In the Lap of the Buddha
Author: Gavin Harrison
In this book a teacher of insight meditation offers personal testament, healing words, and wise instruction to help meet the suffering that comes with catastrophic life events. Speaking openly about his own struggles with memories of childhood sexual abuse and with the HIV diagnosis he received in 1989, Gavin Harrison reveals how compassion offers refuge and help for all who suffer from similar crises of body, heart, and spirit. Among the topics covered are: Dealing with fear, anger, and self-hatred Working with difficult relationships Confronting physical pain and the fear of death Transforming the legacy of sexual abuse The question of karma and "Why me?" Grappling with issues of faith, freedom, hope, and miracles Basic insight meditation instructions, plus guided meditations for forgiveness, compassion, and equanimity
Publishers Weekly
With its emphasis on emptiness and detachment, Buddhism's path sometimes seems an esoteric, disengaged, distant trek removed from the realities of life in the emotionally, physically, culturally crowded world. White South African Gavin Harrison's loving manual, however, casts light on the application of meditation to real-life conditions like HIV and AIDS, memories of childhood sexual abuse and the less dire fear and pain of daily life. The heartfelt prose rings true, as do the parallels between the lives of contemporary Americans and the life of Siddartha Gautauma; and Harrision's life itself, here documented, convincingly makes the case that Buddhist meditation practices are not a path away from life but rather a road into and through it. (Aug.)
Library Journal
In this courageous and articulate personal testimony, a gay man uses Buddhist insight meditation to deal with the suffering he has experienced from child abuse and from being HIV positive. He describes how he has been able to open himself to the suffering as he follows the five Buddhist precepts of refraining from harming, stealing, using false speech, engaging in sexual misconduct, and using intoxicants. Many subsections within the six chapters begin with accounts of the Buddha's life and teachings taken from Buddhist scriptures. These are followed by Harrison's reflections on how we deal-usually ineffectively-with suffering. Instructions are also given on the way Buddhist meditation practice is done. This is a powerful presentation by an effective writer who uses Buddhist teaching and meditative practice to effect a triumph of the human spirit. Highly recommended for libraries whose patrons need books to help them cope with the universal experience of human suffering.-David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernardino
Interesting textbook: HTML 4 For Dummies or A Gift of Fire
Sports and Exercise Nutrition
Author: William D McArdl
This highly researched text teaches interactions between nutrition and exercise concepts and practical applications. Readers receive a strong foundation in the science of exercise nutrition and bioenergetics, plus insight about how the principles work in the real world of human physical activity and sports medicine. The text is logically organized with fundamental information about nutrient digestion, absorption and assimilation presented first, followed by how nutrients provide energy to the body.
Julie A. Patten
This book is an historical perspective and a six-component model for a cross-disciplinary field of exercise nutrition. The model is focused on the areas of nutritional enhancement, peak physiologic function, health and longevity, safety, energy balance and body composition, and optimal growth. The authors skillfully present an historical perspective and their ideas for the creation of the field they call exercise nutrition. The book is designed for a one-semester course that logically sequences concepts of exercise physiology, energy metabolism, and nutrition. It is written primarily as an upper division college course text for students who need nutrition content integrated with concepts of exercise physiology and energy metabolism. The authors provide an excellent historical overview linking the fields of nutrition and exercise to bolster their proposed model of a discipline of ""Exercise Nutrition"" that integrates data from chemistry, exercise physiology, nutrition, biochemistry, medicine, and physiology. They adeptly integrate current, research-based exercise and nutrition-related information relevant to physically active individuals. Numerous color figures, tables, and equations are expertly used to illustrate and elucidate text content. The extensive appendix provides current, reliable information and sources to support the content of the text. The authors have a web site to support the text. The authors' effort to integrate exercise and nutrition-related information along with an historical overview of the two disciplines is unique and commendable. There is in-depth, valid information for those desiring an integrated approach to the study of human nutrition and physicalactivity. Regardless of whether a discipline of ""Exercise Nutrition"" is established or not as proposed by the authors, this book demonstrates the successful integration of valid nutrition-related topics and exercise information.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer: Jude Christopher Sullivan, MS (University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics)
Description: This book is a condensed compilation of centuries of our cumulative understanding of human function in health and disease and the role nutrition assumes in this process. In addition, it strives to endorse an integrated understanding of this body of science and, in turn, promote a positive impact on how one can use this information where it is necessary:ultimately in the care of a practitioner's clients and/or patients. This book is the second edition of a book originally published in 1999.
