A Past Hygienic Doctor Reviews...
The Health Seekers' YearBook
The Health Seekers' YearBook is the most comprehensive work ever accomplished in Natural Hygiene but most importantly, it is the most PRACTICAL, Hygienic work EVER done! This book tells the readers exactly how to go about implementing the Hygienic principles and concepts into their daily lives. This is a "HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF" manual if there ever was one! In a nutshell, The YearBook contains all of the information a person would have to have in order to lead a completely healthful, totally Hygienic life. For the unusual situation of the severely enervated or chronically ill person, The YearBook not only provides qualifying statements throughout; but it contains a final chapter that holds a "Common Sense SourceBook" or "Directory" that details where to go for organizations, retreats, and doctors who can speak to the particular needs of that person. In short, everyone's needs are addressed in The Health Seekers' YearBook.
HYGIENE starts in the mind. Hygiene is not just a collection of practices: it is a new and revolutionary way of looking at health and why we get sick. You have to learn to think hygienically before you can live hygienically. The Health Seekers' YearBook starts with a thorough and easy-to-understand orientation to Natural Hygiene that trains the reader to do just that THINK HYGIENICALLY. Basic, underlying foundations of The Hygienic System are firmly laid in the first 7 chapters. Victoria BidWell was a professional educator before she became an Hygienic writer and publicist; and her years of experience and expertise in teaching come shining joyfully through in The Health Seekers' YearBook. Her charts, graphs, tables, and barrage of lively graphics make "instant learning" a reality, as she vividly makes Hygienic truths come to life and practically leap off the pages. The book literally invites you to keep turning the pages as it successfully instructs, inspires, and motivates "The Suffering Class of America" and "Health Seekers Everywhere" the 2 groups of people to whom The YearBook is dedicated to start a health revolution in their own lives through the systematic practice of Natural Hygiene.
By separating lifestyle practices into 2 simple groups those that "ENHANCE ENERGY" and those that "ROB ENERGY" the reader clearly sees what it is that he or she must do to become a full-fledged, practicing Natural Hygienist and exactly what must be done to leave membership in The Suffering Class of America. "The Energy Robbers" are "The Bad Guys" the practices to cease and desist immediately! "The Energy Enhancers" of Cleanliness, Pure Air and Water, Adequate Rest & Sleep, Regular Exercise, The Ideal Diet, Sunshine, Right Temperatures, Emotional Balance, and Nurturing Relationships are "The Good Guys" the practices to embrace forthwith. How to implement The Energy Enhancers directly into your daily life are fully explained in the opening chapters. Then, because mastering The Ideal Diet takes a bit of practical know-how, four middle chapters to the book spell out how to set up your "Victory Kitchen" and then provide not only breakfast, lunch, and dinner for everyday of the year, but 50 salad dressings, 125 "Recipes for The Revolution," and all-American holiday menus galore!
Those who think that Hygienic eating is boring and so monotonous will really cherish the daily menus that cover 365 healthful-eating, live-food days. Miss BidWell's menus are not only varied, festive, and inviting. They are true to the principles of Natural Hygiene in every important respect. You will be amazed at the amount of variety and the degree of deliciousness she offers in the meal plans without "watering down" and compromising Hygienic food plan principles!
Every book has to have a theme. And in the case of The Health Seekers' YearBook that theme is embodied not only in the title but in the subtitle, as well: A Revolutionist's HandBook for Getting Well & Staying Well without The Medicine Men. The theme of "health freedom for Americans" through Hygienic thought and action comes across loud and clear. In a tone of deadly seriousness but in a spirit of lively victoriousness Miss BidWell calls for members of The Suffering Class of America and Health Seekers Everywhere to openly declare their "Health Independence," to free themselves from "The Medicine Men" and "The Medical Mentality," and to fervently practice the principles of Natural Hygiene in order to become Health Revolutionists for a healthier United States and world at large. Our author draws an intriguing parallel between The American Revolution that established our freedom from The British in 1776 with The Great American Health Revolution that has the potential to establish our freedom from "The Disease Industrialists" henceforth. The entire book is an amazing, upbeat unfoldment of Americana in teachings, quotes, graphics, and illustrations that left me ready to wave the flag and cheer:"Go, Go, Go...Raw, Raw, Raw! Corney? Yes. Effective? Totally!
Most interesting to me were Chapter Twelve, "The Health Seekers' Heritage," and Chapter Thirteen, "The Year in Ideal Food for Thought." These sections on the history of Natural Hygiene and the 365 quotes for each day of the year from great, Hygienic thinkers throughout history show us that Natural Hygiene is neither some Johnny-Come-Lately fad nor some short-lived hype destined to fizzle out tomorrow. Rather, Victoria shows us that Hygiene has a long and respected and awesome history and that it is here to stay! In reading these 2 chapters, we become strong in our Hygienic conviction: we feel our roots deeply embedded in the physiological, earthen laws of life as revealed by Hygienic Pioneering Giants, past and present. In these 2 chapters and throughout the book, our author gives credit where credit is due: to those Hygienists who fought to establish Hygiene and to keep it alive down through the many decades. Going back to the early, Hygienic stirrings at the beginning of the 19th century, "Health Revolutionist Victoria Bidwell Get Well Stay Well" paints a glorious panorama of Hygienic figures and events that will make you feel like you lived through it all yourself!
Victoria conferred with a number of Hygienic Doctors while writing The Health Seekers' YearBook. Her standards for "getting it right" on even the pickiest detail never wavered. The final toiuch of the many hours of Dr. Vetrano's editing, along with numerous consultations, have put The YearBook in a position of the highest recommendability for all Hygienists, new and seasoned, alike. One can only gasp at the amount of time Victoria must have spent doing the research necessary to prepare The Health Seekers' YearBook and then the time and expense it must have taken to typeset and design the layout! In closing, one can only marvel at what Victoria has prepared to hand over to The American People! If you were to have but one book on Hygiene in your library, The Health Seekers' YearBook would now be the book to have and to recommend - without even thinking twice. Here we have Hygienic accurary and completeness, thematic sobriety and light hearted joyfulness, perfectionistic detail and didactic thoroughness - all woven into one, practical handbook that presents Natural Hygiene as "The Superlative Alternative!"
