Customer Reviews

The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu: Guerilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work and in the World

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My husband (a general surgeon) and I read this book on a recent trip to Texas and not only was it a fun read but a very informative one too! It's definitely an eye-opener and as parents of a 4-year old son (we can't afford to get sick!) we feel it's a must read for anyone with small children. One thing is for sure, after reading this book you'll never look at airplane blankets, hotel room comforters or department store makeup displays the same way again! You'll also be more inclined to take small steps like washing out your water bottle with soap before refilling it. Considering a cold or flu can set you back for weeks (or more!) when it only takes about 30 seconds to put into action the recommendations made in this book I couldn't agree more with the authors that I would much rather be safe than sick!

As the world grows smaller and disease severity increases, it is the optimum time for a book such as The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu. How does one stay healthy in the workplace, traveling and shopping? This book tells you how.

The book is divided into three parts.

1) Germ Freak Basics covers how-to tips to avoid getting sick. It offers such suggestions as always using a tissue to open doors, push elevator buttons or turn on water faucets, remembering to discard the tissue after each use.

2) This section looks at all the situations in which you may encounter germs and how to avoid them, from grocery shopping (shop off hours to avoid crowds, carry disinfectant wipes to clean cart handle); using a public restroom (use the first stall--it is the cleanest); to working out (disinfect or sanitize machines before use).

3) Part 3 looks at the best ways to keep your babies and children healthy (do not let anyone but family hold babies, never let children go into the ball pit play spaces).

Also included are many other informative and fun snippets and sections. "Gotta Haves" are inventions and products that are available to the average germ freak such as the Wakmah, a multipurpose plastic sucker that can be used to open doors or hold onto in subways, or the disposable Table Topper Stay-in-Place Table Mats to take to restaurants.

"Over the Top" gives various germ-preventing scenarios and rates them. "Use Them or Lose Them" analyzes different products (anti-bacterial cutting boards? Lose them). "Germ Freak Horror Stories" are, well, self-explanatory!

This in-depth book has information for all levels of "germ freaks: latent, blatant or wannabes." With a style and sense of humor that makes it both enjoyable and educational, this is a health guide that should be read by all. It is accurately subtitled "Guerilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home and Work and in the World."

Armchair Interviews says: While many readers may find some of the suggestions useful for only true, over-the-top "germ freaks" it still gives many ideas to keep in mind as we go about our daily lives.

I loved this book. Easy reading - blend of super humor mixed with great advice! The practical tips and reminders on basic hygiene and how to avoid pitfalls of infections are necessary for everyone! Anyone that goes out in public must read the why and how to avoid coming in contact with sick people. You never know what you are touching - and this handy book gives examples when you must watch out and what not to do! The etiquette reminders are hilarious...and on point!

Hey, I mean it! If everyone would just follow some of the practical advice in this incredibly easy-to-read (and entertaining) book, there would be less germs, thus less sickness, to be caught. I was always a germ-phobe, and now I must be extra-vigilant as I am a kidney-transplant survivor. I'm also about to be a mom. Just the thought of waiting in a pediatric office in the near-future is giving me the heebee-jeebees! Mrs. Janse is also a mother of twins and gives great advise on how to keep your little one from turning into a germ-magnet and making you sick, too.

My Top Three?

-Washing your hands to the alphabet....
-Using the disinfectant wipes at the grocery store before grabbing a cart....
-Making your doctor wash their hands before examining you.

One I'd like to add that I didn't see mentioned?

-If you valet: Have sanitizing wipes in your glove compartment and use to wipe-down your steering wheel after receiving your car - ESPECIALLY at a hospital! EEWW!

What a great read! I laughed out loud in so many parts of the book. The author is smart and funny and lends such great information about keeping clean and healthy in some not-so- clean surroundings that we all have to deal with (i.e. the gym, the office, the airport, etc.). I want to give a copy to everyone I know!

This is a great book to help prevent you and your family from getting sick. When I brought my premature twins home from the hospital I was told it was very important to keep them from getting sick that first year because they were at such a high risk for contracting RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) which can be fatal. This book helped keep the germs away. Despite the unpleasant subject, it is a fun read. The author is really funny.
Dr. Jenn Berman
www.DoctorJenn.com
Author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids

This is a great baby shower gift, or something to tuck into a gift or get-well basket. It's not just common sense stuff you already know; see what it says about automatic hand dryers in public bathrooms (I guarantee you'll shudder!). My reaction to a lot of things in the book was first, that it was very thorough and covered items I hadn't even imagined, and two, who knew?! Especially in these days when even a routine hospital stay can lead to a serious infection, it's very informative. Just look at the recent rash of e-coli cases that are in the news. Plus, it's an entertaining and easy read. You can't ask for much more than that for the price!

Now I am really a bigger germ freak than I already was! Enjoyable read.

I just finished reading this book and I loved it. Though I doubt I will become a die-hard Germ freak, I am definetly more aware of the millions of germs around us. I am now asking my kids to wash their hands with the "ABC" song and telling them to stay at least 3 feet away from a person that looks like they may sneeze. I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it to everyone, especially parents with school age children.

I bought this book hoping for some good background information that would allow me to extrapolate my own germ-freak tips - like more information on how, precisely, germs live and spread. I wanted some scientific information, at least a little bit, about how it all works!

I didn't get that, but what I did get was pretty darn good. This book is jam-packed with tips about avoiding germy people, how not to touch nasty things, socially acceptable things to say to avoid doing germy things that people always seem to want to do, and new cleaning and washing tips to help stop the germs.

While I was expecting something more than I got, I am still darn happy with the book and would highly recommend it. It was fun and easy to read and I did get a LOT of new tips out of it. Nobody likes to get sick and this book will help you avoid it.