The New Our Bodies, Ourselves: A Book by and for Women - Softcover

Three decades ago, information about women's health was hoarded by physicians and doled out sparingly to their female patients. Our Bodies, Ourselves, first published in 1969, helped change that situation. The latest edition runs 752 pages and covers a stunning range of territory about women's physical beings: fitness (this section includes a reminder that overweight women have a right to not exercise), reproductive health, aging, sexuality, and childbirth. It also includes thick chapters on relationships and information about mental-health issues, including psychotherapy. The New Our Bodies, Ourselves is the straightest-talking, most comprehensive book about women's health on the market.

Accurate, objective information about women's health can be difficult to find. Opinion about hormone replacement therapy, cancer treatments, and contraception vary. These two new books help women care for themselves and make informed decisions about medical treatment. The New Our Bodies, Ourselves is a revised and expanded update of the 1984 edition ( LJ 3/15/85), which itself was a revision of the landmark original ( LJ 2/1/73). This encyclopedia of women's health is organized by broad subject areas: relationships and sexuality, fertility, childbearing, and aging. Each chapter has comprehensive information about the subject, quotations from women who have experience with the condition, notes and references, and referrals for further information. Charts and diagrams augment the text. This edition has the latest information on contraception, HIV/AIDS, RU-486, and chronic fatigue syndrome as well as coverage of topics like sex and physical disabilities, violence against women, and environmental and occupational health. It is an outstanding resource written by and for women with accessible information for all collections. The Women's Encyclopedia of Health & Emotional Healing pales by comparison. It covers the same material, but it remains at a superficial level. The alphabetical entries are two to four pages long. Several subjects are needlessly divided--birth control pills and contraception; breast care, breast surgery, and fibrocystic breast. Some entries, such as cellulite and wrinkles, seem of minor importance. While this book does contain useful self-help information on discussing condom use with sexual partners and preventing cystitis, the lack of anatomical diagrams, references, and referral information limits its effectiveness. It provides just enough content to start a search and leaves the user with nowhere to go for more. The New Our Bodies, Ourselves costs less and has much more to offer. The Women's Encyclopedia of Health & Emotional Healing is not a necessary purchase.
- Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.