Blind Eye: The Terrifying Story Of A Doctor Who Got Away With Murder

Amazon.com

From the moment he entered medical school in the late 1970s, people around Michael Swango thought he was a little odd. But even though he expounded upon his obsessions with violent death and serial killings to anybody within earshot, almost nobody connected him to the string of deaths among patients under his care. When an investigation finally took place at the Ohio State medical center, hospital administrators sympathized with Swango--against the direct testimony of patients and nurses--and seemed more concerned with how revelations of a murderous doctor might affect their public image than with the safety of their clients. And, remarkably, even after being released from prison in Illinois, where he had been convicted of (nonfatally) poisoning several of his coworkers, Swango was able to obtain positions at hospitals in South Dakota and New York. When American authorities finally started to pursue his case, he fled the country and began plying his trade in Zimbabwe. In June 1998, after being captured during an attempt to reenter the United States, he was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison--on fraud charges related to his employment in New York.

The truly frightening aspect of Blind Eye is not the relentless chain of murders, but the ease with which Swango was able to repeatedly slip through the cracks in the medical system, simply by lying about the nature of his felony conviction. James B. Stewart methodically traces every step of Swango's career, laying out a straightforward narrative with all the suspense of a well-crafted thriller. Although attempts to "explain" Swango's behavior through psychopathology and a historical rise in the incidences of serial killing derail the ending somewhat, Blind Eye is still a must-read for true crime buffs--or anyone who enjoys good journalism. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

No one could believe the handsome young doctor might be a serial killer. Wherever he was hired -- in Ohio, Illinois, New York, South Dakota -- Michael Swango at first seemed the model physician. Then his patients began dying under suspicious circumstances.

At once a gripping read and a hard-hitting look at the inner workings of the American medical system, Blind Eye describes a professional hierarchy where doctors repeatedly accept the word of fellow physicians over that of nurses, hospital employees, and patients -- even as horrible truths begin to emerge. With the prodigious investigative reporting that has defined his Pulitzer Prize-winning career, James B. Stewart has tracked down survivors, relatives of victims, and shaken coworkers to unearth the evidence that may finally lead to Swango's conviction.

Combining meticulous research with spellbinding prose, Stewart has written a shocking chronicle of a psychopathic doctor and of the medical establishment that chose to turn a blind eye on his criminal activities.

Customer Reviews:

Black Eye for the Medical Profession.......2007-01-29

This is a fascinating story about how the medical establishment did not detect a psycopath in their midst. Even after detection, they allowed him to continue as a doctor.

Even more upsetting was the failure of the faculty of the college of medicine at Southern Illinois University to detect and fail incompetent students. These students, including Michael Swango, were allowed to continue; even after episodes of total incompetence. If these policies are common at other medical schools, it offers an explanation for the large number of substandard physicians.

Great Book.......2007-01-09

Not only was this book a great read, it also displays the significant truth about the world of medicine. This type of behavior (ignoring what's in front of you) happens everyday in medicine. All credentialing personnel should be required to read this book.

Required reading for anyone who receives medical care.......2006-11-29

I was given "Blind Eye" when I first began working at a physician monitoring program as a clinician. At the time, I was under the impression that because physicians have so much responsibility to "do no harm," they would automatically report themselves or fellow physicians if they believed they were impaired mentally, physically or emotionally. How wrong I was!

"Blind Eye" represents the epitome of how our medical system supports physicians, even when they are dangerous to themselves and others. Through a painstaking and exhaustive review of the life and career of Dr. Michael Swango, James B. Stewart illustrates how easy it was for a medical doctor to manipulate nurses, colleagues, administrators, patients, and even his own family into believing that he was a competent physician. Stewart further demonstrates how the "good old boy" system is alive and well in America, in which doctors look the other way when something seems wrong, even when evidence to the contrary is right in front of them.

