cover image American Medical Association Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness

American Medical Association Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness

, . . Wiley, $35 (544pp) ISBN 978-0-470-25130-0

Nutrition, exercise, health issues, reproductive health and aging are all covered in this informative, no-nonsense guide. Whether anything sets this book apart from many others like it (i.e., the Mayo Clinic guides) is debatable. The information is decidedly up-to-date and well organized. As the title says, the goal of the book is disease prevention and overall wellness rather than a discourse on methods for treating problems once they've occurred. Anyone new to the idea of “wellness” will find this guide a wonderful first course on the subject. Specifically, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and pulmonary issues are covered, as is bone health, digestive health and diabetes. The mind-body connection is fully acknowledged, as is the link between spirituality and well-being. Helpful graphs, charts and illustrations throughout further complement the book's comprehensiveness. (Nov.)