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Dr. Joe's Health Lab

164 Amazing Insights into the Science of Medicine, Nutrition and Well-being
by Joe Schwarcz
Dr. Joe's Health Lab: 164 Amazing Insights into the Science of Medicine, Nutrition and Well-being. Doubleday Canada. Nov. 2011. c.288p. index. ISBN 9780385671569. pap. $19.95. HEALTH
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Schwarcz (director, Office of Science & Society, McGill Univ.) offers readers answers to 164 questions related to health. Using a question-and-answer format, he tells readers how trans-fat-free margarine is made, why bicycle seats may affect erectile dysfunction, what probiotics are, and the story of Typhoid Mary. The questions are grouped by subject: health and supplements, unhealthy habits, healthy eating, etc. The responses range in length from a few sentences to several paragraphs. No sources are cited, and the book does not have a bibliography. The subjects covered include some mildly interesting trivia, for instance, that loggers in Thailand feed elephants amphetamines to make them work harder—requiring the creation of an elephant drug rehab facility.
VERDICT An optional purchase; the material is easy to understand, but it is readily available in other sources. Without notes and a bibliography, the book is of limited use.
Reviewed by Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L. , Oct 15, 2011
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