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I sing the body athletic You’ve finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what’s next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today’s fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your body. Remember your New Year’s resolution? Continue what you started in January and make yourself a new body. Along the way, you’ll also get fit. Research now shows that you can change your body’s musculature and aerobic capacity at any age. When it comes to improving your body, it’s never too late.

To get you started, the following list of affordable books includes something for every age group, and some are even small enough to take on end-of-the-summer trips. Whether you’ve been working hard at your health and fitness routine since New Year’s or whether you’re a decades-old, seasoned fitness enthusiast, the information in these books will take you further along in your personal journey to fitness and better health. Power Up: 101 Ways to Boost Your Energy (Avon, $12, 0380797240). People at any level of fitness (and any age) will benefit by reading Daryn Eller’s book, because it’s about something we all want more of energy. Eller gives 101 tips on how to get it and how to keep it. How can you get the most out of your running or weight-lifting routine? What tips help you build cardio endurance during your jogging/running workouts or add muscle after your resistance training routine? If you’ve just started working out, which foods can help you fuel your body and maximize those workouts? If you’re a senior just beginning a fitness regimen, how can you keep your energy up? Eller talks high-octane nutrition, energizing workouts, and body-mind revitalizers for powering up the natural, safe way. This is good news for those who are presently on medication or under doctor’s observation. Each topic is relatively short, and the author gives a helpful resource section at the end, complete with e-mail addresses, online addresses, and phone numbers.

The Principles of Running: Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles (Rodale, $15.95, 1579540384) was written by a runner who knows what he’s talking about. I remember Amby Burfoot’s Boston Marathon win while in college in 1968 and was prompted to begin making my own tracks. In his new book, Burfoot offers clear, simple advice to runners who want to improve their marathon performance, reduce their injuries, and attain a better running body. This book is particularly useful for those who are just beginning this sport it’s chock-full of tips and tried-and-true advice acquired over 35 years. You’ll cut a lot of painful corners if you take your advice from someone who’s been there. If you only have time for a short read, you don’t need to follow the chapters in any particular order; the numerous Principles sections cut straight to the most important stuff. Burfoot begins by talking to the new runner. His advice on aches and pains and handling blisters is something you’re going to need. He moves on to women runners and pregnancy, equipment, nutrition, training, weight loss, the weather factor, injury prevention, marathoning, and much more. Give this one to a running friend, new or experienced.

The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies for Seniors (Rodale, $27.95, 1579540112), by Doug Dollemore, is an A-Z guide for seniors and is offered here for those who like to stay physically active, mentally sharp, and disease-free. Through the years, Rodale Press has earned its kudos by delivering first-rate, usable information to consumers who want safe yet effective solutions to their problems, whether personal or environmental. This book is no exception. It’s a large volume and meant to be used. More than 350 doctors and other health care practitioners who specialize in the treatment of seniors share numerous tips and techniques. You will find 1,500 doctor-recommended remedies that can help prevent, relieve, or cure 120 ailments commonly affecting older citizens. Each section of the book discusses the problem; tells you When to See a Doctor ; enables you to try simple, cost effective remedies under Try This First ; offers Other Wise Ways to attack the problem, and then advises you about Managing Your Meds. This large reference provides helpful answers to the questions seniors are likely to ask. Any senior, active or not, will value this book and consult it often.

Massage for Busy People (New World Library, $10.95, 1577310829), by Dawn Groves, is perfect for the sports-minded who are constantly on the go. This little book is small enough to slip into your suitcase next to your workout clothes. Whether using the hotel fitness center equipment or your handy fitness band, you may need something for on-the-road aches and pains that sometimes accompany a more intense workout. Groves demonstrates self-massage techniques that deliver relief in minutes and includes instructions for quick massage when sitting at a desk, in a vehicle, or an airplane. There’s something to ease the body during prolonged walking or standing and a sure-fire cure for lethargy and backache. She also throws in techniques for replenishing your energy as well as easing a stiff neck or a headache so common to travelers (this is great for long summer trips business or pleasure). Clear instructions, varied topics, and 30 photos make this little book the perfect post-workout cool-down and the perfect gift for any health-conscious traveler of any age.

Healing Mantras, by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, will prove to be a trip down memory lane for those of us who listened to Ravi Shankar in the ’60s. These . . . chanting of songs, verses, and mystic formulas existed long before the development of even the most primitive instruments. In modern times, the healing benefits of liturgical chanting have only recently been rediscovered . . . Ashley-Farrand’s book is the first practical how-to guide in which ancient Sanskrit mantras have been explained and adapted to Western needs.

However, the book is not only for beginners who wish to study the energy-based techniques of sound meditation. It’s for the practiced as well. The author explains how mantras work, how to use your own mantra, and how these rhythms of healing sounds can help solve health problems, allow you to find inner peace, gain mental clarity, and overcome fear. If you’ve always steeped yourself in the Western Tradition, after reading this book you may consider that there are other effective ways to reach a state of wellness and peace in body and mind.

Pat Regel gardens and pumps iron.

