What are you all reading currently?

[Mara]

Hi Janet,

I loved hearing Nancy's description, too. That's what I think I COULD be like, but I'm so determined to actually finish everything I'm starting these days, that I can't let it happen!

Thanks for the well-wishes! I'm a psychology student, officially, and a nutrition student, unofficially. How about yourself?

[JanetM]

Hi Mara
Your study sounds really interesting. I was facsinated to hear about the study done in a prison where there was a lot of violence and disruption. For 3 months they fed the inmates macrobiotic food and they painted the colour of the walls a very very soft colour of pink (so light you couldn't tell it was pink). The colour was to represent the mothers skin and is supposed to be very calming. They found a drastic decrease in the amount of violence in the prison over this time and very encouraging results generally.
I think psychology and nutrition would be a very interesting combination.

I am not studying at the moment. I was at university for so long I literally RAN out of there in the end!! I did a Commerce degree, then a Marketing degree then a diploma in export management and then finally a law degree. The trouble with me is that I am interested in so many things!! Maybe this all impacts on the psychology behind all of the piles of books and magazines beside my bed and the fact and I get bored at about chapter 5!



Janet

[Mara]

Wow, that sounds like a fascinating study. Do you know where I could find more on it?

thanks,

m.

[Nancy]

I just finished reading Elaine Nussbaum's, "Recovery from Cancer". I cannot recommend this book highly enough! It is a triumphant tale of a woman's complete recovery from the depths and struggle of impending death, from uterine cancer -- by way of macrobiotics!

The first part of the book entails Elaine's emotionally shocking diagnosis and her ushering into modern medical treatments for cancer. Then, her long slide downward that involved her family and friends taking care of her, supporting her, then seeing her sadly slipping away as the cancer moved throughout her body taking more and more of her normal daily functions.

The last part of the book, as she discovers the macrobiotic diet and is aided by some wonderful people in macrobiotics, is a spiritual and joy-filled triumph of the heart. At certain points in her recovery the book made me cry. She was so very desperately ill with -no hope- of recovery. Yet, good people teaching her the macrobiotic way, the right foods, accurate macrobiotic diagnosis, accurate self-practice, Shiatsu massage, and the incredibly wonderful healing power available to, -all of us-, in this universe, restored Elaine completely to a healthy, vibrant, and active life.

Elaine Nussbaum went on to get a Master of Science in Nutrition, writing her Master's Thesis on, "Macrobiotics -- An Alternative Treatment for Cancer". This thesis is archived at the Kushi Institute, as well as Elaine's case history.

Elaine Nussbaum is still actively practicing today (20 years later), involved in nutritional counseling, cooking classes, and lecturing. She can be reached by numbers in Bob Mattson's, International Macrobiotic Directory. Elaine resides in the northern New Jersey area.

Do not miss this book, as the first-hand-account of macrobiotic diagnosis by Michio Kushi, and Shiatsu treatment by Shizuko Yamamoto, is a real eye-opener. There are many things to be learned in this autobiography that will refine and improve your own macrobiotic practice, giving you a much deeper understanding of the macrobiotic way!

Rave Review, Four Stars, ****

Nancy

[garymill]

Hi Nancy,

Glad you really enjoyed the book. I read it about 14 years ago. Just was sent an updated copy by the publisher, and I really liked reading the section telling all that Elaine has been up to since the book was first published, it was current up to 2003.

Gary

[denann]

Hello, my name is Denise. I too am a book piler!

I have been trying lately to read a book from front to back before I start another. I have been doing fairly well and am very proud of myself!

I am currently reading "The Macrobiotic Way" by Michio Kushi. I got it off eBay. Very resourceful. I have three more Macrobiotic books coming. Hopefully they will arrive the first part of next week.

I am also reading "The Healing Energy of Your Hands" by Michael Bradford. Very good book. I am interested in energy work and this book is easy to read and very resourceful.

Denise

[Rafflesia]

I read "Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope," by Joan Chittister today, largely because the wise marketing peole at Amazon kep recommending it and some the author is quoted reather frequently in one of the disccusion groups to which I belong. A simply amazing. So easy to read (completed it in one day) and full of lots of inspirational material to nourish the spirit. Just what I needed today.

[cathbe]

i was curious to hear more about what Elaine Nussbaum is up to... Gary said there is an updated version of the book. I just dusted it off... and started reading it again. her story is so powerful; it made me cry the first time I read it and again now.

