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288 reviews for:
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping
Robert M. Sapolsky
4.05 AVERAGE
288 reviews for:
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping
Robert M. Sapolsky
4.05 AVERAGE
While the author's asides and examples are entertaining, this book is way too technically dense. There is no reason for me to know that much about the stress response system in such detail. I thought that the first and last chapters were interesting and useful, so save yourself some time and just skim the middle.
Well written and really funny. This all sums up for a really easy read even with all those scientific terms.
This book is great - but I feel that it risks creating a downward spiral of stress, as the more one learns about the danger of stress, the more one worries about it right?! That said there is a decent amount of hope within this absolutely thorough tome on stress and stress-related disease. While much of the positive side is contained in one relatively short chapter to conclude, the majority of the book is still worthwhile as Sapolsky explores the myriad of related issues to stress including physical disease, immune responses, mental health, povery and so on.
Grabbing the latest edition is highly recommended as there is much updated throughout especially around latest scientific reveals and useful points.
Grabbing the latest edition is highly recommended as there is much updated throughout especially around latest scientific reveals and useful points.
How stress causes health problems. Plus some funny stories along the way, especially stories about baboons. Apparently, their society is similar to ours, in that, they only need to forage for 4 hours a day, and the rest of the time is spent dilly-dallying. So, like us, they have time to treat each other like crap, and create weird stressors of their own-making. Also, there is a hilarious photo of a parking lot outside of a type-A personality support group. All the cars have been parked reversed in - all ready to sprint off at the end of the meeting. I would love to see parking lots of various support groups; it must be very telling.
This book is a tour de force of the physiological processes that drive or are derived from human nature, decisions, and reactions as they related to stress related diseases. Its not so much a healthcare book as it is an scientific explanation for the existential malaises that so dauntingly ravage the human mind. Its nearly over-detailed explanations of the chemical processes that mediate our anxities and depressions drive home each point with incredible precision. If the book has any weaknesses it would be that the section on dealing with stress is rather brief, but the 17 chapters beforehand (95% of the book) suggest ways of biofeedback and coping by showing us themes, rather than giving us overt instructions. And honestly, thats what I prefer, the science of "why" as opposed to a set of simple rules. Sometimes the best way to affect ones mind is to explain their situation rather than urge them to leave it. Sometimes, the power comes from knowing, and Sapolsky is the wizard of empowering through knowledge.
informative
slow-paced
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Brings together a lot of research about stress. More science writing should be this clear and readable.
Very heavy biology, was good to get back into it, understood most but slow going, maybe not really relevant for right now, could go back to specific chapters, would've been nice to have conclusions throughout, not much to highlight without highlighting a whole paragraph, niceish take aways at the very end, edition I read didn't include any of the notes at the end