Customer Reviews

Homes That Heal (and those that don't) : How Your Home Could be Harming Your Family's Health

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This is such a GREAT book !!! Everything you ever wanted to know about everything in your house and how it might affect your and your children's health. The book is easy to read, entertaining and yet shock full of important facts. Did you know that some sandbox playsand contains known human carcinogens like crystalline silica and asbestos? or that microwaving a mother's breast milk will cause it to lose its infection-fighting properties ? Or that some bamboo floors contain nasty adhesives and formaldehyde ? Much research has gone into this book and yet the author uses simple stories to illustrate a variety of situations and provide solutions. The first few chapters cover the basics (Healthy vs Unhealthy Homes, Conventionally Built Home, Remodeled Older Home, and New Healthy Home) then each chapter covers a room and the hazards specific to that room (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, home office, garage) then on to pets, cleaning, home maintenance, yards, plants, etc ... and a comprehensive Healthy Home Quiz. Lots of little known facts about things like bedding, dry cleaning, smoke detectors, diapers, air fresheners, mold, radon, attached garages, even gives simple ways to check for electro-magnetic fields ... This book is VERY comprehensive and far superior to the many others I have read on this topic. It is quickly becoming my bible !

Although initially a bit intimidated by the amount of facts, I was quickly drawn in by the writing style, the "stories" of fictional folks who all have various concerns about their homes, and the well-organized format of this book. Athena Thompson brings forth a wealth of information about so many aspects of our home environment. Like most people I made the assumption that my cosy home, my sanctuary from the world, had to be a healthy environment. I learned a great deal about how to make simple changes within my home to make it a healthier environment. I'm grateful that I'm now aware that just because "it's invisible" doesn't mean it's not harmful, like toxic residues from common household cleaners, and electro-magnetic radiation from electrical wiring and appliances. This book is a wake-up call for most of us about how the inside of our homes may be the most toxic environment we find ourselves in during our day, and the effects of that environment on children as well as adults. I have already made many changes, and feel much better being in my home. I'm looking forward to the workbook, so I can get others together to discuss healthy home environments. Cheers to the author for bringing all this information to light in a practical, easy-to-read and non-preachy way.

Athena Thompson's HOMES THAT HEAL has changed my life and the lives of many people that I know. It is an easy to read, understandable examination of the toxic influences that we encounter on a daily basis within our own homes. This book will increase your awareness of the harmful conditions that we are constantly and unknowingly exposed to. Homes that Heal illustrates very clearly that these toxins are not only in what you buy, the construction of your house, the water you drink out of the tap, the air that you breathe within your home but also the electro-magnetic and possibly radioactive environment in which you live. Homes that Heal has made me look at things in the living environment in a far more critical and discerning way. From the wiring and insulation to the sheets we sleep on, Athena Thompson leaves nothing untouched.
If one's home is truly where the heart is, then this is the book for you. Any mother or father who wants to create a healthy and safe living environment not only for their children but for themselves as well needs this book. Homes that Heal details, and helps you seek out these hazards that are so pervasive in our living and working environments. The reality with which Athena Thompson presents each scenario with her cast of characters, gives you situations which you cannot deny that you live with everyday. Just because it is on the market; do not assume that it is safe for you or your family. From the pesticides to the innocent looking scented lotion purchased at the mall, she shows us how these toxic chemicals have invaded every area of our environments and provides very workable solutions to help remove them room by room.
The checklist provided in Homes the Heal gives you a manageable guide to help you on your journey so that you do not feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation. I shook my head in utter amazement so many times while reading this book. My mother suffers from MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome) so her house was the first to tackle. Following Athena's guidelines made it easier for us to create a healthier and far more livable environment for our mother. Because of the impact that Homes that Heal has made on my mother's life, we have begun the task of changing our homes as well. Baby steps equal Big improvements in your living environment that you can begin to feel immediately. I have been involved in the field of Natural Medicine for 11 years and had some knowledge of the environmental conditions but not to this extent. Because of Homes that Heal, my life has taken off in a new and exciting direction. Thank you, Athena Thompson, for bringing the information in HOMES THAT HEAL to the world

Homes That Heal is enjoyable to read and easy to understand. This wonderful book gives a wealth of information about the wide range of toxins that we are subjected to in our own homes. Rather than leaving the reader feeling helpless and hopeless at the overwhelming prospect of ridding the home environment of these hazardous conditions, Athena empowers the reader with tips and suggestions that can be employed immediately as well as providing long-term solutions. I highly recommend this book.

I am a Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant by the American Indoor Air Quality Council and Director of the Indoor Air Quality Association in Santa Fe. My company investigates building-related health complaints.

Athena's book not only covers the important aspects of how to create a healthy home, it's narrated with humorous stories and examples of how they relate to us in our daily lives.

There's a useful quiz/check list that you and your family can take to assess how healthy your home is and ideas for what you can do to make it healthier.

I often refer to Athena's book. It's part of my reference library.

Dan Stih, Author, Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health.

Homes that Heal is a comprehensive look at how our homes impact our daily health and our long term health. As a green building supplies retailer, Homes that Heal is the first book we turn to for that customer looking to improve their indoor environment. I have researched the topic of healthy building extensively and although there is abundant information, much of it is too esoteric or complicated for the casual learner. Athena strikes a rich balance in Homes that Heal, providing technical information and guidance in an easy to understand and informative way. As a professional in this industry, I can refer to her book over and over again for reference and clarification and as a educator by default, I know that our customers can walk away with one book that gets them started in the right direction. So, whether you are doing one room in your home or buiding from scratch, Homes that Heal is the place to start.

Although I did not like the hokey stories and illustrations used to highlight the author's points, the truth is the book is very easy to read and filled with wonderful information. Some may consider things extreme like blue jean scraps for attic insulation but she writes this as a bau-biologist who deals with identifying things in the home that can make you sick. Her sections on radiant heating and radon remediation are excellent. She highlights simple things like just ventilating the house, materials to use that are healthier, and so on. The best test for me having checked this book out of the library is the fact that I will be purchasing it. There is just so much useful information to refer back to that it makes sense to own this book.

This is a fantastic book for everyone. If you set yourself up with a healing home you will never want to go out to work! I am now finding a way to work from home - no more polluted offices you can do nothing about. This book is written by a true professional and applies to most aspects of living in your immediate environment. A must have if you are building or remodeling.

I would not recommend this book for anyone that is looking for practical ways to redesign or remodel. I feel the author is not really in touch with the real world of design. I did not find this book helpful on how to really "get things done." I would suggest finding a book written by someone who has more experience in the design world.