book review, History, Non-Fiction, Science

NAPOLEON’S BUTTONS – REVIEW

December 3, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Napoleon’s Buttons
Author	Penny Cameron Le Couteur, Ph.D. & Jay Burreson, Ph.D.
Publisher	Jeremy P Tarcher; Reprint edition (May 24, 2004)
Format	Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook
Page	384
Language	English
ISBN #	10-1585423319 ISBN #-13 (978-1585423316)

“for this physicist, reading Napoleon’s Buttons was like being a kid accidentally locked overnight in a candy store. The treats? Lots of neat chemistry that I should have known but didn’t (having had awful college chemistry teachers), a whole bunch of entertaining anecdotes, and not a few breathtaking historical generalizations.”

David Goodstein, American Scientist

AUTHOR(S) BIOs

Dr. Penny Le Couteur, Ph.D., was born in New Zealand and attended the University of Auckland. She attained her Ph.D. from the University of California in Santa Barbara. Dr. Le Couteur has been teaching chemistry for over three decades. She was recognized as an outstanding educator of chemistry in Canadian Collages. She was formerly The Head of Capilano’s Chemistry Department as well as the chair of Pure and Applied Sciences.

Dr. Le Couteur currently works as an award-winning professor in the Dean of Arts and Sciences office at Capilano College, British Columbia, Canada. She currently resides in North Vancouver, Canada.

Doctor Jay Burreson, Ph.D., is the co-author of Napoleon’s Buttons: How Seventeen Molecules Changed History. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii. He worked as an Industrial Chemist for Mag Tech in Oregon, USA. Currently, he is a Fellow of Marine Natural Products at the University of Hawaii, USA.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

This title was initially intended for gifted students age 14-18 years old. Astonishingly, it has been favorably received by a considerably more diverse audience from children to adults. This scholarly work will appeal not only to those with an academic background, but also to those with little or no background in chemistry.

SYNOPSIS

Napoleon’s Buttons is a refreshing read that combines not one but two disciplines: organic chemistry and associated history. The book was authored with the intention of it being an introductory primer for students of organic chemistry with-in the age range of 14-18 years old. However, this text has proven to be a hit with adults as well.

The authors have taken the subjects of chemistry and history and melded them together to produce a compelling combination. The prose are skillfully written in a coherent and accessible style with plenty of illustrations, formulae, and comprehensive end of chapter summaries. In my humble opinion, these summaries are irreplaceable as they allow the reader to glean the bulk of the information in the chapter in a convenient bite-sized manner. The chapters cover various molecules, complete with a concise anecdotal historic context for each. They included isomers and chirality concepts in an intelligible manner for those unfamiliar with the terms.

Central to the success of this volume is the historic connections of the various interactions between historical influences, social and cultural pressures, and the political forces of the time. In the case of olive oil, all those factors were changed through the popularity of the resultant product.

THE PERIODIC TABLE

CONCLUSION

Pros

Students will find the script to be compelling reading on a number of levels. The formulae are aptly described and easy to understand. The context strengthened the subject considerably. The science described in this text is similar to The Scientific American and not as demanding as The New Scientist Magazine. The combination of story telling and the scientific underpinning makes this book a fascinating and engrossing read.

Cons

Although the title suggests that there are only 17 molecules discussed, there are more. In addition, I question why a glossary was not included in a text meant for teenagers. Although the first chapters provide a brief introduction to chemistry, I feel a more comprehensive introduction would have been helpful for all those who have no prior knowledge of the scientific discipline. This would be incredibly beneficial for those with little or no instruction in the use or knowledge of chemical formulae.

FURTHER READING

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Chemistry

American Scientist, July-August, 2003, David Goodstein, review of Napoleon’s Button: How Seventeen Molecules Changed History, p. 370.

Booklist, May 1, 2003, Gilbert Taylor, review of Napoleon’s Buttons, p. 1561.

Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood, Dr. Oliver Sacks M.d., Link: Here Vintage; Reprint edition (December 11, 2013)

Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2003, review of Napoleon’s Buttons, p. 363.

Library Journal, May 15, 2003, Wade M. Lee, review of Napoleon’s Buttons, p. 120.