I sing the body athletic You've finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what's next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today's fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your…
Review by

I sing the body athletic You’ve finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what’s next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today’s fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your body. Remember your New Year’s resolution? Continue what you started in January and make yourself a new body. Along the way, you’ll also get fit. Research now shows that you can change your body’s musculature and aerobic capacity at any age. When it comes to improving your body, it’s never too late.

To get you started, the following list of affordable books includes something for every age group, and some are even small enough to take on end-of-the-summer trips. Whether you’ve been working hard at your health and fitness routine since New Year’s or whether you’re a decades-old, seasoned fitness enthusiast, the information in these books will take you further along in your personal journey to fitness and better health. Power Up: 101 Ways to Boost Your Energy (Avon, $12, 0380797240). People at any level of fitness (and any age) will benefit by reading Daryn Eller’s book, because it’s about something we all want more of energy. Eller gives 101 tips on how to get it and how to keep it. How can you get the most out of your running or weight-lifting routine? What tips help you build cardio endurance during your jogging/running workouts or add muscle after your resistance training routine? If you’ve just started working out, which foods can help you fuel your body and maximize those workouts? If you’re a senior just beginning a fitness regimen, how can you keep your energy up? Eller talks high-octane nutrition, energizing workouts, and body-mind revitalizers for powering up the natural, safe way. This is good news for those who are presently on medication or under doctor’s observation. Each topic is relatively short, and the author gives a helpful resource section at the end, complete with e-mail addresses, online addresses, and phone numbers.

The Principles of Running: Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles (Rodale, $15.95, 1579540384) was written by a runner who knows what he’s talking about. I remember Amby Burfoot’s Boston Marathon win while in college in 1968 and was prompted to begin making my own tracks. In his new book, Burfoot offers clear, simple advice to runners who want to improve their marathon performance, reduce their injuries, and attain a better running body. This book is particularly useful for those who are just beginning this sport it’s chock-full of tips and tried-and-true advice acquired over 35 years. You’ll cut a lot of painful corners if you take your advice from someone who’s been there. If you only have time for a short read, you don’t need to follow the chapters in any particular order; the numerous Principles sections cut straight to the most important stuff. Burfoot begins by talking to the new runner. His advice on aches and pains and handling blisters is something you’re going to need. He moves on to women runners and pregnancy, equipment, nutrition, training, weight loss, the weather factor, injury prevention, marathoning, and much more. Give this one to a running friend, new or experienced.

The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies for Seniors (Rodale, $27.95, 1579540112), by Doug Dollemore, is an A-Z guide for seniors and is offered here for those who like to stay physically active, mentally sharp, and disease-free. Through the years, Rodale Press has earned its kudos by delivering first-rate, usable information to consumers who want safe yet effective solutions to their problems, whether personal or environmental. This book is no exception. It’s a large volume and meant to be used. More than 350 doctors and other health care practitioners who specialize in the treatment of seniors share numerous tips and techniques. You will find 1,500 doctor-recommended remedies that can help prevent, relieve, or cure 120 ailments commonly affecting older citizens. Each section of the book discusses the problem; tells you When to See a Doctor ; enables you to try simple, cost effective remedies under Try This First ; offers Other Wise Ways to attack the problem, and then advises you about Managing Your Meds. This large reference provides helpful answers to the questions seniors are likely to ask. Any senior, active or not, will value this book and consult it often.

Massage for Busy People, by Dawn Groves, is perfect for the sports-minded who are constantly on the go. This little book is small enough to slip into your suitcase next to your workout clothes. Whether using the hotel fitness center equipment or your handy fitness band, you may need something for on-the-road aches and pains that sometimes accompany a more intense workout. Groves demonstrates self-massage techniques that deliver relief in minutes and includes instructions for quick massage when sitting at a desk, in a vehicle, or an airplane. There’s something to ease the body during prolonged walking or standing and a sure-fire cure for lethargy and backache. She also throws in techniques for replenishing your energy as well as easing a stiff neck or a headache so common to travelers (this is great for long summer trips business or pleasure). Clear instructions, varied topics, and 30 photos make this little book the perfect post-workout cool-down and the perfect gift for any health-conscious traveler of any age.

Healing Mantras (Ballantine, $12.95, 345431707), by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, will prove to be a trip down memory lane for those of us who listened to Ravi Shankar in the ’60s. These . . . chanting of songs, verses, and mystic formulas existed long before the development of even the most primitive instruments. In modern times, the healing benefits of liturgical chanting have only recently been rediscovered . . . Ashley-Farrand’s book is the first practical how-to guide in which ancient Sanskrit mantras have been explained and adapted to Western needs.

However, the book is not only for beginners who wish to study the energy-based techniques of sound meditation. It’s for the practiced as well. The author explains how mantras work, how to use your own mantra, and how these rhythms of healing sounds can help solve health problems, allow you to find inner peace, gain mental clarity, and overcome fear. If you’ve always steeped yourself in the Western Tradition, after reading this book you may consider that there are other effective ways to reach a state of wellness and peace in body and mind.

Pat Regel gardens and pumps iron.

