The Sensitive Gut
With the help of medical doctor Neimark, Salt has updated and  improved his excellent book on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)  (LJ 10/15/97). This second edition preserves Salt's clear  writing and lively illustrations while completely revising the  format. Instead of eight steps on learning to live with IBS, now  there are seven steps, which put greater emphasis on choices and  action. A nice addition is a chapter on journaling as a  mind/spirit health tool, and helpful symbols scattered  throughout indicate that more detailed information on a subject  is available on the publisher's web site. This book is  essential, even for libraries that own the first edition. The Sensitive Gut also deals with irritable bowel syndrome, but  it includes other functional gastrointestinal disorders as well:  heartburn, dyspepsia, excessive gas, and constipation. It  carries the powerful creditability of Harvard Medical School,  but its textbook-like format may scare off many potential  readers. This is unfortunate, as the language is very clear and  easy to understand. The book's conversational tone makes the  explanation of the digestive system's mechanics one of the most  entertaining yet concrete descriptions available. This guide  also discusses the mind/gut connection and alternative medicine  options, but since it covers a broader scope than Salt's book,  there is less depth in most areas. This is a nice addition to  larger collections but is not an essential purchase. KellyJo  Houtz Griffin, Eatonville, WACopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.