Book Description
Thirty years ago, Alfred Crosby published a small work that illuminated a simple point, that the most important changes brought on by the voyages of Columbus were not social or political, but biological in nature. The book told the story of how 1492 sparked the movement of organisms, both large and small, in both directions across the Atlantic. This "Columbian exchange," between the Old World and the New, changed the history of our planet drastically and forever. The book The Columbian Exchange changed the field of history drastically and forever as well. It has become one of the foundational works in the burgeoning field of environmental history, and it remains one of the canonical texts for the study of world history. This 30th anniversary edition of The Columbian Exchange includes a new preface from the author, reflecting on the book and its creation, and a new foreword by J. R. McNeill that demonstrates how Crosby established a brand new perspective for understanding ecological and social events. As the foreword indicates, The Columbian Exchange remains a vital book, a small work that contains within the inspiration for future examinations into what happens when two peoples, separated by time and space, finally meet.
Customer Reviews:
very important book.......2006-11-09
Slim though it is, this is a powerful little book. This insightful study of the biological consequences of the great culture clash that began in 1492 changed the way I think about history and has proved to be a valuable reference. It is a must-read for anyone interested in anthropology, epidemiology, ecology or history.
The 30th anniversary edition of a classic treatise.......2003-08-09
The Columbian Exchange: Biological And Cultural Consequences Of 1942 by Alfred W. Crosby Jr. (Professor Emeritus of American Studies, History, and Geography, University of Texas - Austin) is the 30th anniversary edition of a classic treatise that shows how the voyages of Columbus caused a sweeping biological change as organisms large and small spread to both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. From the deadly toll of smallpox among the Indians of Mexico, to the introduction of Old World plants and animals to the New World, and so much more, The Columbian Exchange is a seminal, educational, and uniquely insightful contribution to Native American, Medical History, and World History Studies reference collections and reading lists.
Book Description
"The best thing about this book is its overarching thesis, the concept of a Columbian exchange. This provocative device permits Crosby to shape a lot of familiar and seemingly unrelated data into a fresh synthesis. . . . The implications of this interplay between novel biological and social forces are fascinating." Journal of American History
Customer Reviews:
Paradigm-shifting historiography.......2007-03-21
The Columbian Exchange, by Dr. Alfred W. Crosby, as the title suggests, Crosby's work explains that the most influential aspect of the "discovery" of the "New World" in changing the paradigm of the "Old World" was not the economic ramifications or even the establishment of the United States, but instead the truly unforeseen biological and cultural effects. The Columbian Exchange is divided into four descriptive parts: a description of the paradigmatic shift as a result of Columbus' original crossing, a description of how disease factored into the colonization of the Americas, a description of how the flora and fauna of the "New World" was radically changed by the biological exchange and finally a description of how the Columbian biological exchange continues into the present. After the presentation of stockpiles of research and data, Crosby ends with the conclusion, of course, that the party that sustained the least amount of biological damage became the party less changed. The "New World," the Americas, was more drastically damaged and therefore changed than the "Old World," as Crosby infamously states, "there are two Europes and two Africas: one on either side of the Atlantic."
Alfred W. Crosby received his PhD in History from Boston University, after completing his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Harvard University. Dr. Crosby has taught at institutions such as the Ohio State University and Washington State University; however, Dr. Crosby has spent the majority of his teaching career (1977 to present) as Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin. He has also been granted visiting professorship at Yale University (1977), University of Hawaii (1991-2) and Umeå University, Sweden (1999). Dr. Crosby is also widely recognized outside of the discipline of history, mostly for his work as a bio-historian and in the field of historical archaeology. In 1988, he was awarded the Robert L. Stigler, Jr. Lectureship in Archeology at the University of Arkansas and in 2000 he was named a fellow of the American Philosophical Society. Dr. Crosby has also been awarded the "Giant" of World History Award at the World 2000 Conference on Teaching World History and World Geography.
Though his professional and teaching awards are striking, Alfred W. Crosby is most noted for his accomplishments in historical writing. Though The Columbian Exchange is his most renowned book, his other publications have not escaped reputation. He has received several accolades throughout his career including the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship, 1979, and the Medical Writers' Association Award for Best Book on a Medical Subject for Laymen, 1976, for his book, Epidemic and Peace, 1918. For his book, Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900, Dr. Crosby was awarded the Friends of the Dallas Public Library Award for the scholarly book making the most important contribution to knowledge in 1987 and Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize of the Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1988. He is truly a renowned bio-historian. His books, especially The Columbian Exchange, are used as indispensable for classroom assignments and reference books for high educational institutions everywhere.