If I had not read this book, knowing it is a true story, I probably would not have believed that a physician could truly get away with murder; now I am truly convinced that this is, unfortunatly, the case. "Blind Eye" should be required reading for every person who works with or sees a personal physician.

terrific read....uh, except for............2006-08-29

Stewart's coverage of the l'affaire Swango is exemplary--one of the best true crime reads in the last ten years, this one....except...except for what I've found to be a common occurrence in books of this genre, namely, in this instance, that Michael Swango, not once, not twice, but probably 20 times, is described as "handsome": what's up with that? Swango looks like a cartoon horse, and in no sense of the word "handsome" is he, well, even slightly better than subpar in the looks department. Several b/w pix here document this guy's oversized choppers, narrow head, and so on. So why is this the case? Possibly to lure name actors into vying for the lead in a filming of this, and thus make the project more attractive in order to secure a better deal? That's the only thing I can think of and, as I say, this is a common problem in the true crime genre. SO: it's a five-star read, but docked a notch because, if the author continually overstates a major fact regarding the book's main character's appearance, the reader HAS to wonder, Hey, what other liberties are taken with the truth here? Be that as it may--a tip o' the hat to Stewart for his page-turning prose. Possibly the best book I've ever read about a poisoner, including the great works covering the infamous 19th and early 20th century cases, when poison was much in vogue.

SERIAL KILLER DOCTOR...!!!!.......2006-08-21

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT POWER PACKED STORY OF HOW A SERIAL KILLER DOCTOR COULD GET AWAY WITH HIS MURDERS FOR SO LONG, AND BE COVERED UP BY THE "DOCTORS PROFESSIONAL PROTECT EACH OTHER RULES" AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT IS VERY SCARY HOW U CAN NOT EVEN TRUST A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WHEN IN THE HOSPITAL. IT CERTAINLY WILL MAKE ME QUESTION ANYTHING I AM GIVEN OR INJECTED WITH NEXT TIME I AM IN THE HOSPITAL. A MUST READ IF U HAVE WONDERED HOW MEDICAL "ACCIDENTS" HAPPEN!!

Regaining The Power Of Youth at Any Age: Startling New Evidence from the Doctor Who Brought Us Aerobics, Controlling Cholesterol and the Antioxidant Revolution

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Regaining The Power Of Youth at Any Age: Startling New Evidence from the Doctor Who Brought Us Aerobics, Controlling Cholesterol and the Antioxidant Revolution
Kenneth H. Cooper
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
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Binding: Paperback

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Antioxidant Revolution

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RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0785278524

Book Description

Regaining the Power of Youth at Any Age features a scientifically based program that will guide you to a higher level of physical and mental fitness that you may have believed impossible to attain.

Doctor Who: Wooden Heart (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))

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Girl in Fireplace meets Terabithia

Doctor Who: Wooden Heart (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))
Martin Day
Manufacturer: Random House UK
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1846072263

Book Description

The Castor, a vast starship, seemingly deserted and spinning slowly in the void of deep space. Martha and the Doctor explore the drifting tomb, and discover that they may not be alone after all... Who survived the disaster that overcame the rest of the crew? What continues to power the vessel? And why has a stretch of wooded countryside suddenly appeared in the middle of the craft? As the Doctor and Martha journey through the forest, they find a mysterious, fogbound village - a village traumatised by missing children and tales of its own destruction...

Customer Reviews:

Girl in Fireplace meets Terabithia.......2007-09-15

This one has the best cover, arguably - Martha does her Alicia Keyes impersonation, while the Doctor has his sonic locked and loaded. I thought this one started off slow, then got rolling as soon as our heroes enter this virtual forest world. The scenes with Martha tend to slow things down, but then the Doctor gets paired off with a litte girl that acts like a mini Rose Tyler and the ball gets rolling again. The twists keep coming even after the halfway mark. Not bad.

Average customer rating:

Get an editor, please.
Looking forward to more books in this series.....
Excellent effort!
Exciting news!