I sing the body athletic You've finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what's next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today's fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your…
Review by

J.

I. Rodale launched Organic Farming and Gardening magazine in 1942, when chemical weed killers and fertilizers were being hailed by many as the modern miracles of agriculture. Rodale’s theories about the direct relationship between the health of the soil and the health of society were considered either revolutionary or bogus, depending on who you talked to. But, with A.D. 2000 just around the corner, times have changed. Environmentally conscious gardeners have seen Rodale’s wisdom finally take hold in a BIG way. Sales of organic food totaled $3.5 billion in 1996, and the market has grown 20% each year for the past seven years.

Now, Maria Rodale writes using her own 20 plus years of experience in organic gardening. Picking up where her grandfather left off, her new book, Maria Rodale’s Organic Gardening, combines her grandfather’s theories with her own 21st-century ideas of what constitutes natural beauty in the garden. The book is divided into the four seasons of the year with helpful calendar checklists for doing seasonal chores. There are 600 color photos, advice on designing your own organic garden, nursery buying tips, bird-feeding information, scrumptious recipes for your kitchen, and easy how-to tips and techniques that illustrate how you can work with nature to create beauty in your garden all year long.

Rodale demonstrates in a most inspiring way that an organic garden doesn’t have to look ugly. There’s a wealth of information in this book about growing everything organically. As Rodale says, You will learn some interesting new things, get inspired, and make the world a better place by creating an organic Eden in your own backyard. Maria Rodale’s Organic Gardening is for beginning and experienced organic gardeners. It’s so thorough and usable that it’s the only organic gardening book you’ll ever need to take you into 21st-century.

Pat Regel grows herbs organically in her Nashville garden.

J.

I. Rodale launched Organic Farming and Gardening magazine in 1942, when chemical weed killers and fertilizers were being hailed by many as the modern miracles of agriculture. Rodale's theories about the direct relationship between the health of the soil and the health of…
Review by

I sing the body athletic You’ve finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what’s next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today’s fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your body. Remember your New Year’s resolution? Continue what you started in January and make yourself a new body. Along the way, you’ll also get fit. Research now shows that you can change your body’s musculature and aerobic capacity at any age. When it comes to improving your body, it’s never too late.

To get you started, the following list of affordable books includes something for every age group, and some are even small enough to take on end-of-the-summer trips. Whether you’ve been working hard at your health and fitness routine since New Year’s or whether you’re a decades-old, seasoned fitness enthusiast, the information in these books will take you further along in your personal journey to fitness and better health. Power Up: 101 Ways to Boost Your Energy (Avon, $12, 0380797240). People at any level of fitness (and any age) will benefit by reading Daryn Eller’s book, because it’s about something we all want more of energy. Eller gives 101 tips on how to get it and how to keep it. How can you get the most out of your running or weight-lifting routine? What tips help you build cardio endurance during your jogging/running workouts or add muscle after your resistance training routine? If you’ve just started working out, which foods can help you fuel your body and maximize those workouts? If you’re a senior just beginning a fitness regimen, how can you keep your energy up? Eller talks high-octane nutrition, energizing workouts, and body-mind revitalizers for powering up the natural, safe way. This is good news for those who are presently on medication or under doctor’s observation. Each topic is relatively short, and the author gives a helpful resource section at the end, complete with e-mail addresses, online addresses, and phone numbers.

The Principles of Running: Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles (Rodale, $15.95, 1579540384) was written by a runner who knows what he’s talking about. I remember Amby Burfoot’s Boston Marathon win while in college in 1968 and was prompted to begin making my own tracks. In his new book, Burfoot offers clear, simple advice to runners who want to improve their marathon performance, reduce their injuries, and attain a better running body. This book is particularly useful for those who are just beginning this sport it’s chock-full of tips and tried-and-true advice acquired over 35 years. You’ll cut a lot of painful corners if you take your advice from someone who’s been there. If you only have time for a short read, you don’t need to follow the chapters in any particular order; the numerous Principles sections cut straight to the most important stuff. Burfoot begins by talking to the new runner. His advice on aches and pains and handling blisters is something you’re going to need. He moves on to women runners and pregnancy, equipment, nutrition, training, weight loss, the weather factor, injury prevention, marathoning, and much more. Give this one to a running friend, new or experienced.

The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies for Seniors, by Doug Dollemore, is an A-Z guide for seniors and is offered here for those who like to stay physically active, mentally sharp, and disease-free. Through the years, Rodale Press has earned its kudos by delivering first-rate, usable information to consumers who want safe yet effective solutions to their problems, whether personal or environmental. This book is no exception. It’s a large volume and meant to be used. More than 350 doctors and other health care practitioners who specialize in the treatment of seniors share numerous tips and techniques. You will find 1,500 doctor-recommended remedies that can help prevent, relieve, or cure 120 ailments commonly affecting older citizens. Each section of the book discusses the problem; tells you When to See a Doctor ; enables you to try simple, cost effective remedies under Try This First ; offers Other Wise Ways to attack the problem, and then advises you about Managing Your Meds. This large reference provides helpful answers to the questions seniors are likely to ask. Any senior, active or not, will value this book and consult it often.

