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 | | Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: An Updated Guide to Stress, Stress Related Diseases, and Coping (2nd Edition) by Robert M. Sapolsky ISBN-10: 9780716732105 ISBN-10: 0-7167-3210-6 ISBN-13: 9780716732105 ISBN-13: 978-0-7167-3210-5 Perfect Paperback 1998-04-15 W. H. Freeman Find Lowest Price |
Editorials | ||
Product Description Combining cutting edge research with a healthy dose of humor and practical advice, Sapolsky explains how prolonged stress causes or intensifies mental afflictions. | ||
Amazon.com Review Why don't zebras get ulcers--or heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases--when people do? In a fascinating look at the science of stress, biologist Robert Sapolsky presents an intriguing case, that people develop such diseases partly because our bodies aren't designed for the constant stresses of a modern-day life--like sitting in daily traffic jams or growing up in poverty. Rather, they seem more built for the kind of short-term stress faced by a zebra--like outrunning a lion. With wit, graceful writing, and a sprinkling of Far Side cartoons, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers makes understanding the science of stress an adventure in discovery. "This book is a primer about stress, stress-related disease, and the mechanisms of coping with stress. How is it that our bodies can adapt to some stressful emergencies, while other ones make us sick? Why are some of us especially vulnerable to stress-related diseases, and what does that have to do with our personalities?" Sapolsky, a Stanford University neuroscientist, explores stress's role in heart disease, diabetes, growth retardation, memory loss, and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. He cites tantalizing studies of hyenas, baboons, and rodents, as well as of people of different cultures, to vividly make his points. And Sapolsky concludes with a hopeful chapter, titled "Managing Stress." Although he doesn't subscribe to the school of thought that hope cures all disease, Sapolsky highlights the studies that suggest we do have some control over stress-related ailments, based on how we perceive the stress and the kinds of social support we have. | ||
Reviews | ||
Not as advertised The book was listed as being in "Very Good" condition. When I received the book, it had extensive water damage throughout (all except the cover). The seller did not disclose that fact. The seller told me to return it at my cost and they would reimburse me for the return shipping. It took over two months and more than a few emails to get my refund and initially they didn't refund me my return shipping cost. That took another email and they did promptly refund that. | ||
Good Read I purchased this because of my research interests. Robert Salpolsky writes very well and applies the topics to real life. If you are interested in health/well-being/stress, definitely purchase this book. | ||
Neuroscience on stress for all of us! If I got to make a list of people on this planet I'd like to meet, Robert Sapolsky would be one of them. This guy is brilliant, hysterical, accessible, and informative in thousands of different ways. His writing can be extremely technical, explaining the details of hormones and neuroscience on every page --- but then goes on to give vivid, delightful illustrations of how those "invisible" forces in our bodies show up in the real world. In us. And in baboons. Other animals. And zebras (hence, the title.) The purpose is to illustrate why we, as individuals, and a Western society, experience stress, and how it manifests as sickness in so many ways. Real sickness, with short term results and long term diseases. In our bodies, not "in our minds", not something we should just "get over". His words and proof is validating scientifically, and a call to action. Our behavior, and the structure of our society, is making us sick. It's not humane to do what we do to ourselves. And we can change this. I'd like to see this book as mandatory reading for every policy-maker in health and human services. But I certainly wouldn't stop there. Managers, top to bottom, need it to understand the pressures on their employees and organizations. Scientists who work with people, or whose work affects people. Anyone who causes, or experiences, stress. Hmmm....does that leave anyone out? Okay, not everyone will want to read this book, because it's pretty technical, not designed for an uneducated reader. But the lessons in it are for everyone. I understand Sapolsky is regarded as one of the top neuroscientists in the world, and that's no surprise. What I'm grateful for is that he shares his knowledge in something other than a scientific journal, and it's an amazing read. It will be on my reference shelf permanently, but unlike the others which I use for "reference" --- I will also read it often just because it's a great read. Imagine that. | ||
Stop stressing! I read other books by Dr. Sapolsky and loved them all. This particular book, while it does require a bit higher understanding of biology and chemistry (heeeelloooo GOOGLE!!), it still makes for fascinating read. Dr. Sapolsky is a scientist who is writing in a language understandable to read, making science funny and exciting, mysterious and beautiful. In this book you will learn and marvel at complex mechanism that is human body, and how mind/body connections are directly related. It might be a personal preference, depending where you find your guidance, but I find this type of approach best working for me - cold, harsh science. After I had read this book, I have put my gears into "nirvana" mode, and became more conscious about how much stress I allow myself to experience. Might be the case of "SERENITY NOW!!!" - insanity later... but I would still highly recommend this book to anyone fascinated by science, studying, or just interested in chemistry and biology, or on a quest to learn more about how far have we come in understanding our own bodies and mechanisms behind the molecules that form human being. | ||
Fight or Flight Interesting book. Allostasis - fight or flight. Wriiten so that subject matter can be understood. | ||