Torchwood: Another Life
Peter Anghelides
Manufacturer: Random House UK
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Binding: Hardcover

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Doctor Who: Wooden Heart (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))
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ASIN: 0563486538

Book Description

High-profile new Doctor Who-inspired drama created by Russell T. Davies. The 21st century is when it all changes, and you've got to be ready. Separate from the government; outside the police, beyond the United Nations; Torchwood sets its own rules. A team of investigators, using alien technology to solve crime - both alien and human. This new British sci-fi crime thriller, created by Russell T. Davies, sees them delve into the unknown. A group of people fighting the impossible. A terror hides at the bottom of Cardiff Bay - waiting, feeding, controlling... this novel is a brand-new Torchwood adventure.

Customer Reviews:

Get an editor, please........2007-04-16

Wow, this was awful. I felt like I was reading something written by a 14-year-old. After about the twentieth typo/grammar error I gave up, so I can't really say how the ending worked out. When I spend money on a licensed Doctor Who or Torchwood book I assume that money is paying for both a professional writer and an editor of some small worth. If all I wanted were a sloppily-penned writing exercise, I'd still to fan fiction, which is free.

Oh well, at least the cover is pretty.

Looking forward to more books in this series............2007-02-18

I'm a big fan of the newest version of the Doctor Who franchise (the 9th & 10th Doctors) and Captain Jack Harkness was definitely a favorite character from the 1st series, when I found out he was getting a spin off series called Torchwood I could hardly wait to see it. And therein lies the problem, I most likely won't be seeing it anytime soon. Anyways, when I saw that three books based on the series were being released I jumped at the chance to pick them up and so far with this first I am not disappointed. The plot involves the team trying to track down a murderer who just happens to be possessed by an alien. Oh, and lets not forget the missing containers from the nuclear plant or the mysterious, almost typhoon-like conditions centered over Cardiff.

Probably the strongest part of the book is the dialogue and interaction between the main characters as they try to track down the alien. The pacing, for the most part, is fast and the author literally pulls you into the story. The only downfall in my opinion, and the reason for the 4-star rating, is the fact that it does bog down a bit when one of the main characters, Owen, meets up with an old girlfriend while doing a spot of online gaming while stuck in decontamination, and decides-without bothering to consult Jack, his boss- to try and recruit her to Torchwood. It just didn't seem to ring true to the Owen character from earlier on in the book.

Other than that, the book's an absolutely brilliant read and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the others. Hopefully they will measure up to the bar set by this book and not be so hit and miss as the Doctor Who books have been in being true to the characters as they appear in the shows.

Excellent effort!.......2007-01-26

The Doctor Who novels have disappointed me, ranging in quality from mediocre down to virtually unreadable. Those experiences led me to harbor no great hopes for novels about the DW spinoff Torchwood, but I had a promotional certificate soon to expire and rather than waste it, decided to take a chance on buying this book.

I liked it. A lot. The author captures the essence of the characters (his Jack is especially solid) and the story matches the tone of the series quite well. There's some excellent dialogue, notably in a few exchanges between Jack and Ianto. I could imagine it airing on the show. I could also imagine the plot forming a good episode.

Well done. I only hope the other Torchwood novels are near the caliber of this one!

Exciting news!.......2006-11-23

Great set of authors for these three Torchwood novels. Peter Anghelides in particular wrote a couple of my favorite Dr Who novels a few years back.

(5 stars is an assumption, of course. I have faith!)

Doctor Who: Sting Of The Zygons (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))

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Dr Who: Sting of the Zygons

Doctor Who: Sting Of The Zygons (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))
Stephen Cole
Manufacturer: Random House UK
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1846072255

Book Description

The TARDIS lands the Doctor and Martha in the Lake District in 1909, where a small village has been terrorised by a giant, scaly monster. The search is on for the elusive "Beast of Westmorland," and explorers, naturalists and hunters from across the country are descending on the fells. King Edward VII himself is on his way to join the search, with a knighthood for whoever finds the Beast. But there is a more sinister presence at work in the Lakes than a mere monster on the rampage, and the Doctor is soon embroiled in the plans of an old and terrifying enemy. And as the hunters become the hunted, a desperate battle of wits begins - with the future of the entire world at stake...

