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The Beginner’s Guide to Natural Living is a straightforward, well-researched, comprehensive and easy to understand step-by-step guide to the hows and whys of nearly every aspect of natural living. This book is an inspiring wealth of information, and includes everything you need to know to implement lasting change in your life and your health. Author Larry Cook, former publisher of two popular natural living magazines, has finally encapsulated his in-depth knowledge on natural living in book form. This book presents clear guidance on everything from what to eat—and what NOT to eat—to how to choose quality natural products, which supplements to use on a regular basis, how to chose a natural doctor, why to go to a holistic dentist, and why and how to detoxify your body. It should also inspire you to implement a confidence building exercise routine. And just as important as the how is the why—the book provides a thought-provoking exposé of the pervasive, toxic manipulation of our food supply as well as an exploration of the realities of conventional medicine, which uses a disease management and drug therapy model while simultaneously suppressing the use of effective, all-natural treatment modalities. To help you further your education in all of these matters, a thorough list of book suggestions is provided throughout the book and collected in the Bibliography. Larry’s detailed explanations and generous advice (right down to shopping lists, recipes and meal plans) make this guide an absolute gem if you want to know where to begin to confidently change your lifestyle. Buy it today, follow his trustworthy guidance, and begin reaping the many rewards of living the natural lifestyle! more info
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Holly Lucille, ND, RN
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Straight forward information for those who want to live more naturally but might be confused or have no idea where to begin! Nice job!!
Perfect Introduction to Natural Living
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For those of you who are confused by conflicting health care data, I highly recommend The Beginner’s Guide to Natural Living. I have been educating people about natural health for over 20 years and ever since this book came out, my job has been much easier. It provides the reader with easy-to-understand information on everything from how to (painlessly) transition to a better diet, how to find a good alternative care practitioner, how to find products to support you in making changes, and most importantly… WHY it’s so good for you to do so. It even has pictures of many of the staples of a natural foods diet so you can bring the book with you to your local health food store to show them what you want.
If you’ve ever felt embarrassed by not knowing the difference between a naturopath and a homeopath, or between a vegetarian and a vegan, or what a tincture is or why it’s best to clean your body, hair and teeth with natural products… this is your new bible!!!
Don’t waste your time or money on this book
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This guy is EXTREME. He attempts to discredit all existing research regarding the safety of any man-made products suggesting that there is some big conspiracy by the FDA and businesses to sell us unsafe food and beauty products. I’m sure some studies are not entirely objective; however, to imply that all researchers have some secret agenda…come on! And what are his credentials anyway? I couldn’t find them anywhere in the book. I don’t see M.D. or even M.A. or M.S. after his name. Where does he get his expertise (aside from quoting other authors who agree with his opinions)? I bought this book for some simple suggestions to live more organically. Unfortunately, this guy tries to guilt/scare you into a drastic upheaval in the way most Americans currently live. He would have you spending massive amounts of money to buy a whole house water filter, eat only 100% organic food (and raw food whenever possible) all the time and use organic products all the time, and to avoid all synthetic products including sugar which he states is poison! He also attempts to discredit the current medical field and modern dentistry basically stating that there are natural cures and treatments for nearly everything (including cancer!) I agree, we should cut back on processed foods, sugar, and eat more organically but this all or nothing approach is overwhelming and discouraging. Unless you are ready to buy into this paranoid, elitist view and entirely change your life, I’d skip this one.
Informative, Simple and Effective
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As a Naturopathic Doctor, I appreciate Larry Cook’s emphasis on the simplicity of eating a natural, whole foods diet as the foundation for optimal health.
An Excellent Guide to Healthy Living
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve read many books over the last 40 years on nutrition and healthy living, and “The Beginner’s Guide to Natural Living” is one of the very best. It takes the latest information on every aspect of healthy living and delivers that information in an easy-to-read format with just the right amount of depth. The book also offers an excellent list for further reading for those interested in additional information on various health topics.
My life has been improved and simplified now that I have this book. I no longer have to research the dozens of other books I have on nutritional and natural health topics to find the best information listed in one place–with conclusions that match my own on the various topics of drinking water, food, shopping, cooking, excercise, supplements, medicine, and more.
In my field of spiritual research, the purification and health of the physical body plays a significant role in our “higher attunement” ability. Applying the principles in Cook’s book will get you there in a most efficient manner.
C. David Lundberg, author of “What God Really Wants You to Know”
Okay But Missing The Bigger Picture
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I recently got this book and on the positive side, I think that it is very well researched and well written. Easy to understand and very informational.
On the other hand there are two BIG issues I had with it. Most of the information in the book was the exact same thing that is on the website the author has. The other issue I had was the author’s insistence on living a completely “natural life”.
While I DO think his suggestions are doable and even affordable for some people, the author has neglected to think of the big picture of human health and survival.
Hear me out. No doubt the food that most of us eat is sub par and we are constantly taking in toxins that were not in our lives 50 years ago. However, if we avoid these BAD things completely, what will be left of the human race in the future?
Said another way, if our food and our environment is changing (which it no doubt is), should we not change and ADAPT to it gradually. If we don’t subject ourselves to some of the bad things that are in our environments now, we and our future generations will not be able to adapt when things inevitably get worse and our entire spicies will most likely die off.
Its kind of like the parents who clean every surface in there homes with bleach so that their kids won’t get sick, only to realize that the kids get horribly sick when they finally leave the house and get around other people. Most of us understand that we need to subject our children to some “germs” so that their bodies can build up immunities to defend them from the things that get them sick.
