Editor's Note
So, what do all of these books have in common? For the most part, absolutely
nothing! They certainly are not telecom oriented. However, they do happen
to be books that I personally own and have enjoyed reading.
These books follow my own personal intrests and tastes, which may not
be yours. However, you may just find a book here that you will absolutely
fall in love with. I have been an avid reader for most of my life, and
the below books are ones that I have personally enjoyed. I hope that you
find them enjoyable as well.
William Van Hefner
Editor
The Digest
Booksellers
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Health
& Fitness
Paperback:
423 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.15 x 8.28 x 5.62 Publisher:
H J Kramer; ISBN: 0915811812; Reprint edition
|
Diet for a New America :
How Your Food Choices Affect Your Health, Happiness and the Future
of Life on Earth by
John Robbins
Next to The
Bible, this book has probably affected my life more than anything
else I have read.
This has to
be one of the best, most well-researched, yet practical books on
health and nutrition ever written. I'll warn you though: it's not
for the squeamish.
Diet For a
New America takes a hard look at how food is produced in this country.
It mainly focuses on how meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products
are made. The awful truth about what is REALLY in your food is shocking,
saddening and downright gross! Literally every single person I know
that has read this book has either become a vegetarian, or has drastically
reduced their intake of meat, as a direct result of reading it.
I have cut
down on my own consumption of certain foods by about 99% as a result
of what I have read in Diet For A New America. It has greatly improved
my health and overall outlook on life. If this book doesn't scare
you straight concerning your eating habits, nothing will.
Read this book and you'll literally never be the same. I guarantee
it. How many books can you say THAT about? - William Van Hefner
Amazon:
$10.47
|
Hardcover - 203 pages (June 10, 1999) Harpercollins; ISBN: 0060193395
; Dimensions (in inches): 0.86 x 9.58 x 7.64 |
Body
for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength by Bill
Phillips and Michael D'Orso (Contributor)
One of my all-time favorites. Bill Phillips lays
out a no-nonsense guide to help anyone improve their life and health.
A good mix of science and motivation. Plenty of information to help
you understand why diets don't work, and why you must combine sensible
eating with exercise in order to achieve optimum health.
If this book doesn't make you want to change your lifestyle
for the better, nothing will, short of a heart attack. You really
can achieve lasting results in as little as six weeks by sticking
to this plan, and it really isn't that difficult.
Also
included are a number of case studies and examples of ordinary
people who dramatically improved their health in only a few short
weeks. Unlike many "new age" diet books and high-protein diet
gurus, Phillips stresses that you must exercise regularly. Bodybuilding
and strength training are favored, and this best-selling book
has finally helped to bring those fitness concepts into the mainstream.
If you want to change your life for the better, this is a good
book to start with. - William Van Hefner
Amazon: $15.60
Barnes & Noble:  $15.60
Powell's:
$26.00
|
Paperback
(January 1997) Ronore Enterprises, Inc.; ISBN: 0962311103 |
Earth Food Spirulina
: How This Remarkable Blue-Green Algae Can Transform Your Health
and Our Planet by
Robert Henrikson
Robert Henrickson is the founder and President of
Earthrise Farms, one of the world's largest growers of spirulina.
So, what is spirulina, and why is it important? Sprirulina is
really an amazing whole food that can be grown in almost any climate.
People can survive on little more than spirulina alone, due to
its high concentration of vitamins, minerals and protein. It has
gained popularity in recent years, and has been touted as one
of nature's most perfect "whole foods".
That alone would probably not be enough to pique my interest
though. The most exciting part about this food is that its recent
"discovery" by modern man could help to ease or eliminate food
shortages around the world. It is an extremely nutritious whole
food that takes up minimal space to grow and store, and results
in absolutely no soil erosion or damage to the environment. No
pesticides or chemicals are necessary to grow it, and cultivation
has been successful in a variety of third-world countries.
In this book, Henrickson not only gives the reader a mountain
of information on the food itself, but outlines his vision on
how this whole food could someday help to feed millions of hungry
people across our planet, as well as save our environment in the
process. It's nice to know that someone is trying to use science
to change our planet for the better. - William Van Hefner
Amazon:
$13.95
|
Paperback
- 292 pages (January 1996) Houghton Mifflin Co (Pap); ISBN: 0395661145
; Dimensions (in inches): 0.93 x 8.64 x 5.62 |
Smart
Exercise : Burning Fat, Getting Fit
by Covert Bailey
Covert Bailey is a master at making physiology easy
to understand for the average person. If you are looking to improve
your health and get into better shape, then you should have this
title on your bookshelf. It does a great job of helping you to understand
what works and what doesn't.
Much like Bill Phillip's book Body For Life (above),
this book stresses that exercise is the key to reducing fat and
improving overall health. It explains why diet alone won't help
you to lose weight permanently, and what the benefits of cardiovascular
exercise are.
