Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld's Breakthrough Health 2004: 167 Up-to-the Minute Medical Discoveries, Treatments, and Cures That Can Save Your Life, from America's Most Trusted Doctor!

Thanks to years of conflicting press reports and masses of Internet information, educating yourself on health concerns has become totally confusing--it's tempting to just give up. Before you do that, give Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld's Breakthrough Health a chance. Arranged by health issue, it covers 167 topics from alcoholism and the Atkins diet to uterine fibroids and wrinkles, looking at everything from recent diagnostic developments to the proper use of herbs that have been around for centuries.

Every age is covered, starting with the prevention of eczema in toddlers while mom is still pregnant to delaying or preventing Alzheimer's through proper diet and a daily anti-inflammatory. Life-threatening diseases like colon and breast cancer, stroke, and heart disease are discussed, as well as relatively minor concerns like bad breath and UTIs. Even with the variety of issues discussed, it's never overwhelming--the longest section is less than 30 pages, and most are covered in just a few. Each entry includes sections on "What's New" and "The Bottom Line," which are quick but helpful summaries that recommend a direct action--or in some cases, a lack of direct action.

Best of all, Rosenfeld keeps his wry sense of humor throughout, joking about his brother John always calling the men's room "Isadore" in the section on enlarged prostates, and recalling the old Packard slogan "Just ask the man (or woman) who owns one!" when discussing herpes sores. With an excellent blend of the latest research, common sense, old remedies, and humor, Rosenfeld provides a book with answers for everyone. --Jill Lightner