This Month's Book Reviews

SLEEPING WITH SCHUBERT
by Bonnie Marson, Random House, 2004, 380 pages, $21.95

Laughter is good for us. It heals the body, the mind and the spirit. For this reason, I recommend this book, a first novel for its author, purely for the fun of it. It has its mystical side, to be sure, but mostly I enjoyed it for its wit and originality.

The book tells the story of Liza Durbin, a Brooklyn-born young woman working as an associate in a large New York City law firm. She is a competent, although not particularly enthusiastic attorney. While visiting her parents in California for the Christmas holidays, she shops for shoes at Nordstrom’s. Suddenly, Franz Schubert, the famous, long-deceased composer of the Unfinished Symphony and Ave Maria, pops into her body. Liza and Franz share her body throughout the rest of the book.

The fact of this mystical event occurring at Nordstrom’s is typical of the incongruity of events throughout the work which contribute much to the humor of the writing. Author Marson’s word choices and descriptions in the book are delicious and as fresh as peaches from a backyard tree.

The results of Franz Schubert’s appearance (not visually apparent, of course) changes Liza’s life drastically in both serious and very funny ways. Suddenly, this rather untalented young woman, who took the usual piano lessons as a child, turns into an outstanding concert pianist, guided by an eccentric music professor from Julliard School of Music. (Of course, at first all she can play is music by Schubert!)

The characters in the book are all interesting and well-rounded in development. I didn’t want to put the book down. Also the mystery of Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony carries through to the last chapter. Was it ever finished? Were the missing parts left somewhere? Will he finish the composition with Liza’s help?

Music fans will enjoy the CD available from Sony Classical to accompany the novel: Sleeping with Schubert: The Musical Companion to the New Novel by Bonnie Marson (SK 92596). Moreover, it is fun to know that Paramount Pictures have acquired film rights. I had fun casting the movie in my mind while I read the book.

Inferentially, the book explores themes of creativity, muse and the effects of channeling. How much does the channeled entity (Schubert in this case) change the vehicle inhabited (Liza)? Clearly that is a philosophical point to ponder.

The author of this delightful first novel, Bonnie Marson, is a multi-media artist and photographer who lives in Tucson, AZ. Her web page is www.bonniemarson.com.

Reviewed by Gayl Woityra

YOUR INNER PHYSICIAN AND YOU
by John E. Upledger, DO, OMM, North Atlantic Books, 1997, 223 pages, $14.95.

When one explores the various modalities of natural therapies now included in Integrative Medicine, one that is not all that well-known to the general public is called CranioSacral Therapy (CST), a name coined by Dr. John E. Upledger, the author of this book. For readers who would like more information about CranioSacral Therapy, this book is a great place to start.

Upledger’s book is not a do-it-yourself text. Rather, it explains how Dr. Upledger explored and developed this gentle technique. Within Upledger’s discussion, readers will learn about the craniosacral system, described as a “semi-closed hydraulic system.” Upledger explains how it influences total body function. In other words, one might have symptoms in an arm or leg that actually refer back to this central core.

The book is highly readable and is filled with fascinating real-life stories of Dr. Upledger’s patients. Once he began to develop his technique, he was in demand to present seminars and demonstrations to physicians in the United States and Europe. In nearly every case, physicians attending those demos would bring the most challenging cases to test Dr. Upledger’s new technique. The story examples indicate an extremely broad range of healing potential for CranioSacral Therapy. Upledger, for example, reports: “My experience shows that about 80 to 85 percent of resistant long-term headache patients respond favorably to CST.” In work with hyperactive or dyslexic children at Michigan State University, he achieved excellent results. He discovered that about 50 percent of the hyperactive children in the clinic had dysfunctions related to their birth process. Treatments for dyslexic children corrected reading problems in about 70 percent of those treated. Upledger also had great success with a cerebral palsy patient in Europe.

The book also discusses using CranioSacral Therapy for autistic children, depression, TMJ syndrome, chronic pain and spinal cord injuries. This book will inform readers about the causes for pain and how tissue holds the memory of traumas. It also covers what Dr. Upledger has named Somato Emotional Release. Through the use of the CST and reaching the memory buried in body tissue, this (SER) technique helps the patient recall the trauma or accident that has been below the surface of their awareness, and this facilitates the healing process.

I found this book to be both extremely informative as well as very interesting to read. The author, Dr. John E. Upledger, D.O., is a Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy, an Academic Fellow of the British Society of Osteopathy and Doctor of Science. Known as an innovator, he gathered much of his experience through private clinical practice. He served from 1975-1983 as a clinical researcher and professor of biomechanics at Michigan State University. It was at that time that his team of specialists tested the existence and influence of the craniosacral system.

