Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber
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Book Summary Author: David Servan-Schreiber Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2008-09-04 ISBN: 0670020346 Number of pages: 258 Publisher: Viking Adult |
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Book Reviews of the Anticancer: A New Way of Life
Customer Review: Hackneyed and Haphazard
Summary: 2 Stars
"All of us have cancer cells in our bodies. But not all of us will develop cancer" is the pitch of the book's front cover. Meant to be provocative and insightful the pitch comes across as hackneyed and haphazard, and this basically summarizes the reading experience for the accomplished medical professional David Servan-Schreiber's book "Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life."
"Anti-Cancer" recounts the good doctor's personal battle with brain cancer and his professional discovery that his medical profession is very ignorant when it comes to cancer; in fact shamans are better at treating cancer than the West's oncologists. It is a very unpleasant read because the writing is cold and cumbersome. That the book was translated from the French and that the writer is a medical professional accustomed to esoteric academic writing may be reasons. But I think that main problem is that this book is too rushed, and feels hardly edited.
The information in the book does not feel complete either. To fight cancer and to recover from cancer Dr. Servan-Schreiber recommends good eating habits, a section that he borrows generously from "Foods that Fight Cancer," a much more accomplished and informative book that clearly expresses the origins of cancer and documents well the fruits,vegetables, nuts, and beverages that most effectively contain cancer. Dr. Servan-Schreiber also recommends exercise, yoga, and meditation, as these activities permit individuals to be aware of and in control of their body and lifestyle. He also recommends support groups and coming to terms with death, and reports evidence that healthy psychology is just as important as a healthy body. In other words what you could learn from this 205-page is no different from what you could learn from one issue of "Cosmopolitan" or one episode of "Oprah" or from a fitness club brochure.
What's dangerous about the book is that Dr. Servan-Schreiber confidently believes he's telling us everything that is known to fight cancer. That's simply not the case. For example, neuroscience has discovered that our brains undergo a fundamental transformation when we fall in love and when we have children. Certainly, these two critical events must be inspiring and ultimately regenerative events for cancer patients, and I'd be very surprised and disappointed if no one has researched and investigated this area. (As an educator I think being with children itself is inspiring and regenerative, and I have always believed that the best psychotherapy is to teach younger children.) And I'm surprised that Dr. Servan-Schreiber doesn't mention volunteer/public service work as treatment for cancer patients -- certainly the act of assisting others and having your existence being acknowledged as beneficial to the existence of others must release dopamines in the brain, and that would augment the immune system, which helps fight cancer. Dr. Servan-Schreiber mentions that it's rare for athletes to obtain cancer, and so how about accomplished teachers, devoted priests, and charity workers?
"Anti-Cancer" is a difficult and cumbersome read, and for those who are seeking practical information on how to fight cancer and to improve one's diet and lifestyle overall I recommend "Foods that Fight Cancer: Preventing Cancer Through Diet" by Richard Beliveau and Denis Gingras.