The first part of Crosby's book deals with the change in the historiography of the origins of the world. Crosby lays out a new process in which scientific and religious minds had to think after the discovery of the "New World," due to the obvious biological isolation of the American continent. This new process of thinking about human origins eventually paved the way for the theory of evolution and the replacement of Christian creationism with Darwinism in the realm of rational thought. The believers in the literal translation of creation stories in the Torah, the Bible or the Qur'an faced a faith shaking and life changing paradigmatic shift. These holy books that were always deemed to be a literal history became under analysis and attack. A whole new type of history was born; a history that was biologically-centered. Everything in Dr. Crosby's book focuses around the effect of biological exchange and everything about post-1492, according to Crosby, was changed by the Atlantic biological exchange. Nothing of the Indians' various cultures escapes the effects of biological exchange, not religion, political structure, work systems, most certainly not humans, themselves, nor landscape.
In the second part of the book, Crosby's deals with his strongest and most original argument in The Columbian Exchange, this was the answer to the question, "Why were the Europeans able to conquer America so easily?" This answer is especially original because it puts the point of the sword directly upon disease, rather than Spanish brutality. This is a stark contrast to the historical literature of the twentieth century, even some proceeding the publishing of The Columbian Exchange in 1972. "It has often been suggested," Crosby evoke, "that the high mortality rates of these post-Columbian epidemics were due more to the brutal treatment of the Indians by the Europeans, than to the Indians' lack of resistance to imported maladies." After this statement, Crosby continues dispelling every type of "brutality" argument given by past historians and disputing that instead, biological disease was far more deadly. For example, Crosby mentions that the settlement in Roanoke, North Carolina, prior to any type of hostility between the settlers "open or hidden" that "within a few days after our departure from everies such townes, that people began to die very fast, many in a short space...The disease also was so strange that they neither knew what it was, nor how to cure it; the like by report of the oldest men in the country never happened before, time out of mind." The author even delves into the discussion of how quickly disease spread between the post-contact and proto-contact Indians: "[the Indians] now performed their last function on earth, to act as a reserve of pestilence in the "New World" from which the conquistador drew invisible biological allies for his assault on the mainland." This means of describing the brutal effect of disease on the Indians' resistance as well as on the Spanish conquest, seems to leave the Spanish looking less like monsters than previous historians. Crosby acknowledges the savagery used by the Spanish, but knows that the worst tragedy, the worst executioner, was far beyond the control or foresight of the Spanish.
This is Crosby's most important historiographical contribution. His detailed and well researched description of the pre-contact "New World" clearly shows how the post-contact "New World" was changed radically through the biological exchange. Most of the contemporary historical fallacies that Crosby challenges have to do with the savagery and decimation of the Indians by the Spanish. Rather than seeming as though he is arguing for one side or the other, Crosby seems to try to rectify the mischaracterizations of the past with the depth and accuracy of his research. The reader begins to feel that the events that led to the occupation of the "New World" were less insidious and murderous on behalf of the Spanish, but rather biologically inevitable. Crosby does not give his audience the feel that he is trying to save the reputation of the invading Spanish, but that he is simply trying to describe how it actually was; taking no sides.
Another of Crosby's strongest points in The Columbian Exchange is his description of the "New World" after the biological exchange. Crosby does not merely state "what actually happened," in the von Ranke fashion, for instance "the Spaniards reported that [disease] killed one third to one half of the Indians," but delves further into detail of how the Indian deaths affected everything about the "New World." Deadly disease turned everything the Indians' world upside-down. Not only did disease ravage the humans and decimate the population, but it upset the political, religious and work systems that the Indians had in place before. Crosby describes the fall of Tenochtitlan through the eyes of the Mexicans. After the initial Spanish invasion, smallpox from the Spaniards spread to the Mexicans of Tenochtitlan. Many of the chief men died of this disease and as a result, "the deaths of these important persons must have robbed the empire of much resiliency." Crosby describes empire after empire of American Indians that fell in such a manner. After the empire fell, the Spaniards would take it over and due to their appearance of immunity to this deadly disease, many of the Indians converted to Christianity, because they thought the Spaniard's God to be much more powerful and protective then their indigenous God.
Another major result of the deaths of the majority of the Indian population was the change in work ethic, which then facilitated the importation and success of domesticated packing animals and livestock. Prior to European arrival, there was a lack of large animals in the Americas, domesticated or not. The largest animal native to the Americas was the jaguar. This meant that no matter how heavy or large the load, the Indians had to move it using only their strength. "As the number of humans plummeted," Crosby states, "the population of imported domesticated animals shot upward." After the depletion of the population, many working bodies, the Indians readily accepted the horses and cattle that were being brought to the Americas.