Massage for Busy People (New World Library, $10.95, 1577310829), by Dawn Groves, is perfect for the sports-minded who are constantly on the go. This little book is small enough to slip into your suitcase next to your workout clothes. Whether using the hotel fitness center equipment or your handy fitness band, you may need something for on-the-road aches and pains that sometimes accompany a more intense workout. Groves demonstrates self-massage techniques that deliver relief in minutes and includes instructions for quick massage when sitting at a desk, in a vehicle, or an airplane. There’s something to ease the body during prolonged walking or standing and a sure-fire cure for lethargy and backache. She also throws in techniques for replenishing your energy as well as easing a stiff neck or a headache so common to travelers (this is great for long summer trips business or pleasure). Clear instructions, varied topics, and 30 photos make this little book the perfect post-workout cool-down and the perfect gift for any health-conscious traveler of any age.

Healing Mantras (Ballantine, $12.95, 345431707), by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, will prove to be a trip down memory lane for those of us who listened to Ravi Shankar in the ’60s. These . . . chanting of songs, verses, and mystic formulas existed long before the development of even the most primitive instruments. In modern times, the healing benefits of liturgical chanting have only recently been rediscovered . . . Ashley-Farrand’s book is the first practical how-to guide in which ancient Sanskrit mantras have been explained and adapted to Western needs.

However, the book is not only for beginners who wish to study the energy-based techniques of sound meditation. It’s for the practiced as well. The author explains how mantras work, how to use your own mantra, and how these rhythms of healing sounds can help solve health problems, allow you to find inner peace, gain mental clarity, and overcome fear. If you’ve always steeped yourself in the Western Tradition, after reading this book you may consider that there are other effective ways to reach a state of wellness and peace in body and mind.

Pat Regel gardens and pumps iron.

I sing the body athletic You've finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what's next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today's fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your…
Review by

I sing the body athletic You’ve finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what’s next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today’s fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your body. Remember your New Year’s resolution? Continue what you started in January and make yourself a new body. Along the way, you’ll also get fit. Research now shows that you can change your body’s musculature and aerobic capacity at any age. When it comes to improving your body, it’s never too late.

To get you started, the following list of affordable books includes something for every age group, and some are even small enough to take on end-of-the-summer trips. Whether you’ve been working hard at your health and fitness routine since New Year’s or whether you’re a decades-old, seasoned fitness enthusiast, the information in these books will take you further along in your personal journey to fitness and better health. Power Up: 101 Ways to Boost Your Energy (Avon, $12, 0380797240). People at any level of fitness (and any age) will benefit by reading Daryn Eller’s book, because it’s about something we all want more of energy. Eller gives 101 tips on how to get it and how to keep it. How can you get the most out of your running or weight-lifting routine? What tips help you build cardio endurance during your jogging/running workouts or add muscle after your resistance training routine? If you’ve just started working out, which foods can help you fuel your body and maximize those workouts? If you’re a senior just beginning a fitness regimen, how can you keep your energy up? Eller talks high-octane nutrition, energizing workouts, and body-mind revitalizers for powering up the natural, safe way. This is good news for those who are presently on medication or under doctor’s observation. Each topic is relatively short, and the author gives a helpful resource section at the end, complete with e-mail addresses, online addresses, and phone numbers.

The Principles of Running: Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles was written by a runner who knows what he’s talking about. I remember Amby Burfoot’s Boston Marathon win while in college in 1968 and was prompted to begin making my own tracks. In his new book, Burfoot offers clear, simple advice to runners who want to improve their marathon performance, reduce their injuries, and attain a better running body. This book is particularly useful for those who are just beginning this sport it’s chock-full of tips and tried-and-true advice acquired over 35 years. You’ll cut a lot of painful corners if you take your advice from someone who’s been there. If you only have time for a short read, you don’t need to follow the chapters in any particular order; the numerous Principles sections cut straight to the most important stuff. Burfoot begins by talking to the new runner. His advice on aches and pains and handling blisters is something you’re going to need. He moves on to women runners and pregnancy, equipment, nutrition, training, weight loss, the weather factor, injury prevention, marathoning, and much more. Give this one to a running friend, new or experienced.

The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies for Seniors (Rodale, $27.95, 1579540112), by Doug Dollemore, is an A-Z guide for seniors and is offered here for those who like to stay physically active, mentally sharp, and disease-free. Through the years, Rodale Press has earned its kudos by delivering first-rate, usable information to consumers who want safe yet effective solutions to their problems, whether personal or environmental. This book is no exception. It’s a large volume and meant to be used. More than 350 doctors and other health care practitioners who specialize in the treatment of seniors share numerous tips and techniques. You will find 1,500 doctor-recommended remedies that can help prevent, relieve, or cure 120 ailments commonly affecting older citizens. Each section of the book discusses the problem; tells you When to See a Doctor ; enables you to try simple, cost effective remedies under Try This First ; offers Other Wise Ways to attack the problem, and then advises you about Managing Your Meds. This large reference provides helpful answers to the questions seniors are likely to ask. Any senior, active or not, will value this book and consult it often.

