185 of 192 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young", July 8, 2002
I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's [ALZ] in June, 2001. [See my review of Shenk, "The Forgetting Alzheimer's . ." on Amazon for further details.]
Unlike Shenk, this book is not directed to those of us with diagnosed ALZ, but rather to a broader spectrum of those who realize they have a failing memory, and wish to take steps to buttress and strengthen these facilities. I cannot comment directly on the effectiveness of the LOOK, SNAP, & CONNECT exercise for myself as my ALZ is a progressive regressive disease, with no plateau in prospect.
However, for those who fear that their memory loss is a precursor to ALZ, this book is a godsend. If you can strenghten your memory retention and recall by following the exercises, then you are NOT likely to have diagnosible ALZ.
For those of us with ALZ, this book is a treasure-trove of valuable information, such as the Glossaary, the pharmaceuticals used to deal with ALZ, and the Resources. Chapter 9: "Wise Up About Medicines" was particularly valuable. The subjective and objective tests in Chapter 2 were quite informative to me, a retired University Professor with a Mensa IQ, pre-ALZ, with apparent rapid onset at age 70+!
A very small caveat, Small, who developed the protocols for Aricept [Donepezil] waxes too enthusiastic for the amyloid vaccine which has been, perhaps temorarily, withdrawn from its human trial due to unexpected brain inflamations. The Index is mostly useless, perhaps due to an ignorant publisher: although Small mentions Shenk in the text, neither "The Forgetting" nor Shenk are found in the index nor the Bibliography.
I have already recommended "The Memory Bible" to friends who are worried about their deteriorating memory skills, and they report substantial benefits from LOOK, SNAP, AND CONNECT. [For the record, I scored an 88 on the Subjective Evaluation, and 10% on the Objective Measures. Sigh!]
"Reverse Mike" is the name on my "Safe Return" bracelet. (:<))
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75 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-Read for People of All Ages, June 12, 2002
By A Customer
The Memory Bible is just what the doctor ordered -- Dr. Gary Small, that is. It should be required reading for anyone over 25 who doesn't want to buy into the myth that memory loss is an inevitable consequence of aging. I like that he begins with a simple memory assessment that lets you focus a program of memory training that fits your needs and lifestyle. He gives practical tips on what you can do to improve your memory now, ranging from a healthy-brain diet to mental aerobics and simple stress-reduction techniques. Dr. Small's fascinating research on early detection of brain aging gives us hope that new discoveries to stave off memory loss and Alzheimer's disease are just around the corner. The sooner we read The Memory Bible and start Small's memory fitness program, the better, because it's a whole lot easier to prevent brain cell damage than reverse it. The book is fun to read and has interesting stories and case studies.
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53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Self-Help Book That Actually Helps, July 6, 2002
It's about time! After a string of disappointments from the the self-help section of my local bookstore I've finally found an exception: a book that actually helps. "The Memory Bible" from Dr. Gary Small delivers exactly what it promises: "a strategy to keep your brain young." Dr. Small deftly reduces a lifetime of esoteric research into a straight-ahead, easily-understood, entertaining book that explains the process of how the brain ages and what we can do to slow it down. Unlike most frivolous theories we have grown to expect from self-help books, Dr. Small's offering is rooted firmly in scientific fact and data. This is an educating and enjoyable read that speaks equally to both result-oriented and process-oriented people while delivering that one intangible that ironically we have come not to expect from books of it's kind: Help.
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