Chemical and Engineering News: Link: Here (October 6, 2003), Louisa Dalton, review of Napoleon’s Buttons.

The Violinist’s Thumb, Sam Keen: Link: Here Back Bay Books; Reprint edition (July 16, 2013)

Seeds of Change by Henry Hobhouse [No Kindle Ed.] Link: Here Counterpoint; Reprint edition (November 22, 2005)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Chemistry/Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organometallic_chemistry

INTERACTIVE PERIODIC TABLE LINK: Here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Chemistry

book review, Medical Science, Non-Fiction, Science

The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Dysfunctional Behavior – REVIEW

November 23, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Dysfunctional Behavior
Author	Ivan Fuchs
Publisher	Radius Book Group (April 19, 2019)
Format	Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
Page	604
Language	English
ISBN #10 /#13	9781635766011 / 9781635766011

“This book is an attempt to explain some of the phylogenetic mechanisms that brought about in humans the innate liability of developing varied forms of dysfunctional or maladaptive behavior, the graver of which are categorized as mental disorders.” The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Functional Behavior. (Fuchs, 2019, LOC 104).

Prescient

Please note, if you are not a psychiatric professional read the summary and then go to the Synopsis and take a look at the diagram I have provided for your understanding. If you are a mental heath professional please read on.

Author’s Bio

Dr. Ivan Fuchs is the author of The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Dysfunctional Behavior. Dr. Fuchs retired after 3 decades of experience gained from working as a Practitioner of Clinical Psychiatry. Originally from Hungary, Dr. Fuchs emigrated to Israel early in his career where he currently resides today with his family.

“In my opinion, these mechanisms, or more exactly, their extreme poles on a diversified scale (as a result of relaxation of natural selective pressures), constitute the inherited foundations of most common mental disorders.” (Fuchs, 2019, LOC 209).

Who is the audience for this textbook?

Dr. Ivan Fuchs forms a thesis in The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Dysfunctional Behavior. Dr. Fuchs based his theory on his extensive professional experience; principally psychiatry, knowledge of biology, genetics, and primatology. Dr. Fuchs thesis is not peer reviewed or published in any professional scientific journals. Dr. Fuchs expresses doubt that this publication will have broad appeal and he believes that it will fall into a narrow niche’ primarily for medical professionals. Those most likely to benefit from reading Dr. Fuchs theory would be: Professional Mental Health Clinicians and Researchers; Research Fellows, Students of Psychological Medicine; Researchers of Psychiatric Medicine; Students of Psychiatry, and Clinical Psychiatrists interested in this evolving subject.

Synopsis

Due to the complexity of the Fuchs theory and the myriad of related co-dependencies, I have chosen to focus on the key concepts of his treaty. I’ve done this in order to minimize extraneous issues and to simplify the review to enhance understanding for the reader.

In brief, the author of The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Dysfunctional Behavior posits that there are two separate and distinct Natural Selection Pressures that have influenced human development over Phylogenetic Period. The Selective Pressures are the Active and Reactive Mechanisms of Mental Disorders.

Natural Selection Pressures

1. Active Mechanisms of Mental Disorders

Consisting of three key mechanisms; these are as follows:

Forces of Natural Selection
Intra-group Natural Selection Pressures (IGNSP’s)
Late Stage of Human Evolution; Post Agricultural Revolution 10,000 years ago.

2. Reactive Mechanisms of Mental Disorders

4. Relaxation from Natural Selective Pressures due to genetically diverse factors including but not exclusive to: Cross cultural breeding, advances in democracy, proliferation of technology, and interbreeding.

Dr Fuchs volume does not contain any illustrations or models of his theory, so I have created one here to aid the reader in understanding his central concept.

Geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky “It is possible and indeed probable, that occupational differences between human populations usher in some correlated genetic differences” (Dobzhansky, 1962, p. 250). And: “When the environment is highly diversified, as it is in civilized societies, all these genotypes may find suitable opportunities.” (Dobzhansky, 1962, p. 250).