Massage for Busy People (New World Library, $10.95, 1577310829), by Dawn Groves, is perfect for the sports-minded who are constantly on the go. This little book is small enough to slip into your suitcase next to your workout clothes. Whether using the hotel fitness center equipment or your handy fitness band, you may need something for on-the-road aches and pains that sometimes accompany a more intense workout. Groves demonstrates self-massage techniques that deliver relief in minutes and includes instructions for quick massage when sitting at a desk, in a vehicle, or an airplane. There’s something to ease the body during prolonged walking or standing and a sure-fire cure for lethargy and backache. She also throws in techniques for replenishing your energy as well as easing a stiff neck or a headache so common to travelers (this is great for long summer trips business or pleasure). Clear instructions, varied topics, and 30 photos make this little book the perfect post-workout cool-down and the perfect gift for any health-conscious traveler of any age.

Healing Mantras (Ballantine, $12.95, 345431707), by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, will prove to be a trip down memory lane for those of us who listened to Ravi Shankar in the ’60s. These . . . chanting of songs, verses, and mystic formulas existed long before the development of even the most primitive instruments. In modern times, the healing benefits of liturgical chanting have only recently been rediscovered . . . Ashley-Farrand’s book is the first practical how-to guide in which ancient Sanskrit mantras have been explained and adapted to Western needs.

However, the book is not only for beginners who wish to study the energy-based techniques of sound meditation. It’s for the practiced as well. The author explains how mantras work, how to use your own mantra, and how these rhythms of healing sounds can help solve health problems, allow you to find inner peace, gain mental clarity, and overcome fear. If you’ve always steeped yourself in the Western Tradition, after reading this book you may consider that there are other effective ways to reach a state of wellness and peace in body and mind.

Pat Regel gardens and pumps iron.

I sing the body athletic You've finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what's next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today's fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your…

Review by

I sing the body athletic You’ve finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what’s next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today’s fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your body. Remember your New Year’s resolution? Continue what you started in January and make yourself a new body. Along the way, you’ll also get fit. Research now shows that you can change your body’s musculature and aerobic capacity at any age. When it comes to improving your body, it’s never too late.

To get you started, the following list of affordable books includes something for every age group, and some are even small enough to take on end-of-the-summer trips. Whether you’ve been working hard at your health and fitness routine since New Year’s or whether you’re a decades-old, seasoned fitness enthusiast, the information in these books will take you further along in your personal journey to fitness and better health. Power Up: 101 Ways to Boost Your Energy. People at any level of fitness (and any age) will benefit by reading Daryn Eller’s book, because it’s about something we all want more of energy. Eller gives 101 tips on how to get it and how to keep it. How can you get the most out of your running or weight-lifting routine? What tips help you build cardio endurance during your jogging/running workouts or add muscle after your resistance training routine? If you’ve just started working out, which foods can help you fuel your body and maximize those workouts? If you’re a senior just beginning a fitness regimen, how can you keep your energy up? Eller talks high-octane nutrition, energizing workouts, and body-mind revitalizers for powering up the natural, safe way. This is good news for those who are presently on medication or under doctor’s observation. Each topic is relatively short, and the author gives a helpful resource section at the end, complete with e-mail addresses, online addresses, and phone numbers.

The Principles of Running: Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles (Rodale, $15.95, 1579540384) was written by a runner who knows what he’s talking about. I remember Amby Burfoot’s Boston Marathon win while in college in 1968 and was prompted to begin making my own tracks. In his new book, Burfoot offers clear, simple advice to runners who want to improve their marathon performance, reduce their injuries, and attain a better running body. This book is particularly useful for those who are just beginning this sport it’s chock-full of tips and tried-and-true advice acquired over 35 years. You’ll cut a lot of painful corners if you take your advice from someone who’s been there. If you only have time for a short read, you don’t need to follow the chapters in any particular order; the numerous Principles sections cut straight to the most important stuff. Burfoot begins by talking to the new runner. His advice on aches and pains and handling blisters is something you’re going to need. He moves on to women runners and pregnancy, equipment, nutrition, training, weight loss, the weather factor, injury prevention, marathoning, and much more. Give this one to a running friend, new or experienced.

The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies for Seniors (Rodale, $27.95, 1579540112), by Doug Dollemore, is an A-Z guide for seniors and is offered here for those who like to stay physically active, mentally sharp, and disease-free. Through the years, Rodale Press has earned its kudos by delivering first-rate, usable information to consumers who want safe yet effective solutions to their problems, whether personal or environmental. This book is no exception. It’s a large volume and meant to be used. More than 350 doctors and other health care practitioners who specialize in the treatment of seniors share numerous tips and techniques. You will find 1,500 doctor-recommended remedies that can help prevent, relieve, or cure 120 ailments commonly affecting older citizens. Each section of the book discusses the problem; tells you When to See a Doctor ; enables you to try simple, cost effective remedies under Try This First ; offers Other Wise Ways to attack the problem, and then advises you about Managing Your Meds. This large reference provides helpful answers to the questions seniors are likely to ask. Any senior, active or not, will value this book and consult it often.

