Love, Magic & Mudpies

November 1, 2006
A father of five and grandfather of eight, Siegel (Love, Medicine and Miracles: Lessons Learned About Self-Healing from a Surgeons Experience with Exceptional Patients) wants us to understand that it is only when children are loved unconditionally and taught to care for others that we will live in a better world. While delivering short chapters of opinions on what it takes to achieve this utopia (e.g., love, humor, great family values, spirituality, positivism, and responsibility), Siegel provides therapeutic exercises to try at home. Some of these exercises seem simplistic for the task at hand, like repeating a motto to yourself until you truly mean it. Others, because Siegel emphasizes the importance of humor in life, are outright silly, like rehearsing your imitation of your childs voice so that you can pretend to be your child on the phone when his friends call. If readers dont lose patience with Siegels descriptions of his many practical jokes, theyll find an important message here: love is whats most important when raising children. With many religious references, this book might inspire parents who enjoy Deepak Chopras books. Buy only where spiritual self-help is in demand.Maryse Breton, OCPL, Syracuse, NY

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.