When you finish reading this book, you will have a basic understanding
of how the human body works, what makes people gain weight, how
muscle is formed, how fat is formed and how to take it off permanently.
Medical techno-babble is translated into terms that absolutely
anyone can understand. His humor and amusing metaphors make for
an enjoyable reading experience as well.
By the way, don't let the discounted price fool you. This book
is worth way more than the discounters are selling it for. It
is packed with useful information, good science and great advice.
- William Van Hefner
Amazon:
$9.60
Barnes & Noble:  $10.80
Powell's:
$12.00
|
Paperback - 562 pages (July 1993) Advanced Research Press, Inc.;
ISBN: 0962484059 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.37 x 9.51 x 6.37 |
Optimum
Sports Nutrition : Your Competitive Edge
by Dr. Michael Colgan
For those of you who are looking to push your health
and sports performance to the extreme, this book stands alone as
the best in its field.
Dr. Michael Colgan is probably the most well-respected writer
and researcher in sports nutrition today, and this book has become
the "bible" of the sports nutrition industry. Some of today's
most elite athletes, bodybuilders and celebrities have used this
book's advice to help them achieve incredible gains in performance
and physical appearance.
You don't have to be an elite athlete or celebrity to benefit
from this book though. It contains a wealth of information on
nutrition, diet and how they affect your health. It covers practically
every vitamin, mineral, amino acid, fad health food and sports
supplement you can think of, and explains the benefit (or lack
thereof) of each.
While many clinical terms are used in the book, his advice is
still understandable for the average person. A true classic of
its time. - William Van Hefner
Powell's: $15.95
(used)
|
Paperback - 126 pages (July 1986) Avery Pub Group; ISBN: 0895292343
; Dimensions (in inches): 0.37 x 8.93 x 6.03 |
The
Wheatgrass Book by
Ann Wigmore
Wheatgrass, and wheatgrass juice, are one of the most healthy
and inexpensive foods known to man. This book not only informs
you of the many health benefits wheatgrass offers, but shows you
how to easily and inexpensively cultivate it at home.
Wheatgrass is becoming increasingly popular in today's health-conscious
culture. It has even made its way on to the shelves of many local
supermarkets nationwide. However, it is much cheaper and healthier
to grow it at home. Wigmore shows how even those confined to small
apartment buildings can produce enough wheatgrass for their own
personal needs.
The book is simple, straightforward and full of good information.
Highly recommended. - William Van Hefner
Amazon:
$9.95
Barnes & Noble:  $9.95
Powell's:
$8.95
|
Science
Paperback
- 600 pages Reprint edition (July 1993) Touchstone Books; ISBN:
0671865412 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.70 x 8.61 x 5.72 |
The
Sign and the Seal : The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant
by Graham
Hancock
My favorite book, from one of my favorite authors.
In this true-life Indiana Jones adventure, Graham Hancock travels
the world in search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant. Years of research
went into this book, and it shows.
Hancock combines the results of his fascinating research with
tales of his travels to uncover the mystery of the Ark's final
resting place. Also included are numerous photographs and sketches
discovered during his research and travels. It really is an exciting,
sometimes nail-biting, true-life adventure.
Even
if you have no interest in religion or archaeology, Hancock's
writing will entertain and intrigue you. A tough book to put down.
- William Van Hefner
Amazon: $12.80
Barnes & Noble:  $14.40
Powell's: $16.00
|
ASIN: 038078128X |
The
Field Guide to Extraterrestrials by
Patrick Huyghe, Harry Trumbore (Illustrator)
Research into unexplained phenomenon and UFO's has always
been one of my favorite distractions. This book puts a lot of
that research into perspective, in a fun and whimsical way.
I have no idea if the authors of this book intended it to
be a serious encyclopedia of all-known extraterrestrial races
or not. I do know that the results are rather humorous, and
that it makes for fun reading.
Just like a "real" field guide to various species, this book
purports to document the characteristics of dozens of known
space creatures. A sketch is shown of each creature (no photos,
unfortunately!), as well as some loosely collected information
about where the creature has been seen.
You can call it science, you can call it humor. Either way,
it's still a fun book to read. - William Van Hefner
Powell's:
$7.50
(used)
|
Biography
Paperback - 336 pages (October 2001) Touchstone Books; ISBN: 0743215362
; Dimensions (in inches): 0.98 x 8.47 x 5.50 |
Tesla,
Man Out of Time by
Margaret Cheney
The best biography ever written on one of the most amazing
men of the 20th century.
Nikola Tesla was one of the world's greatest inventors, and
one of its most mysterious. To say that Telsa was ahead of his
time is putting it rather mildly. Most of his inventions were
so advanced that the public had a difficult time grasping just
how important they really were.
Although Marconi is often credited with the invention of radio,
the real credit goes entirely to Tesla. A long-running battle
between the two ended when American courts essentially invalidated
Marconi's radio patent, and awarded credit for the invention
to Nikola Telsla.