Customer Reviews:

Dr Who: Sting of the Zygons.......2007-09-27

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loved the TV story "Terror of the Zygons" and/or the 8th Dr novel "The Bodysnatchers". The story keeps in continuity with what we know of the Zygons from those two stories, while expanding on it at the same time. Doctor Who: Sting Of The Zygons (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))

Doctor Who: The Last Dodo (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))

Average customer rating:

Good but not great.
New Who Goodness

Doctor Who: The Last Dodo (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))
Jacqueline Rayner
Manufacturer: Random House UK
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1846072247

Book Description

After a trip to the zoo, the Doctor and Martha go in search of a real live dodo and are transported by the TARDIS to the mysterious Museum of the Last Ones. There, in the Earth section, they discover every extinct creature up to the present day - billions of them, from the tiniest insect to the biggest dinosaur, all still alive and in suspended animation. Preservation is the Museum's only job - collecting the last of every endangered species from all over the universe. And for millennia the Museum has been trying to trace one elusive specimen: the last of the Time Lords...

Customer Reviews:

Good but not great........2007-09-18

Having read Ms. Rayner's Doctor Who books before I was a bit disappointed in this one, although I thought the concept was a very good. There is a sobering history lesson regarding the extinction of certain animal species, most of them caused by mankind, but not all. There are intriguing questions regarding the morality of 'saving' the last of certain species in a museum which is almost crueller than letting them go. And you'd have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the story of Dorothea, the last dodo.
However....
Although the Doctor and Martha are spot on character wise, they just don't seem to get much accomplished in this book other than run around after the animals and the villains. There are a couple of instances of emotional involvement, especially for poor Martha after she makes what seems to be a terrible decision affecting all the animals and Earth. The Doctor has his own moments; there is an fascinating scene where he reacts with horror at the thought of going to a zoo. His own nightmare comes true for a bit when he involuntarily becomes a last of the Time Lords display. But after these bits, its back to running and chasing again and the mystery of whodunit didn't seem that deep to me.
The Last Dodo is not a terrible book but in my opinion, lacks the emotional punch the old Virgin Doctor Who New Adventures books had, particularly in the earlier titles. Those books went well beyond the TV series but still kept the Doctor and friends in character. These new titles from the BBC seem to be stuck strictly within the confines of the show. Doctor Who - The Complete Third Series

New Who Goodness.......2007-05-18

I was really intrigued by the description of this new Doctor Who novel. I wasn't disappointed. The characterization of the doctor was spot on. I could easily hear David Tennant in my head saying the lines. There were several plot twists that kept the book interesting. The underlying morality tale involving mankind's involvement in the extinction of animal species is a sobering plot thread that does what science fiction does best: it makes us think about our place in the world.

Doctor Who: The Nightmare Of Black Island (Doctor Who)

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Dr Fixit Does It Again

Doctor Who: The Nightmare Of Black Island (Doctor Who)
Mike Tucker
Manufacturer: Random House UK
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0563486503

Book Description

On a lonely stretch of Welsh coastline, a fisherman is killed by a hideous creature from beneath the waves. When the Doctor and Rose arrive, they discover a village where the children are plagued by nightmares, and the nights are ruled by monsters. The villagers suspect that ancient industrialist Nathanial Morton is to blame, but the Doctor has suspicions of his own. Who are the ancient figures that sleep in the old priory? What are the monsters that prowl the woods after sunset? What is the light that glows in the disused lighthouse on Black Island? As the children's nightmares get worse, the Doctor and Rose discover an alien plot to resurrect an ancient evil...

Customer Reviews:

Dr Fixit Does It Again.......2007-09-14

The Dr. Who books, devoted to the last three years, are formulistic and basicially themed alike. Ordinarily this would be a problem, but with these chracters it is a delight. Kind of like the Bond films and Sherlock Holmes pistaches. We expect something of The Doctor and we are not let down. Certainly "The Nightmare of Black Island" does not let the reader down and it is fast moving from cover to cover. As I said in a previous review, the books that have Rose Tyler make you miss her even more. However, the new partner on TV has grown on my family and I look forward to the books that include her. What has helped in this series of books is that the authors know who they are writing about Some, like Mike Tucker, have been associated with the TV series.