Readers who would like to find a CranioSacral therapist can get further information from the Upledger Institute in Florida. Many massage therapists, physical therapists, nurses, chiropractors and some dentists and MDs have trained in CST. Patients can check a link on the Upledger Institute website to see how extensive each practitioner’s training has been. The website is www.upledger.com.

Reviewed by Gayl Woityra

MEDICINE, MIND, AND MEANING: A psychiatrist’s guide to treating the body, mind, and spirit
by Eve A. Wood, MD, In One Press, 2004, 347 pages, $21.95.

Eve A. Wood, MD, is a psychiatrist with 20 years of clinical experience. She served on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and has recently been appointed Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine.

This new book by Dr. Wood clearly presents an integrative approach to psychiatric illness and issues. This is a gift to readers because psychiatric practices today often limit themselves to treating patients medically, supported by counseling. Dr. Wood sees a need for a more balanced, holistic approach to healing, one in which she combines traditional psychiatric practices with universal spiritual principles.

Using the analogy of a three-legged stool to illustrate her three-pronged approach, Dr. Wood uses examples from her patients to demonstrate how this works. She shows again and again how we need to attend to our bodies, minds and spirits to fully heal. She clarifies just what that means. For example, our body (or biology) involves genetics, inborn characteristics and unique vulnerabilities. Both the physician and patient have to acknowledge, grasp and recognize these influences for a proper diagnosis and to treat them appropriately. The mind involves our background, beliefs and behaviors. Those too need to be explored and understood as to their influence on current health. Our spirits involve our faith or a connection to whatever gives our lives meaning. All too often current medical practices seldom deal with the issues related to the mind and almost never to spiritual components. The three-legged stool analogy underscores the importance of all three legs – or all three modalities – body, mind and spirit, for healing. Eliminate any one “leg” and the stool collapses.

Former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, MD, ScD, wrote the Foreword to this book. I would agree with his assessment that he would “especially like it to be compulsory reading for all psychotherapists.” I would extend that recommendation to all mental health care workers: psychologists, counselors, mental-health nurses, social workers and their associates. Moreover, the book is certainly a valuable tool for all mental health patients. Reading this book can enable such patients or potential patients, to reasonably evaluate their own treatment. Are they being treated holistically, or are they just a “symptom” to be medicated?

For readers who aren’t sure if they have a mental illness or issue, Dr. Wood’s 13 appendices are highly informative, as well as full of practical help. Here she defines various forms of problems – depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTS), social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eating disorders and addictive illnesses. In each discussion, Dr. Wood provides descriptions of symptoms, sometime with the question, “Does this sound like you?” She includes discussion of diagnosis, causes and treatments, as well as professional sources for further information. When appropriate, she includes advice regarding how patients can help themselves. Clearly, this is extremely useful information for many people.

Overall, this book can help everyone. So often we don’t recognize that we have a problem. Dr. Wood’s book encourages us to take responsibility for our health and life choices. Without information we can’t recognize the problem. We may need to get second opinions for proper diagnoses. We need to understand the possibilities for treatment and that there is a model, like Dr. Wood demonstrates, that treats patients as whole human beings.

Books like this one help us all work cooperatively with our healing professionals. It is up to each of us to become informed enough to take charge of our bodies, minds and spirits in order to find our way to wellness. As Dr. C. Everett Koop, MD says, “I have seldom been so moved by a book. This is the only healing model that makes sense.”

Websites: www.MedicineMindandMeaning.com and www.DrEveWood.com

Reviewed by Gayl Woityra

Immortal Light, The Blissful Life and Wisdom of Swami Amar Jyoti
Edited and compiled by Sita Stuhlmiller, Truth Consciousness, 2004, 430 pages, $24.95.

This book is a collection of words and talks given by Swami Jyoti at different times in his life. He speaks with absolute humility and describes what begins as an ordinary life. This makes his message easily accessible, even if you don’t know all the traditions and words. He uses humor to explain much and tells of his life and the divine. The idea that realization is available for everyone is appealing – you don’t have to follow a certain road or know you were meant to be a prophet from birth. Divinity is miraculous, once we get out of the way of it.

This book takes a “world as one” view and weaves together the great sages as an expression of the one great power. I don’t think you often find a discussion of Krishna, Jesus and how to get the cat next door off your favorite chair all in the same book!

My favorite part of the book was when he said that compassion is never wasted even if nothing is given back. Compassion is its own healing power and by maintaining it, you are released and relaxed.

It’s an interesting read for anyone and would be a particularly good gift for someone who hasn’t made a great study of spirituality – he doesn’t assume you already know everything.

Reviewed by Laura Parrett

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