonder if it's also a form of fear. So much of medical education is about giving the right answer. Being wrong is stigmatized. By the time we finish, we have been trained to be right, confident, and certain. It takes courage to ask the question, "Am I possibly wrong?" and it's very hard for some of us to go there. My advice for patients: Be wary of the doctor or scientist who is so certain of his or her findings that no room is left for doubt or challenge. Beware of getting your medical advice from the media headlines. Estrogen Matters is greatly informative for women who are peri- or postmenopausal and, for many reasons, would be a wonderful addition to medical education.

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Powerful, enlightened truth telling

Revisado: 05-12-23

Beyond grateful that Dr. Andrisse shared his complete, honest truth. Hearing some of the disturbing dehumanization experiences was difficult but necessary. With an incarcerated loved one who, after overcoming numerous obstacles is currently taking college level correspondence courses, this story resonates deeply. Thank you!

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Another Hurwitz Classic

Revisado: 11-29-22

I wondered how Greg Hurwitz might come up with something new for this book. Wouldn't there be a point at which all the good story lines are exhausted and the series needs to end for risk of redundancy? If so, he's not there yet because this was as good an any Orphan X book I have listened to. As usual, the development of new characters is superb and the evolution of the old ones and their richly complex relationships is splendid. Couldn't be more happy with Dark Horse. And by the way, what is taking so long getting Orphan X to the screen? If they don't screw it up in casting or by contaminating a perfectly good story with unnecessary novelties, it's gonna be a gold mine.

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Important Read

Revisado: 04-26-22

A thoroughly researched, cited and accurate reframing of American history important for everyone of every race to learn. As a formerly ignorant, middle aged white woman, parts of this project were challenging and triggering to read. However, listening to the first podcast series back in 2019, was the impetus for my journey to become an ally and partner for racial reckoning and justice in all oppressive systems.

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Loved it But Not for Everyone

Revisado: 12-26-21

If you are not interested in science or scientists or just generally inquisitive, choose a different Bill Bryson book. I enjoyed every bit of it. There was so much I didn't know about science and discovery through the ages. It's not just the science and discovery, but the process of getting there--bickering, theft of ideas, wrong turns, brilliance, half truths, whole lies and serendipity that was enlightening. Who knew Einstein came from meager academic beginnings? There is much content that is surprising, plenty of humor (listen closely) and some very sobering material like human-associated rate of species extinction.

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Enlightening!

Revisado: 10-19-21

I heard the author interviewed in a podcast and knew that I had to get the book. I was not disappointed. I am going to gift it to several friends and family members. I realize we Americans are a proud bunch, but what a waste it would be to fail to learn from the glaring successes of more advanced nations. I know some will question my patriotism, but I challenge anyone to hear the story of the young--insured!-colon cancer survivor facing massive post-treatment debt to tell me we can't do better.

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Hurwitz is Human After All

Revisado: 07-05-21

I apologize upfront because Greg Hurwitz is one of my favorite authors. I am guilt ridden that I did not take some of the stars from my 10-star reviews of his Orphan X books and generously donate them here. But instead, honesty. I wanted so badly to quit listening to this story but I trudged on knowing it would get better. It didn't. One Hurwitz's great strength is getting the reader to believe that impossible scenarios, characters and interactions are actually plausible. Didn't happen. Do I regret buying Last Chance? Not really. I am happy to support this remarkable author, and even the best home run hitters strike out sometimes. Also, I could be wrong. Looks like a lot of other people rated it highly.

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Another Winner by Hurwitz and Brick

Revisado: 04-30-21

Hurwitz is one of my favorite authors and Brick is my favorite narrator. Even though my expectations for Hurwitz's work (based on his Orphan X series) were very high, I was not disappointed. Simply thrilling work. I did not want to stop listening and when it was over, I didn't want it to be the end. And it wasn't: bonus interview with Hurwitz. Enjoyed that too. Hurwitz is a master of leading readers and protagonists down the wrong path, springing the surprise and then revealing that the surprise was wrapped in another surprise. Didn't see that coming. Or that. Or that. I absolutely love Hurwitz's character development. His seem so real. So human. And their interactions with each other, authentic. Thank you for another great listen!

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What I Didn't Learn in Medical School

Revisado: 12-14-20

The authors aren't joking when they say we doctors had precious little education about nutrition in med school. This may not be as bad as it sounds, because what they would have taught us would likely have been the same party-line pseudoscience garbage fed to laypeople and propagated by government, big food and big pharma. Not only will readers learn about the importance of insulin levels and satiety hormones, they will understand how easy it is to violate the principles of good science and they will understand why conventional ideas on nutrition fail us miserably. You might say, well, aren't you skeptical about Fung's ideas? Absolutely. But what he, Ramos and Mayer promote, makes sense and they have data to back it up. And sure, they are making money on the book and on counseling services, but that's a tiny fraction of what most people spend on futile therapies. Fasting will cost the average person next to nothing to employ it. Shame on mainstream nutrition scientists--purveyors of calories-in-calories-out nonsense--that I once embraced wholeheartedly, for not thinking outside their pathetic little box. Thank you to the innovators who wrote this book. It has great potential to help many people, including some close to me.

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Courage

Revisado: 12-01-20

This is a book about courage. It's a book about integrity. About the power of deception. Of betrayal. Of triumph. Thank you Tyler Schultz, for being a better person than your grandfather. And a better person than most people. Shameful how you were treated. Great story, so well told.

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