Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: Guide to Stress, Stress-related Diseases and Coping ("Scientific American" Library)

"You know, there are umpteen gazillions of reviews in and about through Amazon. All of which appear to be so very uptight to me. I read this book and found it to be SO very refreshing. Taking what is NORMALLY written in SUCH boring and monotonous writing, THIS guy is absolutely brilliant in his writing. SO creative, talented, funny - creates a VERY good and clear path for the reader to not only read or ingest but DIGEST the information as well.

I'm sitting here with a major cringe - retrospectively all the books I've read thus so far, Well no make that 'cringe' into a brisk shaking head side to side in disgust with previous authors for not having the BRILLIANCE that Robert Sapolsky has. HOW many times I've read something wanting to SNORE..

On a more sincere level, I couldn't put 6 or 10 stars on this and that's bloody annoying. Like it says on the cover, one of the most brilliant writers (Tho I beg to differ that he be restricted to purely a 'scientific writer' bleah..no no no - much more universal than that).

Robert Sapolsky is totally devoid of the DRY and DULL scientific norm that I seem to incessantly run into. In studying a great deal in stress management and counselling, all I can say is GET THIS BOOK :) You *must* have the patience and persistance however, if/when you run into those BIG WORDS :p (love this book, absolutely love it, maybe people think that the pavement doesn't go all the way out to the sidewalk with me on this one, but sincerely...very much so, read it...just...read it. Sit - read and absorb...*brilliant author*!! Footnotes are *equally* amazing an intense!)"
~ Written on 2008-07-23

"Your body is a sophisticated machine. If it were an automobile, it would be a top-of-the-line, luxury-class vehicle with all of the latest options. There's just one problem: Your body was designed for the savannas of Africa, not the streets and sidewalks of some urban metropolis. This is a major issue due to one of your body's great fail-safe systems: the stress-response mechanism, also called the "fight-or-flight syndrome." This mechanism provides your body with its best chance to get away safely from sudden peril, such as when a lion attacks you. It immediately floods your muscles with robust energy. Thus strengthened, you are far more able to evade the hungry predator. Unfortunately, this same stress-response also kicks in during psychological stress. In much of modern city life (even without stalking lions), such stress is often chronic, making your stress-response mechanism work dangerously overtime, and putting your body at risk of numerous stress-related disorders and diseases. Robert M. Sapolsky, a leading neuroendocrinologist, explains it all in this lively and entertaining, yet highly informative book. He writes with delightful, ironic verve and dry, irrepressible wit. He details how chronic stress can undermine your health, and explains what you can do about it, even in the urban jungle. getAbstract feels calmer just suggesting that anyone experiencing stress could benefit from reading this book.
"
~ Written on 2008-05-27

"I really enjoyed this book and found that some difficult information could be interesting and fun. He writes in a very personal manner and at the same time scientific. As a psychologist I found that the information in this book could be applied to clients clinically and my own knowledge on the topic stress has expanded. "
~ Written on 2007-07-10

"As a Msc Health Psychology student, with a background in the 'psychology' but none in the the 'health' I've really struggled to understand all the terms thrown around in class. I had no idea how the immune system worked, and to be frank I didn't care.

But the author writes in a way that not only helps your understanding but also makes you laugh and want to learn at the same time.

An absolute must for anyone studying stress, coping and disease, an probably an entertaining read even if you're not."
~ Written on 2005-01-08

"I had the fortune of being introduced to Robert Sapolsky during a lecture he gave to a business course I was attending. Reading his book, I was pleased that his fabulous story telling skills had translated so well to print. His dry humour and alert eye for the unusual guides the reader through the anatomy of stress leaving the reader with a new understanding of what happens to us. I especially enjoy Sapolsky's comparisons between humans and baboons, whom he studies a quarter of the year as well as being professor in biology and neurology at Stanford University. An example of this is that people who work in badly paid jobs, under bullying seniors have a tendency to suffer ulcers.... just like a lowly baboon constantly being picked on.

After taking us through the results of stress - impotence, weight problems, reduced growth, heart trouble and much more - the book thankfully ends with some well researched tips on how to cope with stress... like a zebra.

This is a book that I would read again, just for the entertainment value, and never cease to recommend to friends and colleagues."
~ Written on 2001-03-30