Hillarymagee

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Bossypants
by Tina Fey

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Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You
by Vicki Croke

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Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog
by Ted Kerasote

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A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
by Eckhart Tolle

read in March, 2009

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I loved this book. It felt a bit preachy at times, but the overarching messaging was beautiful. Tolle does a terrific job of giving readers a very cerebral discussion about living in the moment that enhanced my understanding of the state of mind I am...more

Hillarymagee rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection
by John E. Sarno

read in March, 2009

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This book talks about the power of the human brain. Dr. Sarno discusses this in terms of the computer trying to outsmart the user - that is, your brain automatically works to suppress things that bother it, but rather than let you deal with the emoti...more

Hillarymagee rated a book 5 of 5 stars

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
by Michael Pollan

read in September, 2007

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Pollan provides a rather well-rounded discussion of our current agricultural state of affairs, and, unfortunately, it is not a pretty picture. However, it bears noting that despite the sad state of agricultural affairs that this book describes, I did...more Pollan provides a rather well-rounded discussion of our current agricultural state of affairs, and, unfortunately, it is not a pretty picture. However, it bears noting that despite the sad state of agricultural affairs that this book describes, I did not find myself in any way discouraged from being a well-rounded omnivore; what I have found is that I am far more careful to eat local (when available) and look for grass-fed beef and wild-caught salmon.

That said, each section of this book did leave me increasingly concerned and here's a taste of what was revealed:
Currently, much of our livestock is fed corn (corn is cheap and we produce tons of it). Unfortunately, especially in the case of cows (true herbavores that have evolved to be quite good at digesting grasses) and salmon (true carnivores that don't do such a good job digesting grain as a main source of food), our food animals have not benefited from this decision. Using cows as an example, Pollan notes that since we have started feeding our beef cattle a corn-based diet, the ratio of omega 6: omega 3 fatty acids that was once 2:1 has jumped to 14:1. (Hence the current nutritional emphasis on eating more omega-3s!)

Also, the pH of the cow's stomach has raised to accommodate this new diet and is now more or less equivalent to a human gastric pH. What's the problem with that, you ask? Salmonella are regular inhabitants of the bovine GI tract, and until they started getting used to a higher pH environment, they didn't have much luck infecting humans. (Read: this is at least part of the reason that salmonella outbreaks are increasing in frequency and severity)

Not all of the information in this book is upsetting, though. There are some very real characters, like Joel Salatin, described within the book who will make you feel encouraged and inspired.

To conclude this overly long review, I believe that we really can turn our very sad agricultural industry around, and I believe that the changes needed have already been put in motion. IMHO, this book is well worth a read.(less)

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Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

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Hillarymagee rated a book 4 of 5 stars

A Wrinkle in Time (Time, #1)
by Madeleine L'Engle

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Hillarymagee rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior
by Temple Grandin

read in February, 2008

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Where do I start? This book was delightful. I so enjoyed this look into Temple Grandin's life and her life's work. Though I don't think Grandin would ever describe life with Autism as easy, she's certainly not going to sit around and pity herself eit...more

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Hillarymagee is now friends with Avi Bonime
Apr 30, 2013 04:08pm · like
Hillarymagee is currently reading Bossypants by Tina Fey	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 29, 2012 07:17am
Hillarymagee is currently reading Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You by Vicki Croke	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 01, 2009 12:54pm
Hillarymagee is currently reading Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 01, 2009 12:54pm
Hillarymagee added A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle read in March, 2009	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. It felt a bit preachy at times, but the overarching messaging was beautiful. Tolle does a terrific job of giving readers a very cerebral discussion about living in the moment that enhanced my understanding of the state of mind I am...more
Mar 12, 2009 07:19pm · see review
Hillarymagee rated a book 4 of 5 stars Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John E. Sarno read in March, 2009	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book talks about the power of the human brain. Dr. Sarno discusses this in terms of the computer trying to outsmart the user - that is, your brain automatically works to suppress things that bother it, but rather than let you deal with the emoti...more
Mar 12, 2009 07:14pm · see review
Hillarymagee rated a book 5 of 5 stars The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan read in September, 2007	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Pollan provides a rather well-rounded discussion of our current agricultural state of affairs, and, unfortunately, it is not a pretty picture. However, it bears noting that despite the sad state of agricultural affairs that this book describes, I did...more
Jan 20, 2009 01:17pm · see review
Hillarymagee wants to read Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 20, 2009 01:05pm
Hillarymagee rated a book 4 of 5 stars A Wrinkle in Time (Time, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 20, 2009 01:05pm
Hillarymagee rated a book 5 of 5 stars Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin read in February, 2008	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Where do I start? This book was delightful. I so enjoyed this look into Temple Grandin's life and her life's work. Though I don't think Grandin would ever describe life with Autism as easy, she's certainly not going to sit around and pity herself eit...more
Jan 20, 2009 01:02pm · see review

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