Doctor Who: The Inside Story (BBC Books)

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Confessions from one who never cared for Dr. Who.
Dr Who....now you know
The return of a Timelord.

Doctor Who: The Inside Story (BBC Books)
Gary Russell
Manufacturer: Random House UK
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ASIN: 056348649X

Book Description

Doctor Who viewers might believe they've seen every photograph, read every interview, know every fact about the latest incarnation of BBC TV's science fantasy series, but this book will set out to show them just how much they've missed. With pre-production drawings and paintings, countless behind-the-scenes candid shots, comments and opinions from everyone involved, The Inside Story sets out to be exactly that. The insider's scoop on the how, why, who and where of all things Doctor Who.

Customer Reviews:

Confessions from one who never cared for Dr. Who........2007-02-16

I confess that I never cared for Dr. Who during its first twenty five years that ended fifteen years ago. It was only shown in segements on PBS in this area and frankly being a hard line Star Trek and science fiction fan there was nothing that appealed to me.

I once asked Englsih friends about this and they excused the show by saying "When Dr. Who began we didn't have Star Trek, Twilight Zone and all your great shows. It was all we had." I know there were big Dr. Who fans even then, in this country, and had students who dressed up as "The Doctor" at science fiction conventions.

Then a few months ago BBC-America began showing the first of the two new seasons and the Sci Fi Channel showed some from the second season. My wife, grandkids and I were blown away and I have since bought the DVDs from the two new years and eagerly await the third. I have even bought some of the new novelizations for the kids and myself as well as toys from England. A friend over there also secured for me an authentic Billie Piper autographed picture.

That brings us to this very excellent book, Dr. Who: The Inside Story. It is very well crafted with the story about how the show came about and has beautiful pictures. It also covers the first two seasons with details on each episode. The latter is so well done you will have to see the shows even if for the third time (as it will be in our case). The book has everything a fan would want and more.

I must mention that as a Christian and a teacher there is so much I can use from the DVDs and this book to teach some great lessons. That may not have been the purpose of those who put the show together, however as C.S. Lewis has advocated, writers do not have complete control over their art and God can find a way of using even the most offbeat material. C.S. Lewis himself wrote science fiction and fantasy and not just books on theology. J. R. R. Tolkein also was a theologian, but is best known for his Lord of the Rings series. Yes, there is a lot or religious significance in Dr. Who whether intended or not.

I highly recommend this book for all whether they have seen the show or not.

Dr Who....now you know.......2007-02-02

If you love Dr. Who...and we are out there, and have been for years, this is the book for you.

With 2 new seasons already underway, find out what you want to know about Rose, The Doctor, and what went on behind the scenes to bring it alive.

The return of a Timelord........2007-01-23

An enjoyable read, detailing the return of the legendary Doctor Who series to the small screen after a 15 year absence. Filled with behind the scenes info, pictures and artwork drawings, this is a good read for any Who fan.

Doctor Who: The Art Of Destruction (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))

Average customer rating:

Another excellent Dr. Who novel.
Another trip in time and space
Good story, some flaws
Doctor Who does it again!

Doctor Who: The Art Of Destruction (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))
Stephen Cole
Manufacturer: Random House UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0563486511

Book Description

The TARDIS lands in 22nd century Africa in the shadow of a dormant volcano. Agri-teams are growing new foodstuffs in the baking soil to help feed the world's starving millions - but the Doctor and Rose have detected an alien signal somewhere close by. When a nightmare force starts surging along the dark volcanic tunnels, the Doctor realizes an ancient trap has been sprung. But who was it meant for? And what is the secret of the eerie statues that stand at the heart of the volcano? Dragged into a centuries-old conflict, Rose and the Doctor are soon elevating survival to an art form - as ancient, alien hands practice arts of destruction all around them...