Purpose: The implied and discussed intent of this book is to skillfully blend many different contributing existing scientific disciplines (e.g. biochemistry, exercise physiology, medicine, etc.). The authors promote their agenda to recognize a new field referred to as "exercise nutrition." It is meticulously prepared in order to describe our basic understanding of the role nutrition has on normal human biology and function, but also strives to describe the many different paths that result in the course of our lives (e.g., aging and resulting osteoporosis) and the decisions we might make to eat and live a certain way (e.g., a healthy athlete vs. one with a disordered eating profile). The authors' efforts are worthwhile and they meet their stated objectives in that they provide the necessary scientific background to augment one's fundamental understanding and then take it one step further by providing very real and necessary practical application points.
Audience: The book is written by pre-eminent experts in the field of nutrition and exercise physiology and it would serve as a useful resource for a diverse group. It provides excellent fundamental information for nutrition, exercise physiology, and normal health required by an undergraduate in virtually any health-related course. Its comprehensive literature review at the end of each chapter serves as an excellent resource to any research scientist. And, there are basic concepts of identification and guidelines that would be useful to a clinical healthcare practitioner.
Features: This is designed to be a "cutting edge" teaching tool, learning tool, and reference resource. It provides such information as the latest Dietary Reference Intakes, normative tables (e.g., standards for overweight and obesity), up-to-date indices for monitoring change in health status (e.g. regional body fat distribution and health risks), as well as expanded chapters addressing the nutritional needs of physically active people and those in sports competition. The authors take steps to build on each previous section in order to develop a logical line of thought that ultimately evolves into practice. Although it is impossible for one to become an expert in a single semester (which is the length of time recommended for completion of this text), it provides a sound template from which a practitioner could work. The additions and modifications to the original publication serve to provide an updated list of resources for reference as well as hands-on ideas and methods to be used for immediate practical application situations. In particular, two companion interactive CD-ROM discs are provided along with technical support. The first disc is a nutritional analysis program which can also be used as a reference of nutrition data as well as a report generator which can be used to assist with client counseling. The second disc is a study guide providing 300 multiple choice and true/false questions along with an annotated answer key. It would be advantageous for the authors to expound on the notion of body composition as a "relatively exact" science. They correctly point out that error does exist with in vivo measurement, but this point is all too frequently glossed over in practice. I would recommend addressing the need for continued validation of currently accepted field modalities (e.g. skinfolds, BIA and Bod Pod) against a multicomponent criterion. The authors make an important point regarding the need for extensive practice in administering such technology. It would also be helpful to emphasize the need to expertly, delicately, and honestly interpret results for an individual such as an obese client on a weight reduction program, or an excessively lean athlete striving to lose additional weight/fat in order to enhance performance. Their use of case studies might be valuable here to provide a basic framework of useful dialogue that could be engaged in by the practitioner.
Assessment: This second edition publication is an improvement over its predecessor. It is a valuable teaching tool for the instructor, learning tool for the student, and information resource for the healthcare provider.
Booknews
A textbook for a one-semester course, arranged so as to build each discussion on previous ones. Covers the digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food nutrients; nutrient bioenergetics in exercise and training; making informed and healthful choices about optimal nutrition; thermoregulation and fluid balance during heat stress; purported ergogenic aids; and body composition, weight control, and disordered eating. Colorfully illustrated throughout. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Rating
4 Stars! from Doody
Table of Contents:
Pt. I Food Nutrients: Structure, Function and Digestion, Absorption, and Assimilation
1 The Macronutrients
2 The Micronutrients and Water
3 Digestion and Absorption of the Food Nutrients
Pt. II Nutrient Bioenergetics in Exercise and Training
4 Nutrient Role in Bioenergetics
5 Macronutrient Metabolism in Exercise and Training
6 Measurement of Energy in Food and During Physical Activity
Pt. III Optimal Nutrition for the Physically Active Person: Making Informed and Healthful Choice
7 Nutritional Recommendations for the Physically Active Person
8 Nutritional Considerations for Intense Training and Sports Competition
9 Making Wise Choices in the Nutrition Marketplace
Pt. IV Thermoregulation and Fluid Balance During Heat Stress
10 Exercise Thermoregulation, Fluid Balance, and Rehydration
Pt. V Purported Ergogenic Aids
11 Pharmacologic and Chemical Ergogenic Aids Evaluated
12 Nutritional Ergogenic Aids Evaluated
Pt. VI Body Composition, Weight Control, and Disordered Eating Behaviors
13 Body Composition Assessment and Sport-Specific Observations
14 Energy Balance, Exercise, and Weight Control
15 Disordered Eating
Appendix A Nurtritive Values for Common Foods, Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Beverages, and Specialty and Fast-Food Items
Appendix B Energy Expenditure in Household, Occupational, Recreational, and Sports Activities
Appendix C Assessment of Energy and Nutrient Intakes: Three-Day Dietary Survey
Appendix D Body Composition Assessment
Appendix E Body Composition Characteristics of Athletes in Different Sports
Appendix F Three-Day Physical Activity Log
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