Massage for Busy People (New World Library, $10.95, 1577310829), by Dawn Groves, is perfect for the sports-minded who are constantly on the go. This little book is small enough to slip into your suitcase next to your workout clothes. Whether using the hotel fitness center equipment or your handy fitness band, you may need something for on-the-road aches and pains that sometimes accompany a more intense workout. Groves demonstrates self-massage techniques that deliver relief in minutes and includes instructions for quick massage when sitting at a desk, in a vehicle, or an airplane. There’s something to ease the body during prolonged walking or standing and a sure-fire cure for lethargy and backache. She also throws in techniques for replenishing your energy as well as easing a stiff neck or a headache so common to travelers (this is great for long summer trips business or pleasure). Clear instructions, varied topics, and 30 photos make this little book the perfect post-workout cool-down and the perfect gift for any health-conscious traveler of any age.

Healing Mantras (Ballantine, $12.95, 345431707), by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, will prove to be a trip down memory lane for those of us who listened to Ravi Shankar in the ’60s. These . . . chanting of songs, verses, and mystic formulas existed long before the development of even the most primitive instruments. In modern times, the healing benefits of liturgical chanting have only recently been rediscovered . . . Ashley-Farrand’s book is the first practical how-to guide in which ancient Sanskrit mantras have been explained and adapted to Western needs.

However, the book is not only for beginners who wish to study the energy-based techniques of sound meditation. It’s for the practiced as well. The author explains how mantras work, how to use your own mantra, and how these rhythms of healing sounds can help solve health problems, allow you to find inner peace, gain mental clarity, and overcome fear. If you’ve always steeped yourself in the Western Tradition, after reading this book you may consider that there are other effective ways to reach a state of wellness and peace in body and mind.

Pat Regel gardens and pumps iron.

I sing the body athletic You've finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what's next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today's fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your…

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At the start of each year, Jeff Taylor writes, my hands go inside a new pair of leather gloves, brown, size XL, with a heavenly smell, and made in the gunn pattern. May your Scrabble skills increase to know that there are two methods of cutting and sewing gloves: gunn and clute. These two sentences are typical of Taylor’s style in Tools of the Earth. In 24 chapters, Taylor free-associates his way from familiar, essential garden tools such as the shovel and the rake, to equipment not usually thought of as tools, including the hammock and the hat. Taylor also applauds the tiller, wheelbarrow, trowel, hedge sheers, watering can, and pickup truck. Tools of the Earth is a combination of tool encyclopedia, personal anecdotes, homegrown (although not exactly deep) philosophy, and garden history. The result is a fun, unpredictable approach to a familiar topic which would make a great gift for any gardener. Each chapter also includes an attractive color tool portrait by Rich Iwasaki. Taylor doesn’t just write about working in his garden. Many chapters wander a long way from the subject of tools, such as an entertaining aside about human skin, but they always return to the topic. He praises tools, reminisces, and relates other gardeners’ anecdotes. On a visit to a garage sale, he considers buying a turn-of-the-century edger, which launches a ramble through the question of using the right tool for the right job, and winds up with an apology for his obsessive-compulsive disorder, acquiring hand tools I may never use. After all, Taylor owns four machetes.

Reading Jeff Taylor’s Tools of the Earth will make gardeners appreciate the necessity of the right tool, and fondly remember their own work with the implements that help make gardening the number one hobby in the U.

S. Christy Matasick is a horticulturist at Cheekwood Botanical Garden in Nashville.

At the start of each year, Jeff Taylor writes, my hands go inside a new pair of leather gloves, brown, size XL, with a heavenly smell, and made in the gunn pattern. May your Scrabble skills increase to know that there are two methods of…

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Men and women do now work together in every conceivable setting, from office to factory floor to cops walking the beat. One deplorable result of this increased co-existence has been the rise in sexual harassment, which women have suffered in all sorts of occupations and workplace settings. Most companies now have policies in place to combat harassment, and they investigate specific allegations. You might think that all the attention paid to this problem would put a damper on even consensual romantic involvements that start at work. Not so says Dennis M. Powers, author of The Office Romance: Playing with Fire Without Getting Burned. In this thorough and common-sense look at office romance, Powers writes: It is basic that opposite sexes attract naturally and they’ve been doing this since history was recorded. The office romance is here to stay, and businesses must accept this fact in a positive way. Powers, a lawyer who also holds an MBA from Harvard University, cites some stunning statistics on the prevalence of workplace romance. He says studies show 25% to 33% of respondents say they at one time or another were in an office romance. Half those romances wind up in marriage or a long-term relationship. Besides the fact of male-female attraction, Powers says office romances so frequently flourish because working side by side lets people with often similar interests get to know each other over a long period of time. Compare working in the same division as someone for a year to a blind date. Also, more people are putting in a tremendous number of hours on the job, leaving them little time to socialize anywhere but the office.

