Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies?: The Surprising Science of Pregnancy

by Jena Pincott    (Find this book)

Brain Candy for expectant parents!

Pregnancy is an adventure.

Lots of books tell you the basics--"the baby is the size of [insert fruit here]." But pregnant science writer Jena Pincott began to wonder just how a baby might tinker with her body--and vice versa--and chased down answers to the questions she wouldn't ask her doctor, such as:

- Does stress sharpen your baby's mind--or dull it?

- Can you predict your baby's temperament?

- Why are babies born in the darker months of the year more likely to grow up to be novelty-loving risk takers?

- Are bossy, dominant women more likely to have boys?

- How can the cells left behind by your baby affect you years later?

This is a different kind of pregnancy book--thoughtful, fun, and filled with information you won't find anywhere else. -- Publisher Marketing

Trauma: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon

by James Cole    (Find this book)
"In this pulse-pounding medical memoir, trauma surgeon James Cole takes readers straight into the ER, where anything can and does happen.
"TRAUMA is Dr. Cole's harrowing account of his life spent in the ER and on the battlegrounds, fighting to save lives. In addition to his gripping stories of treating victims of gunshot wounds, stabbings, attempted suicides, flesh-eating bacteria, car crashes, industrial accidents, murder, and war, the book also covers the years during Cole's residency training when he was faced with 120-hour work weeks, excessive sleep deprivation, and the pressures of having to manage people dying of traumatic injury, often with little support. Unlike the authors of other medical memoirs, Cole trained to be a surgeon in the military and served as a physician member of a Marine Corps reconnaissance unit, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and on a Navy Reserve SEAL team. From treating war casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq to his experiences as a civilian trauma surgeon treating alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals, and the mentally deranged, TRAUMA is an intense look at one man's commitment to his country and to those most desperately in need of aid. -- Publisher Marketing

Why Millions Survive Cancer: The Successes of Science

by Lauren Pecorino    (Find this book)

Today, more than 12 million cancer survivors just in the United States alone are alive as a result of the extraordinary advances in science and medicine. In Why Millions Survive Cancer, Lauren Pecorino illuminates this enormous and recent progress in fighting cancer, painting an intriguing portrait of scientific breakthroughs, the leading scientists behind these key discoveries, and the steps that we can all take to reduce our exposure to cancer.
The struggle against cancer has been long and difficult, but as Pecorino shows, the tide is changing, and changing rapidly. Treatments are becoming gentler and more effective. Many newly developed drugs have fewer side effects and can be administered as a pill rather than intravenously, giving patients a better quality of life. Better response rates are occurring for treatments that are targeted against the genetic characteristics of a tumor. Advances in instrumentation, robotics and imaging have led to more precise and less invasive surgical procedures. And public awareness about carcinogens is spreading and, increasingly, people are avoiding cigarettes, alcohol, and excessive exposure to the sun. As Pecorino discusses these exciting new developments, she provides readers with fascinating accounts of medical research and the discoveries we have made about the nature of cancer and the ways we can defeat it. For instance, we learn the stories behind such important new drugs as Avastin, Gardasil (the world's first cervical cancer vaccine), Herceptin, and Gleevec, the development of which unfolded "like a fairy tale with a happy ending."
All this progress is fairly recent and it may well be the beginning of the end--for cancer. With one out of three people contracting cancer during their lifetimes, this book offers a wealth of "good news" that we all will want to hear. -- Publisher Marketing

Your Medical Mind: How to Decide What Is Right for You

by Jerome Groopman MD    (Find this book)

"An entirely new way to make the best medical decisions."
Making the right medical decisions is harder than ever. We are overwhelmed by information from all sides--whether our doctors' recommendations, dissenting experts, confusing statistics, or testimonials on the Internet. Now Doctors Groopman and Hartzband reveal that each of us has a "medical mind," a highly individual approach to weighing the risks and benefits of treatments. Are you a minimalist or a maximalist, a believer or a doubter, do you look for natural healing or the latest technology? The authors weave vivid narratives of real patients with insights from recent research to demonstrate the power of the medical mind. After reading this groundbreaking book, you will know how to arrive at choices that serve you best. -- Publisher Marketing