The Self-Sufficiency Bible by Simon Dawson

ISBN 979-906787-68-4
I haven't yet come across such a comprehensive book. The author covers just about everything you could think of - and quite a few that you didn't. Yes, keeping livestock, growing your own greens and so on is all in there - but so is dyeing, knitting and sewing your own stuff, even making your own jam, wine, cleaning and health and beauty products - including deodorant! Basic butchery is also in there, as is smoking, tanning, preserving and so on.
The book is an easy read, and the advice simple to understand. Buy it - but not my copy - I'm keeping it!

Crochet Bags!

Author: Candi Jensen
ISBN-10: 1-58017-619-4


Some interesting bags in here - including one made from 'plarn' (plastic bag yarn) altho' her method of producing yarn from plastic carrier bags is not the best there is. Great for inspiration, although UK readers will need to check out the stitch translation as it's a US book. Worth a look, and as the book is not too big it could go in a roomy handbag - one that you've crocheted yourself, of course!

Book Review - The Healing Plants Bible

Author Helen Farmer-Knowles

Octopus Books

£12.99

ISBN 978-1-84181-390-5

Available in April 2010.

This is the latest in the Godsfield Bible Series, and I have to say I hated it on sight. What clever individual decided it would be a good idea to put the title in bright red on a green background? If you’re planning on keeping this book, then do the classroom theng and cover it, or the flickering colours will drive you bonkers.
Having said that, I reckon that this compact but weighty book should not be dismissed as just another herbal – it’s an extremely comprehensive look at how plants can heal, both spiritually and physically.
The healing power of plants is wide-ranging. Herbal remedies are many and varied, but they don’t cover absolutely everything. Add edible healing plants (grapes, blueberries, pumpkin seeds etc), trees and flower remedies, and there you have a very good healing ‘all-rounder’.
The glossary is fairly comprehensive, but the index could be a little confusing. Those looking for a remedy for a painful tooth, for example, will find five separate references, none of them linked, and no, clove oil wasn’t amongst them.
The only other disappointment, for me, is that the eminent Nicholas Culpeper barely gets a mention, and astrology has virtually none at all. Planets are assigned to different trees, but you won’t find them anywhere in the index. They’ve stuffed so much into this book that something had to give, I suppose, though it remains a good ‘pointer-in-the-right-direction’ manual. I’ll certainly be hanging on to my copy, but hand me the backing paper, please.

Book Review - The Anatomy of Pilates

Author Paul Massey

ISBN 978-1-905367-13-9

£14.99

Lotus Publishing

www.lotuspublishing.co.uk

Ever wondered, or as an instructor ever wanted to demonstrate, which muscles and joints are involved in the various Pilates movements?
The author, a leading private physiotherapist and Pilates instructor, takes the reader through what’s happening under the skin using plain language and clear coloured illustrations. He also includes checkpoints, faults to look out for, and shows which muscle groups benefit from the different exercise positions. There are only four chapters but there seems to be no skimping on detail. The page edges are coloured for quick reference, too.

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Pilates Method. This covers the principles of the Pilates method, concepts and elements used in the Pilates method, and breathing.

Chapter 2: Posture and Movement Assessment. Here posture and posture types are covered as well as postural assessment, movement assessment, and body alignment during exercise.

Chapter 3: Application of the Pilates Method. This chapter looks at muscle balance and imbalance, motor learning, motor control skills (stabilisation and co-ordination), flexibility, strengthening, and the Pilates programme. It includes several tables, including one showing a selection of exercises based on the level of ability.

Chapter 4 Classical Pilates Exercises – this is by far the longest chapter and covers classical Pilates exercises – forty of them. Each exercise has two pages devoted to it – one of anatomical line drawings showing how it is performed, with a full explanation on the opposite page.

Particularly useful are the quick-reference sections at the back of the book:
Glossary of Terms
Anatomical Directions
Muscle Groups
Main Muscles Involved in Movement
Resources
Index of Pilates Exercises

All in all a comprehensive book. I would say this is a ‘must’ for tutor and serious student alike.

Book Review - Traditional Herbal Medicines: A Guide to Their Safer Use

Authors Karalliedde and Gawarammana

Hammersmith Press

£19.99

ISBN 978-1-905140-04-6

Most alternative health practitioners, as well as those of us who use herbs on a regular basis know that herbal remedies can have contraindications. Some, for example, shouldn’t be used when pregnant or breastfeeding, or when taking various conventional med’s. Others can trigger an allergic reaction. Often, though, we have to trawl thro’ different books to discover which goes with what, or more importantly – doesn’t. Usually it’s buried at the back, somewhere, or just given a line or two.

This book has it all in one place and it’s so easy to access. Written by experts at the Medical Toxicology Unit (MTU) of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital in London - Dr Lakshman Karalliedde spent 10 years there and is now a toxicologist with the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division of the Health Protection Agency, Debbie Shaw heads the MTU’s Chinese Medicine Advisory Service; and Indika Gawarammana was a former registrar there.
The book covers traditional herbal remedies from around the world including Chinese, Afro-Caribbean, Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicines. It describes their sources, known effects and side effects, dosages, interactions and – most importantly – precautions.
A ‘must’ for every herbalist’s bookshelf.

Book Review - The Little Manual of Happiness - 7 Steps to a Joyful Life

O Books Vikas Malkani £6.99 ISBN 978-1-84694-227-3

This book came out with O Books at about the same time as the Little Manual of Success, and both have the free bonus of a one-to-one with the author. Wow! This is a man who manages to be spiritual and successful at the same time. He has observed the traits of happy people and now has summarised these in his book. It is, of course, all down to attitude. If you lose your job do you see it as the equivalent of being dumped on the scrap heap, or of being handed a fantastic opportunity to change career? How do we get out of a negative mindset? Many of us spend our lives in search of happiness, and never find it. Vikas helps us to see that it has been under our noses all along. Small enough to fit in a handbag or roomy pocket, this is great to read on the train – assuming you’re not too embarrassed… I’d recommend it.

Book Review - Reality Transurfing, A Rustle of Morning Stars

Reality Transurfing. 2. A Rustle of Morning Stars
Vadim Zeland
O Books
ISBN 978-1-84694-131-3

This bizarrely-titled book could, I’m sure, become a phenomenon, in the same way that cosmic ordering did.

It’s all about swinging the balance in your favour – but in a nice way. Finding your own true goals is the key, and chasing someone else’s dreams will get you nowhere.

The trick is to quiet your busy and interfering mind, and listen to your downtrodden soul.

It’s not the lightest of reading, and the fact that it has been translated into English does show a little, but it is written in a friendly narrative style, and the author does put his message across in a way that can be understood.

If your resolution this year is to move towards your life goal – something that will make your soul sing – then this may well be the first step.