Dr. Fuchs proposes that the relaxation from Sexual Selection Pressures also have influence vis-à-vis the “Good Genes Hypothesis: (Buss, 2008, pp. 190-191), as well as “minor Marriage” custom of third-world cultures (Wilson, 1998, p. 175), where decisions relating to marriage are not made by the couple, but controlled by some authority figure often for the financial benefit of the bride’s family in the form of a dowry. Dr. Fuchs observes that only humans and some primates share aberrant behaviors and responses to Evolutionary Mechanisms. He also postulates that over time incidences and varieties of mental health disorders have increased in humanity arising from the Reactive Evolutionary Forces.

“To my knowledge no evidence exists that the human genome is changing in any overall direction. The big story in recent human evolution is not directional change, not natural selection at all, but homogenization through immigration and interbreeding. Its main consequence is the gradual erasure of previous racial differences. It also increases the range of individual variations within the population and across the entire species. Many more combinations of skin color, facial features, talents, and other traits influenced by genes, are new arising than ever existed before. Variance increases, the extremes are extended new forms of hereditary genius and pathology are more likely to arise.” (Wilson, 1998, pp. 271-273, emphasis added).

Conclusion

The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Dysfunctional Behavior by Dr. Ivan Fuchs is likely to be best received by medical professionals. Due to a combination of the complexity and virgin science nature of the subject, there will likely be limited interest from the laity. The appeal could be increased through the utilization of diagrams, images, lists, tables, and chronology; as well as empirical evidence.

This book is based more on Dr. Fuchs opinion rather than on The Scientific Method. The complete lack of peer review papers, the absence of empirical and other supportive data impedes its worth. However, the theory is an interesting and challenging one. As with many books of its type it provides a very dry read. This dryness could be ameliorated through appropriate use of graphic enhancements. I also noticed a great deal of repetition within the text. The repetition Dr. Fuchs states is an aid to impress elements of his theory in the mind of the reader.

I found the scattered nature of the sections in this book added to the difficulty of understanding the underlying theory. There was a lack of flow that created confusion at times; not due to the subject matter or the jargon but arising out of the jumps across multiple chapters. I found run-on sentences and the generally poor use of punctuation and grammar impeded the enjoyment of reading. The combination of writing style, lack of infographics, and poor punctuation made this book a beast to read. Happily, these limitations are easily remedied with the aid of a competent editor. To the editor please include a glossary of medical terms for the uninitiated.

Summary

For the layperson, this book discusses the opinions of Dr. Fuchs. In short, the idea is that in the past humanity and some primates collaborated on the basis of natural selection. This natural selection changed across time from Active to a Relaxation of the forces (pressures) that had earlier shaped humanity. In the later stage (Relaxation Phase) the pressures changed by external factors such as technology and interbreeding. As a result, there is speculated to be an increase in the number and variations of mental health disorders. It is also expected that there will be an increase in the numbers of geniuses and other gifted humans. The concept is interesting and challenges traditional theories. If you are interested in this topic, I would wait for the illustrated and re-edited version.

Suggested Reading

Bake, M. (1998) Darwin’s Black Box: The biochemical challenge to evolution. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Sadock’s comprehensive textbook of psychiatry, 8^th Ed., Col. 1 Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-lll) (Fuchs, (2019), LOC 3747). Link to the entire manual: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3176302/

P. R Adoriaens &A. De Black (eds.), Maladapting minds: Philosophy, psychiatry, & Evolutionary theory. Oxford. OxfordUniversity Press.

Daly, M., & Wilson, M. (1995) The Man Who Mistook his Wife For a Chattel.

Perry, S. (2011). Manipulative monkeys: The capuchins of Lima’s Barbuda. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Acknowledgment

My sincere thanks go to: The Author, NetGalley, and the Publisher, for affording me the opportunity to review of The Evolutionary Mechanism of Human Dysfunctional Behavior.

book review, History, Military History, Military Intelligence, Non-Fiction, World War 2

Battle of Britain Broadcaster – REVIEW

November 12, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Battle of Britain Broadcaster
Author	Robert Gardner
Publisher	Air World (September 30, 2019)
Format	Kindle, Hardcover
Page	272
Language	English
ASIN:	B07YCTPNJB

Author’s Bio (from Amazon)

“Robert Gardner worked as a journalist for four years before moving into public relations with the British Aircraft Corporation becoming Head of Publicity and later Vice President of British Aerospace and BAE Systems. Robert Gardner, who is now retired, was appointed MBE in 2001.”