Powers tackles the office romance from every conceivable angle. Indeed, he sometimes gets repetitive. He discusses the legal definitions of sexual harassment, the impact of office romances on co-workers, what happens when such romances break up, instances of adultery, and much more in clear, non-judgmental language. He peppers the book with short, specific vignettes to bring life to the text.

Neal Lipschutz is managing editor of Dow Jones News Service.

Men and women do now work together in every conceivable setting, from office to factory floor to cops walking the beat. One deplorable result of this increased co-existence has been the rise in sexual harassment, which women have suffered in all sorts of occupations and…

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Chinese Natural Cures: Traditional Methods for Remedies and Preventions demonstrates that traditional Chinese medicine’s 3,000 years of clinical experience requires no further translation to address modern American health concerns. For people seeking to regain or maintain health with alternative medicine, this ancient healing modality presents a venerable and reliable option.

Beginning with an overview of philosophy and methods, the book presents diagnosis and treatment in extraordinary detail. Treatment often combines food therapy, medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and therapeutic exercise. For sheer volume of information and comprehensive coverage by a renowned expert, Chinese Natural Cures will undoubtedly become an essential source book for patients and practitioners.

Chinese Natural Cures: Traditional Methods for Remedies and Preventions demonstrates that traditional Chinese medicine's 3,000 years of clinical experience requires no further translation to address modern American health concerns. For people seeking to regain or maintain health with alternative medicine, this ancient healing modality presents…

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★ Refuse to Be Done

I’ve been following writer and professor Matt Bell on social media for years, eagerly tuning in for the wisdom he shares from the many (many) books and author interviews he has read, and frankly awed by his fierce, upbeat dedication to his writing practice. Bell’s new guide for aspiring novelists, Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts, gathers his wealth of knowledge and motivational zeal into a volume that deserves a spot on every writer’s desk. He advocates for a three-draft approach, while recognizing that “draft” can mean many different things. His chief goal is to keep you from giving up—to provide the fuel and structure to get you through the inevitable slog of novel-writing. As I embark upon another revision of a novel I’ve been working on for years, I’m thankful to have this book riding shotgun. 

Anna Spiro

It’s been a minute since we’ve featured the work of an interior designer. Anna Spiro: A Life in Pattern turned my head with its springy, floral-print linen cover, just the thing to spiff up a side table. Inside, the fun continues: The photographs are spirit-lifters one and all, awash in bold colors, textures and, as is Spiro’s trademark, pattern on pattern on pattern, with glorious examples of how to avoid being matchy and yet make everything harmonize. Fans of the ebullient mix-and-matching of Justina Blakeley will also delight in Spiro’s maximalist, vibrant style. If you’ve had a hankering to try a pop of wallpaper, this book will take your face between its hands and say, “Go for it, friend!” Do you love being surrounded by your precious things? Spiro understands, and she encourages shaping your personal style around those beloved objects. “Above all, your goal should be to create an environment that is reflective of you, your life and taste,” she writes. “Collect art, furniture and other items that have meaning to you.” 

Love and Justice

Model, actor and activist Laetitia Ky has amassed a significant Instagram following over the past several years, posting images of her incredible hair sculptures. She twists, bends and shapes her own hair into faces, animals, bodies, trees, breasts and other body parts, and much more. This hair art is striking at face value, but in Love and Justice: A Journey of Empowerment, Activism, and Embracing Black Beauty, Ky frames her sculptural work within personal narratives that dig into issues of mental health, internalized misogyny, African heritage, sexism, self-care, Black beauty and other themes close to her heart. As a member of a new global guard of young creatives who refuse to separate their work from their beliefs and values, Ky is poised to become a strong role model for young people finding their way in the world. 

Let your artistic side run wild with three inspirational books about novel writing, interior design and activism.
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Scrapbooks are like little time capsules, lovingly pieced together over the years to keep the past alive or record those special moments. There was a time when scrapbooks were passed down to the next generation along with simple herbal remedies and yellowed recipe books filled with delicious family favorites. But scrapbooks aren’t just about pictures anymore; now they’re veritable works of art, colorfully created and designed to remain enjoyable for decades. Saving memories is back in vogue, and Time-Life has two excellent books on scrapbooking to get you started.

Beginners to scrapbooking will like Scrapbooking Made Easy! Using samples and photos taken from her own life, the author gives basic, helpful information about protecting photos and then moves on to supplies, design, cropping, choosing color schemes, layout and balance, collages, lettering, and embellishments. She includes a frequently asked questions section and tips for creating special projects. A handy resources section for each chapter is located in the back of the book, as well as a listing of companies that sell scrapbooking supplies. As the author writes, Scrapbooks are no longer just about pictures pasted onto paper. They are about recording those moments that have been meaningful to you and your family. The intermediate or advanced scrapbooker will find A Year of Scrapbooking filled with monthly challenges and a wide range of projects that can be customized to family lives and interests. The book is organized by the 12 calendar months and covers album ideas, design concepts, new techniques, journaling, new project ideas, and photo tips. The last chapter even shows how scrapbooking techniques can be passed along to children in the form of bookmarks, activity books, greeting cards, memory boxes, bulletin boards, and posters. There is also a handy glossary and resources list for each month’s project.