The next part of The Columbian Exchange deals with the more subtle, but still important affects of the biological exchange on the "Old World," mostly Europe. For this section, Crosby does not revisit the paradigmatic shift, as in Chapter One; instead he visits the two most obvious biological effects on the "Old World": syphilis and food. Syphilis did not immediately begin decimating the population as smallpox or influenza did in the Americas, however, during times of cultural turmoil the disease took its toll. Crosby argues that venereal disease will only become a major problem to a society when "a society is in such chaos that the sexual morality breaks down. Such a sad state of affairs is usually the product of war." Though in the sixteenth century, syphilis raged in epidemics throughout Europe the fact of the matter was, that unlike smallpox, influenza or measles, syphilis was a "very dangerous infection, but not one that could be called explosive in the nature of its attack on the victim." Hence the same deadly toll was not taken on Europeans as it was on Indians.
The food exchange, on the other hand, was an undeniable exchange of food staples for the Europeans. Most people know that the potato which became a staple for European peasants was not native to the "Old World," but came over in the exchange. However, what many do not know was that the tomato was not native to Europe, either. Crosby argues that "some American foods have been so thoroughly adopted by the Europeans that one cannot imagine what their national diets must have been like before Columbus...Who could imagine the Italian chef deprived of the tomato?" Aside from cuisine, Crosby paints a picture of a Europe faced with famine and utterly saved by the imported American staples such as potato, beans and maize.
Just as he argues that the Spanish could not have foreseen what would have biologically taken place, Crosby also used the last part of his book to describe how epic and irreproducible the effects of the Columbian exchange truly were. Even though the exchange still continues today, it most probably "will never be repeated in as spectacular a fashion as in the Americas as in the first post-Columbian century, not unless there is, one day, an exchange of life forms between planets."
Dr. Crosby's publications throughout the last three decades have moved seamlessly between both Spanish and English. Many of the sources used in The Columbian Exchange are written in Spanish, both contemporary documents and primary documents from the sixteenth century. This fluency allowed Crosby to read primary source documents crucial to his research with less of a chance of improper translation. For example, the author discusses the previous historical assessments of the epidemics facing the Indians as solely smallpox. However, in reading such primary source chronicles of the sixteenth century, he discovers that the Spanish word viruelas "is almost invariably translated as `smallpox,' it specifically means not the disease but the pimpled, pustuled appearance which is the most obvious symptom of the disease. Thus the generation of conquistadors may have used `viruelas' to measles, chicken pox, or typhus."
The sources Dr. Crosby uses for The Columbian Exchange are no doubt what produced such a well-organized and data-based argument. It is not that the author uses several primary sources documents from Spanish conquistadors, colonists and Catholic religious, that is extraordinary, but using his fluency in Spanish translates the documents himself (as mentioned before). Crosby's new translations and interpretations aided the originality of his study of the effects of disease that ravaged the Indians. Nearly half of all of Crosby's sources are in Spanish. For this part of his description of the initial effects of European disease on Indians, Crosby uses very little secondary sources. He comes to nearly all personal and innovative conclusions. The secondary source material that Crosby does use for this section is a plethora of non-historical, medical texts, such as C.W. Dixon's, Smallpox, and Horacio Figueroa Marroquin's, Enfermedades de los Conquistadores. For the description of the pre- and post-Columbian flora and fauna of the "New World," Crosby uses some secondary historical texts, but again, relies mostly on primary descriptions from the Spanish. Then, Crosby steps outside of the discipline and uses food and botanical texts. Finally, for the description of the effect of Columbian biological exchange on the Europeans and the rest of the "Old World," Crosby relies mostly on secondary sources and encyclopedias, such as George P. Murdock's, Africa, Its People and Their Cultural History, Jean Astruc's, A Treatise on Venereal Diseases, and the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. In all, Crosby's comprisal of a variation of sources, not only sources from the historical discipline, but interdisciplinary sources, as well, made for a very credible account of his version of the Atlantic biological exchange.
Crosby does not seem to be writing for any type of political or professional purpose. Unlike historians such as Howard Zinn or Jawaharlal Nehru, Crosby does not begin, flesh out, nor end his book including any type of political cause. The writing is more of matter-of-fact, like a biology text book, than driven by personal motive or arguments. A main question in historiography is how to be objective, while still producing a work that is "readable" to the general, popular public. The style in which The Columbian Exchange is written is as unchallenging to read as a bestselling novel, which probably adds to its popularity as a teaching tool in undergraduate and beginner's history courses. This type of mastery of "stylistic objectivity" makes this book an amazing model for the study of historiography.