Who is the Target Audience?

The Battle of Britain Broadcaster: Charles Gardner, Radio Pioneer and WWII Pilot will appeal to anyone interested in British WWII history. History students will find the contents of this book revealing and a genuine look into the times of Britain’s greatest conflict.

Synopsis

The Battle of Britain Broadcaster is unlikely to be a populist favorite. I felt whilst reading this book that it was a publication too late in the day to ever be truly popular as it might have been. That being said, the book is resplendent with fascinating nuggets of intelligence on a myriad of subjects. I found the involvement of Gardner with Lord Mountbatten on the matter of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip Of Greece when he was attending The Naval collage at Dartmouth at the age of 18 and the Princess was a mere 13 years of age to be most revealing. Gardner managed to go far on a Gammer School Education and reached the dizzying heights of the Ministry of Information and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). During his service to King and Country he established many of the principals of broadcasting that the BBC uses today.

Conclusion

I really did want to love this book, but it never really happened. It felt trapped in the past like a man living off of bygone glories. People in today’s Britain are more concerned with right now rather than with the future or the past. For this publication; the Britain of World War 2 and the Britain of the Eurozone of today are literally worlds apart.

Acknowledgement

My sincere thanks go to: NetGalley and Air World for affording me the opportunity to review Battle of Britain Broadcaster: Charles Gardner, Radio Pioneer and WWII Pilot.

Uncategorized

Thanksgiving

November 6, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

book review, Humor, Litercurious Archives, Medical Science, Medicine, Non-Fiction, Science

THIS IS GOING TO HURT – REVIEW

November 6, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	This Is Going To Hurt
Author	Adam Kay
Publisher	Picador (Feb 20, 2020)
Format	Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover, and Audiobook
Page	80
Language	English
ISBN #	1509858636 ISBN #-13 (9781529034035)

Author’s Bio

This is Going to Hurt was written by Adam Kay. In this book he shares his personal anecdotes as a doctor working in the British National Health Service (NHS) during early 2000s. His recollections come from a diary he kept, detailing the ups and downs of life on the wards. Kay was inspired to write this book after a senior member of the government had made a claim that junior doctors, expecting to work less than 79 hours per week, were greedy. In This is Going to Hurt, Kay shows us the extremes of being a young doctor in the modern NHS.

Who is the Target Audience?

This is Going to Hurt is suitable for all those interested professionals or amateurs who find the life of doctors to be scintillating reading. Kay doesn’t spare us the gritty facts of life of a junior doctor and later a Senior Registrar. In this book there are some really funny tales and some truly dreadful stories of life and death. If you enjoy blood and guts descriptions of desperately sad and appalling ends, then you may enjoy the wild ride hanging on the white coat tails of Dr. Kay. If you are British, you may also gain a greater appreciation for the young medics that you interact with during your health visits.

Synopsis

The most significant part of This is Going to Hurt is dedicated to the abuse and neglect that many doctors are exposed to working within the British NHS. Dr. Kay discloses the scarcity of essential amenities required for proper medical care in the NHS. He explains the long hours of unpaid work forced upon doctors. He describes the lack of sleep and the abandonment of family, friends, and holidays. Worst of all, he describes how the enumeration is woefully inadequate for the myriad of drawbacks. Ultimately, after long periods of neglect by his employers a life altering incident prompts a change in his thinking and eventually leads him on a new path.

Conclusion

Adam gives us a view of the true life of a doctor on the wards of a British NHS hospital. He reminds us that doctors are only human. They are not infallible; they need love, care, and respect as we all do. They have the failings we all share and he prompts us to realize that. Most of all he wants us to understand that neglecting those who care for us is dreadful and that we should value and cherish the sacrifices; social, financial and psychological that doctors working in the NHS endure to provide you with world class health service.

Acknowledgment

My sincere thanks go to: NetGalley, and Picador for affording me the opportunity to review This is Going to Hurt.

