Head First: The Biology of Hope and the Healing Power of the Human Spirit (Paperback)

by Norman Cousins (Author)
Key Phrases: medical mistakes, mean change scores, human healing system, Task Force, Los Angeles, School of Medicine (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Anecdotal research combines with scientific data in this effort to show that a positive attitude can aid the healing process. "Cousins's scrupulously detailed information makes the book invaluable," applauded PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Cousins' pionering account of his personal triumph over severe illness was the precurser of hundreds of articles and books dealing with the mind's ability to influence the body's health. Head First depicts Cousins' 10-year quest to find the proof that positive attitudes are actually biochemical factors which combat disease.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); 1 edition (December 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140139656
• ISBN-13: 978-0140139655
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #249,640 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Healing Advice, November 24, 2003

By	Dr. W. G. Covington, Jr. (Edinboro, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Cousins connects personal experience with scientific research to make a compelling case for the healing power of positive emotions. Norman Cousins was a journalist who was healed through changing his behavior and thoughts. As a followup to his experience he was brought to the UCLA Medical School to do further inquiry into the topic. He interviewed physicians, patients, and family members in his study.

He discusses how his findings were misinterpreted and made to appear shallow by critics. But he felt that he had a valid contribution to make to our understanding of ourselves.

Philosophically he makes some cogent points throughout this book. Personally I love what he writes about Southern California. Consider also his comments on life well lived:
"The clock provides only a technical measurement of how long we live. Far more real than the ticking of time is the way we open up the minutes and invest them with meaning. Death is not the ultimate tragedy in life."

Buy this book! Read it! You'll be thankful you did.

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars humor is good medicine, June 14, 2000

By A Customer

This book shows how remarkable and awesome the human spirit truely is. Cousins gives examples of how humor affected the body in a profound healing manor. After facing cancer and the gloom around the therapies, Cousins turned to humor to help fight the battle and overcame many obstacles in his way. Even those whose lives are not touched by cancer in some way can appreciate the benefits of a little humor therapy. Great book!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST read for Everyone!, June 20, 2006

By	K. Evans "magruder" (Olney, Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Everyone who is alive should read this book NOW, before you get sick, especially with an incurable sickness like cancer, etc. In the first half of the book, Mr Cousins explores the mind-body relationship by example, not theory. Even if you already have a positive outlook, this will only (and very strongly) deepen the strength of that positiveness (new word?).

The second half talks about relationships among doctors. If you have more than one doc diving you medications, chances are they are NOT talking to each other to compare the sysmptoms of mixing the drugs, which may be the cause of a seemingly worse problem.

It is a very easy read. READ it now. You will not regret it. It is more than just laughing.