Customer Reviews:

Another excellent Dr. Who novel........2007-09-25

I have already said, in past reviews, that the novels with Rose makes me miss her all the more. However, Martha on TV is growing on us. This is another good addition to any collection of the new Dr. Who books. The hard cover gives them the sophistication that they deserve. Great job by the author in keeping his characters true to the way thay are written and portrayed on television.

Another trip in time and space.......2007-09-11

The TARDIS materializes in 22nd-century Chad. An Agricultural Technology Unit growing an experimental fungus in a dormant volcano has encountered a strange substance that turns living creatures into a menacing golden army. Meanwhile, the Doctor and Rose discover a strange alien static...

If you are a fan of the new Doctor Who series, chances are you'll like this little hardcover tie-in novel. Author Stephen Cole does a good job capturing the spirit of the television show, creating a memorable alien enemy and throwing in some great one-liners and a few bad ones. It may not be great literature, but it sure is fun.

Good story, some flaws.......2007-09-09

This is overall a good book, with an excellent story, but some flaws in the writing.
The book follows Rose and the Doctor to 22nd century Earth, where Africa is still stricken with poverty and famine, and a small research farm is trying to grow new, hardier fruits and vegetables that survive in the desert. But they stumble across an ancient alien, which begins attacking things, turning them into living gold statues. It up to the Doctor and Rose, of course, to sort it out.
The story is excellent, with plenty of twists and turns that aren't easy to predict. Rose, contrary to her character in the series, every once in a while does something useful instead of shouting at the Doctor; The Doctor is for the most part in character. The aliens introduced here, from giant worms to multi-armed, -eyed, and -tongued space centipedes, are interesting and different.

But there are a few annoying bits that stick out. While the Doctor is for the most part in character, he's more bipolar than ever before, going from hyperactive to full of rage to thoughtful within a sentence or two. Maybe he forgot to take his lithium? Second, the book is full of terrible puns at the worst moments. For example at one point, the Doctor, deadly serious, tells a character to be more alert- "Earth needs more lerts." It's not just that it's groan-worthy, it's that it's placed at the most inappropriate moment. This hasn't been a problem in the other Stephen Cole novel I've read; perhaps he just was feeling silly when he wrote this.

Overall, this is a fine book, and well worth a read, though I think before I re-read this one, I'll go through with a sharpie and mark out a few bad jokes; I don't want to strain my eyes from all the rolling.

Doctor Who does it again!.......2007-07-03

I have loved Doctor Who since I started watching it on SciFi two seasons ago. I found one of the books at a bookstore & couldn't put it down. "Art of Destruction" has not disappointed either. An excellent read!!! I recommend it to any Doctor Who fan or otherwise with complete confidence & satisfaction.

Regaining The Power Of Youth At Any Age Startling New Evidence From The Doctor Who Brought Us
<i>aerobics, Controlling Cholesterol And The Antioxidant Revolution</i>

Average customer rating:

Good suggestions on reducing the ravishes of advancing age
A few gems, but mostly a rehash in need of an editor
The best, well documented book on fitness and nutrution
Energizing and insightful...a great read for every age
Disappointing

Regaining The Power Of Youth At Any Age Startling New Evidence From The Doctor Who Brought Us aerobics, Controlling Cholesterol And The Antioxidant Revolution
Kenneth H. Cooper
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Regaining The Power Of Youth at Any Age: Startling New Evidence from the Doctor Who Brought Us Aerobics, Controlling Cholesterol and the Antioxidant Revolution
Aerobics Program For Total Well-Being: Exercise, Diet , And Emotional Balance

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RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0785271422

Book Description

Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, an inspiring example of "age reversal," now shares his own program for revitalizing the body, mind, and spirit with the more than 78 million baby boomers searching for the fountain of youth. "Age reversal" is defined as the ability to restore energy, vitality, and health while actually reversing some of the bothersome side effects of growing older.

Customer Reviews:

Good suggestions on reducing the ravishes of advancing age.......2001-04-21

This books presents basic information anyone can incorporate to try to evade the ravishes of advancing age. Cooper gives recommendations in regards to exercise, stress management, diet, supplements, and related matters that will help people to retain their youthful energy.

