Diving Physiology in Plain English (Paperback)

~ Jolie Bookspan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Diving Physiology In Plain English" A book review by Edmond Kay, MD

"No bubble is so iridescent or floats longer than that blown by a successful teacher." Sir William Osler (1849-1919), Canadian Physician

Dr. Jolie Bookspan has been listening to her students for years, patiently finding the best way to get across difficult concepts of Human Physiology. Many of her students hated science, and with good reason. It can be so dry, especially when poorly taught. She had to develop new tricks to impart her knowledge, but more importantly she had to learn new ways of germinating interest in the subject so that her ideas would bear fruit. With this book, she has virtually redefined the art of teaching by exploiting humor as a form of "synaptic glue" seldom used in a serious scientific text. Her wit is fun and richly layered. That is what makes this book so compelling. She makes science delicious.

As you can see by now, I enjoyed reading this book immensely. It turns out to be one of the most valuable books in my collection for a number of reasons. First, as the manager of an interactive Diving Medicine web site for the University of Washington, I often find myself trying to teach Diving Physiology on-line to divers with a variety of backgrounds from the absolute neophyte to the scientist/colleague. Take for instance the subject of Immersion. After reading the chapter titled "Effects of Immersion," it struck me that those effects are not intuitive. It makes sense after you read it, but information on hydrostatic gradients and centralization of blood volume (Fat-Face-Chicken-Legs-Effect) was not only interesting but also invaluable to me as an educator. This book is not a "Read Once & Shelve Forever" type, but falls squarely into the "Read Often & Frequently Reference" category. In its place of honor beside my computer, my signed copy has started to look more like a well-used phone book than a physiology text.

I reviewed a sample of the most common "Frequently Asked Questions" taken on-line at my web site during the last two years of operation. It is uncanny how relevant this book is. Asthma, barotrauma, compartment off-gassing, decompression theory; it is all here and handled with the skill that comes from years of teaching. I was pleasantly surprised that many popular clinical topics were also covered in much more detail than I have come to expect. "Diving Headaches" (a common topic) was given three pages and is a masterpiece of completeness, as is "Oxygen Toxicity." With few exceptions, there is just about everything a diver needs to know here in fascinating detail.

My only disappointment was to find that the physiology of childhood and adolescence was missing. It would have been particularly relevant to have included it here in light of all the economic pressures to get divers in the water at an ever younger age. I strongly council parents to restrain themselves from pushing their children into the water with SCUBA gear for a few years into adolescence. The criticisms are few, the accolades many.

Dr Jolie Bookspan has written more that just a "handy compendium" (her words). This is an encyclopedia of the most valuable information a diver might want to know. A very entertaining way to learn and teach science. Yes, I do love this book!

(Edmond Kay, MD http://weber.u.washington.edu/~ekay/ Review also found in Alert Diver, Mar/Apr 1998)

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT DIVING PHYSIOLOGY IN PLAIN ENGLISH

It's great! I think it will become THE source of information on diving physiology for layman. Congrats. -- Alex Brylske. Dive Training magazine's technical editor, and one of the leading experts in the field of recreational diver education

Dr. Bookspan's "Diving Physiology in Plain English" is unequaled in communicating real facts in layman's terms. It should be required reading. -- Win Remley, CoPublisher DeepTech Journal

It is now required text for all our technical diving courses. -- Captain Billy Deans, renowned technical diver and trainer

I bought it somewhat out of curiosity to see if a scientist really could write anything in plain English. It's really a must read for everyone interested in the subject. 2 thumbs up, 5 stars and a hip-hip-hoooooorayyyy. -- Ed Tepper. Scuba Instructor, Orlando, FL

"It is the best nuts and bolts book about diving physiology out there today. I highly recommend it as a must read for all divers. I think it is superb!" -- Rod Farb. Photographer, film maker, explorer.

Delightful. -- Dr. Leon Greenbaum. Executive Director Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)

Enough information to choke a biologist. -- Mac Hopkin. Scuba Instructor, Florida.

Easy to read and chock full of interesting facts. It can be picked up and opened at random, and read profitably. The layout is esthetically pleasing; the glossary is a blast! -- David Hsu, Ph.D., M.D. University of Iowa School of Medicine

One of the best books available on Diving Physiology (and at a reasonable cost.) Diving Physiology In Plain English has been added to the U of MI scuba "official recommended reading list." It's awesome. -- Larry "Harris" Taylor, Ph.D. Biochemist & Scuba Instructor at the University of Michigan scuba program.

I like the writing style, and the structure makes it really easy to skim to find what you are interested in. I highly recommend it. -- Paul Heinmiller. Former Director of Technology, ORCA Industries

Entertaining, thorough and accurate. -- Ron Ryan, Contributing Editor, Sources Journal of Underwater Education, past manager of the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, consultant on hyperbarics, and ScubaPro test lab personnel.

