Review by DrPanda -- Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
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DrPanda
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- Latest Review: "Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks" by Morton E Tavel, MD
Review by DrPanda -- Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
[Following is a volunteer review of "Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks" by Morton E Tavel, MD.]
3 out of 4 stars
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This review is for the non-fiction book titled TIPS, MYTHS, and RIPS: A Physician’s Advice by Morton E. Tavel, MD. Published by Brighton Publishing, copyright 2015. The book is divided into three main parts as indicated by the Intro: tips, myths, and tricks. Although not exactly as the title indicates (Rips aren’t exactly “tricks”), these three sections help bestow the plethora of knowledge and evidence from doctor to reader. Each section is then further divided into chapters, where each chapter discusses a different topic. The format of each chapter usually poses a question (such as “Coffee and Health: Good, Bad, or Indifferent?”) and details the preconception/general knowledge about the topic at hand. The author then moves forward with available evidence on the topic, including many peer reviewed studies, and usually ends with a conclusion or summary.
The section Tips discusses topics on health and what the reader can do to best optimize it. Dr. Tavel mainly focuses on nutrition, writing in great detail on foods including: shellfish, cranberries, and junk food. He also discusses general health items such as: allergies, the common cold, and electronic cigarettes. Myths discusses common health misconceptions. These chapters go over such topics including: genetically modified organisms, probiotics, and bottled water, just to name a few. In his last section, Tricks (or Rips?), Dr. Tavel seems to lump in the remainder of health topics but focusing mainly on scams and false cures.
There is much to like about this relatively succinct (300 pages total), fairly organized health reference for the average reader. Much of the advantage of the format is the ability to open up to any chapter in the whole book and read to your health’s desire. You need not read chronologically. The reader can guarantee the order of evidence presented and if they wish not to intently study it, can skim down to the conclusion. The tone of the author is also friendly and at times, comedic. Such an example of this can be seen in his chapter on breakfast where he jokingly threatens to “…tell mother on you!”(pg. 12). Dr. Tavel’s honesty also shines through, stating when the final judgment on a question is still unsure, due to usually either conflicting evidence, or lack there-of it. This is much appreciated, as a home-town doctor may not be as quick to admit their own ignorance due to fear of looking bad themselves. Although I enjoyed the health topics presented, the author apparently is looking out for the reader’s financial interest as well. One example is in his discussion over suntan lotion, stating the best value brands.
Despite all that Dr. Tavel does right, there are some shortcomings including organization, formatting, and content. The organization on a large scale is well done, but on a more detailed level is inconsistent. For example, the author fails to provide a “Conclusion” header to the end of every chapter. Some have it, others do not. The formatting is also poor at times, such as writing every chapter as follows: “¶Chapter 1o”, with a paragraph sign preceding the chapter, and an “o” following it. The numbering is also awkward at times, with margins pulled in almost to the middle of the page, as found in chapter 7 listing foods to avoid. As far as weakness in content goes, it is clear Dr. Tavel has his favorites. One such example is his passion to discuss polygraph testing. He puts significant effort into this chapter, out of proportion to his other chapters, detailing the fine minutia of the test. Although there were few examples of this, it was chapters like these that lost me.
Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I would most definitely recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in any of the topics above (many more included!) Also, being a physician myself, I can appreciate the difficulty in taking complex medical topics and boiling them down into understandable concepts. Dr. Tavel does a marvelous job of digging deep into the research and coming out with something consumable for the average reader. With all of the false health information circulating the internet too (social media I’m looking at you!), it is reassuring to know there is a reference to quickly look up many concerning health issues raised in this day and age.. Although his formatting and organization may not always be consistent, his content overshadows this shortcoming. TIPS, MYTHS, AND RIPS: A Physician’s Advice would serve well on any mom, dad, or average internet user’s shelf for improving health and dispelling common myths.
******
Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
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3 out of 4 stars
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This review is for the non-fiction book titled TIPS, MYTHS, and RIPS: A Physician’s Advice by Morton E. Tavel, MD. Published by Brighton Publishing, copyright 2015. The book is divided into three main parts as indicated by the Intro: tips, myths, and tricks. Although not exactly as the title indicates (Rips aren’t exactly “tricks”), these three sections help bestow the plethora of knowledge and evidence from doctor to reader. Each section is then further divided into chapters, where each chapter discusses a different topic. The format of each chapter usually poses a question (such as “Coffee and Health: Good, Bad, or Indifferent?”) and details the preconception/general knowledge about the topic at hand. The author then moves forward with available evidence on the topic, including many peer reviewed studies, and usually ends with a conclusion or summary.
The section Tips discusses topics on health and what the reader can do to best optimize it. Dr. Tavel mainly focuses on nutrition, writing in great detail on foods including: shellfish, cranberries, and junk food. He also discusses general health items such as: allergies, the common cold, and electronic cigarettes. Myths discusses common health misconceptions. These chapters go over such topics including: genetically modified organisms, probiotics, and bottled water, just to name a few. In his last section, Tricks (or Rips?), Dr. Tavel seems to lump in the remainder of health topics but focusing mainly on scams and false cures.
There is much to like about this relatively succinct (300 pages total), fairly organized health reference for the average reader. Much of the advantage of the format is the ability to open up to any chapter in the whole book and read to your health’s desire. You need not read chronologically. The reader can guarantee the order of evidence presented and if they wish not to intently study it, can skim down to the conclusion. The tone of the author is also friendly and at times, comedic. Such an example of this can be seen in his chapter on breakfast where he jokingly threatens to “…tell mother on you!”(pg. 12). Dr. Tavel’s honesty also shines through, stating when the final judgment on a question is still unsure, due to usually either conflicting evidence, or lack there-of it. This is much appreciated, as a home-town doctor may not be as quick to admit their own ignorance due to fear of looking bad themselves. Although I enjoyed the health topics presented, the author apparently is looking out for the reader’s financial interest as well. One example is in his discussion over suntan lotion, stating the best value brands.
Despite all that Dr. Tavel does right, there are some shortcomings including organization, formatting, and content. The organization on a large scale is well done, but on a more detailed level is inconsistent. For example, the author fails to provide a “Conclusion” header to the end of every chapter. Some have it, others do not. The formatting is also poor at times, such as writing every chapter as follows: “¶Chapter 1o”, with a paragraph sign preceding the chapter, and an “o” following it. The numbering is also awkward at times, with margins pulled in almost to the middle of the page, as found in chapter 7 listing foods to avoid. As far as weakness in content goes, it is clear Dr. Tavel has his favorites. One such example is his passion to discuss polygraph testing. He puts significant effort into this chapter, out of proportion to his other chapters, detailing the fine minutia of the test. Although there were few examples of this, it was chapters like these that lost me.
Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I would most definitely recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in any of the topics above (many more included!) Also, being a physician myself, I can appreciate the difficulty in taking complex medical topics and boiling them down into understandable concepts. Dr. Tavel does a marvelous job of digging deep into the research and coming out with something consumable for the average reader. With all of the false health information circulating the internet too (social media I’m looking at you!), it is reassuring to know there is a reference to quickly look up many concerning health issues raised in this day and age.. Although his formatting and organization may not always be consistent, his content overshadows this shortcoming. TIPS, MYTHS, AND RIPS: A Physician’s Advice would serve well on any mom, dad, or average internet user’s shelf for improving health and dispelling common myths.
******
Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
View: on Bookshelves
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Latest Review: "Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks" by Morton E Tavel, MD