With the retail price of $29.95, this book is an investment, not only for historians or as a model for historiographical study, but also for every human being, especially for those on the "New World" side of the globe. Crosby does a wonderful job in describing just how radically and nonnegligible the effect of the initial voyage of Columbus was. The important he imposes upon the subject (and rightly so), makes it seem as though it is all humanity's duty to read his book and understand what truly occurred in the Columbian exchange and how drastically it shaped the known world today.
a more balanced approach to history.......2002-08-22
Alfred W. Crosby, in his 1972 book The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492, represents a relatively recent trend among historians who are beginning to take a closer look at the first contacts between European and American peoples and the long-term cultural effects of that encounter in both Native American and Old World European societies. For generations the traditional historical perspective has argued that American history began with Columbus. There has been only slight relevance given to probable Viking landfall by Lief Ericson on North America and even less credence to earlier Celtic voyages by Brenden.
This idea--that native cultures in the Americas prior to 1492 have no significance until touched by a European presence--is being called into question today by Crosby and others like him, who look at the aftermath of Columbus and the "age of exploration" with a multidisciplinary approach by bringing together the combined research of anthropologists, archeologists and historians.
Crosby begins his work with a look at the evolution of life in the Western hemisphere and some of its very basic differences to that with which the Europeans were familiar. He also addresses issues that faced sixteenth century Europeans in their attempt to integrate the Americas into their Christian and Aristotelian worldview, pointing out that: "The uniqueness of the New World called into question the whole Christian cosmogony." The task of categorizing the resources of the New World led to further questions for the Europeans: how to find a place, in their established hierarchies of man and nature, that would both satisfy the missionary zeal of the Church and the mercenary zeal of the Courts of Eurpoe. These same questions and issues, and the consequences of some of the more Eurocentric answers, have in one way or another impacted both European and American societies for the last five hundred years.
One of the most impressive things about Crosby's book is his multi-scholastic approach to his subject. He draws on an immense list of sources for his material; sources not only historical, but scientific and philosophic as well. Not only does he catalog the variety of plant and animal life that the Old World transplanted to the new and vice versa, but he draws historical implications from the exchanges as well. Perhaps the most interesting exchange that Crosby delineates is the consequence of the introduction of Old World pathogens--like smallpox, measles, diptheria, pneumonia, typhus and various other epidemics--among the non-resistant peoples native to the Americas. He deals at length with the reasons for the epidemic spread of these diseases and their devastating effects on Native populations.
He also very clearly covers both sides of the controversy, the Unitarian and the Columbian theories, surrounding the transmittal of syphilis from New World to Old, and goes on to describe the consequent effects of that disease on Europe from the sixteenth century onward. Most commendable here is Crosby's attitude, wherein he presents all his research clearly and without obvious bias, allowing his readers to draw their own conclusions from the wealth of material he has put forth. He concludes the chapter on syphilis with a number of fascinating accounts of the bacterium as it struck Europe in the following centuries, of the various treatments and "cures" and of the social impact of such a virulent venereal disease.
If Crosby can be criticized at all it might be said that he is writing primarily for other scholars. His references and vocabulary--both impressive--might be intimidating to the average reader. His topic, however, and this alternate perspective on the "discovery" of America and the impact of its "conquest" are issues of which even non-historians should be aware. In that respect Crosby must be congratulated for being a leader in bringing together multiple disciplines in socio-historiography.
Good for info, Bad for fun..........2002-05-22
The Columbian Exchange, written by Alfred Crosby, is an in depth look at the biological and cultural consequences of Columbus's discovery of the New World. The Columbian Exchange focuses on the negative aspects of European exploration and exploitation of the Americas. Alfred Crosby focuses on the dependence on different foods, the changes in lifestyles, and the effects that the European flora and fauna had on the new world, and how it changed the Americas forever. His main point in this book was that the most important changes wrought by the European expansion into the new world were biological in nature, not social, political, or cultural.
To clearly understand Crosby's point of view, we must understand him and his writing style. His background in history and health give some credence to his opinions and research. The book states that Crosby is a Research Associate at the University of California Medical Center, History of Health Sciences. He mostly uses empirical evidence and statistics to base his claims, but sometimes resorts to his own opinions and guesswork. He also uses tables and maps to help the reader picture history the way that he sees it. He relies heavily on other contemporary sources such as Del Castillo and Agiler to base many of his claims, but cites the exact references to these outside sources.