Art & Design, book review, History, Non-Fiction

Manet and Modern Beauty – REVIEW

November 5, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Manet and Modern Beauty: The Artist’s Last Years
Editors	Scott Allan, Emily A. Beeny, and Gloria Groom (Ed.)
Publisher	Getty Publications 1st Edition (25 Jun, 2019)
Format	Kindle
Page	400
Language	English
ISBN #	1606066048 ISBN #-13 (978-1606066041)

The editors of this work should be proud. They have managed to create a work of art that Édouard Manet would have considered a fitting epitaph. The publication is dripping with beautifully reproduced works by the brilliant and talented Manet.

Who is the Target Audience?

This book is a must have for anyone who enjoys the Impressionist period of Modern Art. I would especially recommend this volume to students of art history or those with a love of the Impressionist Movement. There is so much information in the book that it could reasonably be considered as an encyclopedia of the artist and his works.

Synopsis

The contents are arranged in an organized fashion with accompanying high-quality photographic images of Édouard Manet’s paintings, sketches, personal letters, and more; much more. The Editors include a useful chronology dating from 1876 until Manet’s death in 1882. You can expect to learn about his background, his years at the Salon (Portrait of Antonin Proust, 1880. Cat. 22). We also learn details of his personal challenges experienced shortly before his tragic death. It is evident from Manet’s works included herein that Velasquez was one of his major influences. I believe that is most evident in Manet’s oil painting on canvas entitled A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, 1881. The Editors have made it easy to reference the illuminations.

The aspect of the book I enjoyed the most is the personal letters which Manet illustrated with wonderful watercolor sketches. Sketches that elevate an otherwise mundane note to a whole new level (See the Chapter entitled: Manet’s Little Nothings). After reading this “Manet Encyclopedia” I have a more complete understanding of the man and his work. I found the Chapter on Manet’s methods and Materials to be interesting and educational; as any artist would. By viewing the artists’ palette, we can see the insight for the paintings he created. There are close up images of individual brushstrokes revealing some of his methods in applying oil paint; an aspect that I found to be very helpful. I adored the summary of pigments detailed in a table complete with abbreviations, techniques employed, and references. There is even a color chart detailing individual colors that Manet used in his palette. Keep a look out for the Chapter on Manet’s private selection of personal letters 1878-83, for a genuine insight into the mind of the artist. It’s appropriate that the chapter of personal letters is followed by Plates that include a Portrait of Édouard Manet, 1867 (painted by Henri Fantin-L’atour) See Cat. 1. The Plates are resplendent with painting after painting. I laughed when I saw his painting of a brioche with a rose in it. This image in particular speaks of the artist’s outlook on life. I have yet to see a better painting of Irises in watercolor than the one contained in this tome.

Conculsion

The book concludes with a Catalogue of the Exhibition – 1866. Manet was at the height of his power as is evident from the contents of the catalogue. The Editors generously provide us high-quality images of the paintings from the 1866 exhibition.
This is the seminal work in my opinion of the late years of Édouard Manet and is a fitting epitaph to the great artist. I have no compunction in recommending this work of editorial art to you.

Acknowledgment

My sincere thanks go to: NetGalley, and J. Paul Getty Museum for affording me the opportunity to review “Manet and Modern Beauty.”

book review, History, Non-Fiction, True Crime, Women in History

According to Kate – REVIEW

October 31, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	According to Kate: The Legendary Life of Big Nose Kate, Love of Doc Holliday
Author	Chris Enss
Publisher	TwoDot (October 1, 2019)
Format	Kindle, Hardcover
Page	184
Language	English
ISBN #	1493037730 ISBN-13 #: (978-1493037735)

Author’s Bio

Chris Enss is a prolific and professional writer with decades of experience and more than 40 titles on the subject of the historic West. She holds numerous awards as well as being a New York Times Best Seller.

Who is the Target Audience?

History buffs and those with a penchant for Western History are likely to enjoy this presentation. In addition, those whose interests range from women’s history and biography may also find the book an enjoyable read.

