[.ca] The First Year: HIV: An Essential Guide for the Newly ... (ISBN 1600940137)

Brett Grodeck tells the microbiological detective story:
Brett Grodeck tells the microbiological detective story in which some of the best brains in science have been pitted against the most extraordinary bug the world has ever seen. In 1984 it was discovered that HIV was the cause of AIDS. Straight away, there were confident predictions that there would be a vaccine ready for testing in just two years. Back then, just 1,292 deaths from AIDS had been reported. Now the figure is 25 million dead. By 2010 it is predicted there will be 85 million infections and 70 million deaths. And after 20 years there is still no sign of a vaccine. Despite work of dazzling complexity, the ambition of so many brilliant scientists has been constantly thwarted. Just as a vaccine seems to be working, the AIDS virus alters itself, and ten to fifteen years of work, and millions of dollars, go down the drain. These bitter disappointments are only compounded by the desperate human urgency of the work. The virus is impervious to almost everything you throw at it, says Brett Grodeck. The First Year: HIV: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (First Year, The), is a story where the clock doesn't stop ticking. Help raise awareness; support cancer research!

Information is almost a joy to read. Exceptional!:
Brett Grodeck's book THE FIRST YEAR HIV is a book that anyone sexually active should read regardless if they are hiv+ or not and also a book to read if you know someone who has hiv. This book takes the subject seriously, but it's a good read and I've learned much about HIV itself and moreso, how to prevent myself from getting it. Mr. Grodeck has done a wonderful job in preparing this no-nonsense book. Getting HIV would be a terrible thing but I absolutely recommend that this book be made available to high schools and libraries throughout the world. I also think the book would make a wonderful gift to someone that you know that is sexually active and would like to know more about HIV. Grodeck also talks about other stds, but overall he writes in a simple, effective manner. The book is flawless and I highly recommend it. Grodeck has done his homework and I bow to this man for the straightforward information. You won't be disappointed.

Specifically written for those newly diagnosed with HIV:
The First Year: HIV is a guide specifically written for those newly diagnosed with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), by HIV-positive patient advocate Brett Grodeck who himself has lived with the virus for the past fifteen years. In accessible and plain terms ideal for the non-specialist general reader, individual chapters cover support group resources, advice and strategies for making the needed changes to one's lifestyle, words of wisdom and caution about discussing the issue of one's HIV status with friends and co-workers, the latest medical research, the option of having HIV-negative children even if one is a HIV-positive man or woman, and more. If you or a loved one is having to deal with the medical and social issues of being HIV positive, then this is the book you should begin your personal research with.

Positively Aware:
The writing is easy-to-read, with a tone that's friendly and down-to-earth. It's like a good support group in a book, with quotes from the author's personal experiences and that of other people living with HIV. Chapters are only three to five pages in length. Technical matters, such as resistance testing, are put in easy-to-understand terms. Even people way past the first year will find it useful. Dr. Dan Berger, a columnist for Positively Aware (see "The Buzz"), contributed greatly to the book and wrote the foreword. In addition to medical issues, the book covers topics such as disclosure, depression and where to go if you've been discriminated against. --October issue of Positively Aware

New York Times review:
Books on Health: Smart Approach to H.I.V. (December 9, 2003) It is hard to be optimistic about an incurable disease, but the author of this supportive resource, a writer who has had H.I.V. for 25 years, manages to do it. "Now that I'm healthy," he writes, "I'm far more worried about getting in a car accident on the Los Angeles Freeway than I am about getting sick from H.I.V." Mr. Grodeck, an online editor for the RAND Corporation, guides readers through the first seven days after diagnosis, the next three weeks, and the rest of the year. Combining the human element with essential information about treatment options, choosing the right doctors, the importance of diet and exercise, holistic alternatives and sex, the book transforms a complex disease into one that can be understood and managed. In his discussion of treatment options, Mr. Grodeck takes a level-headed approach. While noting that the new generation of medicines, taken together in various combinations, can slow or even halt the virus, he cautions that so-called alternative therapies do not improve the course of H.I.V. and that some are dangerous and can make the infection worse. "If you like gambling," he writes, "you'll love herbal medicine. Most herbal or plant-based medicines haven't been properly tested, so they are risky." Moreover, he says, people taking prescription drugs should "be careful about taking herbs and supplements." "Herbs and supplements do not work for treating H.I.V.," Mr. Grodeck concludes, "but some forms of alternative medicine help with symptoms of anxiety and depression."