Discover Wellness: How Staying Healthy Can Make You Rich By Bob Hoffman, DC, and Jason Deitch, DC Published by Central Path Publishing

Most people are aware that there is a growing health-care crisis in this country. But most people do not realize the extent of it – if we continue on our current path, this crisis is on the verge of becoming a major storm. Consider that every 30 seconds in the U.S. someone files for bankruptcy due to a serious illness, and half of all bankruptcy filings are due to medical expenses. The overall cost of care – from hospital and doctor bills to pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, insurance, nursing homes and home care – doubled from 1993 to 2004. More than 15 percent of the Gross Domestic Product is spent on health care, amounting to $6,280 for every person in this country every year.

The solution to this problem does not lie in better treatments for the ill, but rather adopting a lifestyle that keeps us healthy. In Discover Wellness, How Staying Healthy Can Make You Rich, Drs. Hoffman and Deitch discuss various diseases and explain their impact on us economically. They also explore causes and current treatments, and they make suggestions for creating a healthier lifestyle.

By reading this book, you will learn how to adopt a wellness lifestyle and create a state of optimal health within your body. You will feel better, have more energy and increase your quality of life. You will reduce your risk of the expense and pain associated with getting hooked into the downward spiral of disease and dependence on treatment and care.

Reviewed by Dennis Ehren, DC, director of Ehren Chiropractic & Wellness Center. He can be reached at (216) 221-9990.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir By Bill Bryson Published by Broadway Books

There was a time in this country, and it doesn't seem so long ago, when there were no interstate highways, only three TV networks that broadcasted in black and white, no malls, no I-Pods, no computers and telephones with rotary dials. It was the 1950s. And in 1951, Bill Bryson was born. In his latest book, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Bryson takes us on a personal and hilarious journey through his childhood. Bryson was born in the middle of the century, in the middle of the U.S. (Des Moines, Iowa,), in the middle of the largest generation in American history (the Baby Boomers), to a middle-class family. Like so many of us who grew up in those times, Bryson conjured up a rich fantasy life as a superhero. He donned an old jersey with a yellow thunderbolt on it, tied a towel around his neck to serve as a cape, yielded a wooden sword and ran around the neighborhood vanquishing evil doers and morons with his secret “Thundervision.”

This book is Bryson's memoir as he re-creates life with his family and living in Des Moines at a time when life seemed so much simpler than today. As you read it you will say, “Oh yeah, I remember that!,” and literally laugh out loud at his childhood antics. Anyone who grew up in the 1950s will love this book. So, as they said at the beginning of the Lone Ranger...”Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...”

Reviewed by Dennis Ehren, DC, director of Ehren Chiropractic & Wellness Center. He can be reached at (216) 221-9990.

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference By Malcolm Gladwell Published by Back Bay Books

We live in a world where our voices must be heard in order to succeed. Businesses, restaurants and politicians compete for the best primetime advertising spot on television and for the back cover of magazines to spread the word about their products and services. On a smaller scale, each and every one of us is trying to “spread the word” about something, whether it is about the store that has the best sale prices or the restaurant that serves the best food. Regardless of your walk in life, there will come a time when it is important to know how to effectively communicate your position on a certain issue. If you want to be prepared, read Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. In this book, Gladwell explores concepts such as “The Stickiness Factor,” “The Power of Context” and “The Law of the Few,” which form the basis for powerful communication.

While the topic of this book is nonfiction and based heavily on years of research, Gladwell's presentation of the information is nothing like that of a typical textbook. Although Gladwell uses technical terms and introduces several laws and theories throughout the book, his interjects, interviews and examples make this book enjoyable to read and easy to understand. This Number One National Bestseller will definitely leave you feeling more confident in your ability to communicate.

Reviewed by Benjamin Szweda. He can be reached at writerfeedback.bjs@mac.com.

Peace Prayers From the World's Faiths By Roger Grainger Published by John Hunt Publishing Ltd.

There are many different religions and even differentiation among sects of the same religion. Despite this diversity, common threads can be found running through each. For example, most religions teach to act justly toward each other, to care about one another, and to work together to ease the burdens of others. Dr. Roger Grainger focuses on these common threads in his book, Peace Prayers From the World's Faiths.

This is just one book from a series called “O Books,” which demonstrate the unity between differing spiritual traditions. In this series, Grainger encourages readers to believe that “no matter what our opinion” of our God we are ultimately “worshipping together” as there is really “only one Divinity.” In this book, Grainger explores how most religions center on the concept of peace.

With prayers to enhance personal prayer time, as well as helpful ways to act peacefully toward your friends and family, Peace Prayers From the World's Faiths, is an enlightening read. Separated into eight different themes collected from more than nine faiths, this book is a very easy read. Plus, it includes a topographical index, which allows the reader to look up prayers indexed by common-life issues or types of good deeds. This book truly shows how “different religions join together in peace for peace.”

Reviewed by Benjamin Szweda. He can be reached at writerfeedback.bjs@mac.com.