Synopsis

The title revolves around the real-life adventures of Kate Elder the amour of the notorious Doc Holiday. The Wild West was an unforgiving environment for women, and it appears to have taken a rare toughness of mind and character combined with smarts to exist among the rough and tumble men. Enss shows the other, softer side of Kate Elder aka Big Nose Kate. Kate was gifted in many crafts. In writing this book Enss has given Big Nose Kate an epitaph she missed in the days of old.

Enss work shines from her masterful and crafted prose and her obvious respect for her subject. The familiarity Enss has of the life and times of the Old West is clear. According to Kate is a pleasant and interesting read about a character that history almost forgot. A female that although long dead is brought to life again through the professional writing skill of Enss. I did feel at times that the pace of the book was a little too slow.

Conclusion

The story written by Enss revolves around the female character of Big Nose Kate, aka Kate Elder, the sometimes wife of Doc Holiday. She lived in the tumultuous times of the 1800s in places such as Tombstone, Arizona, among many others.

Overall, the book is worthy of your time.

Acknowledgment

My sincere thanks go to: NetGalley, and the Publisher, TwoDot for affording me the opportunity to review According to Kate: The Legendary Life of Big Nose Kate, Love of Doc Holliday.

book review, History, Military History, Military Intelligence, Non-Fiction, Political Science, Reference Works

VICKSBURG – REVIEW

October 31, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Vicksburg
Author	Donald L. Miller
Publisher	Simon & Schuster (October 29, 2019)
Format	Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
Page	688
Language	English
ISBN #	1451641370 ISBN -13 (978-1451641370)

Author’s Bio

Professor Donald L. Miller is an established author of history related books since 2006. His earlier work: City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America is an award-winning publication. I am familiar with City of the Century, and Vicksburg is at least equal to or better than that book.

Who is the Target Audience?

This masterly study is an important read for those students of United States Civil War, those who enjoy Military Strategy and US Local History of the Civil War period.

Synopsis

This book is written by Professor Emeritus Donald L. Miller and is already heralded as a potential best seller. Vicksburg possibly being a best seller doesn’t surprise me, because having read this rare gem I also hold that opinion. Miller guides us through the evolution of strategies used by Grant, Porter, and Sherman. The campaign at Vicksburg was the singular pivotal event leading to the final minutes of the South at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Vicksburg was thought to be completely impregnable due in part to: environment, geographic, natural and geological factors. Grant together with both of his cohorts Porter and Sherman managed to solve a seemingly impossible puzzle in breaching the unreachable. It wasn’t without losses, however, and illness and disease took their toll.

The retelling of the events leading to the conquest of Vicksburg is a compelling tale fixed in history, but now brought to life for a new audience. It is well paced, easy to understand and contains a plethora of facts. It is so well written that many people who usually don’t enjoy these subjects may find they do enjoy Miller’s style of writing.

Conclusion

I have no reluctance in highly recommending this book. It is likely to be an award-winning book in my opinion. I received this as a reviewer for NeGalley but I will be purchasing a copy because I like to support great writers. Don’t wait till it sells out, get your copy as soon as you can.

Acknowledgment

My sincere thanks go to: The Author, NetGalley, and the Publisher Simon & Schuster for affording me the opportunity to review Vicksburg.

book review

Kidnapped by a Client – REVIEW

October 29, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Kidnapped by A Client: An Attorney’s Fight for Justice at Any Cost
Author	Sharon Muse JD; Holly Lorincz
Publisher	Sky horse (December 3, 2019)
Format	Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Audio CD
Page	312
Language	English
ISBN #	1510735941 ISBN -13 (978-1510735941)

Author’s Bio

The authors of this monograph are Sharon R. Muse and Holly Lorincz. In order to respect the authors privacy, and out of an abundance of caution I will avoid revealing any details beyond their names.

Who is the Target Audience?

As a true crime book this has a broad readership appeal. Those who follow true crimes and punishment would also find this real-life account of Muse and her victimization to be revealing on a number of levels.

Synopsis

Kidnapped by a Client is a first person account of a horrifying tale of a true-life crime perpetrated against Sharon Muse, a Kentucky attorney at law in 2006. Sharon Muse was abducted, raped, and stalked by a psychopath. In this tome she shares a vivid stark and brutal story, detailing her highs and lows, her ups and downs in the US Judicial System. A judicial system where she struggles to overcome the inherent but necessary bias towards the rights of alleged offenders in preference to the victims of crimes. The partiality towards the perpetrator leaves the victim as a mere source of physical evidence rather than a living, breathing human being. This prejudice often leaving the victims feeling objectified and frustrated by the lack of compassion and understanding.

