The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu: Guerilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work and in the World
Freelance writer, editor and confessed "germ freak" Janse takes readers on a frequently funny tour through the germ-ridden underbellies of life—from health club showers to hotel suites—dishing the dirt, as it were, on what we're likely to "catch" where. Some of her advice seems panicky, like the suggestion to exit a public restroom stall immediately after flushing, since "fecal matter" can fly 20 feet into the air when flushed ("Better to Flush and Rush than Feel the Gush"). But Janse also imparts some everyday useful information, such as the fact that loofah sponges breed deadly bacteria (bleach them weekly) and that pricey vegetable washes aren't as good as hot water and a scrub brush for removing pesticides. Still, while Janse's handbook is thorough and witty, its audience may be limited. Much of the information will interest only the seriously germ-phobic; others probably don't care enough about the germs on their money to want to part with $12. Yet Janse is so amusing, one can't help cheering for her book, just so we can be assured of another, hopefully on a more universal topic. (Sept.)
