3.5⭐️ Overall, a good read and includes knowledge everyone should have. Although, I think it is a bit dated by now with much more research on several of what he mentioned. Additionally, I think other books cover these topics better so I didn’t learn as many new things as I hoped. I did just go out and buy green tea though so that is a positive change and learning for me!

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★ ★ ★ 1/2

With the Nameless Detective’s fifth outing Bill Pronzini has taken the opportunity to introduce (at least to me) the work of Colin Wilcox and his literary creation, Lieutenant Frank Hastings. This is not the first time two authors have teamed up to produce a book (and it won't be the last time for Pronzini), but it was still an interesting effort. Admitting limited experience in these matters, I’ve found that, usually, the writers either rewrite each other's pages until everyone is satisfied, or they take turns, alternating chapters, each featuring his protagonist. And quite a few of the reviews I read after writing my own seem to think this was the case here. Actually the authors split the body of the novel into quarters. This method was new to me. It also surprised me that Pronzini went first, which would eventually allow the lesser-known Wilcox to wrap up the book. “Lesser known” I will admit is also an assumption on my part, as I can find no background information on how or why this book came to be. To the best of my knowledge publishers prefer to put the more famous or better selling writer’s name first, and that's what I'm going with here.

For the most part I got what I expected from a “Nameless” novel: the gradual establishing of characters and situations, each of which will in turn redefine the problem to be solved. What I did not expect was a chase sequence so early in the novel. I understand that Pronzini tries to do something different with each outing without straying too far from the framework of a detective story, but it's hard to be invested in a chase when your only anchor is the viewpoint character. Even knowing the stakes it helps to have some idea of who else is involved. After a while I started to feel that my time was being wasted, particularly as it was an extended chase.

When Wilcox took over, I have to admit that I was not impressed, at least until I realized the situation he was up against. It's hard to continue any established momentum when you have to introduce a whole new set of protagonists. Once Wilcox created some momentum of his own, interest was rekindled. I was particularly impressed at how he handled action. Even in one sequence where the expected action never developed, he still built considerable suspense. By the time Pronzini took the reins again I had gone from unimpressed to being willing to pick up a Lieutenant Hastings novel if I came across it.

The balancing act was pulled off as well as could be expected. Nameless was able to do some legitimate detecting and he did expose the more immediate villains. Because Hastings had the finale, he had the more dramatic and interesting conclusion, appropriate because, apart from the epilogue, he was responsible for the ultimate resolution of the story.

Despite some initial sputtering from both writers, they eventually produced a successful book. Nothing memorable but an entertaining ride. That's usually worth the price of admission.

Super quirky short essays? stories? musings? drivel that are likely to make one smirk, chuckle, or smile. Light, entertaining, imaginative. Probably wouldn't get published by anyone who didn't already have a famous name. However, that doesn't mean this is garbage, just that it wouldn't be the kind of thing a publisher would take a chance on with a "nobody." I've read other Steve Martin work, and he's a good writer. Pick up this for some nonsensical bedtime reading. Worked for me!

This is a book that everyone should read, cancer or no cancer. It outlines what foods we should be eating and what foods we should be avoiding. It is written by a doctor who discovered he had brain cancer while conducting his own research. I highly recommend this book!

This was a lot of fun. I think the Guardians of the Galaxy is my new favorite team. Love Rocket Raccoon..."Blam. Murdered another one."

I read this book when I found out that my sister was diagnosed with cancer. I wanted to learn as much as I can about cancer so that I could understand what she is going through. This book is amazing. Not only does it give a break down on a cellular lever as to what cancer really is (and yes, those chapters can get a little dry and boring), but the book gave a very good overall descriptions of different treatments. And who knew that certain foods actually FEED cancer cells. Scary...

Great book. Loved his insight from personal experience into alternative treatments to and prevention of cancer. I don't have cancer, but found many useful tips in here to help prevent any chance of it in the future. Great book.

He supports many of his arguments weakly and/or anecdotally, so I'm left somewhat unconvinced. However, he freely acknowledges this, adopting the mantra that because his ideas seem like they might work, and because they can't hurt, we may as well try them while we wait for sound evidence (e.g. "Still, I am convinced there is no need to wait for such large-scale results before beginning to include anticancer food in one's diet. It is clearly established that the type of diet I have adopted myself and recommend here does not expose those who follow it to any risks and leads, rather, to health benefits that go far beyond its effect on cancer.")

Personally, I do choose to incorporate a lot of his suggestions for precisely this reason, but I was hoping and expecting that this book would have supported these claims with more substantial evidence.

I particularly liked that he cited a lot of studies and explained why doctors like to see the progression from mouse studies through all levels of human trials. That helped me to understand why nutrition advice is so generic. At the same time he gives mouse work and population studies where people actually eat the food. This allowed me to feel that since it's already consumed those middle trials don't have to be run (and since there is no pharma money they won't be) and, for me, I feel comfortable that these dietary changes at least allow me to feel like I'm doing something proactive.

This is an older title, at least in terms of medical research: originally published in the US in 2008 and then revised in 2010. It was written by a French professor of clinical psychology who was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was in his early 30s. After a recurrence, he gradually built up a bank of research-based and anecdotal knowledge on ways people with cancer can improve their chances of survival, including through their diet, exercise, environment, stress levels, and mental health. This book is a memoir of his experiences combined with his recommendations for living an anticancer life, along with copious footnotes pointing to the research studies that back up the lifestyle. Sadly, while Dr. Servan Schreiber survived for 19 years after his initial diagnosis; he passed away in 2011.

Honestly, I was a little skeptical of this book when I jumped into it. There is a lot of information out there about lifestyle changes you can take to prevent cancer from recurring, or to prevent you from getting cancer in the first place. When you are living with metastatic cancer, though, that kind of advice can feel accusatory (like, “you wouldn’t have cancer if you had just done these things!”) or like it came too late, since the cancer has already spread. Other times, this kind of instruction can feel either too general (eat healthy and exercise is pretty good advice for everyone for all kinds of reasons) or like a snake oil pitch to get you to buy some supplements or a diet plan. Dr. Servan-Schreiber’s angle is that many things in our modern Western lifestyle and environment can cause cells to mutate and cancer to begin to develop, but what we can do is control the terrain of our bodies so that those almost inevitable mutations don’t grow or spread. And, for those of us who already have cancer -- even if it is advanced, metastatic, or incurable -- taking steps to improve the terrain of our bodies can help our traditional cancer treatments work more effectively.

And, you know, I think that makes a lot of sense. Certainly at times I wonder why I got cancer or why it wasn’t found until it was metastatic. Mostly I feel pretty confident that it was out of my control and, as a pragmatic person by nature, that it doesn’t really matter at this point anyway. I remember when I was first diagnosed feeling almost embarrassed and guilty that I hadn’t done something right and that is why I ended up with this diagnosis, but I've learned that while they can make some broad generalizations and name some risk factors, overall doctors don’t really know why some people get cancer and others don’t, and why some cancers spread and others don’t. And, if we take that into account, I think making lifestyle changes like the ones Dr. Servan-Schriber recommends aren’t a ticket to a cure or something that should dominate your life, but they certainly can’t hurt. And if they make us feel better, both because they are letting us have a little agency, but also because eating good food and exercising and mindfulness and stress reduction are all good things for helping us to enjoy life, then why not dip in and give some of this a try?

Any medical advice that is 10 years old needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but this was a very readable and thought-provoking book and one that I’m glad I read. It also contains one of the most helpful lay-person explanations of how cancer starts, grows, and spreads that I have read so far. Not too technical, but not too elementary either. Honestly, the book is worth reading just for that!