Customer Reviews

How the Moon Affects You: A Compelling and Controversial Book on the Moon's Awesome...

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It has been a while since I have read a book. This being the 1st book about the moon that I have read; it does make me want to read other books about related topics. I am definately going to refer it to friends..Especially friends/strangers who inquire about my moon/sun tattoo. I had came across this book at my local library. Read it in a few hours. Which, lead to my looking up the author on the internet.( bringing me here). I am more knowledged (now) about the moon than before. A nice introduction to a topic that I will end up reading more about.

I was disappointed in ordering this book. The book had lots of scientific information about the relationship and affects between the moon and criminal activities among other theories, it would have been interesting if some of the research mentioned the affect of the moon on other cultures throughout history , mythology, and folk beliefs.

Arnold Lieber takes the reader on whirlwind tour of his studies of the affects of the moon on violence, blood flow, and other aspects of his "biological tides theory". This book is an updated version derived from his previous work "The Lunar Effect : Biological Tides and Human Emotions". It is mostly a combination of lamen's descriptions of his scientific papers, summaries, support and challenges to other researchers' work, and some speculation as he poses theories to account for the varied research results involving "biological tides".

The overall tone of the book somehow seems to maintain a balance between skepticism and open mindedness, science and supposition. Do not be fooled; the man is a scientist that is pushing the bounds of the modern displine. I admire his courage and tenacity.

That said, I must admit that I was disapointed by the book. I would have liked to have seen more coverage of folk beliefs, mysticism, and popular culture about the moon being grafted to current research. The book plays with the aspects of science now being able to confirm "what we have always known" but the presentation of popular belief could have been more inspiring and entertaining. Somehow this manages to be a book for the lamen which purportes to be serious science. In the end I found it odd but enjoyable. I can see this book being considered "too scientific" for some and "not heavy enough" for others.

Ancient sages and our later forefathers truly understood the art of lunar timing. I totally enjoyed this book. It made me thing about "bigger things"