Though Crosby does a good job of making this book interesting and available to people who are not historians or biologists, he could have done some things differently to make the book more approachable to the average person. He has a tendency to deviate from the subject matter, and does not always provide enough evidence for his claims.
In some cases, these tangents allow us to better understand the point he is trying to make, but mostly it makes trudging through the endless examples and repetitiveness a chore. For instance, his many examples of how the European animals spread throughout the New World seemed very dry and repetitive. Crosby just kept expounding upon certain pieces of evidence, even after he had made his point. I think that in the hands of another author, this book could have been ninety pages with little loss of content.
He also seemed to be stretching for evidence and was using a lot of guesswork in chapter five when he was trying to relate the new food types with the sudden growth in population. Sure, it sounds good in theory, but he needs more clear-cut evidence to support his claims to convince the reader of the truth of his statements.
In chapter four, Crosby claims that syphilis in Europe came from the new world, without the proof to back up his claims. There are a few other theories as to where syphilis came from, but without evidence backing up his claim, how are we to know which one is correct, if any? He tries to support his theory with a table of the diseases present throughout time, but it is not enough to convince the reader that his is the correct theory, or that the other's aren't.
Another thing that got to me about the book is that he claims that The Columbian Exchange has had a worldwide effect. The book may present some of the changes that were wrought of the European expansion into the Americas, but it was far from worldwide in it effects. In fact, the "far reaching" biological consequences consisted of a small part of the New World, mainly Central America, the West Indies, Southern North America, and Northern South America.
To his credit, he stays focused on what the book was about: The biological aspects of the European expansion into the New World. He didn't deviate much into the culture, social, or economic impact that the discovery of the New World had on both worlds. His focus on how the Spanish would not have had such success in the New World if it were not for the diseases that they brought with them, and the various elements of surprise that the Spaniards had over the natives.
To sum up, I would have to say that this book is good in getting its point across, but for all other purposes, it was mediocre. He did a good job of supporting the claims he made with evidence, though in some places this made it tough to read. Some of the aspects of the connection between the biology and history of the region were a little deep, and that would drive away the average reader. I would recommend it to those looking for an educational look at the causes of the changes in the New World, but for the average for-fun reader, I would say stay away from it.
A Good, Unique Biological Perspective on History.......2001-08-15
This would be an excellent book for the hardcore historian or the equally enthusiastic biologist, because it builds a neat and entertaining bridge between the two. Historically, Crosby does an excellent job in expounding upon the consequences of Europeon contact with the New World and accomplishes something quite unique. Most authors bog down in the details, but Crosby brings out the big picture, and neatly places the cause and effects of biological exchange between the once separated "worlds." This book changed the way I look at discovery and its consequences. This study examines the far reaching effects from syphillis to potatoes and makes for an eye-opening and distinctly different read.
The only reason I give this 4 instead of 5 stars is I wanted more!
Look for the paperback edition!.......2000-08-03
Alfred Crosby's *The Columbian Exchange* is a classic. To give you an idea of the importance of this book, the concept of the Columbian Exchange is now part of the historical lexicon of college and high school history textbooks. It even made a stealthy appearance of sorts in the title of Jared Diamond's recent Pulitzer Prize winning book, *Guns, Germs, and Steel*. Indeed, no history of the "Spanish Conquest" is complete without reference to the exchange of flora and fauna - especially the role of European pathogens. It was hardly surprising that Crosby's book was required reading at the National Teacher Training Institute for AP World History in 2000.
Even readers who are familiar with the concept of the Columbian Exchange can benefit from reading the original work. Crosby traces the migration across Beringia, using blood types to illustrate the homogeneity of the population. Most importantly, this population remains isolated from the communicable disease pools that periodically decimate Afro-Eurasians following the development of agriculture and cities. When European conquistadors and missionaries arrived in the 15th century, epidemics of Eurasian diseases spread like wildfire through 'virgin' populations - often traveling faster than the Europeans themselves. This demographic collapse creates the world's greatest labor (energy) shortage, which set the stage for the slave trade.
The fate of Eurasian animals transplanted to the Americas was similar. Large domesticated mammals were virtually unknown in the Americas; Eurasian horses, pigs, and sheep found a world devoid of predators and competitors. They too were 'conquistadors' that transformed New World environments and cultures. The American image of a Plains Indian on horseback is perhaps the most familiar example of a 'biological and cultural consequence' of the Columbian Exchange.