Both books include numerous how-to photos that take you step-by-step in creating a family treasure that will be enjoyed for generations. The eve of this new millennium offers a unique time to begin creating a scrapbook for future generations. Perhaps the scrapbook you begin this New Year’s Day will find its way into the hands of your first-born child 20 years from now.

Pat Regel writes from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

Scrapbooks are like little time capsules, lovingly pieced together over the years to keep the past alive or record those special moments. There was a time when scrapbooks were passed down to the next generation along with simple herbal remedies and yellowed recipe books filled…

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Scrapbooks are like little time capsules, lovingly pieced together over the years to keep the past alive or record those special moments. There was a time when scrapbooks were passed down to the next generation along with simple herbal remedies and yellowed recipe books filled with delicious family favorites. But scrapbooks aren’t just about pictures anymore; now they’re veritable works of art, colorfully created and designed to remain enjoyable for decades. Saving memories is back in vogue, and Time-Life has two excellent books on scrapbooking to get you started.

Beginners to scrapbooking will like Scrapbooking Made Easy! Using samples and photos taken from her own life, the author gives basic, helpful information about protecting photos and then moves on to supplies, design, cropping, choosing color schemes, layout and balance, collages, lettering, and embellishments. She includes a frequently asked questions section and tips for creating special projects. A handy resources section for each chapter is located in the back of the book, as well as a listing of companies that sell scrapbooking supplies. As the author writes, Scrapbooks are no longer just about pictures pasted onto paper. They are about recording those moments that have been meaningful to you and your family. The intermediate or advanced scrapbooker will find A Year of Scrapbooking filled with monthly challenges and a wide range of projects that can be customized to family lives and interests. The book is organized by the 12 calendar months and covers album ideas, design concepts, new techniques, journaling, new project ideas, and photo tips. The last chapter even shows how scrapbooking techniques can be passed along to children in the form of bookmarks, activity books, greeting cards, memory boxes, bulletin boards, and posters. There is also a handy glossary and resources list for each month’s project.

Both books include numerous how-to photos that take you step-by-step in creating a family treasure that will be enjoyed for generations. The eve of this new millennium offers a unique time to begin creating a scrapbook for future generations. Perhaps the scrapbook you begin this New Year’s Day will find its way into the hands of your first-born child 20 years from now.

Pat Regel writes from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

Scrapbooks are like little time capsules, lovingly pieced together over the years to keep the past alive or record those special moments. There was a time when scrapbooks were passed down to the next generation along with simple herbal remedies and yellowed recipe books filled…

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The Second Half

One of my favorite finds of 2021 was a newsletter called Oldster, which features interviews with people from all walks of life musing on the aging process and what age means and feels like to them. A new work from portrait and travel photographer Ellen Warner, The Second Half: Forty Women Reveal Life After Fifty, beautifully mines similar territory. Warner crisscrossed the globe photographing and interviewing women over the age of 50, gathering reflections on change, pleasure, legacy, hope and more. She then edited these encounters into a trove of fascinating, brief narratives of life lived in a woman’s body. One woman buys a pub in her 60s; another meets her new life partner, a woman, after a 35-year marriage to a man. “Everything is a bit blurred when one is young, and then comes the second half—the time when you have to make clarity out of the blur,” one reflects. As these women and others divulge their most difficult and joyous moments, the result is a book bristling with energy and wisdom.

The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs

In terms of trusted authorities on cooking technique, you can’t get much more legit or consistently helpful than America’s Test Kitchen. (Lately, I’ve been saving nearly all of their Instagram posts.) So a new title from ATK, The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs, feels like cause for celebration. It remains to be seen whether a book designed for my 13-year-old will inspire her to prep dinner more often, but its format, with close attention paid to mise en place and the correct tools, should help her dodge frustration while widening both her comfort zone and palate. The recipes, labeled beginner, intermediate and advanced, range from the familiar (waffles, BLTs) to foodie faves like blistered shishito peppers, shiitake beef ramen and a fruit galette. My hunch, which I shall soon put to the test, is that parents, too, will absorb several valuable tips from this text as they play sous-chef to their kids. 

52 Ways to Walk

I’m not sure there’s a person on Earth who doesn’t know that walking is good for them. But how many of us know just how good, or in just how many ways? Annabel Streets presents loads of convincing evidence in 52 Ways to Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking for Wellness and Joy, One Week at a Time, a book equally geared toward dedicated perambulators and anyone who wishes to build a new healthy habit. She gives us research-backed ways of thinking about our daily (or occasional) stroll while presenting a fun challenge: From just how many angles might we go about the act of taking a walk this year? I can walk with attunement to what I hear in the world around me, or I can walk with a focus on posture and gait. I can think about ley lines, ions or fractals as I walk; I can walk alone or with a friend or a dog or by water or at night. Apparently I can even hop up from the couch, take a brisk 12-minute walk and wring a surprising level of health benefits from it—and so, my friend, can you.

The mundane stuff of life—such as cooking, walking and even aging—gets an exciting refresh in this month’s lifestyles column.

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