From Muse’s kidnapping, to her experiences in court she describes the woeful treatment metered out to her by the United States Judicial System. She reveals that even to an experienced lawyer, how seemingly insurmountable some aspects of the law appear to be.

Despite the trials of life that she was exposed to, Muse found great solace and strength in Jesus Christ.

Muse’s story is as horrifying as it is compelling and immersive. Her odyssey leaves the reader with some disturbing truths and some alarming facts about crime and punishment in the 21st Century.

Her description of panicked apprehension about being held hostage to the lack of compassion or empathy from the authorities to her plight, leaves the reader with a bitter taste. Although this crime occurred in 2006, many of the experiences described could be had by other women today. Perhaps the most galling thing about the handling of her case is the avoidable mistakes made by the police, the collectors of evidentiary materials, and the prosecution.

Conclusion

In conclusion; Sharon Muse was abducted, raped, and stalked. She fought her case until she won. She persevered through a combination of a thirst for justice, her determination to see her perpetrator punished, and the desire to ameliorate her trauma, guilt, and shame. Ultimately, the victim triumphs not just over the flagitious criminal but over the inept unfeeling justice system itself. In a manner of speaking, she is twice the person the perpetrator could ever wish to be.

If you didn’t read the chapter: THREAT ASSESSMENT: RED FLAGS please do. If you are a vulnerable woman the wealth of information there could help you in a potentially dangerous situation.

Acknowledgment

My sincere thanks go to: NetGalley, and the Publisher, Skyhorse for affording me the opportunity to review of Kidnapped by a Client.

book review, Medical Science, Medicine, Non-Fiction, Reference Works, Regenerative Medicine, Science

STEM CELLS IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE – REVIEW

October 28, 2019 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Comprehensive review coming soon.

Title	Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Carpe Diem – Carpe Vitam!
Author	Mike K. S. Chan, Dmitry Klokol
Publisher	Matador (July 31, 2019)
Format	Kindle
Page	551
Language	English
ASIN #	B07VVL2MS7

Brief Synopsis

Quote: “The goal is to provide a once in a lifetime treatment to correct a specific medical deficit.”
Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine Carpe Diem-Carpe Vital! (July 31, 2019).

This is a seminal monograph on the subject of the therapeutic application and use of stem cells in “regenerative medicine.” The science described within the pages of this text may be leading edge, but Chan and Klokol have attempted to keep the information accessible to the average reader. However, in some parts the comprehension of the complex science may be challenging. Research scientists and students of medical research may gain the greatest benefits of this work.

The text guides you through the multiple applications of the utilization of Stem Cells and the medical illnesses that may be treated by the use of ‘Xenogeneic Cell Therapy.’ The authors posit the limitations and benefits of the scientific method as it relates explicitly to its use in human subjects. There is a brief description of xenotransplantation in the treatment of cells requiring regenerative assistance in a range of degenerative conditions through cross-species donated cells. Significant importance is placed in the use of cross-species hosts to be Scientific Pathogen Free Animals (SPF – Animals) through the use of ‘Closed Colony’ and proven clinical methods.

Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine describes the merits, the problemata, and the detailed methodologies of regenerative therapies. The book is replete with beautiful color illustrations that includes the Cell Cycle and the illustrations of the Noble Prize Winner, Günter Blobel, for Physiology or Medicine in 1999. His thesis is on how the distribution mechanism of biological active transport cells migrate, how proteins contain signals inside that direct their location in a destination cell, and how they are transported and where they may migrate to.

I found the Chronology of the development of stem cell research and application to be compelling reading.

Simply the most comprehensive book on the subject of Stem Cells as applied in ‘regenerative medicine,’ and most certainly the best illustrated. The illustrations combined with Chan and Klokol‘s vivid written communication provides you with an invaluable tool in comprehending the ground breaking subject of Stem Cell Therapy.