With the possible exception of syphilis, the New World's contribution to this Columbian Exchange is almost entirely beneficial to the Old World. Maize, potatoes, tomatoes, cassava, peanuts, chilies, and cacao are perhaps the best-known examples of New World foods that travel back to Eurasian and fuel a demographic surge. For many people, the Columbian Exchange revealed that the foods and images we often take as symbols of national or cultural identity are actually syncretic blends of Old and New World ingredients. Take chocolate, for example. It is perhaps the best example of food created by the Columbian Exchange. Southeast Asian sugar, 'discovered' by Crusaders in the Holy Land, was grown on Caribbean plantations by African slave labor and combined with cacao from the Americas.
As I write this review, I note that only the $65 hardback edition is listed at Amazon. Be advised, there is a less expensive paperback edition. (Ask for it!) If that fails, I would recommend Crosby's *Ecological Imperialism*, which explores the theme of biological diffusion on an even broader global scale than *The Columbian Exchange*.
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- Walking Magazine - The Complete Guide to Walking: for Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss
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Walking Magazine The Complete Guide To Walking: for Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss
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A 52-Week Plan for increased energy, reduced stress, improved mood, permanent weight loss, and a longer, healthier life from the experts at Walking Magazine.
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Walking Magazine - The Complete Guide to Walking: for Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss.......2007-05-14
Do you like to walk? Are you thinking about walking as a way to get some exercise, lose weight, or to de-stress? This is the only book you will ever need. Mark Fenton is not only qualified to write this excellent guide, he has done the hard, creative work to do it. Whether you are a veteran walker, a beginner, or just thinking about the possibility of starting; this guide has so much to offer each of you.
I'm excited about walking!.......2007-04-27
I had been talking about starting a walking program for months. One of my coworkers finally bought this book for me, and it immediately lit a (figurative) fire under my butt to get me moving!
This book not only provides a 52-week guideline for increasing your activity, but it also serves as a journal to log what activity you have acheived that day. It stresses getting 6 days of at least 30 minutes of activity, but it has a 4-week plan to ease you into the 30 minutes if you've been fairly inactive before starting the program.
The author also urges you to get your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose level checked at the beginning of your 52-week program, again at 6 months, and again at the end of the program. I think that's highly responsible of the author, and was also highly motivating for me to visit my doctor for the first time in over 2 years.
THE Best Book on Walking!.......2006-08-21
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The Average minus Non-Readers is 5 Stars.......2005-10-22
Two jerks in the review pool gave the book a 1 star despite the fact they had never read it. I guess they will have to wait for the made for TV movie.
I love this book!.......2003-09-09
I've bought this book four times now, because I show my copy to a family member or friend and they get so excited about it, I give them my copy and then have to go buy another one. This is the best walking book I've ever come across, with good information for the total beginner or the experience walker who just wants some extra motivation. Buy it!
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Walking is a super sport for health, weight loss, stress reduction, and management of a number of medical conditions. Prevention's Complete Book of Walking gives you every piece of information you need for stepping out, including choosing shoes, clothing, treadmills, gadgets, location, technique, speed, and walking vacations, plus advice about diet, strength training, and yoga. Learn how to train for a race, whether a 5K (3.1 miles) walk/run is your speed, a marathon (26.2 miles), or volkswalk (6.2 miles). You'll learn a new way of walking from the six-week "dynamic walking" program included here. Dynamic walking is a series of techniques and exercises for improving posture, gait, and biomechanics while walking, developed by movement therapist Suki Munsell, Ph.D.
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"There are few people who have done more for walking, or who know more about walking, than Maggie Spilner...... This is truly a walking encyclopedia for the new millennium."--From the foreword by Elaine Ward, founder and director of the North American Racewalking Foundation From the walking editor of America's number one healthy living magazine comes the definitive guide to America's number one fitness activity: walking. Join Prevention's Maggie Spilner as she introduces you to the tools and techniques that can help you get more from your walking routine. You'll go farther and faster, with greater comfort and less risk of injury. Prevention's Complete Book of Walking features: *Three workout plans to help you walk off extra pounds (page 97) *Step-by-step instructions for finding perfect-fitting shoes (page 47) *Yoga poses that support an efficient, fluid stride (page 131) *A buyer's guide for choosing the best treadmill (page 60) *A complete program to train for a 5-K event (page 151) Prevention's Complete Book of Walking also features the 6-week Dynamic Walking program developed by Suki Munsell, Ph.D. You'll learn to move your body with grace, control, and power, so you'll get even greater benefit from your walking routine.
