Drawing from Scientific American's "Fact or Fiction" and "Strange But True" columns, we've selected fifty-eight of the most surprising, fascinating, useful, and just plain wacky topics confronted by our writers over the years.

    Medical care is in crisis, we are repeatedly told, and so it is. Barely one in five Americans thinks the medical system works well. Enter David M. Cutler, a Harvard economist who served on President Clinton's health care task force and later advised presidential candidate Bill Bradley. One of the nation's leading experts on the subject, Cutler argues in Your Money or Your Life that health care has in fact improvedexponentially over the last fifty years, and that the successes of our system suggest ways in which we might improve care, make the system easier to deal with, and extend coverage to all Americans. Cutler applies an economic analysis to show that our spending on medicine is well worth it--and thatwe could do even better by spending more. Further, millions of people with easily manageable diseases, from hypertension to depression to diabetes, receive either too much or too little care because of inefficiencies in the way we reimburse care, resulting in poor health and in some cases prematuredeath. The key to improving the system, Cutler argues, is to change the way we organize health care. Everyone must be insured for the medical system to perform well, and payments should be based on the quality of services provided not just on the amount of cutting and poking performed. Lively and compelling, Your Money or Your Life offers a realistic yet rigorous economic approach to reforming health care--one that promises to break through the stalemate of failed reform.

     Florence Nightingale is usually thought of for her work in the Crimean War, where, as the “Lady with the Lamp,” she tirelessly nursed wounded soldiers at all hours of the night and day. But while these two years were a significant part of her life, she was also much more. She was a daughter and sister who consternated her family by refusing to accept the role Victorian society assigned her. Later, she completed groundbreaking work in the fields of public health and statistics and wielded her vast influence to affect important reforms. Inside you will read about... ✓ Nursing Dolls and Dogs ✓ Leading a Double Life ✓ Travel and Depression ✓ Heading to the Crimean War ✓ More than the Lady with the Lamp ✓ Final Years and Death And much more! Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing, and her ideas continue to resound in the field of healthcare even today. Though she certainly had faults, her life is a fascinating story of courage and determination.

    Baby shower gifts don't get more perfect than this. · Word finds: Sorry, Nope (all the stuff you’re not allowed to have anymore); Bad Baby Names (Murl, anyone?)· Mazes: Make it from Your Desk to the Bathroom Without Throwing Up· Lists: How to Register Without Crying; Things Every OB on the Planet Has Been Asked by Newly Pregnant Women· Journaling: Yoga Teachers (Also Your Mom Friends, Your Parents, People on Facebook, All Articles, and Everyone You Meet) Want to Tell You How to Give Birth, But You Don’t Have to Listen· Quizzes: Which $1500 Stroller is Different?"Comfort, solidarity, entertainment, and maybe even total life enlightenment.”—Lauren Smith Brody, founder of The Fifth Trimester

    The most up-to-date and beautifully illustrated text on the market, it has a strong molecular and cellular approach, firmly relating the molecular and cellular biological underpinnings of physiology to the study of human physiology and disease. Contributions from leading physiologists ensure authoritative, cutting-edge information, and thorough and consistent editing have produced a readable and student-friendly text.The smart way to study!Elsevier titles with STUDENT CONSULT will help you master difficult concepts and study more efficiently in print and online! Perform rapid searches. Integrate bonus content from other disciplines. Download text to your handheld device. And a lot more. Each STUDENT CONSULT title comes with full text online, a unique image library, case studies, USMLE style questions, and online note-taking to enhance your learning experience.

    Readers will learn essential skills like how to haggle, exchange currencies, cross the street, decipher menus, say useful phrases in Chinese, and more. The guide comes complete with survival tips on etiquette, a map, and resource lists. Don’t leave home for China without it!Veteran travelers Qin and Larry Herzberg are Chinese language and culture professors at Calvin College in Michigan.

    Too often, overwhelmed by anatomical detail, students miss out on the functional beauty of the nervous system and its relevance to clinical practice.

    Edited by Drs. Karen Marcdante, Robert M. Kliegman, Hal B. Jenson, and Richard E. Behrman, this edition's content was specifically developed in accordance with the 2009 curriculum guidelines of the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics. It also includes many new and improved clinical photographs and images for enhanced visual reference. A user-friendly full-color format and online access via Student Consult facilitate study and expedite reference.

     Three leading names in the natural health world have joined forces to bring you Essential Oils: Ancient Medicine for the Modern World, your guide to a powerful form of plant-based medicine that can help take the health of your family to new heights. With this user-friendly handbook, you will learn everything you need to know about essential oils and receive practical instruction on how to use them effectively so you can start enjoying their benefits now. This book will help accomplish three key objectives You will: • Be educated on what essentials oil are and why they are so powerful. • Feel empowered to use essential oils safely and effectively to enrich your health and your family’s health. • Get equipped to start enjoying the multiple benefits of essential oils in your everyday life: from treating cuts, scratches and stuffy noses to providing chemical-free personal care, household cleaning and natural pet care. If you are ready to experience more energy, better health, enhanced brain function, balanced hormones, improved digestion, a boosted immune system, reduced emotional stress, and an overall higher quality of life, get ready to start using these ancient medicines in your modern life!

