Customer Reviews

ESSENCE The Black Woman's Guide to Healthy Living: The Best Advice For Body, Mind + Spirit In Your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s + Beyond

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is nothing more than Essence article-type stories and pictures. Most of what's in this are things we hear everyday on free TV, etc., re: yoga, exercise. yada yada yada. And lots of recipes from the magazine most likely. Just buy a magazine! I don't feel this is worth purchasing and where are the medical expert doctors? The best black woman's health book also sold by Amazon.com is Blessed Health: The African-American Woman's Guide to Physical and Spiritual Well-being Also the book Prime Time: The African American Woman's Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness is good, only about menopause. Those books were written by black women physicians. Hel-lo. I especially like Blessed Health because of the ob-gyn's medical information on everything and the "Prescriptions for your Soul" spiritual teachings. and the health questionaire. Essence is not what it used to be, this thing is just magazine articles rehashed. Essence made an effort, true and we need a new health book but this ain't it. Too fluffy. Don't waste your money on this. Pick up any Essence magazine, the same info is in there fo'sho'. Oh well.

The previous reviewer summed this book up correctly....a rehash of old Essence articles. Personally, I feel that is what makes it so great. For years, Essence magazine has provided black women with the information needed to take care of themselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Now, all of the information that you need is put together in one place. No longer do you have to look through magazines to find what you need. Then, in some sections, all of the information is divided by age groups. It's wonderful!

This Essence book was released early last year and filled in the gap for books about black women's health. I fortunately saw a preview copy of the upcoming book Living Well, Despite Catching Hell: The Black Woman's Guide to Health, Sex and Happiness which, as we go forward, provides quite interesting discussion, info and data about black women's health which needs to be seen by women and men. 'Living Well' also addresses the social concerns black women have, and the effect social strains have on our physical health, and the author (an ob-gyn's) 'flowchart' in LW is eye-opening; no room to describe here on this page. Black women's health challenges ARE unique in this society. Essence magazine contributed to the discussion and 'Living Well, Despite Catching Hell' gives more info to carry us further into the 21st century. Denzel's wife Pauletta wrote the foreword to LW. Healthy Living; and Living Well--good reading for women of color.