Customer Reviews:
The best read and advice around!.......2006-12-28
I have been an advid walker for many years. When I started walking 12 years ago. I needed to find a form of exercise that I could do consistently and would drop my cholesterol and blood sugars to an acceptable level. I found Maggie Spilner's newsletter on line way back then and found it to be one of the most valuable sources of encouragement and factual information on all aspects of wslking! In fact, I kicked my walking up a notch and formed a walking team who has competed in long distance walking relays (125-140 miles) and have done several chartiable walks and 1/2 and full marathons. This book has been my source of information for years to help inspire and encourage the newest of walker and all the way up to the competitive levels. I have bought several copies and needed to find more to give out at a city wide walking program seminar in my home town. I came to amazon to find the books and I will purchase more! I have been fortunate through our joint walking adventures Maggie and I have become friends and she was my choice to kick off my walking program here is Lake Havasu City, AZ. She is the best and I will continue to provide this book to others and use it as my constant source of valuable information,ideas that really work and enocuragement that changes lives! Oh, by the way my cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure has the been the best for many years now and it is all do to walking! So get on your feet and walk and go buy this book! You will not regret it! Maggie, go girl!!!!
EXCELLENT WALKING BOOK - A must read!!!.......2006-09-04
This is an excellent walking book because it is so informative and motivational! It provides oodles of information about what shoes to wear, what gear to wear, winterize your walking program, how to walk off your weight, a routine for the road, how to prepare for a 5-K or a marathon, and dynamic walking routines...and everything else you need to know. I highly recommend this book to the beginner or advanced walker. This book has inspired me to walk three (3) 5Ks in the past four months and I now walk on a daily basis! Just buy it and read -- you'll like it! =-)
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk".......2005-06-26
I have enjoyed Maggie Spilner's writings for many years and it's great to find her walking wisdom packed into one book! I especially recommend this book if your inner sloth needs to be reminded (as mine does) to get out and walk-- Every Day!
Maggie writes, "Walking supports health in every sense--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It enriches and balances your life. And it just plain makes you feel good."
She is the world's best walking buddy and sprinkles every page with practical --and fun--walking tips, guaranteed to get your inner sloth off the couch!
On a personal note, I want to add that there is a sign at the top of a hill where I walk that says: "Above all, do not lose your desire to walk." I have long been curious about the source of that quote, and, today, I found it:
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. . . Thus if one just keeps on walking, everything will be alright."
--Søren Kierkegaard, a prolific Danish writer, letter to Jette (1847)
Maggie's passion for walking is contageous -- reading her book will help assure that you never lose your desire to walk!
Suza Francina, author, The New Yoga for People Over 50 and Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause. www.suzafrancina.com
Good read.......2004-11-27
This book is a good read. Two others that were better for me from a walking program perspective are: "The 90-Day Fitness Walking Program" by Mark Fenton (GREAT walking program for the couch potato beginner - starts w/ 10 minutes a day and gradually works up to 30 minutes a day - also not an information overload for a beginner) and "Walking Magazine The Complete Guide To Walking: for Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss" by Mark Fenton (this is the one i'm using now - great walking program schedule and tons of very good info on keeping variety in your fitness routine). If you can afford them, get all three. (I also like "The Sprited Walker" by who I forget, for motivation.) If not, start w/ the "The 90-Day Fitness Walking Program" by Mark Fenton and maybe this Prevention one to get you additionally fired up.
Don't let one bad review turn you away.......2004-03-26
I am the author of this book. I don't recieve any royalties for its sales and I no longer work for Prevention Magazine or Rodale Inc. I've checked here from time to time to see if the reviews change. The single negative review on top has been up for YEARS. I think it's too bad. I know many people have thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it very very helpful. It's true that much of it is a compilation of many years of articles written for Prevention and for my Newsletter. But they were well researched, facthecked and contain lots of helpful info for all levels of walkers. The section on Dynamic Walking is one of kind. You won't find that information anywhere else. I think it's a shame that one bad review by a person who seems mostly interested in marathons can be in place for years and put people off from getting a book that could really motivate them to walk for health for a lifetime. If you're new to walking and or a beginner looking for solid advice and inspiration, this book won't disappoint you. There, I've said my peace. Now MY two-bits will be up here for years. My friends will probably tease the heck out of me for defending my work. So be it! :-)
Customer Reviews:
Shopping or Site Seeing - It's a Hard Choice!.......2000-07-17
South Korea has made a terrific come back since the war. The cultural sites are magnficent and represente thousands of years of history. The shopping couldn't be nicer. The people are very friendly and very honest. The cities and especially the countryside is clean and neat.
