Book Review of You: Stress Less
I. Authors
The two authors of the book YOU: Stress Less are medical doctors with extensive training and experience in the field of stress reduction. Dr. Mehmet Oz is a famous writer and television personality and also a professor of surgery at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University and the head of the Heart Institute. Dr. Michael F. Roizen is also a well-known writer on medical topics and head of the Wellness Institute of the Cleveland Clinic. He appeared regularly on the Oprah Winfrey Show as a heath expert, while Dr. Oz has his own daytime television program. Their purpose was to describe the causes of stress, including its genetic and environmental factors and to offer methods for reducing it in work life, at home, in relationships and daily interactions.
II.
Thesis
The most important premise of the authors, as stated in the first chapter, is that stress is a normal part of life and cannot be eliminated completely. In part, stress is genetic or inherited, and is a product of evolution that dates back to the days of early humans. In times of danger or threat, such as war, famine, epidemics, natural disasters and threats from predators, our ancestors evolved certain stress reactions that helped them to survive. Even though life in the modern, Western world might not be as perilous as it was in the Neolithic period, stress reactions are still essential to maintain health and security under certain conditions, and a person who never feels stressed at all is certainly not healthy. Oz and Roizen then succinctly explain the hormonal and biochemical reactions that occur in stressful situations, in which “your concentration becomes more focused than a microscope, your reaction time becomes faster, and your strength increases exponentially” (Roizen and Oz, 2001, pp 1-3). Such reactions are still essential under certain conditions of danger or excitement, but an individual who becomes chronically overstressed due the pace and complexity of modern life will suffer depression, sleep deprivation, irritability, a weakened immune system and a greater risk of developing cancer and heart disease. Therefore, the goal of the book is to teach readers how to reduce unnecessary stress through diet, exercise, meditation and various relaxation techniques. All of their detailed recommendations are based on various objective medical and scientific studies with the results distilled and simplified to make them useful to a popular audience. For example, they know from biochemical research that drinking enough water every day to keep the mouth moist and the urine clear is a good method for reducing stress, as is taking enough B vitamins to aid the mitochondria in each cell to break down excess glucose. Tryptophan, which is found in turkey meat, is also a stress reducer that produces serotonin in the brain to reduce depression and mood swings.
II. Review
This book was relatively short at 98 pages and designed to be quickly and easily read, or perhaps even skimmed though. It is organized into nine short chapters, including the brief introduction, 75 tips for reducing stress at home, at work and in relationships, and a concluding chapter that helps the reader create stress management plan. Obviously the authors realize that their audience is already suffering from stress and time management problems in today’s hectic world, so they need their advice to be easy to read and access. Like their TV shows, the book is also clearly aimed at a female audience, particularly working mothers who have to balance duties in the home, work, childcare and various interpersonal relationships with children, coworkers, spouses or romantic partners.
I cannot claim to be terribly interested in this subject or in their books and TV programs, so it is not the type of reference guide that I would ever purchase on my own. Mainly my philosophy is that life is this world is generally difficult, stressful and unpleasant for most people, and that it is simply the nature of the frenetic, competitive ‘rat race’ society we have created. To be sure, the current recession and the constant worries that many people have about jobs, money and mortgages has increased their stress levels exponentially. My advice for reducing stress would be to find some way to opt out of the rat race economy and society if humanly possible rather than continue ‘playing the game’. For those who cannot or will not do that, however, a book about stress reduction techniques by two qualified medical professionals is about the best advice they are likely to find. None of their advice on healthy living is new to me, even if I do not follow it consistently.
III. Summary
In summary, YOU: Stress Less is written by two famous, celebrity doctors who regularly dispense advice on daytime TV and have written a number of concise, easy-to-read bestsellers on wellness and healthy living topics. Personally, I find this type of popular culture stressful and irritating, and having to read and review the book probably increased my own stress levels. I imagine they are well-trained and well-qualified to be offering this type of medical advice, and are also very well-paid—far more than I am, at least. They are correct that a certain level of stress is always necessary in life, particularly in situations of danger or threat, but excessive and chronic stress will lead to greater risks of physical and mental illness. Their 75 suggestions for reducing unnecessary stress are all trite and commonplace by now, since many experts have been dispensing the same advice about diet, exercise, vitamins and meditation for decades now. I do not see that it has made out modern ‘rat race’ society any healthier or less stressful, though. Just the opposite, it seems to get worse all the time, especially due to the current recession. In my opinion, it is the society and economic system that are the real causes of stress, and until those change and do not believe the general population will become any happier and healthier overall. I think Doctors Oz and Roizen recognize that perfectly well, so books like these are basically offering a palliative to a severely sick and overworked society. I do have no doubt that people who are willing and able to follow their advice will be able to reduce their stress levels, though, at least to some extent.
REFERENCES
Roizen, M.F. and M.C. Oz. (2011). YOU: Stress Less. NY: Free Press.