In addition to radio, Tesla also invented Alternating Current
(AC), which is the form of electricity used to deliver power
to most homes and businesses on earth. He also patented hundreds
of other inventions, many of which are in use today. Others
are yet to be understood by modern scientists.
Probably just as fascinating as Tesla's inventions was Telsa
himself though. He was the original real-life "mad scientist",
and often discussed his invention of the "death ray" with the
popular press. The world has never seen an inventor the likes
of Nikola Tesla, and may never see one again. This book is a
fascinating look at an amazing individual. - William Van
Hefner
Amazon:
$12.00
Barnes & Noble:  $13.50
Powell's:
$15.00
|
Hardcover -
256 pages 1 Ed edition (April 2000) Harper San Francisco; ISBN:
0062516582 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.10 x 9.57 x 6.44
|
The
Legacy of Luna : The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle
to Save the Redwoods by
Julia Butterfly Hill
The amazing story of a young woman who spent two years of
her life living in a tree, in order to help save the old growth
forests near my home town in Humboldt County, CA.
Before I read this book, I had thought of her ordeal as more
of a publicity stunt than anything else. After reading of the
hardships she endured, and the tone of her personal convictions
though, it became quite clear that this was no "stunt".
Whether you agree with her stance on the environment or not,
you have to respect her conviction for her personal beliefs.
This story sheds some light on how our youth are using passive
activism to help save our planet.
The book is remnicient of Thoreau's Walden in many ways. While
this book may not be on the literary level of Walden, it certainly
is a refreshing change from the many books of today's "me" generation.
- William Van Hefner
Amazon: $17.50
Barnes & Noble:  $20.00
Powell's: $12.50
(used)
Autographed Edition: $25.00
|
Hardcover - 320 pages (May 1999) Pocket Books; ISBN: 0671021311
; Dimensions (in inches): 1.35 x 9.58 x 6.46 |
Get
a Life! by
William Shatner, Chris Kreski (Contributor)
Even if you have no interest in Star Trek, you will
probably love this book.
Shatner relates numerous, hilarious accounts of "close encounters"
with Trek fans. He discusses his original loathing of Star Trek
conventions, and his eventual understanding of what makes the
Star Trek phenomenon the success it has become.
Most of all, this book is funny. Tons of humorous stories
and anecdotes, most of them at the expense of Shatner himself.
I don't see how anyone could fail to enjoy this book. - William
Van Hefner
Amazon:
$16.80
Barnes & Noble:  $24.00
Powell's: $24.00
|
Classics
Paperback
Reissue edition (October 1, 1983) Bantam Classics; ISBN: 055321246X
; Dimensions (in inches): 0.86 x 6.87 x 4.20 |
Walden
and Other Writings
by Henry
David Thoreau
Walden is one of the most classic examples of American literature.
In his book, Thoreau describes his break from 19th century "civilization",
and his experiment at surviving alone in the woods near Walden
Pond.
Thoreau survives on a bare minimum of money, food and "necessities".
Along the way, he discovers how fragile our environment really
is (even in the 19th century) and becomes one of the nation's
first environmentalists.
Walden is an absolute classic. It may have been written over
100 years ago, but its content seems more pertinent today than
ever before. It is perhaps even more pertinent today than at
the time it was originally written. If you are looking for a
book to help you understand the fragile balance of both nature
and humanity, this one is a must. It certainly puts one's life
into perspecive. - William Van Hefner
Amazon: $4.95
Barnes & Noble:  $4.95
Powell's: $4.95
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Paperback - 594 pages Reissue edition (March 1, 1981) Bantam Classics;
ISBN: 0553213113 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.04 x 6.85 x 4.17
|
Moby
Dick by
Hermann Melville
What more need be said about this classic of American literature?
Melville's classic tale of Moby Dick is so fantastic on so
many levels. His writing style is unique and fun to read. The
story itself is full of poignant metaphors and hidden meanings.
Even if you don't understand the philosophical undertones of
the book, you will love the classic story of Ahab and his search
for the great white whale.
Really, fiction doesn't get much better than this. If you
haven't read Moby Dick, you are really missing out. Fascinating,
exciting, entertaining and moving. This is a book that will
never go out of style. - William Van Hefner
Amazon:
$4.95
Barnes & Noble:  $4.95
Powell's: $4.95
|
Hardcover - 61 pages (September 1971) Random House (Merchandising);
ISBN: 0394823370 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.47 x 11.39 x 8.38
|
The
Lorax by
Dr. Seuss
My favorite childhood book. It actually helped to develop
many of my attitudes towards the environment and big business.
It can teach any child (or open-minded adult) a thing or two
about how we should not waste or over-exploit the earth's resources.
Dr. Seuss sets an excellent example for children in this book,
and it is full of important lessons. If only today's books for
children were written this well, or had as much common sense.
It belongs on the bookshelf of every child. - William Van
Hefner
Amazon:
$11.96
Barnes & Noble:  $11.96
Powell's: $14.95
|
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