Average customer rating:
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Walking: The Complete Book
Jeff Galloway
Manufacturer: Meyer & Meyer Fachverlag und Buchhandel GmbH
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Walking
| Hiking & Camping
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Training
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
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ASIN: 184126170X |
Book Description
COMPLETE GUIDE TO WALKING: For Health, Weight Loss and Fitness, New and Revised
Mark Fenton
America’s #1 walking coach updates his bestselling 52-week program
“America’s reigning guru of walking.” –Washington Post
Mark Fenton’s paperback has sold 50,000 copies, and now contains up-to-date information on pedometers, fighting obesity, nordic walking, getting kids to walk, and building walkable communities, all in addition to his tried-and-true walking program. Fenton has designed an easy-to-maintain exercise program that will get people engaged in a lifetime of walking, illustrated with full-color photos throughout. Chapters are literally step-by-step and include: walking warm-up moves, emotional well-being, heart health, keeping it fun, logging your workouts, walking in intervals, walking attire, safety tips, walking on treadmills, walking vs. running, healthy eating, heart-rate monitors, building endurance and speed, race walking events, using hand weights, protecting your joints, and much more! Mark Fenton’s guide is as motivating as it is realistic, and promises to become an even bigger seller as consumers become ever more aware of the benefits of walking.
Mark Fenton is the nation’s foremost expert on walking. He has appeared on the Today show, Good Morning America and hosts the PBS TV series, America’s Walking. He also discussed walking in Martin Spurlock’s documentary film Supersize Me, and is the founder of Reader’s Digest Walking magazine. He is a contributing editor and writer for Parade, Prevention and Health magazines, and appears at events around the country to promote walking programs and consult on walkable communities.
He lives in Scituate, Massachusetts.
Amazon.com
Walking for Health is a guide to creating a fitness program based on walking. Not sauntering, not window-shopping, not strolling, not stopping to smell the flowers--but walking with a brisk, purposeful stride. Personal trainer Erika Peters helps you start a walking program literally one step at a time. She explains the health benefits (both mental and physical) of exercise and gives some all-purpose fitness information: how to measure your fitness level, make a commitment, and set goals. Then she gets into walking specifically, discussing everything you might need to know, from what to wear to how to step for specific purposes. For example, did you know that walking on the beach is more likely to shape your derriere because you're pushing your way out of the sand? Peters explains how to add intensity and variety once you're past beginner stage by adding speed, hills, or intervals. If you have arthritis, diabetes, or a heart problem, she has special tips for you. In case you think you don't have time to walk, Peters shows you how to fit it into your busy lifestyle. Photos illustrate various exercises, such as warm-ups, stretches, fitness tests, and strength exercises. Although most of the book is specifically about walking, she also discusses weight training and weight loss. The style is peppy and friendly. Arm yourself with this book, and you'll run out of excuses not to walk. --Joan Price
Book Description
"Fodor's can't be beat." -- Gannett News Service
"Packed with dependable information." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over. Completely up-to-date, Fodor's Gold Guides are essential tools for any kind of traveler. If you only have room for one guide, this is the guide for you.
The best guide to both cities, completely updated
Wonderful walks to historic neighborhoods, plazas, restful gardens, soaring cathedrals, and sweeping views
World-class art and playful Moderniste architecture
Side trips to medieval towns and pristine beaches
Where to stay and eat, no matter what your budget
Luxurious Belle Epoque hotels, historic town houses, fashionable inns, restored palaces and paradors
Baroque dining rooms, stylish tapas bars, chic bistros, local institutions, and the world's oldest restaurant
Fresh, thorough, practical -- from writers you can trust
Costs, hours, descriptions, and tips by the thousands
All reviews based on visits by savvy writer-residents
29 pages of maps -- and dozens of great features
Important Contacts - Smart Travel Tips - Fodor's Choice - Pleasures and Pastimes, the best of each city - Festivals - Complete index
Average customer rating:
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The Complete Book of Exercise Walking
Gary D. Yanker
Manufacturer: Contemporary Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Walking
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
| AIDS
| Abuse
| Adults
| Aging
| Children
| Class
| Communities
| Culture
| Death
| General
| History
| Leisure
| Marriage & Family
| Medicine
| Men
| Occupational
| Race Relations
| Religion
| Research & Measurement
| Rural
| Social Groups
| Social Situations
| Social Theory
| Suburban
| Urban
| Women
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Accessories:
-
Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 0809255359 |
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