    In this 148-page hardback they reveal the places that they have got to know and love and show you why Tokyo is the friendliest big city in the world. It’s a guide book that will lead you to the best in culture and new architecture – and a few fun nights out too.The Monocle Travel Guide series reveals our favourite places in each city we cover, from the ideal route for an early-morning run to the best spots for independent retail. Full of surprises and quirks, they also feature detailed design and architecture pages, neighbourhood walks to get you away from the crowds and our favourite places to eat everything be it tasty fast food or something truly celebratory.

    Self muscle testing is a technique similar to that of applied kinesiology, a technique that people use to gain insight into their own body and mind's healing process. The aim of this book is to empower the reader so that they can begin conducting accurate and reliable self muscle testing as soon as possible.Not all humans have the capacity to accurately self muscle test and this book goes into how to set up the ideal conditions so that this valuable tool can be accessed on a regular and consistent basis. The more people that can successfully self muscle test, the better it is for all beings because muscle testing has the potential to rapidly enhance ones ability to “know thy self.”In this book you will learn about:- The pre-requisites for self muscle testing- How to "Switch on" for accurate testing- How to test without bias- How to test health products, supplements and foods- Some more advanced techniques- and more...

    And while the evidence in the medical literature may be solidly, often unequivocably, against whatever the doctor said, without access to that evidence, the pregnant woman is quite reasonably going to follow her doctor. This book is an attempt to make the medical literature on a variety of key obstetric issues accessible to people who lack the time, expertise, access, or proximity to a medical library to research concerns on their own. This compact, accurate, yet understandable reference is designed for people without medical training and organized for easy access.After an introductory chapter giving basic information about the different types of medical studies, how to evaluate them, and some basic statistical concepts, Goer provides chapters on cesarean issues, pregnancy and labor management, and a review of alternative approaches. Each chapter begins with a stated myth, followed by an examination of the reality. Goer then analyzes the mainstream belief, pointing out its fallacies. Then comes a list of significant points gleaned from the studies and keyed to her abstracts. Next is the outline by which the abstracts are grouped. Finally come the numbered abstracts of relevant articles published, in most cases, after 1980. The book concludes with a glossary of medical terms and an index. This compact, accurate, and understandable reference tool is designed for people without medical training as well as care givers.

    Now DK brings this ancient practice into the 21st century, explaining how to grow and care for bonsai trees with a clear step-by-step approach.Offering easy-to-follow advice and simple photography, Bonsai demystifies the art of bonsai with sequences covering the traditional styles of Chokkan, Moyogi, Shakan, and Kengai, as well as deadwood bonsai styles such as Ishizuki, Yose Uye, and Sharimiki.For bonsai enthusiasts in search of fresh ideas, innovative techniques, and new ways to display their living art, Bonsai is the must-have book of the season.

    Symptoms run from mild lethargy to severe arthritis to incapacitating mental dysfunction. And despite medical pronouncements to the contrary, extensive research has found that tests for the disease are not very reliable and antibiotics are only partially effective; up to 35 percent of those infected will not respond to treatment or will relapse. The spirochetes that cause Lyme are stealth pathogens--they can hide within cells or alter their form so that antibiotics cannot affect them. Lyme disease is, in fact, a potent, emerging epidemic disease for which technological medicine is only partially effective.Healing Lyme examines the leading, scientific research on Lyme infection, its tests and treatments, and outlines the most potent herbal medicines and supplements that offer help--either alone or in combination with antibiotics--for preventing and healing the disease. It is the essential guide to Lyme infection and its treatment.

    Your colleagues, family, and friends may be tired of your moods, your chronic fatigue, and your various aches and illnesses--none of which seem to have a clear cause. You get the jitters, you're nervous, and you can get edgy and irritable at the drop of a hat, especially if you haven't eaten in a while. Now there's a book to give you a better understanding of hypoglycemia and an easy-to-follow program for recovery. Hypoglycemia For Dummies sorts through the confusion surrounding this condition, presenting expert information on diagnosis, risk factors, and treatment options for anyone who suffers from this disease--or knows someone who does. You'll discover the different types of hypoglycemia, the most common symptoms, and the link between hypoglycemia and diabetes. This p lain-English guide shows you how to:Diagnose low blood sugar Choose the best form of treatment for your condition Create a practical, healthy, doable diet Develop a enjoyable exercise regimen Deal with depression and anxiety Achieve and maintain your ideal weight You'll find step-by-step guidelines to help you get your blood sugar under control, as well as advice on finding the right doctor and setting up a support network.Hypoglycemia For Dummies also covers:Overlapping syndromes, such as fibromyalgia and candidasis Glucose tolerance tests Easy ways to keep your diet in balance Easing symptoms and energizing with aerobics, yoga, and weights Vitamins and supplements Dealing with hypoglycemia in the workplace and in relationships Stress-reduction through breathing exercises, meditating, and self-hypnosis Featuring delicious, healthy recipes that will ease your symptoms, tips for tackling temptation, and a list of helpful resources, Hypoglycemia For Dummies provides the information you need to get a handle on the disease, make changes in your lifestyle, and improve your well-being.