He also explains that most people have unrealistic expectations on how much their physical abilities will decline with advancing age. Most people tend to think the decline is much more rapid and pronounced than it really is. This is particularly encouraging to me since I just turned 40!

His recommendations in regards to exercise include doing aerobic, strength training, and flexibility exercises. It is important for one to do all three kinds of exercises. Doing so will reduce the loss that most people experience in each of these areas.

He correctly notes that emotional stress can be as much a drain on one's vitality as poor exercise and diet habits. And as a Christian, I appreciate that he emphasizes that spiritual activities like prayer, Bible study, and attending worship services are ideal ways to deal with stress.

In regards to diet, he presents "bedrock principles" like eating more fruits and vegetables and reducing one's intake of fat. And he correctly points out that trans fat, found in hydrogenated oils, are the worst kind of fat. He doesn't go into too much detail in regards to diet in this book. But what he does give I tend agree with as I present similar information in much greater detail in my book "Creationist Diet: Nutrition and God-given Foods According to the Bible."

But it is in regards to supplements that I disagree with Cooper. He wholeheartedly recommends high doses of the antioxidant vitamins beta-carotene (the precursor to vitamin A), vitamin C, and vitamin E, along with the mineral selenium. He claims taking amounts several times the RDA helps to prevent heart disease and cancer. However, the evidence is not as clear-cut as Cooper makes it sound. I include a chapter in my book citing scientific studies in this regard. Some have shown a reduced risk from taking antioxidants, but other studies have shown no effect.

But that disagreement aside, this book does present helpful information for those of us who are starting to worry about our health and vitality as we age.

A few gems, but mostly a rehash in need of an editor.......2000-05-13

This book basically covers ground other Cooper books have covered, but in a more confusing way. If you have read the other Cooper books, there is little need to pick up this one other than a few pages on retaining bone density. If you have not read the other books, this one is an o.k. introduction if you are willing to wade through a lot of crapola to get to the good stuff.

This is mainly aimed at the generation above 40. Cooper reaffirms his belief in aerobics, but doesn't mention the new research in interval training that seems to displace his old steady pace concept. He also covers stretching, strength training, diet and supplementation. Cooper is not really very strong on strength and his advice is probably better avoided in that area.

On supplementation, Cooper's prescriptions seem to be safe if one is to overlook that a previous recommedation, taking extra beta carotene, has proven to be a problem for many people.

The book mostly comes off as a bunch of notes that were gathered together in a hurry. The case stories are pretty uninspiring. His introductory story about falling off a mountain bike seems to have no relevance to anything. And references to himself as "Super Doc" are, to say the least, irritating.

By inventing the concept of aerobics, Cooper has done the world a service. Yes, the promise of aerobics has not been fulfilled in practice, but Cooper's recommendations are better than nothing, which is pretty much what they replaced. However, the Doc needs to move along and keep up with the exercise research coming out of other countries, as The United States is behind the learning curve in this area. His intentions are good, but he either has to teach this dog to hunt or turn the quest over to a hungrier author.

The best, well documented book on fitness and nutrution.......1999-08-28

This book has helped me to understand the importance of good nutrition and fitness as no other book or speaker ever has. It was well researched, and many different aspects of fitness and nutrition are covered to provide excellent health for different age groups.

Energizing and insightful...a great read for every age.......1999-06-29

I thought this book was fantastic. I couldn't put it down. The research was well documented. There are side bar research highlights that relate to everyone and it really hit home. If you truly believe that you can solve 90% of your medical and social issues without medicine, this book will give you great insight into how. As a kickboxing instructor, I have recommended this to all my classes. Good for all ages, even me at 29!

Disappointing.......1999-02-08

Well researched but poorly presented. Disjointed. Awful flow. No new insights. The takeaways or "aha's" were hard to find. Living in Dallas, Dr. Coopers reputation is unsurpassed. His research center is deserving of this reputation. However, his most recent books and health club facility fall far short of his medical expertise.

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