The same thinking goes for our environment. No we aren’t talking germs here. But we are talking toxins, that are everywhere and are not likely to go anywhere – ADAPT. Food that has been genetically engineered and is not likely to go anywhere – ADAPT to survive.
Does that mean we should all go out and eat junk food all the time? I don’t think so, that would be too extreme. Just as living a completely “natural” life is too extreme. Balance in everything is the key to staying healthy.
Bottom line, the author doesn’t take into account that while we may not like the changes that are occurring in our environment and in our food, it is unlikely that we will UNDO what has been done. So we need to make sure our bodies can adapt to it.
Living your life in a healthy bubble is ultimately NOT good for the human race as a whole in the long run.
Keya
The Best Handbook For Healthy Living & Intro to Organic Products
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book is a fantastic roadmap for starting a healthy lifestyle. I learned many of the foods and household products I used had additives that are not safe, but it is a big task to change the things that we use everyday. The book introduced me to some great products and helpful resources for information. I like to research products before purchasing but I found that there isn’t a lot of rating information about organic products. Larry’s book is a fantastic “where to start and why” reference, one that you will use again and again.
This is the best book I have read for healthy living ideas that you can implement at your own pace. The improvement in my family’s health confirms that The Beginner’s Guide To Natural Living was a great investment! Danna B.
Bought this book for my mom and it changed her life/health for the better…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Mom wasn’t healthy, no huge degenerative disease like cancer…but just lots of little things adding up, memory loss, arthritis, pains here and there…And although she is interested in healthy ways, (and talks to me / is supportive about what I do and what I like…) she was hesitant to make any changes to her own old routines… So, I got my mom this book as an introduction to ways she can start to feel better. I had read it for myself, and although it was mostly things I knew (I’ve read a lot about health over the years) what i was impressed with is that it contained the components of health and nutrition that I’ve found to be most beneficial in my own experience of trial and error.
So I decided to get it for my mom, thinking that she most likely won’t read it…and I’d just have to chalk it up to, “Oh well, I tried”. So it came as a complete surprise that she -first of all- read it, and then was utterly ASTONISHED when I found out that she actually started implementing EVERY SINGLE suggestion in the book!
So then, I had to find out how it was able to make such an impact…So I was like “mom, I’ve told you how important getting omega oils is, like taking flax oil” she quickly quipped back “but you didn’t tell me WHY!…” So, for whatever reason, the WAY in which this book was written combined with the practicality of the suggestions …has changed my mom’s health for the better. And further, has managed to shift her belief /inspired her to know that she now has an active ROLE in maintaining her own health (!) So pretty cool indeed…So, I’m actually writing this to say, thanks Mr. Cook!
Full of great info
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was feeling very overwhelmed on my search to living a more natural lifestyle when I ran into this book. After reading it I felt in much more control over where and how to start my desired lifestyle more effectively. Larry Cook gives great references and ways to find what you’re looking for. I highly recommend this book.
Impressive book, with just one flaw…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The Editorial Review says it so well: “The Beginner’s Guide to Natural Living is a straightforward, well-researched, comprehensive and easy to understand step-by-step guide to the hows and whys of nearly every aspect of natural living. This book is an inspiring wealth of information, and includes everything you need to know to implement lasting change in your life and your health.”
Yes! It’s all that and more! It’s AMAZINGLY well organized and informative. I’ve been dabbling in this subject for many years and am impressed that TBG covers all the important, relevant topics to give a broad, yet thorough understanding of how to make healthy livestyle choices.
I discovered the book when I was Googling “natural/holistic dentistry”, a subject upon which not much helpful information seems to have been written. TBG offers 10 pages that succinctly and effectively cover all aspects of this topic.
So, what’s the flaw?? No index!! For such an information-rich book as this, an index is an indispensible, reader-friendly tool for accessing information easily. Please include an index in the next edition, at which time, I will happily add another star!
The Beginners’s Guide to Natural Living
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just love this book…I found out about it through a friend & read it in one night, now I keep it on my nightstand as a reference guide. I am a want-a-be naturalist & I try my best. This book gives me the knowledge and inspiration to stay on track. I purchaed 6 more books for my 20 something kids and close friends. Alot of the knowledge in the book I already knew, reading it gave me the power to incorprate the basics into my daily life. I know that I will not go Vegan however I am much smarter about my choices…I think everyone should have this book and use it as a reference guide to healther living.
A great way to get started
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I recommend The Beginner’s Guide to Natural Living to my patients because it encapsulates all the things I would want them to know at the outset: vibrant health comes from living a more natural lifestyle, and Mr. Cook brings it all together in an easily digestible form. The book is comprehensive but readable, practical and thoughtful. For my patients to have success in healing, I always prescribe dietary changes such as those advocated by Mr. Cook – eating whole foods, organic foods and less processed foods. This book also gives good research as to why eating such foods promotes healing and health. The sections on supplements and health food shopping are particularly useful and easy to follow. If someone is looking to get healthy or reverse a disease process, adopting the principles in this book is a great way to get started.
Simon Barker, ND
Pasadena, CA
Wonderful Beginner’s Guide
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been very interested in natural living for a while now, and slowly have been adding more and more components of it to my life. This book is a great comprehensive guide to many aspects of natural living. It gives specific examples of what to do and not to do, as well as specific product recommendations. He also has some recipes in the back of the book that I have tried and loved, and found very useful. I definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in natural living.