Customer Reviews

The Simplified Handbook for Living with Heart Disease: and Other Chronic Diseases

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book amazes me. I am so impressed by Warren Selkow and his ability to make a very serious subject (heart disease) funny and entertaining. He covers all the important information you would need to know if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with heart disease. He discusses symptoms, diet, prescriptions, but what book about heart disease doesn't? What makes this book different is the fact that Warren and Donna (his caregiver wife) wrote the book together and they talk about all the things nobody wants to like what to do the day you hear the bad news, the importance of going to the dentist before having open heart surgery, and how to deal with the emotional difficulties for both the patient and caregiver post surgery. The book is thorough, well researched and very personable. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to know more about heart disease or how to live with it once they've been diagnosed.

I actually met the author quite by accident when we were both waiting to have blood drawn at the AZ Medical Clinic a couple of months ago. He doesn't sugarcoat the reality of living with heart disease. I am inspired to try harder to accept the congestive heart failure hand I've dealt myself and encouraged to watch my nutrition and exercise more. My wife found reinforcement for her feelings and frustrations as she supports me.

Warren and Donna Selkow have together written a great book that will help many people who are living with heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

It is a book that is enjoyable to read as well as being informative. I was fortunate to be able to read it in its prepublication form as a manuscript, yet its strong mesaages jumped out at me. It is a good read, with humor and insight on almost every page. I strongly recommend you read it, to be prepared - for it advocates a healthy lifestyle that is good for everyone.

Clive Finkelstein
Perth, Western Australia

My doctor told me about this book. My first thought was, "Just more propaganda." My wife insisted we get the book so we did. It is hard to admit when you are wrong. This book is right on the money. No sugar coating. No "baloney" as the author says in the book. My wife liked the book more than I did. It answered all the questions she had and it has given her a high level of reassurance that we will be able to get on with our lives. I had to have open-heart surgery (four way bypass and valve replacement) and fortunately we had a chance to read the book before the surgery. Everything regarding the surgery happened in the exact order described in the book. We were prepared for the post surgery recovery (the section on getting the house ready for recovery proved extremely beneficial) and managed to stay a step ahead of the problems associated with the first three months after surgery. It has also changed the nature of our relationship with our doctors for the much better. If you have heart disease this is probably the best book you can read.

I had the pleasure of reviewing the Selkow's book and was so impressed with the information. Whether you have had a heart attack, heart surgery or any other serious illness, this book is a must! It is certainly worth reading and buying for friends and family members. I have started doing some of the things that they advise and feel much better about preventing a heart attack.
Anita Finley, publisher of BoomerTimes & SeniorLife of South Florida

Author writes in a very easy, witty and informative style. He gave a seminar at a local hospital and his book tells what it is like to have a major heart attack, the treatment and his experiences in dealing with with the doctors and medical system. He is blunt but speaks from a lot of experience and research. He also covers the depression aspect of heart disease and has many specific recommendations as to what to do when living with CAD and Chronic Heart Failure. His wife also covers caregiver aspects of what it is like to be a caregiver to a heart patient. A lot of very valuable information is here for anyone who wants to know what to do to live with heart disease. Author also has a non-profit website [...]

This well researched publication covers everything yor Medicare Doctor did not have time to explain to you.The book is fast moving and very easy to read, unlike most medical articles.It tells you what to expect before and immediately after surgery.The section on living with coronary heart disease will shock you into successfully modifying your life style which will likely enable you to extend yout lifetime.The caregiver suggestions are invaluable.I must warn you it is blunt,but great!!

If you want the truth about living with heart disease, The Simplified Handbook for Living with Heart Disease is written for you. This book could be called "What the Cardiologist Doesn't Tell You." You'll learn more from the Selkows than a 100 doctors. It could save your life. The summaries at the end--Caregiver Basics, the Rules of Acceptance, Perseverance Dictums, and glossary written in layman's terms--are worth the price.

The book has it all: Scientific medical facts, jokes, poems, tips on healthy living, philosophies, and survival strategies. The text boils down to three words: Diet, exercise and medications. The bonus for the book is the insightful comments by author Warren Selkow's wife Donna, the caregiver. Her insights are extraordinarily honest and helpful, especially on preparing for surgery and the post-operative depression. Read, laugh, learn, and buy this book for those who may not have a clue about the consequences of living with heart disease.

If you or someone you love suffers from heart disease, this blunt and funny book (I know -- heart disease is not funny, but the book is) is something you'll read again and again, both for its wealth of information and the reassurance it provides. The author's personal experience is vividly described, and the fact that he's still here to write about it tells you he knows whereof he speaks. This book literally contains all the facts doctors never tell you -- simply because they haven't been through the experiences Warren Selkow has. The fact that nearly two dozen medical professionals and cardiac patients unanimously laud this book proves that the information in it is useful, helpful, and easily digestible -- it offers real hope for a living with (not dying from) heart disease. Once you've read it, I'll bet you'll be praising it to everyone you know who has or cares for a Warren Selkow in their life.

Thank you for a great book that helps me to understand more about COPD. My father passed away due to this disease when I was quite a bit younger and this left a lot of questions unanswered. This book would be good for anyone who suffers with the disease or knows somebody who is going through it.