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Book: It’s Not About the Bike
by Lance Armstrong
Recommended by Pete Merrin
Added Sep 2008
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Terrible vernacular, but
compelling story about how Lance Armstrong overcomes Testicular Ca and wins
the Tour de France. He is single minded, determined and would be a very
challenging patient ! |
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DVD:
Ordinary
People Recommended by Pete
Merrin
Added Sep 2008
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Robert Redford made his
Oscar-winning
directorial debut with this highly acclaimed,
poignantly observant drama.........
Click
here for Amazon details & full review
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Book:
The Oxford Book of Letters
Recommended by Ben Jones
Added Oct 2008 |
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With
an interesting letter about depression as an example. |
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Book:
Risk - reckoning with risk
by Gerd Gigerenzer
Recommended by Ben
Jones
Added Oct 2008 |
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An aid to
trying to communicate risk. Amazon quote:- <<At the beginning of
the 20th century, the father of modern science fiction, H.G. Wells,
predicted that statistical thinking would be as necessary for citizenship in
a technological world as the ability to read and write. Yet, a century on,
most of us, from television weather forecasters to the American President,
seem to have no idea of how to reason about uncertainties. Accordingly, a
number of books have marshalled a long roster of cognitive illusions as
evidence of humans' fundamental irrationality. Detailing case histories and
examples, this text presents readers with tools for understanding
statistics. In so doing, it encourages us to overcome our innumeracy and
empowers us to take responsibility for our own choices. >> |
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Book: The Family Way – by Tony Parsons
Recommended by Tamie Downes
Added Dec 2008 |
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It should be the most natural thing in the world. But in
Tony Parsons' latest bestseller, three couples discover that Mother Nature
can be one hell of a bitch. Paulo loves Jessica. He thinks that together
they are complete -- a family of two. But Jessica can't be happy until she
has a baby, and the baby stubbornly refuses to come. Can a man and a woman
ever really be a family of two? Megan doesn't love her boyriend anymore.
After a one-night stand with an Australian beach bum, she finds that even a
trainee doctor can slip up on the family planning. Should you bring a child
into the world if you don't love its father? Cat loves her life. After
bringing up her two youngest sisters, all she craves is freedom. Her older
boyfriend has done the family thing before and is in no rush to do it all
again. But can a modern woman really find true happiness without ever being
in the family way? Three sisters. Three couples. Two pregnancies. Six men
and women struggling with love, sex, fertility and the meaning of family.
And one more bitter-sweet bestseller from the author of MAN AND BOY. |
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Book:
And Still They Weep - Personal
stories of Abortion by Melanie Symonds
Recommended by Tamie Downes
Added Dec 2008
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"And Still they Weep" is
a book written by women who have suffered the tragic impact of abortion, and
this impact is illustrated quite clearly throughout the book.
Twenty women, from various backgrounds, tell their moving stories of how
they came to experience pregnancy and abortion, and explain how this has
adversely affected their lives. Some of the women took years to overcome
their experiences, and as a result felt that they had to tell others, so
that they would not make the same mistake of thinking that abortion would be
a "quick-fix" and an easy way out of a crisis pregnancy.
The accounts are sincere, and really do expose the side of abortion that, so
often, is not talked about. I would recommend it to any medical
practitioner, woman who has experienced or is considering abortion, or,
indeed, any person of goodwill who is willing to find out more about
post-abortion syndrome, which must be affecting women in increasing numbers,
as the abortion-rate soars. |
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Book: Atonement Child -
by Francine Rivers Recommended by Tamie Downes
Added Dec 2008
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Francine Rivers excels in this book at exposing the utter devastation that a
rape leaves behind. On top of that she deals with the subject of abortion in
a sensitive but not sentimental way. This book will make people sit down and
examine their own hearts. A remarkable book! |
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Film: Vera Drake – by Mike Leigh
Recommended by Tamie Downes
Added Dec 2008
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Mike Leigh produces another devastating masterpiece with
the heartbreaking VERA DRAKE. Imelda Staunton is the title character,
beloved wife of Stan (Phil Davis) and mother of Sid (Daniel Mays) and Ethel
(Alex Kelly). Vera spends her days cleaning houses for money and looking in
on elderly and sick neighbours out of the kindness of her heart. She even
attempts to be a matchmaker for her daughter, inviting a lonely neighbour,
Reg (Eddie Marsan), to see if he might be a perfect match for the
introverted Ethel. But Vera performs another duty that her family doesn't
know about, one that is deeply frowned upon by society. When tragedy befalls
a young client of Vera's, the truth comes out, forcing her family to see
their mother in an entirely different light. Staunton gives a towering
performance and, in typical Mike Leigh fashion, the story, characters, and
script were built from a gruelling and intricate improvisation process,
resulting in a film that burns with heart-wrenching sincerity. Rather than
take a heavy-handed approach towards his controversial subject matter, Leigh
heroically remains non-judgmental, delivering an achingly humanistic drama
that will linger with audiences long after they leave the theatre |
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Book: Broken
by Shy Keenan
Recommended by Pete Merrin
Added Feb 2009
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Pete was introduced to this book by a
patient who is the subject of the prologue of Shy’s next book. She writes: - 'I was born and broken in
Birkenhead. I was unwanted, beaten, sold, swapped, photographed, filmed, left
for dead, corrupted, blamed, betrayed and ignored. But I was also born with a
fire inside me. I call it my Phoenix Fire. I am no victim - that word only
describes what happened to me. Nor am I a survivor because that implies I am
over it. I am a Phoenix - a work in progress. This is my story.' Strange as
this was where Pete grew up – in a very different world ! It is the harrowing
(and at times almost unreadable) story of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of
her stepfather. Graphic but illuminating in every sense – I recommend it. |
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Book: The Totem Pole
by Paul Pritchard
Recommended by Andrew Partington
Added March 2009
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Autobiographical account of the events
surrounding, and the recovery from, an horrific accident which changed the
course of the author's life. Paul is an awesome writer and pulls no punches
in his narrative, showing a skill which is only heightened by the fact that
he left school without much of a formal education and has suffered a major
brain trauma! (Personally, I know climbers who are incoherent without these
added impedances).
This book is inspiring and the content can be rather emotional. Read it and
be grateful for the life you have |
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Book: TA Today
Recommended by Andrew Partington
Added March 2009
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A
new introduction to TA – a follow on for those who read Berne’s book ‘Games
people play’ but clearer and more instructive. Can be read piecemeal eg
Drama triangle. |
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Book: Paediatric Education
Recommended by Andrew Partington
Added March 2009
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Paediatric Education for pre-hospital
admission (part of the PEPP series)
Amazon:-
An excellent book which
support a structured educational programme being introduced into the UK. The
course focuses on the recognition and managment of a seriously ill child. It
emphasises the importance of basic management and advanced life support
while in transit to a definitive care facility. This book is an ideal
tool for anyone whom potentially may encounter a critically ill child. It
also supports a structured educational course. This course is available to
all professionals involved in paediatric emergency care. This book is worth
having close to hand, just in case! |
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