Has anyone read the "hip chick's guide to macrobiotics?" I've perused it and it seems well done. I was wondering if anyone knew more about the author. the book's web site is down.

thanks.

cath.

[garymill]

Hi Cath,

I do have some new information, an interview with Jessica that I added a few days ago. http://www.cybermacro.com/Macrobioti..._Macrobiotics/

Gary

[cathbe]

Hi Gary,

Thank you! well done. I particularly enjoyed the review of the book and the interview. Jessica Porter has a unique perspective which comes across in a very warm way. I remember the Macrobiotic Center "downtown" in Soho which she references in NYC. I wish that was here now. It makes a big difference when you are just 'starting out' and I'm sure there are those new to macrobiotics who find navigating it in NYC a bit daunting without a place like that. there is Gulliver's but somehow I don't think it's quite the same. Anyway, not sure if there are others from NYC here. Do you know if Jessica Porter has already completed a book tour? I can't figure out how to find out information on her with the web site down.

I had a consultation with Elaine Nussbaum when I lived in New Jersey but I remember so little about that meeting now. Other than counseling, is there other information about what she is 'up to?' I hope her health is good. What an amazing book. I was cleaning out a bookshelf and it was hidden there. I'm so glad to have rediscovered it. In fact, Jessica's 'new' take on macrobiotics and Elaine's 'older' one are two powerful books to be reading at once!

I agree also (back to Jessica) that she covers information that doesn't always get covered (like the twelve principles) and in such a friendly way. Sometimes - at least when I first started learning about macrobiotics - the macrobiotic counselors can be so intense about how strict one must be. I think her approach is much more conducive to getting people to stick with it. Once people know the reasons *why* then they can access it and follow it all more easily.

Thanks for letting me know about the interview.

cath.

[Bruce Paine]

Hi Cath and Gary,

I've been reading and sharing the book with many people, especially persons not into macrobiotics and they seem receptive to it.

The working link to Jessica's website is here: http://www.hipchicksmacrobiotics.com/index.html and if you write, she might write you back as she has done to me.

I've proposed to her (please don't take that out of context, Gary! ;-) ) that she come to Cybermacro Chat http://www.cybermacro.com/forum/FlashChat/flashchat.php to talk and answer questions.

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[garymill]

Hi Cath,

In the next few days I will post what Elaine has been up to more lately from her book. Glad that you enjoyed the various segments that I put up about Jessica Porter.

Gary

[Rafflesia]

Hi Cath,

I loved Jessica Porter's book. I had been thinking about altering my diet to a macrobiotic system for some time, but it seemed so daunting, particualrly since I live in an area with no organic grocery stores and most of the staple ingredients need to be purchased on line. But Porter's apporach made it seem so accessible. Especially her emphasis on starting gradually by incorporating a whole grain meal a day, and whole grains are much easier to find (and shipped in more decent and less expensive ways) than produce or anything else.

I feel horrible saying this, beucase I know he is more or less the patron of macrobiotics, but the work I have read by Kushi has been so dry and focuses so much on "fixing what is broke," that if I started with one of his books that if I started with him, I don't think macrobiotics would have seemed the least bit accessible to me. I purchased his Macrobiotic Way after Porter's book, and read it in its entirety after I finished Porter's book, but it wasn't until after reading Turner's book and some of Pirello, that I was able to go back to the Macrobiotic Way and make more sense of it. I also purchased Kushi's remedy book published, but I find his diet recommendations too vague to be of much help or hold my attention.

[DearTabatha]

Has anyone read Maria Shriver's most recent book, very inspirational? She's definitely a role model for all younger women (even if she's married to our questionable, yet likeable, governor here in California). I really enjoyed reading about her amazing persistence in reaching her goals, even when others thought them to be unattainable.

TJ

[evelyn]

Hello everyone!

I absolutely love to read--about macrobiotics and in general. As I conducted a research project on macrobiotics, I own over fifteen books on macrobiotics and I cannot get enough! I especially think that more people should own The Macrobiotic path to total health" by Kushi and Alex Jack. I also have read so many testimonials and as I continued my research into macrobiotics, I began to love the whole lifestyle. However....as of now I am reading "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller which is very enlightening and beautiful. It addresses "nonreligious thoughts on christian spirituality" but the author presents thoughts in a very unique way..Wonderful book..must read it!!!
Another is "The Mommy Myth" which discusses how the role of women is portrayed in society and over time changes in our media/impact of media on women...really great as well.

Evelyn