| Title | : | The Hood Health Handbook, Volume One |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 486 |
| Publication | : | First published November 25, 2010 |
The Hood Health Handbook is an COMPREHENSIVE source of information and insight on EVERY health issue faced by the urban community. In plain language, the authors draw on well-known examples from urban culture to illustrate what works...and what doesn’t. Focusing on natural and affordable alternatives to Western medicine, the authors provide recommendations that anyone can put to practice. Don’t wait to pick this book up until it’s too late.
Volume One focuses on the status of health in the urban community, the "wrong foods" that make us unhealthy, the history of diet and healthcare among Black and brown people (focusing on how things changed for the worst), the diseases and illnesses that plague our communities, and holistic (natural) methods to heal and treat ourselves into wellness.
Volume Two focuses on other essentials outside of diet (rest, water, sunlight, and more), hygiene, mental health, emotional health, health issues specific to women, having and raising healthy children, maintaining a clean and healthy household, and how to avoid the dangerous toxins in our food and environment.
Collectively, The Hood Health Handbook features over 120 informative and practical articles, including contributions from hiphop artist and nutritionist Supa Nova Slom; physician and medical fraud expert Dr. Scott Whitaker; vegan chef Bryant Terry; hiphop artist and fitness expert Stic.man; chef and holistic health counselor, Afya Ibomu; expert on law and healthcare disparities Dr. Vernellia Randall; hiphop artist and activist, Wise Intelligent; detox expert and educator Dr. Nancy Williams; naturopathic doctor and skin care consultant, Dr. Kanika Jamila and dozens of others.
The Hood Health Handbook, Volume One Reviews
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Could Have Been a Great Book
"The Hood Health Handbook" is just what it says it is - a practical guide to health and wellness in the urban community. Like other health books, it is very informative as well as insightful, just from a different angle. Using examples of the health/death of many in the hip-hop community, "The Hood Health Handbook" gears itself toward a younger audience that may overlook health issues as not being a concern for them. But when you give examples the likes of Missy Elliot, Big Pun, Nate Dogg, T-Boz and Halle Berry, it's makes it more real, more practical and further reaching. Yet the information is not strictly for the young, but crosses all ages.
This is a health book that I enjoyed and would love to recommend to others as it would be very helpful, but I can't. There were two major drawbacks. While very informative, the manner (language) in which the information is delivered is often vulgar, quoting Ghostface Killah. On showering and bathing, "Y'all (insert expletive) that be (insert expletive) with the bird bath (insert expletive), thinking y'all clean...Wipe your (insert expletive), (insert expletive)...Scrub your balls hard, (insert expletive), scrub your little dirt off your ankles, (insert expletive), that when you was a little kid you couldn't get `em off and (insert expletive)...clean your (insert expletive) with the best soap, (insert expletive)!"
On teeth brushing, "Scrub that (insert expletive) halitosis off that (insert expletive) tongue of yours, man...Scrub that (insert expletive), son! Put some toothpaste on that (insert expletive), brush yo teeth and scrub your tongue, man! Scrub your lips and all that (insert expletive), man, I don't give a (insert expletive)! Stick the toothpaste, the toothbrush down your (insert expletive) throat if you have to, (insert expletive)!"
This Ghostface Killah was quoted and then the contributors of this health book then discussed the useful points of what he said. But was that necessary?
Subjects also discussed include: `What Causes Doo Doo Breath?' `Keep Your Coochie Right,' `Teefus,' `Sh*ttin Out the Window,' and `Don't Be a Booty Scratcher.' The importance and seriousness of the message was sometimes lost with the delivery. I appreciate the "blackness." But you can talk to black folks without having to go where this book at times went. There was no need to be obscene or to make a joke of anything.
The other major drawback is the layout of the book. There is a table of contents but no index. For a reader looking for something specific, one could not easily just go to that topic. And if you were to find the topic, one has to read through much information for an answer. If a person has to go through all of that for one answer, the health book is no longer practical.
Overall, this is a health book worthy of reading. It's very, very unfortunate that this could not be easily recommended to others, but, as is, with the language, I cannot. This is not a book you can take to your child's school or to a pastor at a local church for consideration, yet the information is important, beneficial and necessary for all. Again, it's unfortunate. I would be interested in reading Volume II but hope the contributors take their entire audience into consideration. Urban doesn't mean vulgar.
Reviewed by: Joyce -
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS THERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN IT. PEOPLE OF COLOR OFTEN NEGLECT THEIUR HEALTH AND THIS BOOK MAY GIVE ONE THE "JUMPSTART" THEY NEED TO BECOME MORE HEALTH-ORIENTED. FROM HEAD TO TOE THE AUTHOR GIVES HIS READER INFORMATION WHICH PROMOTES HEALTHY EATING. THERE WAS SOME INFORMATION I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF BUT THERE WERE SOME THINGS I HAD NO CLUE ABOUT. THIS BOOK WILL GIVE YOU INSIGHT AS TO HOW TO ADOPT A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. THE WRITER PRESENTS THE INFORMATION IN AN EASY TO FOLLOW FORMAT. THERE WERE ALOT OF FOOTNOTES BUT THESE SERVE TO KEEP THE READER INFORMED WHEN CERTAIN INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE VALIDATED... AS OF LATE, OUR NATION HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THE "EPIDEMIC" OF OBESITY AND ITS DIRECT CORRELATION TO OUR EATING HA BITS. A READER MAY NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BUT THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY WORTH LOOKING INTO IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO CHALLENGE OUR THINKING WHEN IT COMES TO EATING WHAT WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT TO BELIEVE IS "OKAY" FOR US.
ZANDRA BARNES
AAMBC REVIEWER
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I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. I love how there's a history lesson included in each section/chapter; they're not just telling you that you should see why we aren't healthy. They're telling us that our history shows that we once were healthy, how this was taking away from us, and how you can see our ancestors health being used in society now. This book was written in 2010 and is still very relevant today. In my personal opinion, I felt like certain writers were trying to speak with too much slang; some of the slang was inserted in places where it could've been left out. Other than that, I think it provides a deeper history lesson and a start to getting Black/Brown communities towards a healthier lifestyle.
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Everyone who is anyone, because we all eat, and also because we need to be aware of what we intake as food and nutrients, needs to read this book! A very important-easy to read book, that ALL should have.
Peace. -
this was informative and I enjoyed it
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Highly interesting read packing tons of valuable insights and information about not only Health, but the system we live in. A bit heavy at times in terms of entertaining a bit of a dualistic philosophy (We VS Them...) but nevertheless, a great tool to have in your library if your health is a real concern to you.
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This book definitely gave me a lot of information! Some of it I am still digesting, and I want to incorporate this into my life. It may be hard; I'm willing to do it though. Maybe not this moment, but I will. This was definitely a challenge in the sense that it gave me a lot to think about.