A real contribution to the field. Sincere congratulations! -- Rev Dr. Ed Lanphier, M.D. Renowned pioneer in diving physiology and medicine

The best and easiest to read book on dive physiology on the market. -- Parham P. Baker, DeepEdge

Informative, knowledgeable yet reads like a novel. -- Alan J. Ostrowe, M.D. aka scubadoc

What makes this book so special is that it makes science delicious. There is just about everything a diver needs to know here in fascinating detail. I use your book almost every day -- Edmond Kay, M.D., Hyperbaric Physician

The most extraordinarily well thought out, clearly written text of its kind in my considerable exposure in the field. -- Caroline Fife, M.D. Director of the Hermann Center for Hyperbaric Medicine, Chief Consultant, CHeCS Training Program, Krug Life Sciences NASA

-- From The Publisher

"It's great! I think it will become the source of information on diving physiology." -- Alex Brylske, Dive Training Magazine's technical editor

"The best and easiest to read book on dive physiolgy on the market." -- Parham P. Baker, Deepedge

"The best nuts and bolts book about diving physiology out there today." -- Rod Farb, photographer, film maker

The most extraordinarily well thought out, clearly written text of its kind. -- Caroline Fife, M.D. Director of the Hermann Center for Hyperbaric Medicine, Chief Consultant, CHeCS Training Program, Krug Life Sciences NASA

Product Description

Finally, a book on diving physiology written in Plain English.

This book is for all scuba divers and those interested in diving, regardless of diving certification level or academic background. The purpose is to present the interesting concepts behind the physiology, so all can understand and enjoy.

Topics in each chapter were selected from questions divers ask most frequently. In non-technical language this book explains the mysterious terminolgy of decompression tables and computers, reasons for the interesting changes in your body underwater, effects of diving in cold water and in hot conditions, the interesting hows and whys behind diving maladies, how to get in shape for diving, and important nutrition topics for divers. Although most scuba books have sections only about women, this book includes issues for men divers, too. There is a large, annotated glossary at the end of the book. More than a handy reference of definitions, it includes word derivations, key concepts, and fun stories behind the people and information.

With the information in this book you will be better equipped to make sense of the many claims and counterclaims in diving physiology. You will be better prepared to understand more advanced training classes. You will have information to make informed decisions concerning decompression tables and computers, be a healthier, fitter diver, and avoid diving injuries. You'll even learn neat scuba knowledge tidbits just for fun.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Undersea & Hyperbaric Med Soc (December 1997)
• ISBN-10: 0930406133
• ISBN-13: 978-0930406134
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,058,611 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diving Physiology In Plain English, March 31, 2000

By A Customer

The book Diving Physiology In Plain English is without exaggeration the best book on diving I have ever read. Beginner, advanced, technical divers or even non-divers can all benefit from this book. My wife is a non-diver and she read this book with interest and ease. She no longer worries or is concerned about my technical diving. This book addresses the relative full gamete of physiological issues associated with scuba diving. It address issues such as; decompression tables and computers, technical diving, and considers gender related issues between men and women divers. My wife greatly appreciated the information related to decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity, diving headaches, and lung injuries. In addition, I think is also a useful book for divers who are in need of refreshing their diving academics or for divers expanding into other areas of diving. The information in this book is crucial knowledge for any diver. It goes beyond what is learned in any of the certification courses, open diver through instructor. It is an overall informative, valuable, easy to read and enjoyable book. I wish more dive shops would stock it on their shelves.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At long last..., April 30, 2003

By	Nick Nalepa (Greenville, SC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was never satisfied with the basic explanations of the effects of pressure and depth on the body doled out in the standard course of instruction on Scuba. Finding a comprehensive treatment of the subject in terms everyone can understand became a personal mission. This is the book satisfied my quest for knowledge about the physiology of Scuba. A doctor explains what we know and do not know of the liquid realm's influence on the Scuba Diver in plain, straight talk. One amazing example is that we have no clue what causes decompression sickness or "the bends". We just know that it is correlated with absorbed nitrogen and that there are a number of models that can predict its onset using this factor. The book includes an excellent explanation of the algorithms used by dive computers to help us avoid this malady, and how they were developed. You will be a much more knowledgeable and aware diver, and therefore a better diver, for having read this book. Add to cart!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, highly readable book!, September 3, 2002

By	A. Henslee "Austin" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is absolutely packed with valuable information in an extremely readable format. I highly recommend it for both its' breadth and depth.

When I purchased my copy, I actually received it directly from Dr. Bookspan, the author. Jolie was wonderful to deal with and had a real passion for diving and writing.